WF front steel restoration
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=108391
Printed Date: 19 Jul 2025 at 1:08pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.10 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: WF front steel restoration
Posted By: K.Novak
Subject: WF front steel restoration
Date Posted: 02 Jul 2015 at 1:32pm
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I am currently working on restoring my 1938 WF and my first step is to get the old girl back on the steel wheels it would have originally had coming from the factory. It currently has cutoff steel all he way around. I have a set of rear steel taken care of (could use some lugs thou) so now I'm ready to tackle the fronts. As most of you know finding a good set of front steel for a WF is pretty much out of the question.......so I'm left to try and rebuild the ones I have and bring them back to steel from cutoffs. What are my options here?? Does anybody do this yet? Detwilers??? Does anybody have experience doing this themselves and if so how did you go about doing this? I have a decent amount of metal fabrication and machining knowledge and have access to a complete machine shop, laser, press brake, etc. I would greatly appreciate any help or ideas you guys can provide. I will upload some photos a bit later. ------------- 1934 WC SN# 2123,Factory WFE 1935 25-40 SN# 25557, TS 1938 WF SN# 506, Full Steel 1967 I400 SN# 1302 |
Replies:
Posted By: steelwheelAcjim
Date Posted: 02 Jul 2015 at 2:29pm
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Do you have the original cut-off rings with the skid bands??? ------------- Pre-WW2 A-C tractors on steel wheels...because I'm too cheap to buy tires! |
Posted By: MNLonnie
Date Posted: 02 Jul 2015 at 2:45pm
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Can you post some pics of what you have? ------------- Waukesha B, B, IB, G, styled WF, D15, 615 backhoe, 2-Oliver OC3's, 4 Ford Model T's, 3 Model A Fords, AV8 Coupe, AV8 Roadster, 1933 Ford Wrecker |
Posted By: K.Novak
Date Posted: 02 Jul 2015 at 5:21pm
  ------------- 1934 WC SN# 2123,Factory WFE 1935 25-40 SN# 25557, TS 1938 WF SN# 506, Full Steel 1967 I400 SN# 1302 |
Posted By: K.Novak
Date Posted: 02 Jul 2015 at 5:23pm
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No sir, I do not have the original rings or skid-bands.......Really wish I did! Does anybody know the dimensions of the original steel wheels? Diameter, width, etc? ------------- 1934 WC SN# 2123,Factory WFE 1935 25-40 SN# 25557, TS 1938 WF SN# 506, Full Steel 1967 I400 SN# 1302 |
Posted By: MNLonnie
Date Posted: 02 Jul 2015 at 7:01pm
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According to the books the WF's are the same as the common WC narrow front steel as far as rim size, 24"x4", it's just the center that is different so you got it made, those rims are everywhere. ------------- Waukesha B, B, IB, G, styled WF, D15, 615 backhoe, 2-Oliver OC3's, 4 Ford Model T's, 3 Model A Fords, AV8 Coupe, AV8 Roadster, 1933 Ford Wrecker |
Posted By: MNLonnie
Date Posted: 02 Jul 2015 at 7:04pm
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I turned a pair of cutoffs back into steel for my WC wide front and it wasn't too bad of a task, the longer the spokes are that are left on the rim the easier it is. ------------- Waukesha B, B, IB, G, styled WF, D15, 615 backhoe, 2-Oliver OC3's, 4 Ford Model T's, 3 Model A Fords, AV8 Coupe, AV8 Roadster, 1933 Ford Wrecker |
Posted By: K.Novak
Date Posted: 02 Jul 2015 at 7:50pm
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On a side note: Lonnie, I actually have an "extra" front steel wheel on the wide front I'm putting on my 34 WC. Don't really have a use for it unless I can find it's brother. I seem to remember hearing at one point that this the same style steel wheel that was used on the U's........... any truth to that?  ------------- 1934 WC SN# 2123,Factory WFE 1935 25-40 SN# 25557, TS 1938 WF SN# 506, Full Steel 1967 I400 SN# 1302 |
Posted By: steelwheelAcjim
Date Posted: 02 Jul 2015 at 8:11pm
I Don't believe that WC steel outer rims will match up. The WF Spokes are a little thicker, and are at a different angle from the cast hub to the outside rim. I have been searching for another wheel that F & H made that matched the spoke configuration of the WF front steel. So far, I have not found anything close. I still have faith that there is a pair out there somewhere.  ------------- Pre-WW2 A-C tractors on steel wheels...because I'm too cheap to buy tires! |
Posted By: sandman2234
Date Posted: 02 Jul 2015 at 9:40pm
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There is a place here that can roll the skid band on a B steel almost close enough, so it shoul be easy to find somebody that can roll 24 inch rims. I considered having B rim angle iron rolled as close as they. could get it, then pulling it down with bolts and a little heat, but haven't done it yet. David from jax ------------- A proud member of the Allis Express movement! Northeast Florida |
Posted By: MNLonnie
Date Posted: 03 Jul 2015 at 7:32am
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You are correct, the steel for the widefront WC is 28" x 6" and they are the same as for a U. Jim is probably right about the spoke size but the rim itself should be the correct diameter and width.The WF fronts are 12 spoke and the WC narrow fronts are 10 spoke so it would be more work than I was thinking but still worth a shot. ------------- Waukesha B, B, IB, G, styled WF, D15, 615 backhoe, 2-Oliver OC3's, 4 Ford Model T's, 3 Model A Fords, AV8 Coupe, AV8 Roadster, 1933 Ford Wrecker |
Posted By: WD45Diesel57
Date Posted: 03 Jul 2015 at 7:35am
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the only thing you can use from a WC steel wheel is the outter band, the WC has 10 spokes and the WF has 12 spokes in the wheel, I was told that the front wheels on a steel wheeled massey harris horse drawn manure spreader are all most dead on for size and have 12 spokes. ------------- 1-B's, 2-C, 2-CA's,2-WF, 1-WC,1-G, 3-WD's, 2-WD45, 1-RC, 1-D17 Diesel, 1-D14, 2-D15,1-D17 row crop,1-D19 gas and All Crop 40,60,66,72,90 and 100 |
Posted By: K.Novak
Date Posted: 03 Jul 2015 at 8:39am
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Great info guys!! Thank you! Anybody have any experience working with Detwilers? I know they're more into parts and pieces for the "green" ones but I guess they do some pretty serious wheel work as well. ------------- 1934 WC SN# 2123,Factory WFE 1935 25-40 SN# 25557, TS 1938 WF SN# 506, Full Steel 1967 I400 SN# 1302 |