Allis chalmers 170 diesel hard starting
Printed From: Unofficial Allis
Category: Allis Chalmers
Forum Name: Farm Equipment
Forum Description: everything about Allis-Chalmers farm equipment
URL: https://www.allischalmers.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=131668
Printed Date: 29 Oct 2025 at 10:40pm
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Topic: Allis chalmers 170 diesel hard starting
Posted By: Ben s
Subject: Allis chalmers 170 diesel hard starting
Date Posted: 22 Nov 2016 at 1:58pm
| My grandfather has a 170 that is hard starting when you start it for the day all it will do is puff white smoke until you give it a shot of either then it will start and you can start it all day with out any starting aid even when it's 90 degrees out I'm just wondering if there is any common problems I can look into in a couple weeks when I bring it to my place this winter and go over it |
Replies:
Posted By: DrAllis
Date Posted: 22 Nov 2016 at 2:33pm
| How many hours are on it??? Remember, the older a diesel engine gets (hrs of use) the harder it starts, especially when cold and the first start of the day. The following components are all suspect: injectors......injection pump......intake manifold heater (does it have one?)....starter speed.....battery and cables.....and lastly pistons/sleeves/rings/valves/valve seats. Where do you want to start?? I've never seen your tractor, but can tell you what I'd do if it was mine (assuming it runs just fine and has good power). I'd make sure I had the biggest output battery that would fit in the tray (like 1000 CCA) and excellent sized and condition battery cables to the starter and ground. I'd have the starter freshened up by my local rebuilder. I'd make sure the intake manifold heater worked and a good engine block heater also worked. I'd have 10W-30 or 10W oil in it for Winter use. That's what I'd do if it was mine. |
Posted By: Ben s
Date Posted: 22 Nov 2016 at 2:40pm
| It has close to 4000 hrs on it I put heavy welding cables on it I guess I will try a bigger battery and send the starter out thanks doc. Can you tell me what the timing is set at for this tractor |
Posted By: DrAllis
Date Posted: 22 Nov 2016 at 2:41pm
| Not without looking it up. Timing never changes on it's own, so don't think that's what your problem is. |
Posted By: DrAllis
Date Posted: 22 Nov 2016 at 2:43pm
| If your starter has never been worked on, I can almost guarantee you'll notice an improvement in cranking speed if you have it overhauled. |
Posted By: Ben s
Date Posted: 22 Nov 2016 at 2:43pm
| Oh ya and it has the thermostart set up on it but it's not hooked up. Is the thermostart a good system or should I look into something else |
Posted By: DrAllis
Date Posted: 22 Nov 2016 at 2:44pm
| If it's working correctly, they are fine. |
Posted By: BrianC
Date Posted: 22 Nov 2016 at 4:33pm
|
How to you go about testing and repairing the Thermostart system. I thought I read here that usually they are not working on the average tractor. Interesting about the starter, I should have it refreshed, it is a 1973. |
Posted By: DougG
Date Posted: 22 Nov 2016 at 5:01pm
| Uncle had one like this, when it got real cold we,d plug it in and it would crank and crank smoke but no fire, pull it 10 feet and it would pop right off, starter just didn't swing it fast enough |
Posted By: injpumpEd
Date Posted: 22 Nov 2016 at 5:06pm
|
The timing on a Perkins with a CAV pump is simply lining up the mark on the flange. ------------- 210 "too hot to farm" puller, part of the "insane pumpkin posse". Owner of Guenther Heritage Diesel, specializing in fuel injection systems on heritage era tractors. stock rebuilds to all out pullers! |
Posted By: Ben s
Date Posted: 22 Nov 2016 at 5:22pm
| Ok thank you very much for the info guys I don't know much about this tractor grandpa said it was an auction bargain but she needs a little help so there for another project for me |
Posted By: DrAllis
Date Posted: 22 Nov 2016 at 6:37pm
| My opinion on the battery/starter is this:......that engine almost needs TWO batteries to whip it over when it's really cold. Problem is, there isn't room for two batteries under the hood. So, short of making an external tray for a second battery, find the biggest most powerful you can and get it under the hood, use a block heater and light weight motor oil in the Winter months.. |
Posted By: DSeries4
Date Posted: 22 Nov 2016 at 8:43pm
|
White smoke when cranking is usually a sign of low compression. Might want to pull the head and take a look at the valves. At temperatures over 45 degrees in Ontario, my 175 diesel (248 Perkins compared to your 236) fires right up on the first try with no ether and no manifold heater.
------------- '49 G, '54 WD45, '55 CA, '56 WD45D, '57 WD45, '58 D14, '59 D14, '60 D14, '63 D15D, '66 D15II, '66 D21II, '67 D17IV, '67 D17IVD, '67 190XTD, '73 620, '76 185, '77 175, '84 8030, '85 6080 |
Posted By: Tbone95
Date Posted: 23 Nov 2016 at 6:53am
Yeah, but 45 degrees in Ontario is HOT! (Metric joke there....  )
|
DSeries4 wrote:Posted By: farmtoybuilder
Date Posted: 23 Nov 2016 at 8:31am
|
As Dr. Allis said! And Block heater is a must when below 40! ------------- 5 different TT-10's,5 TT-18's Terra Tigers,B-10,2 B-207's,B-110,2 B-112's,HB-112,B-210,B-212,HB212,2 Scamp's & Homilite T-10. Still hunting NICE HB-112 & anything Terra Tiger & Trailers for them. |
Posted By: lowell66dart
Date Posted: 23 Nov 2016 at 10:22am
|
I do have a big NAPA commercial battery but what made a BIG difference on mine was adding a gear reduction starter. Best $225 I ever spent on a tractor. Search for a post about that starter under my name. ------------- AC 6080 (8030,7060,200,175,D-17HC, 6040,160,6140 all gone) Farmall 1066 & 656 Hi-Clear (for sale), White 2-62 High Clearance, JD 4255 Hi Clear. |
Posted By: LeonR2013
Date Posted: 23 Nov 2016 at 10:44am
| If everything is up to snuff, then the block heater will cure your problem. |