D-17 IV Weights

I've owned the last D-17 built in 1966 now for several years. In the ongoing process of restoring it I'm thinking about draining the calcium from the tire's and replaceing it with a set of factory weights. Upon doing the math I see that it will take 2 full sets of D-17 factory weights to replace the fluid weight! Has any one out there ever double stacked the factory 4 piece D-17 weights. On the bench they appear to be shaped just right to do this. But I can't remember ever seeing it on a tractor. Have seen it done a lot with the older F&H weights used on the WD45 & early D-17. Mine would be the same weights that were used on the D-17IV pictured in the 2016 Allis Connection Calender on the March page. At 80# each the 4 weigh in at 320# total & the calcium fluid weight is 588#. The little D-17 has plenty of tork to slip
the 14.9-28 long bar-short bar (part or the problem} rears with the 588# of fluid in them!!!




















7h

Those are pretty skinny tires for a series IV.  Both of mine have 16.9s.  My diesel had bald 18.4s when I got it.

I'm told RimGuard is somewhat expensive. RV antifreeze is more affordable but doesn't weigh 10 pounds per gallon like calcium does. Maybe a combo of RV antifreeze and one set of weights will get you where you need to be. I can count on one hand how many D-17's I've ever seen with 14.9 x 28's. Around here they all had 16.9 x 28's and a fair amount of them pulled 4 bottom plows. Most WD-45's around here had 14.9 x 28's so it would only make sense the newer bigger tractor had more rubber on it.

But, put in perspective, I don't think any of those rear wheels/rims had an issue when the tractor was 20 years old, did they ?? And probably not when they were 30 years old either. Bottom line is this, if the owner of the tractor replaced valve stem valves when/or before they started seeping, the rims would never have rotted away. When the tractors were used regularly and rear rubber was worn out and replaced with new tires & tubes every 10 years or so, there wasn't a problem. A friend of mine just replaced rear rims on a D-17 series 4 for the first time, so that makes them just 50 years old. Are some of these tractors still going to be around in another 50 years??????????

Question will weights fit on inside of wheel. Some tractors you put weights on ethier side. I have a 14 but no weights.

we have a series 3 D17 with wide rims and 16.9 by 28 makes the tires look like 18.4.

Thanks Guys! There's something special about discussion with people who think ORANGE. 1st Dr. Allis I agree with you when thinking in terms of the years but more & more the younger groups are not thinking in terms of fluid in tires. And it's getting harder & harder to find a place with a service truck with a pump on it. That being said I think I like the idea of the combination of RV Anti-freeze & pie weights. Oh,& as for the next 50 years? Of course it says Allis on the hood silly boy! Just think of how fast the last 50 went by. 2nd wfmurry I've never seen a set of inside weights on a tractor that has a final drive axle, maybe someone else could correct me if I'm wrong. 3rd Dan73 The tractor seems to spin very easily. I pull a 7", 3-Point, brush hog mower with it and if on a turn the side of the mower hits a small high spot the tractor will spin out & dig a hole with the out side tire every time! My D-15 never does (on the same mower)! Also the D-15 spins less with it's 2 bottom mounted plow than the D-17 does with it's 3 bottom mounted plow in the same fields. Witch brings me back to you Dr. Allis in my books a D-19 was made for 4 bottom plows if you want to take care of the tractor over the long haul! Last but not least Mr. Allis180gas on your last post you said "This is the tractor" but the picture didn't come through. Would like to see the tractor with that tire set up on it very much. Thanks Guys P.S.S. I value your opinions very much!

Oh I forgot to mention that antifreeze is something I would avoid. It is considered toxic here and the local tire shop will not touch a tire that is filled with it. If you do fill them with it and then they work with the tire because you forget to tell then you get a really nasty bill for contamination of their system.   So I would check around before using antifreeze

RV antifreeze isn't toxic, stuff is made to winterize the water system in RV's then when spring comes flush and fill with water for cooking drinking and bathing.

   Al

http://mainecamperdealer.com/what-you-need-to-know-about-rv-anti-freeze/
Being that I live on the Maine state line I am willing to bet the issue the local shop has is that there are 3 different products sold as rv antifreeze and two of them contain alcohol which makes them flammable.   The other interesting fact in that writeup is that the alcohol will dry out the rubber. So basically unless you know for sure you got the right rv antifreeze product you would be trading rim damage 20 or more years out for tube and tire damage and given the volume it takes to fill a tire I would think it would have plenty of chance of damaging the rubber and shorten the life of your tire which is very expensive.