Print Page | Close Window

11-B goes back into service next week:

Printed From: Unofficial Allis
Category: Allis Chalmers
Forum Name: Construction and other equipment
Forum Description: everything else with orange (or yellow) paint
URL: https://www.allischalmers.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=191426
Printed Date: 28 Mar 2024 at 9:29am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.10 - http://www.webwizforums.com


Topic: 11-B goes back into service next week:
Posted By: Codger
Subject: 11-B goes back into service next week:
Date Posted: 23 Oct 2022 at 9:12am
Finishing harvest the beginning of this week. Going to give my 11-B a fresh service and put it back to work cleaning up some waterways, and terracing along with some leveling of harvested fields. Nephew is currently chisel plowing so should go pretty easy I'd think. 

This will be the first time the tractor has pushed dirt in a long time so we are both looking forward to the job(s).

Last year photo just before being wrapped for the winter:

  



Replies:
Posted By: doctorcorey
Date Posted: 23 Oct 2022 at 9:20am
Sounds like fun. I'm elbow deep in steering clutch boxes and hoping to be pushing dirt in a week or two, especially with this mild weather, and the pond I want to fill is bone dry. Clap

-------------
Semper Fi USMC    1958 HD6G, 1959 MF 203 loader, 1960 Case 420B Backhoe, MF 65 Tractor/Loader Diesel


Posted By: Codger
Date Posted: 27 Oct 2022 at 6:18am
Harvest finally finished up just as the rain set in. Had some 22% moisture corn on Thursday reduce to the high 16% mark with the dry sun and winds of late last week, so favorable. No corn down this year at all.

Went over to the tractor yesterday and attached a 12VDC battery charger to one of the "8D" cells and will run back today to charge the other. I'd mistakenly left the battery disconnect switch "on" not realizing it had three positions as I had thought there were only two. Lesson learned I suppose. I realized this shortly after rotating the disconnect to the "on" position, mashing the starter button hearing only the magnetic switch, (solenoid) click, indicating discharged batteries. 

Hoping to get the tractor fired off later this week and bring her home early next for service. I have a small exercise around my place to re acclimate to work before heading down south to the fields.  




Posted By: Codger
Date Posted: 27 Oct 2022 at 6:26am
I remember those type days well. Too bad this is a few years late as when I would be working in the area I always brought projects along to work on in the "off" hours. If I didn't have something for myself needing attention, I was working with others known in the area with their antique trucks, or equipment.  


Posted By: Codger
Date Posted: 27 Oct 2022 at 7:04pm
Went over this afternoon to swap the battery charger over to the other battery. Upon sticking my head up under the tarp covering the tractor, I heard a rather angry "hiss". Turned out to be a friendly stray cat enjoying his kill. No threat and it readily welcomed a head rub and ear scratch before going back to eating. I'll let nature run it's course and I swapped the charger leads, grabbed a couple photos, and went about my day. Will run by tomorrow and attempt an engine start after all these months.

After our meeting:




Dinner in the dozer:






Posted By: Codger
Date Posted: 02 Nov 2022 at 7:54am
No video as I had planned but after nearly a year's "nap" under the cover in the lot, tractor started as if it were running yesterday. The 10DN series alternator is found to not be charging and investigation is warranted there. I'll replace with a more modern 20SI variant and eliminate the external voltage regulator along with the interconnecting wiring if anything other than a corroded connection is found.

New LED worklamps are ordered through my son in law as he is parts manager at a John Deere construction dealer and I want good ones. They cost a bit more than chinese garbage, but I'd wager they'll be working much longer than those. I'll get the new Spectra laser system mounted to the blade and ROPS riser post in the next week or so, and figure out how to mount up and power a 20K Tulsa cable winch on the rear to be used as a drag winch in the woods as this is to be a working tractor again.



Posted By: Codger
Date Posted: 04 Nov 2022 at 7:04am
Located a rodent nest at the base of the gauge quadrant and chewed wiring within the electrical harness routing. Not bad to repair and alternator is now charging well. However, I have load tested the starting batteries individually and one is found to be marginal, or in the beginning stages of failure so both will be replaced. My son in law is parts manager at our local John Deere construction dealership and I'll get a pair of batteries through him as they are heavier built than readily available in the aftermarket. These are group "4D" and not "8D" as posted earlier; sorry for the error. 

