Haha.  Nope, not confused... but I did have to read the post a couple of times to be clear.  

I use the pipe plug to plug the fuel tank while I'm inspecting the sediment bowl inlet and cleaning it.  I don't think this would cause the symptoms of the tractor cutting out when it gets hot while working, but it could be contributing and is certainly easy enough to do, and after 40 years a bug may have found its way into the fuel inlet tube/port of the sediment bowl assy.

Should the gas cap on the 550 gas be a vented cap?  I don't remember any holes in the chrome cap that is on the tractor now.  This could be the culprit.  I don't remember any hole in the original cap either, but that was waayy to long ago to trust my memory!

John, Is there an easy way to identify the outlet port on the power steering pump?  You want the gauge installed in this line, right?  The PS pump on this tractor is the separate unit mounted to the front of the engine, not on the generator.  It may be obvious when I see the pump on the tractor but I didn't see this described in the Oliver manual or the IT manual.

Also, do you know the size of the fittings on the PS pump hose?  If so, let me know and I can get the fittings, gauge, and hose here in TN before I travel to MD.

Thanks for your help. 
Best Regards,

Buck's550
-Bob