1958 D17 NFE (lots of pictures)

Thanks CTucker and Dan!
I knew I would get some answers quickly.
Great suggestions and comments about how these tractors should function too!

I have a thought of hooking to those 3 bottom plows that I reworked last year and turning over some dirt this spring with the 17.

Will look at that rim around the valve stem again.

Fred is still adding and subtracting numbers on the value:) Just kidding Fred!
Hey I might want to sell this tractor someday and make a small profit! Time will tell if it is a keeper or not. My problem is that I just don't sell many items after I get them. Bad habit!
Regards,
 Chris



Edited by Sugarmaker - 27 Mar 2016 at 10:16am

Chris i think that knob on the dash is added for the rear work light. Not sure but it sounds to me like someone added a second light switch for it. My d17 always just had one light on the left hand fender pointing back red as I recall but then the right fender was replaced before I can remember so I really don't know if they just didn't move the light to the new fender. But mine has one of those goofy little 2 prong plugs under the seat for a light but no work light on the back so I think that is something that was added.
As to the lever by the clutch I am pretty sure that you are looking at the pto lever. It should be a flat bar of steal about 1 inch wide and I don't know maybe 18 inches long not too long. Forward is engaged and back is disengage.   
I don't know just how you use the hand clutch on a wd but the power direct is a oil bath clutch you can pull that lever from high to low without touching the foot clutch. You can shift it under load without any issues.   I always was told to always put it in the middle when shifting using both clutches to shift just reduces the chance of grinding the transmission.   If you are baling hay you can just pop the power direct to natural and let the baler process the bunch the slowly inch it ahead with it till it is clear sailing again. People will argue about slipping the hand clutch but mine was used like that since new for about 10000 bales a year and I just replace the clutch pack a couple of years ago for the first time so I don't think it was abused too bad.
The power direct is really tuff just keep oil in it and don't slip it into the middle and leave the tractor running like that not only could it creep but that clutch isn't designed to just slip for the entire time you fix the knotters that is too long just slip it the little bit to get a bunch through and you are ok. Basically as long as the oil isn't hot it is fine.
Oh that creeping is a great sigh means the clutches are pretty strong. The oil bath clutch pack is just sticking with the oil enough to engage it in gear a little. I have noticed my power direct has a habit of doing that but my shuttle clutch doesn't. I am guessing the shuttle clutch can't decide if it wants to go forward or back but the power direct knows it wants to go forward all the time...
Enjoy you new tractor and I bet by the time winter comes you will be soo happy with it that you won't want to send it away to visit your daughter. But if you do she is one lucky lady.

Fred in Pa wrote: So ,you ask what it is worth and you will not tell what you paid . LOL

Fred,
 I paid way more that the wife allowed!:)
I had put a walk away number on it that was lower than the suggested numbers given to me on here. And I bought it for a little less than that.

 And I do appreciate the suggestions as to price coming from folks on the Allis FORUM!

 One forum member suggested a $1500 price would be his limit. That would have been a good value. I did not have any pictures posted and had not looked the tractor over very well when I started this thread. If I would have seen and used that $1500 number we would not be talking about it.
I thought the tractor would go for more than it did, and was surprised that I had the final bid.

One thing that may or may not have been a factor is that the tractor =came in very late and had no advertisement in their sale information.
You just never know at a auction. Most stuff I am interested in, so is everyone else and it goes sky high! I passed on a $1500 WD-45 a couple years ago at a auction and it had way more issues than this tractor. So did I get a good value on this 17? I feel pretty good about it at this time.
Buyers remorse is not too bad yet:)
(I know I skirted around your question, a little:))

The value can be calculated in different ways. I looked at the rear tires and had a tire guy give me a quote of approx $2000 for new tires. I looked at the sheetmetal and it was very serviceable as is. No serious leaks or oil soaked engine looked like a plus.
All these things cost me a lot of money to fix on the last WD restorations.

Regards,
 Chris

 

Folks,
First thanks for the positive comments on the old 17. Future plans?? I may use the 17 to haul wood for the sugarhouse and for the house next year. I can get this one a little dirty and not feel to bad.:) Would also like to take it to a few tractor pulls just to see how it does. Not sure of the weight? Might be 5,000 if the tires are loaded? I think this tractor will be a good stable mate to the old WD at my daughters place, both are not restored. This one may never get restored? After having done a couple its a lot of time work and money. As they say they are only original once!

Well I about broke the bank this last week with trailer and the 17. Need to slow down and do some things around the house. ;)

Sorry for the dumb questions. Just never was around one of these. I can figure it out. I will have more questions than answers for a while. Guess I will need to get some manuals at some point too.

(Dan, thanks for the insight on the carb, I will see how this one does) I have never had a zenith carb so I will watch this one. May pull it sometime and do a good cleaning and rebuild at least. 
Have to get that choke knob. I need one for another project too so I may look at McMaster Carr for a couple 1/4-20 plastic knobs.

The rear tires (16.9-28 Armstrong brand) on this tractor are fair and will work as long as I have the tractor. Right one has some de-lamination on the lugs on a few spots. Almost looks like retread coming apart?? I was happy to see that the rims are not rotted out. very minor surface rust on the right one at the valve stem.

