Dr. Allis D17 XT Plowing

I have a 45D carcass around here I thought would make a good candidate for a 433T....just too many other things take precedent.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/asormkrGTppYUWex5Pics from the build, including the 3-point hitch removal to be able to use the snap-coupler plow.

The triangular "helper" step mounted on the left side looks familiar.  It reminds me of the "stands" that were mounted on the back of AC cornheads when they were shipped upright (standing on their backs).  We used to pick them up from LaPorte and used many of those "stands" as steps for several different models of AC tractors.  It was just something we did at the dealership; not an AC approved modification.  Just curious if that's where your step came from.

Yes, Dr. you are correct.  The shipping stands were solid on the bottom and I believe a little taller than your step.  I just thought maybe someone modified it by making it shorter and drilled some holes for drainage.  But, you're probably right; it isn't what I thought it might be.

The throttle was one of the easier things I did. Still used the original throttle linkage from the steering wheel to under the fuel tank, but replaced the link rod that went from there to the gas engine with a new 1/4" rod about 4 ft long and made several kinks and bends and one guide bracket close to the injection pump. All things considered, it was easy and turned out well, as the stroke of the hand lever is 100% the same as the gas engine was.  The foot clutch area seemed to take the most time and then the steering. I had the engine in and out a dozen times before I was happy with the clutch. The gas chassis clutch shaft is too long for the diesel engine, so I figured out a way around that problem. I cut off the clutch shaft nose (for the pilot bearing) and found a new pilot bearing that would slide on the new larger clutch shaft diameter and then machined the flywheel hole deeper and larger diameter to accept the new pilot brg. Then, the clutch disc had to come from a maroon model 7000, as it has an offset clutch hub in it, offset towards the engine, which I needed. The rest of the time was spent machining the flywheel to fit .100" farther forward on the crankshaft, moving the starter ring gear .100" back on the flywheel to locate it correctly, and machine the flywheel wear surface .100" to get the clutch disc to fit on the clutch shaft splines and not bind. The shorter throwout bearing sleeve had to come from a D-17 diesel to get it to locate properly to the 180/190 pressure plate.  Some grinding had to be done to the inside of the bell housing to get it all in there, but after you grind enough away in the right spots, it fits.  I am fortunate to have a lathe at work to be able to do many of these things, instead of hiring it done. It was important for me to get the engine to sit as far rearward as possible, because I had to design a way to be able to steer the tractor with a narrow front end and needed the engine to be as far out of the way as possible. As it turned out, the steering turned out just fine and it had its engineering problems too, but all worked out. Hydrostatic power steering that didn't change the looks or length of the tractor was the goal and I was lucky it came true after lots of thinking. I always felt if the narrow front didn't work, I'd just switch to a wide front and mount a steer cylinder crossways on it. Didn't need to and as it is now, it could be switched to a wide front with an OEM steering arm. One can always have a "plan" before he starts a project like this. Funny how the "plan" has to be changed up a bit as you go along !!