1955 Gleaner Baldwin Model A
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=208239
Printed Date: 07 Dec 2025 at 2:48am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.10 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: 1955 Gleaner Baldwin Model A
Posted By: wjohn
Subject: 1955 Gleaner Baldwin Model A
Date Posted: 19 Sep 2025 at 11:11pm
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I came across this combine about 2 years ago. I chatted with the owner and he used it to harvest about 8 acres for the last couple of decades but hadn't used it for several years at the time we talked. I left him my name and number and told him to call me if he was ever going to sell it. It would have been perfect for the current size of my operation. Meanwhile, I came across my CII and figured I'd better buy it since I needed a combine. I fixed it up and harvested my first wheat crop with it this summer. Just before I was about to start harvest, I got a voice mail from the guy with the A saying he was ready to sell it. Well, great... I just spent a lot of money with AGCO buying parts to fix up the CII. I went ahead and met with the guy figuring I'd have to pass. Then he wanted a price that I thought was way too good to pass up to have a backup combine around. It's a 1955 A with the Hercules engine and 14' header. It's in pretty good shape all things considered. The bin loading elevator rotted out near the top at one point and he fiberglassed it to repair, the engine probably burns some oil, and it has the other issues you'd expect with a 70 year old combine. I definitely need to find a manifold for it (cracked in two pieces), and get an equipment shed put up so it can go back inside where it belongs. Any specific weak points on these old As that I should be aware of as I'm going through it? There are a lot of things that I can tell AC improved by the time my CII was in production.    ------------- 1939 B, 1940 B, 1941 WC, 1951 WD, 1952 CA, 1956 WD-45 |
Replies:
Posted By: IBWD MIke
Date Posted: 20 Sep 2025 at 6:49am
| Pretty good looking machine wjohn! |
Posted By: PaulB
Date Posted: 20 Sep 2025 at 6:59am
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A lot of the early round back John Deere 55 combines also used the Hercules engines. That may widen your search for a good manifold. ------------- If it was fun to pull in LOW gear, I could have a John Deere. Real pullers don't have speed limits. If you can't make it GO... make it SHINY |
Posted By: AC7060IL
Date Posted: 20 Sep 2025 at 8:37pm
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wJohn, congratulations on another great addition to your gleaner herd. If possible, try to weld the cracked manifold. Heat it to a dull cherry red, then use a cast rod in a stick welder on a little lower amp settings. Whether you weld it or replace it, check engine timing? It’s probably running too lean & exhaust valve flame is super heating manifold? If timing shows correct, then try retarding it 5-6 degrees to richen up fuel mixture burn & decrease its exhaust valve flame into manifold. |
Posted By: wjohn
Date Posted: 23 Sep 2025 at 11:53pm
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Thanks all! I would love to learn how to weld or braze cast. I should probably practice on some other junk first. I'll have to check out one of those old JD combines and see if the manifold is the same. From what I've found the engine is a slightly different Hercules model. Of course I was just at an auction with an early 55 that was in great shape but went for scrap... Didn't even think about trying to buy the engine off of it. ------------- 1939 B, 1940 B, 1941 WC, 1951 WD, 1952 CA, 1956 WD-45 |