Construction and other equipment

Summer H4 Project

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=97413
Printed Date: 14 Jul 2025 at 6:03pm
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Topic: Summer H4 Project

Posted By: pinball
Subject: Summer H4 Project
Date Posted: 06 Nov 2014 at 8:16am

I bought this allis h4 crawler back in may for my summer project. I noticed the tracks weren't adjusted very good and the upper roller was bad. It ran good and steered some. I put it in the garage and started working on it. Never had replaced any steering clutches so my experience began. After taking the tracks off to replace the rear sprockets I saw the right rear sprocket case was broken. So I stated to tear it down to take off. The left steering clutch was bad. Rear sprockets needed to be replaced. Both upper rollers were egged shaped, rear right case and drive shafts/bearings were bad as well the left steering clutch needed to be rebuilt. Both the track adjusters were froze. Idlers, track and rollers all seemed to be okay for me. I called several places for parts. Was amazed at the people who said they would call me back but never did. Times sure has changed. Guess if they thought they weren't going to make the dollar it wasn't worth the effort. Learned a lot on this project. There is some great people out there that is willing to help but there is some people that only has dollar signs in there eyes. After getting the adjusters all freed up, replacing both sprockets, rear right case and gears, both upper rollers, rebuilding the left steering clutch I finally got it all back together. Started it up and drove it out of the garage. It turns both ways, tracks stay on, digs dirt fairly well. waiting now for my temp guage and it should be ready to use. Only oil leak is a hydraulic line. Thanks for randall and coke for helping me along with some others that answered my question. It been a great experience. Now my project for next year is a 310 crawler I bought. Thanks and you all have a good day. Norm in Missouri.

Replies:

Posted By: Randaleky
Date Posted: 06 Nov 2014 at 10:33pm

GLAD YOU ENJOYED THE PROJECT. GLAD TO HELP IN ANY WAY I CAN. HAVE FUN WITH THE PINBALL UNITS THROUGH THE WINTER. I CAN'T HELP WITH THAT ... HA HA

Posted By: albatros_3
Date Posted: 07 Nov 2014 at 8:41am

Glad to hear it! I need to get back to my 653. I need to rebuild the steering clutches and brake bands and put them back in. I just got so busy with my house remodel and putting up new fences that the little dozer got pushed to the back of my mind. When the snow falls, I'll have more time.

Posted By: Coke-in-MN
Date Posted: 07 Nov 2014 at 11:41am

They can be a great project but also one can get into a money pit on machines

I bought a Cat D6 9U which I did work on to get it out on a job - used it for about a year with just small problems - then the money rolled into it . After about 3 years I gave up and changed direction of business buying a HD4 with a 615 AC backhoe attachment .

About 8 years with that machine and it got traded for a New Holland 785 skid steer, with also a AC 715B replacing the 615 hoe attachment .

Same wit ha HD5 B that came to me broken and after about 6 years was replaced with a Fiat Allis FD5 -

In business you try to upgrade as jobs permit - now well it seems they are toys that set out back and the one of these days I will becomes part of each day .

Thinking back over the years it seems many a machine has passed through my care - I still have most and my IH 460 Utility seems to be the tractor that started my dirt work , that and the HD5G which I still have also .

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Faith isn't a jump in the dark. It is a walk in the light. Faith is not guessing; it is knowing something.
"Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful."

Posted By: michale34
Date Posted: 07 Nov 2014 at 1:07pm

I remember the days when theses old machines paid the light bills I have loaded trucks with a hd6g many times with just one steering clutch working and diping water out of a creek with a hole in the radiator just trying to get a job finished to get paid I remember one job in the early 80s we had 4 machines 2 hd6 1 hd11 and a hd6g clearing 25 acres for a new department store the last week of the job the tracks were falling off of the hd11 they were so worn dad orderd a new undercarriage for it and when the job was done waiting to get paid the company filed for bankruptcy needlees to say the 11 didn't get new undercarriage

Posted By: pinball
Date Posted: 12 Nov 2014 at 7:24am

They can get pricey. Other than the rear case I didn't expect the rest I had figured on. I retired back in 2001 with a disability. until the last 4 years my strength had gone south due to it. I always enjoyed working on dozers. had some jd 40/420s 20 years ago. Had to sell them because of my injury. I have really learned how to use leverage and my skid loader to help break loose bolts, etc. When you have a disability you have to learn to live with it. I am very slow in what I do. My main reason to do this is my health. The money really doesn't play into it to much. I figured on spending around 1500 on it when I got it. rear case upped it some but when I put it back together and it started up , pulled itself out of the garage, tuned both ways, tracks stayed on it, went to the dirt mound and dug some dirt with it, ran it for an hour and it seemed to run pretty well. surely felt good. Sense of accomplishment. Plan on trying to build a pond next spring. It has a scarifier on it that works well but I only have one of the teeth for it so ill need to find some before next spring. Winter is here now so going to my other building full of pinball machines and jukeboxes where I will spend my wimter. Just hope spring gets here quick. would much rather be working on the case 310. If your coming through central Missouri and want to stop by your always welcome .You all have a nice thanksgiving coming up. We all have a lot to be thankful for. God bless America and our troops for there sacrifices they have made to help us be free.

Posted By: Randaleky
Date Posted: 12 Nov 2014 at 1:18pm

Well said Norman. hope you enjoy the work inside this winter. have a good Thanksgiving and Christmas. call me anytime you need help or just to talk. Randal