This site is not affiliated with AGCO Inc., Duluth GA., Allis-Chalmers Co., Milwaukee, WI., or any surviving or related corporate entity. All trademarks remain the property of their respective owners. All information presented herein should be considered the result of an un-moderated public forum with no responsibility for its accuracy or usability assumed by the users and sponsors of this site or any corporate entity.
The Forum Parts and Services Unofficial Allis Store Tractor Shows Serial Numbers History
Forum Home Forum Home > Allis Chalmers > Farm Equipment
  New Posts New Posts
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login


Allis B overheating

 Post Reply Post Reply Page  12>
Author
Message
john2189 View Drop Down
Silver Level
Silver Level


Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: Minerva,Ohio
Points: 440
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote john2189 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Allis B overheating
    Posted: 14 May 2026 at 6:53am
I have asked before but don’t know how to find old posts.
My B after about 20 minutes of mowing with a woods l59 will lock up. After about 10 minutes, it will restart. I assume the pistons are expanding and making it lock up.

Any way, I asked the best way to flush the system but couldn’t find my old post, so I am asking again.
John
'41 Allis B
'49 Farmall Cub

Back to Top
Sponsored Links


Back to Top
steve(ill) View Drop Down
Orange Level Access
Orange Level Access
Avatar

Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: illinois
Points: 93213
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote steve(ill) Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 May 2026 at 7:57am
i take the lower radiator hose off... stick a garden hose in the top of the radiator and turn it on...flush out everything you can with engine off.... On a real bad engine i pull the thermostate out ( also good inspection)..reinstall the housing and hose,  and stick the garden hose into the top of radiator.....

Let the water fill up the bock and overflow and start engine to pump water around inside.... you can pinch the lower hose 50% to guarantee overflow from the top, if needed.


Edited by steve(ill) - 14 May 2026 at 8:01am
Like them all, but love the "B"s.
Back to Top
john2189 View Drop Down
Silver Level
Silver Level


Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: Minerva,Ohio
Points: 440
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote john2189 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 May 2026 at 8:45am
Thanks Steve.
'41 Allis B
'49 Farmall Cub

Back to Top
PaulB View Drop Down
Orange Level
Orange Level


Joined: 12 Sep 2009
Location: Rocky Ridge Md
Points: 5452
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote PaulB Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 May 2026 at 8:55am
Sometimes you can dislodge dirt/scale easier by forcing water backwards through the radiator (garden hose into the bottom) than pouring water in the top. If you can also ad an air jet along with the hose that will loosen more dirt/scale.
If it was fun to pull in LOW gear, I could have a John Deere.
Real pullers don't have speed limits.
If you can't make it GO... make it SHINY
Back to Top
steve(ill) View Drop Down
Orange Level Access
Orange Level Access
Avatar

Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: illinois
Points: 93213
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote steve(ill) Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 May 2026 at 9:36am
mud, crud, rust, seems to settle inside the block around the piston liners.. It is amazing how much buildup you can get in that area... and yes, it does restrict the cooling on the lower half of the liner..
Like them all, but love the "B"s.
Back to Top
john2189 View Drop Down
Silver Level
Silver Level


Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: Minerva,Ohio
Points: 440
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote john2189 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 May 2026 at 2:27pm
Would it help to remove water pump and thermostat housing ?
'41 Allis B
'49 Farmall Cub

Back to Top
john2189 View Drop Down
Silver Level
Silver Level


Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: Minerva,Ohio
Points: 440
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote john2189 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 May 2026 at 3:10pm
Ok took thermostat housing off and the big spring was broken into 3 pieces and what looked to be a rubber seal? The flapper is loose, I can move it with a screw driver.
Now to run water where the water pump bolts to to see what comes out.
'41 Allis B
'49 Farmall Cub

Back to Top
steve(ill) View Drop Down
Orange Level Access
Orange Level Access
Avatar

Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: illinois
Points: 93213
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote steve(ill) Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 May 2026 at 3:47pm
flush it up, down , in , out ... then fill and run 10 iminutes , drain and do it again... if its coming out dirty or orange, its caked in around the liners... a failed thermostat can block the flow also... might try running without and see how it does..
Like them all, but love the "B"s.
Back to Top
john2189 View Drop Down
Silver Level
Silver Level


Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: Minerva,Ohio
Points: 440
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote john2189 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 May 2026 at 5:26pm
Im planning on not putting a thermostat in.

