What is this and how do I put an alternator on it?
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=159625
Printed Date: 03 Oct 2025 at 9:04pm
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Topic: What is this and how do I put an alternator on it?
Posted By: Dirtd0bber
Subject: What is this and how do I put an alternator on it?
Date Posted: 03 Apr 2019 at 3:26pm
I bought this tractor couple weeks ago from a person who told me that it was in 1942 Alice charmer CA. This story goes that the generator was taken off of it by some local hoodlums and the man didn't have time to fix it. So right after I bought it I went out and I got all of the parts to make it a 12 V system and use an alternator. Whenever I got the alternator mounting bracket I realized that there is nowhere to mount the bracket and that in fact I was dealing with a completely different engine. I've ran the numbers and I think that the motor comes off of an older Allis Chalmers B. I'll include pictures so that you all can have a look at it. If anyone has any ideas of what this engine is and the proper way to put an alternator on it I would be extremely grateful. Thank you   
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Replies:
Posted By: littlemarv
Date Posted: 03 Apr 2019 at 3:47pm
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Looks like they took the damn mounting holes too! Them SOB's are GOOD! I think very early B's didn't have a provision for mounting a generator cause there was no battery, but someone more knowledgeable will be along shortly. Maybe a picture of the rest of the tractor would help too. ------------- The mechanic always wins. B91131, WC23065, WD89101, CA29479, B1, Early B10, HB212, 416H |
Posted By: im4racin
Date Posted: 03 Apr 2019 at 4:22pm
| that is a B. the front axle looks that way anyhow. there isn't a way to put a gen or alt on that without changing engine block. does it have pto? build a bracket and run the alt off it. |
Posted By: chaskaduo
Date Posted: 03 Apr 2019 at 4:38pm
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Information I gleaned form somewhere off the internet. Bold Italic and Underlined is my surmise based on AM2916 on your block by the distributor. If you are sure there is no number stamped (and covered by paint), then the transmission failed in years past and was changed out with a new unit which had no number. If this is the case you can look at the engine behind the distributor for a casting number. It should be a cast number in the form of AM2916 - xx . The two digits at the end will tell you the approx year manufactured. 1938 is 10, 1939 is 11, etc, 1958 would be 30.
125 cubic inch "CE" engine Approximate engine sn: back of block and tractor sn: correlation
Also, most heads have a actual casting date in raised numbers in the bottom of the oil galley. HTH Elliott
------------- 1938 B, 79 Dynamark 11/36 6spd, 95 Weed-Eater 16hp, 2010 Bolens 14hp |
Posted By: Jim.ME
Date Posted: 03 Apr 2019 at 4:48pm
| A few photos of the whole tractor might help better identify it. Those photos look like a B not a CA. The rod from the steering box to front end would show in the photo if it was a CA or C. |
Posted By: DiyDave
Date Posted: 03 Apr 2019 at 6:16pm
Back to your immediate problem, You can make lemonade out of lemons, by dropping the oil pan, and measure up, to the bottom of the water jacket. Take that measurement, and measure up, from the pan gasket, and draw a line, on the outside. You do NOT want to drill into the area, ABOVE the line, or you risk perforating the water jacket... Then just hold your bracket and alt, up to the side of the motor, till it approximately lines up, to the belt, mark the hole locations, drill and tap (I'd use a fine thread, 5/16 or maybe 3/8 screws to attach the bracket...
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Posted By: WF owner
Date Posted: 03 Apr 2019 at 6:42pm
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What are you going to do with the tractor? If you aren't planning to run any lights or 12 volt accessories, you can install a 12 volt battery and charge it every couple weeks with a regular battery charger. You can run it without any alternator or generator. I have a WD that I use only for parades and tractor shows. It has the original 6 volt generator, but the wires aren't hooked to anything. It is used only as a belt tightener. I charge the battery two or three times per summer, depending on how many times I have started it. My battery is 4 years old and still works great.
