Antique Tractors Forum

whjco · Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2010 3:21 pm Post subject: Leaky 88

I have grand hopes of taking my old Oliver 88 back to Brandenburg this weekend for the Meade Co. Fair Parade on Sunday afternoon (July 18th). I got it out of storage and was servicing it when it sprung a pretty healthy coolant leak.

I pulled the radiator this morning and noticed that the lower hose connector was still stuck in the hose! The flange had completely separated from the tank. I just got back from taking that radiator and a spare to the radiator shop and they said they can have one of them ready to go by tomorrow so hopefully I'll still be able to make it to the parade.

It will be the first time I've driven a tractor in the Meade Co. Fair Parade since summer of 1971 just after I graduated from Meade Co. high school. The 88 belonged to a most special man named Wilbur Ashcraft for whom I had worked for all through high school. He had farmed with the 88 for 53 years and sold it to me on his 85th birthday. It was sold new in 1950 by McGehee Farm Supply in Brandenburg and Wilbur bought it as a slightly used tractor from McGehee.

We lost Wilbur this past September and his wonderful wife Evelyn just 5 days later and I want to put the old Oliver in the parade in their memory.
_________________
Bill J, Lexington, KY

"If you ain't sure, poke it with a stick!"

Caseman · Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2010 4:49 pm Post subject:

Hope you get it going Bill that would be nice in honory of them.. Wink

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MY LIFE STORY

If you meet me and forget
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Bob Kline · Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2010 5:58 pm Post subject: Oliver 88

That's the kind of tractor us antique tractor collectors appreciate the most, ones we have a personal involvement with from our youth & are able to acquire later in our life so we can continue to cherish those memories of our many days gone by.
Hope you can get it back together in time to make the parade on the 18th. & many more.
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"Model Shop Bob"

BigDaveinKY · Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2010 8:21 pm Post subject:

Hope the fellows get you fixed up tomorrow, and ya make it for the parade.
If ya make it let me know. I haven't been to a Meade Co. fair parade since 1977 when I graduated high school. Wink

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ALWAYS REMEMBER:
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whjco · Posted: Sat Jul 17, 2010 2:30 pm Post subject:

Good news! Roy Hall radiator did a beautiful job fixing up the radiator and didn't charge an arm and a leg. Now to get the 88 back together for the big parade tomorrow!

Update. She's all back together. Brandenburg, here we come!
_________________
Bill J, Lexington, KY

"If you ain't sure, poke it with a stick!"