The engine starts easily, but temperatures are still quite warm. I don't want to be jump starting the tractor in the colder months ahead to work with it, so electing to address any known weaknesses as found. So far, no leaks, drips, nor errors of any significance have been located. Hoping to get the finished operator's seat, arm rest pads, and custom "heat houser" panels back from the upholstery shop soon also. The plywood seat is not too comforting to the backside cheeks. 




Posted By: Codger
Date Posted: 04 Nov 2022 at 1:46pm
Dragged the old carbon pile out to test the batteries and the suspect one is bad with the assumed good one being marginal, but decaying in remaining service life. Both batteries are 1050CA w/290RC and the suspect battery barely made nine minutes before being theoretically "discharged". The good one is running over two hours so far but will not make the RC rating by meter indications/readings at this time. 

To me if it doesn't make 90% of rated performance it's replaced, as downtime is too expensive to bear. 


Posted By: steve(ill)
Date Posted: 04 Nov 2022 at 4:09pm
but after nearly a year's "nap" under the cover in the lot, tractor started as if it were running yesterday.......Clap   Clap

-------------
Like them all, but love the "B"s.


Posted By: Codger
Date Posted: 07 Nov 2022 at 7:15am
I was able to save the bad battery after a desulfating process. An applied and monitored high charge rate followed by a reduced, but still high charging current broke the lead sulfate compound allowing the individual cells to charge. Battery is finish charging now but easily accepts and passes both RC, and load testing.

I have a new float/maintainer to install on the dozer and once I finish with testing this will be permanently installed. 

Two more to go to ensure the starting/charging systems are in top shape.


Posted By: wjohn
Date Posted: 07 Nov 2022 at 7:59am
I have a battery that came with my WD that dropped a cell that I have been messing with. I've been too timid to hit it with a high charge rate so far, but it's not getting any better so I may give it a go. I'm glad to hear you may have saved a battery. The darn things aren't cheap these days.

I hope we get some video of the 11-B doing work soon.


-------------
1939 B, 1940 B, 1941 WC, 1951 WD, 1952 CA, 1956 WD-45


Posted By: Codger
Date Posted: 07 Nov 2022 at 9:36am
No need to be "timid" but caution and the right tools for the task are necessary. A small shop battery charger is not going to work for this as their power output varies. A stable and regulated DC power supply is required.

First thing to do with any lead/acid battery not performing satisfactorily is to ensure it is topped off with the proper electrolyte. Adding tap, or city water is a very bad thing to do over the lifespan of the battery. Only distilled water is to be used. Second thing is to completely discharge the battery purposely. This can be done as easily as leaving the headlamps burn to discharge it completely. A multimeter across the posts showing .5VDC is close enough to complete discharge, but there needs to be very little voltage stored. Now connect a battery charger at a low charge rating for two hours. After that time, switch the charger to a higher rate and allow the battery to charge fully. Check the electrolyte for specific gravity which is a direct indication of battery charge level. Each of the cells should be close in value. 1.26-1.28 is 100% charged. Have the battery load tested at 50% of listed cranking amps for 15 seconds and the indicated voltage should remain above 10.5VDC during the test if a 12VDC battery, and better than 4.5VDC if a six volt battery.

There is much more to it than that but for the novice, (no offence meant) I don't want to get anyone hurt, or burned from an exploding battery which can happen.   


Posted By: Codger
Date Posted: 08 Nov 2022 at 6:05am
Looks as if the battery I'd earlier thought defunct may come around and possibly back into a serviceable state. When starting with this one's assessment, it only had 3.7VDC after being charged at a 10 ampere rate for nearly 12 hours. Lead sulfate not being absorbed back into the electrolyte does that forming an insulating layer on the lead plates. This is common for older batteries that are allowed to discharge and the reason a battery maintainer is such a wise investment.

I have completely discharged this group 4D battery with all cells being very close to equal in specific gravity. Also switched to a two ampere preliminary charge rate to start the process of restoration. I'll boost the charge rate in a few hours if indications retain equality in the cells. Hopefully the stored charge elevates to break through the sulfation layer ang get this lead sulfate compound reabsorbed into the sulfuric acid allowing the battery to store, and retain charge. Retained charge along with load testing determines a battery's health.    


Posted By: Codger
Date Posted: 08 Nov 2022 at 4:18pm
Battery is/has recovered nicely. Not quite fully charged at this writing but progressing much better than anticipated. 