THANKS for the tip on not getting off the right side. I could see how that accident might happen with that PD lever. Is that why that cast guard for the button was added??

I was looking at that bar/clamp on the PD and didn't realize it was a rock stopper feature, but did look like a add on. So guys do you use the PD just like the hand clutch on the WD's? Don said if the tractor was in gear with the PD in neutral it may creep a little when you let out the foot clutch. Yea this tractor wants to move like that.
 
I did not see any serious fluid leaks under this tractor (which is pretty amazing!) and all fluid levels were as required. I will get to a complete fluid change over in the future.

Ok give me the skinny on how the power steering works on this tractor?

Also need to know what the knob is on the lower right of the dash. Its a bakelite plastic looks like a push/ pull knob?

And what is the handle on the left near/above the clutch?

Yes the side panels are a nice plus. Tractor seems to be mostly complete. Fenders may have some rust under where they bolt on but nothing showing elsewhere.

Suggestions on the grill? It has a 6 inch tear in the screen dead center. I am pretty sure this is the same grill material as the WD's. Anyone ever replace the screen in one of these?

Were all the rear lights on this tractor std equipment? One on each fender and the big one behind the seat. Right fender one is missing guts of the light. The wires are not connected. Headlights were both pointed inward (cross-eyed) both are bent and need to be removed and some straightening at some point.

The air stack looks very tall is that correct? Cap slipped right off and back on.

Temp gage is not working and the hour meter is not operational. Has cigar lighter. I think the light switch is the pull rod without the knob right side of dash?

Oil pressure looks acceptable. And its charging.

Haven't popped the side covers yet. Good to see the side cover latches are in place as mentioned. Lots of that little stuff got misused/broken over the years.

 I just couldn't leave the D17 out side last night. Had to make room and pull it in the back of the sugarhouse.

Happy Easter! Off to help Cheryl with the big family dinner she is making!

Regards,
 Chris






Edited by Sugarmaker - 28 Mar 2016 at 4:24pm

Congratulations Chris!!!!! Looks like you got a good one. This is good for me too. Because I have a D17 to fix up & I know what a good job you do on fixing & documenting your work. So I & others will benefit!!
Ray W.

It looks like that rod Tim is talking about is a plow stopper. Find a good solid rock plowing and the rod kicks the power director into to neutral. Nice straight tractor.

Nice looking tractor Chris. The rear tires look real good, that's a big plus. What is the rod that is bolted to the power director handle for. My D14 doesn't have that. Tim

Oh Chris that choke rod had a black bakealight know on it at one point in time. My new carb is cable operated probably came off a much newer tractor which is funny because my buddy found it on an old wd. Anyway i will look but I think I lost that knob.

Guys, here are some random shots of the D17.

Allis-Chalmers D17 as found at auction 3-26-16












I started to notice things like the drawbar hole. Not much wear.






Right fender has some wrinkles.








Brakes were not sloppy or loose and they do work.






zenith carb


Manifold looked to be intact


Foot clutch pivot was worn some.


Small hangnail on tire.


About this time things took a turn for the worse and I became the owner.:)

This is a shot of a friend Dave B that helped spot me on to the trailer I just bought a few days ago. Thanks Dave!




As new owner maybe I need to do something special. I just stood next to it!






Ride home was uneventful but the Ford knew there was something back there!


Ready to unload. and check it out.




Just some different shots.






lights?










Had about 3 inches of old bolts and dirt in the tool box.






Clutch is a little loose and what is supposed to be on the choke rod for a handle?


under belly




Ok guys give me the low down on 17's!
HAPPY EASTER!

Forgot to tell you! As I was driving home to get the trailer, I was thinking about that spinner knob on the steering wheel.
When I fired the old girl up and turned the wheel, low and behold I have power steering! That made me happy too!
It seems to have a little bit of a engine miss. May just be old stale gas? Or needs a tune up, or some work?
All systems seem to function in my early trials.
This tractor has not been abused much in its life. Original paint I believe.
When I climbed into the seat and looked down the tranny lid casting number ended in "826" My wife's birthdate. The address number on the building had 826 numbers in it. I thought this was a sign!:)
Wife thought the D17 looked like crap. I Guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder!
Thanks for the support guys!
What do you think of my new to me tractor hauler! 8k GVW car hauler style. (didn't know I was going to press it into action so soon) Haven't got the center ramp built yet.

Regards,
 Chris










Edited by Sugarmaker - 18 Apr 2016 at 2:11am

So what did it bring? 

I TOLD JA HE WAS Just to busy picking it up to respond.......
Now Chris,........WHERE ARE THE PICS???  We know you're good at posting pics!!  Let's see that tractor!!

I agree that the narrow fronts were not dangerous.   My dad had nothing but. Yes you had to be more careful but he liked the versatility it offered.   

Narrow front allows for front mounting a picker, made front mount cultivators and planters easier, and takes up less space in a barn.  I'm not real sure why the NF was first, though.  It was several years, maybe decades before mounted pickers came to be.  When you turn on headlands and end rows, the front wheels don't track with the rears anyway.
AaronSEIA

I didn't think the NF made much difference, as far as flipping, on a hill side, unless you're going down hill diagonally. 

Chris must be too busy picking it up to tell us about the auction........