Tractor Shed Panoramic shots

Allis-Chalmers Model B Tractor Restoration

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. 

Styled or Un-Styled

The John Deere two cylinder tractor letter series are often referred to as either un-styled or styled. Around 1937 John Deere employed New York industrial designer Henry Dreyfuss to add streamline design features to their range of tractors and other equipment, to make them more appealing to farmers. The first tractors to be styled were the model A and model B, followed by the styling of the model D in 1939 and the model G in 1942. The main future of the first styled tractors had a streamline bonnet (hood), these tractors also had the option of electric starting. The battery was fitted behind the fuel tank under an extension of the bonnet. The starter motor fitted on top of the transmission. In 1947 the model A and B tractors were updated to included more powerful engines, electric starting and lighting as standard equipment. The battery was moved to be under the new “arm chair” style drivers seat and the flywheel was housed under a flywheel cover.

1935 John Deere Model B un-styled serial number 16416, radiator and steering exposed

1940 John Deere model B styled serial number 87324, styled bonnet and grill, hand start, radiator and steering covered.

1949 John Deere Model A, styled late model with flywheel cover, battery under seat.

Tractor Shed

My tractor shed, restored Massey ferguson 35 and Allis Chalmers model B in the foreground. John Deere 620 unrestored and my restored John Deere A towards the back.

1949 John Deere Model A