Which AC dozer has the most parts support

Well? If you were buying one for farm use which one would be your best bet?

I would have to say the 21B, Can us much of Cat undercarriage, repower to a similar sized HP range is only limited to imagination. Finals would be a concern but the heavy iron parts should last quite awhile.

11B can be modified similarly, trucks pulled and remanned for CAT rollers, 6.91 rails, p/n's have been posted to convert the sprocket to cat segments. 6BT Cummins would be a good choice repower.

Edited by DMiller - 17 Dec 2017 at 1:35pm

Some notes here on repowering a 21C

http://www.vannattabros.com/dozer17.html

Not for the faint hearted

Lots of negatives to owning a Allis, parts is number one. Almost everything on a Allis is Allis alone. Rockford made the transmission parts and torque converters internals but that is about where they stopped and Rockford Clutch div Borg Warner is near as much RIP as Allis.

Allis engines are strong and dependable overhaul parts are available for many but not all. Some pieces have to be custom made for repair parts where items as rails are particular to Allis and some to IHC/Dresser and Allis. HD11, 11B my own 7G and the 7G-b all used 7,0 pitch rails as did IH 175, TD9? I believe and a few others. Cat used to make a change over sprocket weld on and could use 6.91 rails/rollers/segments, do not know if still in production or NOS still available fits from D6/955k and a few others.

I am currently trying to overhaul a trans from a 7G as a replacement, is becoming VERY problematic but managing, just a lot of time digging thru generic parts and custom repairs shops.

Agree with some of the above comments,  Caterpiillar parts support would be the best at this point based on production numbers and the fact that their  business is still in place.  

Most current equipment the owners become real proud of. Look to rails wear charts, get educated on what to look at as to rails, rollers, sprockets and idlers, then step a little deeper to see as to trans/torque converter slippage, oils samples for wear deposits indicators, ask for service records and step back slightly when they cannot supply as if to doom the sale, may get a few discounts that way.

Otherwise, if find a Proud Owner unwilling to listen or cannot accept measurements being out of spec, will not consider coming down to a reasonable/negotiated price walk as that machine probably has NOT had the maintenance needed.

Ray54 wrote: Ian we are to make this poor fellow want an AC not discourage the poor guy. Started out as good story  just that there is not a good ending. Maybe it is a bad subject for me as I should be out working on a 9u D6 . I have several that are not that far gone just need more sweat to have another one running.

Ray

If he wants a 21 he's already not in the faint hearted!  But then he could also look at a FD 30.

There is this verse from Rudyard' Kipling's "Certain Maxims of Hafiz"

"If he play, being young and unskillfull
For shekels of silver and gold
Take his money by all means, praise Allah,
The kid was ordained to be sold"

So I'm guessing that warnings as appropriate will make a better Allis preserver

At present more parts are available for the 844 engine than for the 516.  Parts support and AC is an oxymoron.  That being said, it's good fun finding used parts, because you are meeting other people with the same "iron disease".  Much different from going to the CAT dealer and just being a small number in a big system.

My faux paux, HD16 were 7.875 the 16B 7.850 but still within enough range should be able to convert to the Cat 8.0 rails with the smaller bushing diameter?

Cat used a roughly 66mm bushing the Allis just over 70mm. Rail width/height would be the harder part to convert and I do not have those dimensions handy.