Allis-Chalmers Model B Tractor Restoration
Tuesday, April 3, 2012 at 8:29PM I acquired two Allis Chalmers model B tractors in early 2005, after attending the Allora QLD tractor Rally, where my dad and I took two Ferguson tractors to the rally that year. Through word of mouth we came to know of two Allis Chalmers B’s for sale in the Stanthorpe area of QLD. One painted green in running order and one in the original orange colour not running. The following weekend we made the four-hour drive in our truck to pick them up and restoration on the green runner began not long after this.
The green model B, serial number B112311, had Its front grill cut out to mount possibly a hydraulic pump onto the crank shaft. The fuel tank cap had been replaced and in doing so the neck of the tank had been modified to house the replacement cap. The steering column and box had been replaced with a different type and the panel around steering box cut to house the bigger box. The original type of steering gear was not the strongest design leaving me to suspect there would be a few like it.
I sourced parts off the other tractor, as it had with it’s original panels, The steering box on this was original, but had lots of movement, which was repairable to help reduce wheel free play. In addition I used the starter from this donor tractor, as well as the generator as the green one had been converted to alternator charging.
With the engine being in running order I set about disassembling the tractor and replacing seals on the pto, axles, engine and sump gaskets. I replaced the brake linings and overhauled the clutch. Out sourced the overhaul of the starter, generator, carburetor and magneto. Then came the sandblasting and priming of all the small parts and fasters, in a cabernet sandblaster and, sanded the main large parts of tractor with a wire brush on angle grinder. The bonnet and grill needed a bit of panel beating and body filler. I was able to take the rust pits out of the mud guards with some filler primer. After general assembling it was time for painting it in Allis-Chalmers orange in enamel.
New part and fittings were then fitted including, tyres, wiring harness, lights, gauges and decals. I made an exhaust pipe for it with a muffler until I got an original under hood type from the USA. Got a seat cushion made and made up a new seat frame out of angle iron the best I could to original from measurements and photos I took of a other B at a local tractor rally, got the seat back curved brackets rolled out of flat bar by a local fabrication shop.
It was such a blessing in getting hold of the seat back. started with meeting a person in the USA in 2007 at a conference who said he was coming to Australia the following year, I offered him and his father in-law a visit to our farm on there travels. The next year they visited and while they inspected my tractors, they saw I needed a seat back and also a belt pulley for my nearly restored B. They said they knew of someone who would have these to sell. A few months later I got an email that they found the parts I needed and had them ready to ship. So I few weeks later I had the two part I needed to complete the restoration.
Reader Comments (5)
Very nice job. I like that everything is original.
Ya'll did an excellent job restoring your old model B. I've got a '39 model B that I've been gradually working to restore here in South Louisiana. I hope that mine turns out as good as yours. One good thing for me is that parts have been relatively easy to find. Thanks for displaying all the info. & photos. That was a lot of hard work.
Gary
Louisiana, USA
Thank you!
looks to be a nice job i have 3bs one is an english b i have just finished a complete rebuild on it
and took it to a show on fathers day
Abedser,
Would it be possible to get a couple of pictures of your model B? Specifically, I'd like to see a closer shot of back end around the pto shaft. Looks like you have some sort of flat plate above your pto that I don't have on mine. Also, could you get a shot from the front right side of the operator's foot pedal area. I see some type of pedal on the right side that, again, is not on my '39 model B. My restoration is going very slow as I work on it only when I have spare time.
If you're able to send some pictures I appreciate it but if it's a problem please don't go out of your way. Sincerely,
Gary (garyh61@hotmail.com)
Star Hill, LA
USA