Posted By: wjohn
Date Posted: 08 Nov 2022 at 10:21pm
No offense taken. As I insinuated, exploding batteries are scary enough for me to wait until I know what I'm doing.

Sounds like I need to discharge my battery and start charging again. I picked up another little low amp float/desulfator type charger today in hopes of keeping all of my new batteries in good shape as long as possible.

If you could save the one you though was shot that would be great.


-------------
1939 B, 1940 B, 1941 WC, 1951 WD, 1952 CA, 1956 WD-45


Posted By: Codger
Date Posted: 09 Nov 2022 at 6:33am
Looks like this one is a go. I ran a 550A load test twice this morning after a several hour finish charge and the battery passes easily. I am currently recharging and will perform a capacity test later today. If this one passes it's capacity test, the next step will be to electrically connect both batteries, (in this case) together and perform what is called an equalize charging scenario.  

These tests are best performed with everything at ambient temperature rather than just off a charger for stability and tracking.   


Posted By: Codger
Date Posted: 09 Nov 2022 at 5:40pm
Battery made 282 minutes before I called it discharged. Nameplate states 290 RC so well within the 90% cutoff level criteria. 

Electrolyte averaged over the six cells is about 1.258 or so. I could "sweeten" the electrolyte, but no real need when that close.

Guess I've saved a few bucks this go round but it doesn't always turn out this way. 


Posted By: Codger
Date Posted: 10 Nov 2022 at 5:31am
I gave both batteries, (while series connected) a finish charge in the overnight hours and all is ready to go back into service. I'll run over and get them installed later this week. 


Posted By: Codger
Date Posted: 10 Nov 2022 at 5:43am
Those small float/maintainer chargers with "pulse" charging will not correct a battery that is presenting problems, but with continuous use from the "get go", they will definitely extend battery service life.


Posted By: Codger
Date Posted: 12 Nov 2022 at 7:57am
Reinstalled both batteries, started tractor and allowed it to idle for nearly a 1/2 hour while I untarped and talked to the prior owner. After this time the engine was shut down and all fluid levels checked finding the right side final just a bit low. The transmission was about 1/2 gallon under the full mark also but the speed control valve is known to leak. I topped up the transmission but did not take any gear oil with me. Sticking my finger in the rt. finals fill port, I could touch gear oil but will get this topped up shortly. 

Couldn't really move the tractor much without getting into now finished yard as it's blocked with mowers and other implements. I was able to move fore and aft about five feet and this is enough to know both steering clutches are free, both speed selections in the transmission work in forward and reverse, the service brakes apply and release correctly, and the blade functions work correctly.

Received the new LED lamps for this tractor and may order another pair for the rear as they are much nicer than any incandescent I've ever been around. Definitely cannot look at them in the dark..... I will need to cut off and straighten the left headlamp guard as it was caught by a limb and bent/twisted many years ago partially torn from the tractor. This limb was the reason the limb risers were added. The lights are too expensive to run unguarded, or in the open. Here is a photo from last year showing the headlamp guard:



The prior owner will be putting his equipment up for the winter this next week and I'll get this one back to the shop for a full service. The upholstery shop is running behind in my job but should address it later in the next week also. I have all the decal kit to rebrand back to a HD-11 Series B tractor too, but the tractor needs blasted clean and repainted first.

Temperature took a nosedive yesterday, but should be above freezing later today and most of the week. As I get older I'm finding myself less willing to work in the cold if the job can wait. Hopefully I can get this field work accomplished before the hard frost of the winter sets in, but if not, it can wait another year as I have enough work around my place to gain comfort on the tractor with.   


Posted By: Codger
Date Posted: 13 Nov 2022 at 5:47am
The third 4D battery did not fare so well in a restoration scenario. This "Interstate" brand battery has been in service just over 12 years so likely has compromised lead plates, or internal structure. Regardless, when it would not pass a capacity test the next step was progressed into consisting of dumping the acid, refilling with a solution of Epsom salt and water, then an aggressive vibratory internal cleaning procedure. This was then drained, a clear water rinse performed, and a refill with fresh sulfuric acid from the bulk stock. Currently the battery has been charging at a two ampere rate for a few hours and this will be elevated shortly. Specific gravity of the individual cells reads very even at the time of measure so may be worth working with further.

More later. 


Posted By: steve(ill)
Date Posted: 13 Nov 2022 at 8:36am
Looks like your just about there !! ......... Better hurry before the show flies and the ground freezes... 12 year old battery is an odd one..

