I now own a tractor!...Allis Chalmers C
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=148411
Printed Date: 29 Aug 2025 at 7:24pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.10 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: I now own a tractor!...Allis Chalmers C
Posted By: redbirds
Subject: I now own a tractor!...Allis Chalmers C
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2018 at 11:05am
I've had my C for about a month or so, and have been working on it with the help of many posts here on "The Forum". I'll try to get some pictures up and look forward to everyone's input...I think I've found the right place for answers and expertise. Thanks
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Replies:
Posted By: redbirds
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2018 at 11:06am
| Apologies in advance if the photo is huge, I suppose I'll learn as I go. |
Posted By: Bill Long
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2018 at 11:51am
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That is a very good looking C. It has the axle of a B but looking at the rear wheels one can see it is for two rows cultivation - wider than a B. You can be certain for looking at the other side. You will find a steering connecting rod coming from the steering gear box that is usually longer and goes up. The B Steering connecting rod goes down In any event you have what I believe is the best looking tractor Allis Chalmers made. With my father we were pleased to sell the C for the life of the unit. You will find this forum to be most friendly. There is knowledge here for you assistance. All you have to do is ask. Welcome! Good Luck! Bill Long |
Posted By: redbirds
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2018 at 12:12pm
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Thanks Bill. Yes, it is a C with a B front end and tractor number 50XXX. It looks like that puts it at a late 46 or early 47 if I read the serial number chart correctly. Someone hand painted CA on the sides of radiator, but I assumed safer to look at number on tractor. It is certainly a work in progress and I look forward to seeing it run. I saw it online and decided I needed to trade an old dirt bike for it...makes perfect sense since I have ZERO tractor experience. Nonetheless, I managed to free the very stuck engine, along with all the valves and rusty rockers, and can now turn it with the hand crank. I found a used manifold, cleaned carb, and am putting it back together. I've purchased a new alternator, 12v battery, 12vcoil, and 12v solenoid and that is where I'll need help with wiring. I also have a new volt meter, and key ignition switch with four posts on back. Until the alternator is on, I'd like to wire for power to the coil in its simplest form, so that I can see if it will start by hand. I can then add lights and alternator if I can just do basics to fire it up first. Any thoughts on this plan? |
Posted By: FloydKS
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2018 at 12:39pm
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congratulations...a tractor can do more than a dirt bike, well, different things... you have come to the right place for someone to verify your plan, may take a few minutes, or hours... ------------- Holding a grudge is like taking poison and expecting the other person to die |
Posted By: redbirds
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2018 at 1:17pm
| Thanks for the welcome, FloydKS. I think I've just really wanted to prove that things could be fixed despite the outward appearance and my lack of experience. I'll throw out the first real operation question. Does my starter need to actually have a switch mounted on it to work, or can power be supplied directly to the post on the bottom via solenoid and large wire? Picture should show "post" I describe on the bottom. |
Posted By: redbirds
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2018 at 1:21pm
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Posted By: chaskaduo
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2018 at 1:47pm
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Rodney Thompson aka Rod (NH) has all this info for you at http://rodnh.byethost12.com/?i=1" rel="nofollow - http://rodnh.byethost12.com/?i=1 . I've found everyone here very helpful for my B work. ------------- 1938 B, 79 Dynamark 11/36 6spd, 95 Weed-Eater 16hp, 2010 Bolens 14hp |
Posted By: Grayray
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2018 at 2:00pm
| Hi redbirds, welcome aboard. You've come to the right place for anything AC, and many things not AC. You will find a wealth of knowledge here, both orange, and not. You will also find that the guys LOVE pictures. Nice looking tractor. I see you are already working on it. You will fit right in here. |
Posted By: redbirds
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2018 at 2:15pm
Thanks for the input already. I’d just like to hear it run then see where to take it from there. Here’s a pic of some of the back. Stock? Homemade?
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Posted By: Gerald J.