I will run water in water pump hole and thermostat hole several times. Then reinstall the thermostat housing, water pump and radiator, then fill with water and start it up and flush some more.
'41 Allis B
'49 Farmall Cub

Back to Top
Les Kerf View Drop Down
Orange Level
Orange Level


Joined: 08 May 2020
Location: Idaho
Points: 1920
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Les Kerf Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 May 2026 at 7:38pm
Originally posted by john2189 john2189 wrote:

Im planning on not putting a thermostat in.

I will run water in water pump hole and thermostat hole several times. Then reinstall the thermostat housing, water pump and radiator, then fill with water and start it up and flush some more.

If there is no danger of freezing I would put in a quart of white vinegar, top off with water, warm it up fully, and let it sit overnight before draining. Maybe repeat several times.
Best wishes Smile
Back to Top
WF owner View Drop Down
Orange Level
Orange Level


Joined: 12 May 2013
Location: Bombay NY
Points: 5311
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote WF owner Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 May 2026 at 7:03am
Don't overlook cleaning the outside of the radiator. Mud, oil and grease can build up inside the fins and block air flow through the radiator.
Back to Top
john2189 View Drop Down
Silver Level
Silver Level


Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: Minerva,Ohio
Points: 440
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote john2189 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 May 2026 at 8:43am
Ok flushed block. Didn’t get much crud out of it, just the dirty anti freeze. Same with the radiator.
I will next put it back together, put a Qt of white vinegar in and fill it up and run it till it warms up, drain and another qt of vinegar and do it again.
Since I didn’t get any crud out of it, I wonder if it was just the thermostat causing the problem.
'41 Allis B
'49 Farmall Cub

Back to Top
steve(ill) View Drop Down
Orange Level Access
Orange Level Access
Avatar

Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: illinois
Points: 93213
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote steve(ill) Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 May 2026 at 9:27am
yes... thats a good possibility that the failed thermostat was the problem... Blow/ wash out the outside of the radiator as WF mentioned...
Like them all, but love the "B"s.
Back to Top
HudCo View Drop Down
Orange Level
Orange Level
Avatar

Joined: 29 Jan 2013
Location: Plymouth Utah
Points: 4242
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote HudCo Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 May 2026 at 9:28am
have you checked for compresssion in the radiator
Back to Top
john2189 View Drop Down
Silver Level
Silver Level


Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: Minerva,Ohio
Points: 440
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote john2189 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 May 2026 at 1:27pm
Originally posted by HudCo HudCo wrote:

have you checked for compresssion in the radiator


You mean like a blown head gasket? No I don’t see any bubbles while it’s idling
'41 Allis B
'49 Farmall Cub

Back to Top
john2189 View Drop Down
Silver Level
Silver Level


Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: Minerva,Ohio
Points: 440
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote john2189 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 May 2026 at 1:32pm
I got it back together and it ran mowing grass for about 45 minutes. Seamed to run ok. Of course there was a couple small leaks, but they stopped leaking after it warmed up. So I will flush again and run it.

Thanks for all your help.
'41 Allis B
'49 Farmall Cub

Back to Top
john2189 View Drop Down
Silver Level
Silver Level


Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: Minerva,Ohio
Points: 440
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote john2189 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 May 2026 at 11:29am
Ok mowed about 1-1/2 hours, ran great, but when I shut it off, it started leaking water out the weep hole of the water pump. Any recommendations to where to buy one? The jungle site has one for 77$.
'41 Allis B
'49 Farmall Cub

Back to Top
SteveM C/IL View Drop Down
Orange Level Access
Orange Level Access


Joined: 12 Sep 2009
Location: Shelbyville IL
Points: 9220
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SteveM C/IL Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 May 2026 at 12:52pm
A&I had one for my WD a few yrs ago....
Back to Top
steve(ill) View Drop Down
Orange Level Access
Orange Level Access
Avatar

Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: illinois
Points: 93213
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote steve(ill) Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 May 2026 at 12:59pm
$70- 90 seems to be the going price.. If Amazon has free shipping, that would be a good buy.
Like them all, but love the "B"s.
Back to Top
john2189 View Drop Down
Silver Level
Silver Level


Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: Minerva,Ohio
Points: 440
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote john2189 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 May 2026 at 2:52pm
I assume they are all made in China. Not that is bad.   
'41 Allis B
'49 Farmall Cub

Back to Top
steve(ill) View Drop Down
Orange Level Access
Orange Level Access
Avatar

Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: illinois
Points: 93213
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote steve(ill) Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 May 2026 at 3:40pm
yea.... i would BET on that..
Like them all, but love the "B"s.
Back to Top
john2189 View Drop Down
Silver Level
Silver Level


Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: Minerva,Ohio
Points: 440
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote john2189 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Jun 2026 at 8:49pm
Mowed lawn today with the B. It stopped running twice. After a couple of minutes it Turned over really slow then started and ran great for about 1/2 hour then did it again. Let it sit for two or three minutes and it starts right up.
Temperature gauge stays in the white , almost into the green. Does not seem to be over heated, no steaming, no smell, not boiling over.
When I flushed the cooling system it didn’t seem to be all that dirty.
Could something else be getting tight enough to make the engine lock up?
Distributor, distributor drive, 10si alt ? just put a new water pump on.
Can’t turn with crank when it happens.
🤷🏻‍♂️
'41 Allis B
'49 Farmall Cub

Back to Top
steve(ill) View Drop Down
Orange Level Access
Orange Level Access
Avatar

Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: illinois
Points: 93213
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote steve(ill) Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Jun 2026 at 9:03pm
Can’t turn with crank when it happens.

cant test the alternator without popping the  belt off..... that is odd that it only takes 2-3 minutes of cooling to start back up.. No real good ideas on my end right now..
Like them all, but love the "B"s.
Back to Top
john2189 View Drop Down
Silver Level
Silver Level


Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: Minerva,Ohio
Points: 440
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote john2189 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Jun 2026 at 10:16pm
I’m still thinking pistons and liners is swelling. But wouldn’t the liner o rings start to leak? No water in oil pan.
'41 Allis B
'49 Farmall Cub

Back to Top
HudCo View Drop Down
Orange Level
Orange Level
Avatar

Joined: 29 Jan 2013
Location: Plymouth Utah
Points: 4242
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote HudCo Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Jun 2026 at 10:42pm
is the starter staying in
Back to Top
john2189 View Drop Down
Silver Level
Silver Level


Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: Minerva,Ohio
Points: 440
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote john2189 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 Jun 2026 at 6:18am
Originally posted by HudCo HudCo wrote:

is the starter staying in

No, it is running when it shuts off.
'41 Allis B
'49 Farmall Cub

Back to Top
john2189 View Drop Down
Silver Level
Silver Level


Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: Minerva,Ohio
Points: 440
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote john2189 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 Jun 2026 at 6:25am
Could the timing cause this?
'41 Allis B
'49 Farmall Cub

Back to Top
WF owner View Drop Down
Orange Level
Orange Level


Joined: 12 May 2013
Location: Bombay NY
Points: 5311
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote WF owner Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 Jun 2026 at 7:06am
How were the sleeves installed? What was used to lubricate the O rings on the outside of the sleeves during installation? 
Back to Top
john2189 View Drop Down
Silver Level
Silver Level


Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: Minerva,Ohio
Points: 440
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote john2189 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 Jun 2026 at 7:38am
Originally posted by WF owner WF owner wrote:

How were the sleeves installed? What was used to lubricate the O rings on the outside of the sleeves during installation? 


I don’t know the history of this tractor. I bought a few years ago.
'41 Allis B
'49 Farmall Cub

Back to Top
SteveM C/IL View Drop Down
Orange Level Access
Orange Level Access


Joined: 12 Sep 2009
Location: Shelbyville IL
Points: 9220
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SteveM C/IL Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 Jun 2026 at 12:21pm
You could pull pan and look at liners lower part. If it's seizing pistons you should have nice score marks...
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  12>
  Share Topic   

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Forum Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 11.10
Copyright ©2001-2017 Web Wiz Ltd.

This page was generated in 0.057 seconds.


Help Support the
Unofficial Allis Forum