Nice looking tractor !


-------------
Like them all, but love the "B"s.


Posted By: Codger
Date Posted: 13 Nov 2022 at 5:45pm
Well this battery is going to the core pile. As the charge elevates the cells are growing distant from each other which is indicative of internal mechanical failure. I have no history on this battery as it was installed in my TLB when purchased. It would actually still crank the engine, but not for very long before depleted.

Thanks for the comment on the tractor but no thanks to me as to condition. The prior owner always kept it in his building when not in use and he made purchase of the tractor in 1996. Pins, bushings, and sprocket segments were new then and it's estimated to have about 800hrs on the undercarriage and 4700 on the tractor itself. It sure runs like a top too. 

A cute little blurb is that I may have moved this tractor from the staging area to the shipment area at the plant. In late April, and into May 1976, I worked a co-op position at the plant. Now this was to do menial tasks such as empty garbage, sweep floors, mow grass, etc., but as I had many friends with relatives working there, I got to do other things instead. One task was to move an 11B, a 16B, and a track loader to the aforementioned shipping/staging area. The 11B, and the track loader were both going to El Paso, IL where my tractor was sold new. Although there is no way to know for certain the timeframes match up pretty close as I've talked to the original owners of the tractor as to when they purchased it new. Dunmire Equipment in El Paso, IL was an Allis construction equipment dealer for years, but are now defunct. Their dealership sticker is still on the tractor.  As a side note, I do know quite well the gent that built the finals under this tractor as that is what he did for many years encompassing this tractor's build time.

I'd really like to drill down and find this tractor's completion date via serial number but most of the records are long gone I'm thinking.    


Posted By: Codger
Date Posted: 14 Nov 2022 at 3:53pm
34 degrees out and tractor started very easily today. Gathered up some of my belongings an policed the area for trash and such, snapped these photos and departed.

As left as I want to see if the blade stays elevated till tomorrow when I return. It is currently 21-1/2" from the driveway:



Picked up a two gallon jug of transmission fluid of the type currently installed and will top it up tomorrow. Also acquired two gallons of 90wt for the finals, and a pail of AW32 for the hydraulics if needed.

Here is an original selling dealer decal in El Paso, IL:

 
Although defaced, it can still be read from the most part:



This was under the fuel tank branding on the rear and is still quite legible up close:






Posted By: Codger
Date Posted: 15 Nov 2022 at 7:08pm
Blade did not remain off the ground through the overnight hours; oh well. Started tractor at 31 degrees this afternoon and ran it around a bit with nothing abnormal noted. Engine sure does start easy and runs/operates smooth. Turbocharger sounds nice upon engine shutdown as it spins down.

Thanks for reading and maybe I'll see you on the next hillside running grade.


Posted By: Codger
Date Posted: 21 Nov 2022 at 4:46am
Ran over to my battery dealer whom I've used for almost 30 years and he "Prorated" this bad battery from May, 2021 although I clearly explained the scenario. May, 2021 is the date on the mating battery in the dozer and I have the receipt for that purchase from the prior owner so that was used as baseline for justification. 

The power of good working relationships in action this was.

  


Posted By: Ages Cat
Date Posted: 21 Nov 2022 at 1:27pm
Dunmire Equipment was in business until 3-4 years ago. I purchased  D grader  and HD6 parts from them. It finally closed and I was told the building was leveled as well.

-------------
Curt Anderson
HD3, HD5B, HD6E, HD6AG,HD6B dozer, I-400, 615, 616,(2) 620, 720, ACP25 lift truck, 1956 D Special Grader, AC 540 loader, AC 655 crawler loader, AC #84 plow, Simplicity lawn tractors.


Posted By: Codger
Date Posted: 21 Nov 2022 at 5:26pm
The newer building, (former shop) still stands to the east of the former and older building was which is now a parking lot. I was just through there last weekend.

I used to pass there weekly when maintaining navigational facilities but changed positions in 2008. They were a JCB dealer and we had a TLB blow a hydraulic line and I went there to have a replacement built up. This was in 2010 during a facility upgrade that was part of my former workload. Don't get by the area much any longer but remember well them maintaining/repairing equipment all over central IL.