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2018 at 2:46pm
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The shop manual I have on line can help with lots of the details. http://geraldj.networkiowa.com/Trees/Allis-Chalmers-G-B-C-CA-Service.pdf" rel="nofollow - http://geraldj.networkiowa.com/Trees/Allis-Chalmers-G-B-C-CA-Service.pdf Gerald J. |
Posted By: Sugarmaker
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2018 at 3:03pm
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Congratulations on the Allis! Lots of good folks and information here! Regards, Chris ------------- D17 1958 (NFE), WD45 1954 (NFE), WD 1952 (NFE), WD 1950 (WFE), Allis F-40 forklift, Allis CA, Allis D14, Ford Jubilee, Many IH Cub Cadets, 32 Ford Dump, 65 Comet. |
Posted By: ErikR
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2018 at 3:10pm
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Congratulations and Welcome!!!!! ------------- 1950 B |
Posted By: Hubnut
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2018 at 5:46pm
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Nice C! Love the front tires. Welcome to THE forum. ------------- 1940 B "Lucy" 1941 B w/ Woods L59 "Flavia" 1942 B w/ finish mower "Dick" 1941 C w/ 3-point "Maggie" 1947 C SFW w/ L306 "Trixie" 1972 314H |
Posted By: Ted J
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2018 at 6:30pm
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WELCOME!!! You've got a gem there and you will love it as much as I love my C. I can't see well enough to help you on your starter issue. You'll have to post a better pic. That starter doesn't look at all like mine on my C. Do a search and you will find a LOT of info on these starters and their problems. GOOD LUCK!! ------------- "Allis-Express" 19?? WC / 1941 C / 1952 CA / 1956 WD45 / 1957 WD45 / 1958 D-17 |
Posted By: Dusty MI
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2018 at 6:41pm
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Redbird There's a Gathering Of The Orange, GOTO, In Gray, TN. in April this year. You must not be very far from there. There are 2 GOTO's each year, that are hosted each year, by different clubs. Dusty ------------- 917 H, '48 G, '65 D-10 series III "Allis Express" |
Posted By: B26240
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2018 at 6:45pm
| Good tractor for your first one, easy to work on and sounds like you are well on your way if you had to free it up. |
Posted By: redbirds
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2018 at 7:17pm
| Yes, I fiddled with all the prescribed ingredients to free the pistons. I settled on sliding a fine feeler gauge along the top edge of each piston and letting pb blaster and transmission fluid seep in. Had to shape a new key for the crankshaft pulley and just put very slight pressure with a bar as I noticed the fluid was making its way down. Eventually that and some persuasion with a wood block got it moving. I was patient with it and now it moves well. Need to get to the point I know I have a spark and work on a hand start. It turns well enough I believe it is possible. |
Posted By: steve(ill)
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2018 at 7:40pm
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redbird--- the ORIGINAL starters had a contact switch mounted to the starter. You pushed a rod inward and it made the contacts touch and the hot wire from the battery was then energized to the starter motor. your motor seems to have the contact switch removed and a POST added in its place.. So YES, you should be able to use a remote solenoid with a wire to the starter.. Then a button or key switch to energize the solenoid... just like a car or riding lawn mower.  ------------- Like them all, but love the "B"s. |
Posted By: redbirds
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2018 at 7:59pm
| Great, Steve. Thanks for looking and commenting. That is how I think I’d like for it to operate, if possible. I found a diagram for wiring and will lay it out to see if I’m on track. |
Posted By: redbirds
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2018 at 8:07pm
New 12v solenoid for this process.
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Posted By: DaveKamp
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2018 at 8:13pm
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Welcome to the Orange Asylum, Redbirds! Dave here. You've stepped into the tractor world basically same way as I did many years ago, bringing home a very stuck '48 B that looks strangely more like your C than a B. I broke mine free too... it had a magneto, rather than distributor, and it started up for me for my first time on a cold, damp night when SHE didn't know it was out in the shed... raining dirt, rust, embers and oil out of the exhaust on the first snorts. WEAR A HAT!!!  The ignition system is incredibly basic. Power flows from battery to coil, then from coil to distributor.... through contact points, to ground. When the points open, magnetic field in the coil collapses, and you get a spark out the coil tower. That spark flows through coil wire to center of distributor, and hopefully, the rotor is pointed to the wire going the the correct spark plug, and hopefully, the point timing and dwell are approximately appropriate, and there's a little fuel, air, and compression in the accordant cylinder to pop it off in the RIGHT DIRECTION. Lap the valves and check the springs before you put the head back on, so 'ya don't hafta do it again later. It'll run. Even if there's a big gap between pistons and liners, and the rings are missing, it'll still run.  ------------- Ten Amendments, Ten Commandments, and one Golden Rule solve most every problem. Citrus hand-cleaner with Pumice does the rest. |
Posted By: Bill Long
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2018 at 8:26pm
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If you want electrical help contact SteveNJ. He is a sponsor on this site and our "in house" electrical expert. He will have what you need or can rebuild what you have. Also, check the sponsors on this site. SteveNJ is one. They all can be of help. Take good care of my favorite's (the B) brother the C. Let us know how it goes. Good Luck! Bill Long |
Posted By: redbirds
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2018 at 9:01pm
| That’s encouraging Dave! I’ve already had the head back on for a bit and have done a bit of valve adjustment. You are correct in that these things seem to be amazingly resilient. When I popped the valve cover off, the rust was crazy. After Scrubbing, brushing, spraying, etc, now the springs move up and down in time with the rockers and it’s really sort of hard to believe. Pure labor and patience leads me to believe there are lots of things, previously abandoned, that can be fixed. I want to see the results of working and trusting that it will free up. I’ll compliment quality equipment too, in that nothing so far has been a shock other than owner neglect. The parts are what the manuals describe and what you see is what you get. It’s a fun challenge and a learning experience. |
Posted By: allisrutledge
Date Posted: 13 Mar 2018 at 9:39am
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Better get on the ball , GOTO in Gray in 43 days 21 hrs and14 minutes give or take a few. Scott ------------- Allis Chalmers still exist in my mind and barns |