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Posted By: Dick L
Date Posted: 03 Apr 2019 at 7:11pm
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Here is one of several I have done to mount a generator on the early B blocks. Having several block to measure helps. No problem drilling and taping into the water jacket, you just have to seal the threads. This is the exact location for the bracket.  
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Posted By: steve(ill)
Date Posted: 03 Apr 2019 at 7:21pm
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WF is right..... Just put the 12 volt battery in it, charge it good, and then use it... Connect to a charger once a month and forget it. ------------- Like them all, but love the "B"s. |
Posted By: steve(ill)
Date Posted: 03 Apr 2019 at 7:22pm
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Does it have a starter / lights / distributor or magnito ? What are you going to do with the tractor ------------- Like them all, but love the "B"s. |
Posted By: oldways
Date Posted: 03 Apr 2019 at 7:23pm
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Like WF owner says if you ain't gonna run lights don't worry about an alternator. I have a WC unstyled. I put a newer bell housing on it so it'd have electric start and like you I have a Mag. So I just charge the battery every now and then. One charge will crank it a bunch of times. ------------- 1 Corinthians 1:18 1969-190xt-III. 1966 190xt gas. 1966 190xt Cab. 1948-G. 1937-WC unstyled. 1950-B. 1951-CA. 1966-D17-IV |
Posted By: Steve in NJ
Date Posted: 03 Apr 2019 at 7:29pm
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Dick, You have way to much time on your hands man! A color coordinated valve train. You're to much! LMAO! Steve@B&B ------------- 39'RC, 43'WC, 48'B, 49'G, 50'WF, 65 Big 10, 67'B-110, 75'716H, 2-620's, & a Motorhead wife |
Posted By: Dick L
Date Posted: 03 Apr 2019 at 8:30pm
All the heads I put small block Chevy valves in I painted the valve train that way. |
Steve in NJ wrote:Posted By: DSeries4
Date Posted: 03 Apr 2019 at 9:29pm
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No such thing as a 1942 CA. CAs did not come out until the early to mid 50s. You have a B there. Electrical systems were not offered on them until around 1942 (give or take a year). ------------- '49 G, '54 WD45, '55 CA, '56 WD45D, '57 WD45, '58 D14, '59 D14, '60 D14, '63 D15D, '66 D15II, '66 D21II, '67 D17IV, '67 D17IVD, '67 190XTD, '73 620, '76 185, '77 175, '84 8030, '85 6080 |
Posted By: Ranse
Date Posted: 03 Apr 2019 at 9:43pm
| I have a B I use the same way as WF owner. I bet I haven't charged my battery 3 or 4 times in the three years I had it. It will crank many times on one charge and I can use the tractor for most anything I want. |
Posted By: Lonn
Date Posted: 04 Apr 2019 at 6:30am
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I bet my dad run his C for 30 years without a working charge system. He just occasionally put the battery charger on it when ever he thought it needed it. He has used it every year since 1977 to mow his large yard and maybe 10 years or so ago we finally put an alternator on it. ------------- -- --- .... .- -- -- .- -.. / .-- .- ... / .- / -- ..- .-. -.. . .-. .. -. --. / -.-. .... .. .-.. -.. / .-. .- .--. .. ... - Wink I am a Russian Bot |
Posted By: allisrutledge
Date Posted: 04 Apr 2019 at 6:32am
30 years in the future someone will take this motor apart and post on here that they found a demonstrator B. Looks good Dick L. Never saw a 42 ca. ------------- Allis Chalmers still exist in my mind and barns |
Posted By: HoughMade
Date Posted: 04 Apr 2019 at 9:04am
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I guess my question is whether it has a battery box and starter...or a hole for a starter in the torque tube. If it didn't have a generator mount on the block....