Posted By: Codger
Date Posted: 30 Nov 2022 at 6:29am
Ran by my tractor yesterday and it started easily. After allowing to warm a few minutes, I checked fluid levels which all were fine. I noticed the batteries were not recharging again and I'm going to need to run some new wiring, or at least address some terminations. Both the spades on the alternator, (Delco 10DN) are krusty and loose, as are all four of the spades on the voltage regulator. The plastic insulating connector at the rear of the alternator holding the female spade connectors crushes and goes to powder between my fingers, and the lock tab is missing. I can get the alternator to charge by massaging the wiring at the connections, but it's intermittent at best. Don't know how much I'll mess with this as I did purchase a fresh reman 20SI series alternator which would be a slip fit and replace/eliminate the external voltage regulator. Twice the power output also. With incorporating the additional lights I plan it may be a good idea to upgrade the charging system regardless.

Just for the hell of it I stuck the batteries while there too. Lowest cell reading was well within the "good" range, (1.259) of the instrument. I use a temperature corrected refraction type battery hydrometer and it is known accurate.

Probably going to forego the aforementioned work this winter as there are some things I want to get done on the tractor, and the work can wait. The ground goes into CRP next year. Some issues are wear, some are my own desires but it will be a lot easier in my shop rather than a field 175 miles distant...... 


Posted By: DiyDave
Date Posted: 30 Nov 2022 at 5:41pm
Sometimes you can make a better connection by taking a pair of needle-nose pliers, and putting a little twist in the male spade connections...Wink

-------------
Source: Babylon Bee. Sponsored by BRAWNDO, its got what you need!


Posted By: Codger
Date Posted: 30 Nov 2022 at 6:09pm
Ran back over with a multimeter, small brass wire brush, and a scribe. Cleaned all terminals best I could but one of the female spades on the alternator wire in missing it's crimped, rolled edge. This means the male spade cannot be gripped firmly; hence the intermittency of the charging problem. With both the regulator spade lugs, (male and female) dressed fairly clean and the termination rigidly mounted, it works well. The field excitation wire with the compromised female spade is the problem so I'll get this addressed. Was 28 degrees today and sunny. The former owner tells me that's the coldest it's ever been when the tractor has been started and it fired right off taking about four to five seconds to smooth out running on all six cylinders.

If the compromised female spade is held with pressure onto it's male mate, the alternator charges well, but will vibrate loose if no pressure is held onto the wire.

I ordered a replacement plug/pigtail this afternoon so should have it in a couple of days to get everything addressed.  


Posted By: Codger
Date Posted: 01 Dec 2022 at 7:23am
Quick and short video of a battery being finish charged at 20A constant. This battery would not start the tractor engine the next morning after being ran all day. It was replaced and I dragged it out of the core pile to work with it. It is a group 31, 950CCA battery and has been internally cleaned, rinsed, and refilled with a mixture of distilled water and fresh sulfuric acid. It was fully charged, then discharged at a constant rate of 25A through a resistive load bank for 168 minutes before decaying through the 10.5VDC theoretical "discharged" rating. Not bad as originally rated at 175 minutes capacity. I'll give this one a test in a machine over the next few days but it does appear this one has been saved from scrap. Here is a link to the short video, and a link for the battery under test:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/uVahpqmMoHA" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/shorts/uVahpqmMoHA


https://www.farmandfleet.com/products/198350-blains-farm-and-fleet-12v-24-month-commercial-battery.html" rel="nofollow - https://www.farmandfleet.com/products/198350-blains-farm-and-fleet-12v-24-month-commercial-battery.html

Lots of batteries replaced because folks don't understand how they work, or maintain them. 


Posted By: Codger
Date Posted: 03 Dec 2022 at 7:09am
This battery started my 4270 IH semi tractor with a 6V-92TA Detroit this morning with just a "sniff" at 21 degrees. It seemed to crank the engine alright although two batteries in parallel would have been much better. 

Not calling it "good" as of yet as I want to load test after it's fully charged later this afternoon. Lots better than when I started with it however. 


Posted By: Codger
Date Posted: 04 Dec 2022 at 9:23am
Calling this one good at this time. Reinstalled into my tractor and it started pretty well at 21 degrees this morning. Load test is just a bit shy of rating but well within my 90% criteria mandate. I have another group 31 I'll work with a bit and hopefully parallel these two together to achieve an equal balance between the two.

Beats the out of purchasing batteries at current pricing structures. 



Print Page | Close Window

Forum Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 11.10 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Copyright ©2001-2017 Web Wiz Ltd. - https://www.webwiz.net