How many forwards gears does the transmission have? I imagine it's possible that it's a B from the engine forward and something else from the torque tube back. If it has a starter and battery box in the right location, we know that the torque tube had to be changed at some point. ------------- 1951 B |
Posted By: Jim.ME
Date Posted: 04 Apr 2019 at 10:12am
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HoughMade, Like you I wondered about the starter, but the focus has been on mounting an alternator, so I assumed (we'll see how that works out) he has a starter and battery box or wouldn't be asking this. Unless there is a need for electrical power beyond starting, I would go with the charge the battery occasionally group, rather than go to the work of adding an alternator on this one. But that is the owner's choice, we all have our way we want something others may not agree with. No where do I see that Dirtd0bber has checked for the serial number which would be stamped into a flat spot near the shift lever on a B, C, or CA. That doesn't mean much right now, but may in the future if he needs other parts and info. It may well be a mix of the 3 models. He has looked for engine numbers as I read this. |
Posted By: Gerald J.
Date Posted: 04 Apr 2019 at 10:24am
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The shop manual may have some hints: 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 and the B military manual may have some hints from 1942: http://geraldj.networkiowa.com/Trees/BMilitary.pdf" rel="nofollow - http://geraldj.networkiowa.com/Trees/BMilitary.pdf Gerald J. |
Posted By: HoughMade
Date Posted: 04 Apr 2019 at 10:45am
Yeah, I get it and would assume the same, but clearly this tractor had to be ------------- 1951 B |
Posted By: chaskaduo
Date Posted: 04 Apr 2019 at 10:53am
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Where there's a will there's a way. ( should add that one to the sayings and colloquialisms post in Shops, Barns, Varmints, and Trucks topic) ------------- 1938 B, 79 Dynamark 11/36 6spd, 95 Weed-Eater 16hp, 2010 Bolens 14hp |
Posted By: Jim.ME
Date Posted: 04 Apr 2019 at 11:57am
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Good afternoon Dirtd0bber, I believe you have decided by now you didn't get quite what you bought. There is a good possibility it is a B, not a CA. If you would please post a few photos that show both sides and the rear of the whole tractor to help folks ID just what you have. If you look around the gear shift lever you should see a "flat" rectangle area. The tractor serial number should be stamped into (not raised) that area. It will begin with a B, C, or CA, then numbers. From that, and the photos the fellows will likely identify just what you have. That will make getting parts and servicing it easier in the future. Sometimes identifying these old tractors and machines is part of the fun. |
Posted By: Dick L
Date Posted: 04 Apr 2019 at 2:18pm
A cobbled up B, C, or CA with some of all using good parts is good tractor to use. You might even get a ribbon for the best reengineered tractor. 
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Posted By: jaybmiller
Date Posted: 04 Apr 2019 at 5:10pm
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I'm thinking Bs and Cs were 3 speed, CAs were 4 speeds ?? ------------- 3 D-14s,A-C forklift, B-112 Kubota BX23S lil' TOOT( The Other Orange Tractor) Never burn your bridges, unless you can walk on water |
Posted By: Jim.ME
Date Posted: 04 Apr 2019 at 5:17pm
| Right Bs and Cs were 3 speed and CAs were 4 speed. |
Posted By: Ted J
Date Posted: 05 Apr 2019 at 1:55pm
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It definitely is a 'B' and it's not an Alice charmer it's an Allis-Chalmers. YES, we need more pics to see what you really have. Does it have a lever on the right hand side that sticks up about 2'? It's a hand clutch. Does it have a metal pan over the whole rear end/sitting area? More pics ------------- "Allis-Express" 19?? WC / 1941 C / 1952 CA / 1956 WD45 / 1957 WD45 / 1958 D-17 |
Posted By: WF owner
Date Posted: 06 Apr 2019 at 9:13am
| If you do decide to go without a charging system (alternator or generator), a voltmeter would be a good addition, to monitor the charge in your battery . I have intended to put one on my (parade tractor) WD, but it's one of those jobs that keeps getting postponed. |
Posted By: Alberta Phil
Date Posted: 06 Apr 2019 at 4:50pm
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???? What happened to the O.P of this post?? |
Posted By: chaskaduo
Date Posted: 06 Apr 2019 at 5:09pm
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Was wondering the same. I know if I posted it, I'd be checking at least 2wice a day.
------------- 1938 B, 79 Dynamark 11/36 6spd, 95 Weed-Eater 16hp, 2010 Bolens 14hp |