Allis Chalmers Model D Grader

I joined this forum recently to find some help on a CAT 955L that I had purchased, but I thought I could share some of my other equipment. I have an old Allis Chalmers D that was my Dad's. He bought it rough, but running. He never did like the thing, but it NEVER ran right.

I had torn the head off years ago to find the miss that never was consistent. I had the head redone, thinking that it was a burnt valve, but the problem was always there. Compression was good and consistent.

It was always parked outside, and I had to change the oil every time I wanted to try and fix it (way back in my teens). I cannot believe how much water I dumped out of the pan every time... (Hard to believe the bearings were not completely washed out.)

The machine was parked for quite a while. I finally decided to try again at getting it going. The manifold was good, so I tried a different carb. I went to a old-time bone yard and got a carb off of a WD45. The carb was rough, but I was able to get it built. I slapped that thing on there and I could not believe the difference!!! I rebuilt that old carb countless times and always the same. This completely changed my outlook on this machine. It could actually drive in 3rd gear. It FLEW in fourth!

I used it a few times and grew to enjoy it. Dad was not interested in it, so it really never got used much.

He passed away a few years ago, and after he died, my brother and I got the wild hair to see what we could do with it.

It was shortly after he died, we cleaned up the shop a bit, and we commenced to shine the old gal back up. It was nice to come back home and turn wrenches a few evenings a week. Kinda therapeutic.

Here are some of the pictures of the process. It was an adventure, but we were proud of it when it was done.

Nice resto job. Looks great

Cool grader! are you going to build a ROPS for it?

Honestly, I never thought about one, but it would be nice to have a canopy for a little shade! The machine does not get exercised all that often, but it is handy this fall for reshaping some field waterways.

My wife and I are getting ready to build close to the farm where I grew up, and I have been using it to shape our yard and driveway. Sounds a little much, but our drive is about 1/8 of a mile long. We lived in town for 5 years, and the neighborhood probably would not have approved of me running around with a backhoe digging holes for fun

Don't put a ROPS on it. It's too nice. Leave it original. Great looking!

I am thinking about getting the old Allis out today. We have some good snow fall and I might have to try it out on rolling some snow off of the campground. Tractor and blade may be a little quicker, but this is easier on the gravel. And its fun to run

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Well... I found out that I need some chains! But it did do great when I had traction. A little chilly though, but it would roll the snow!

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Yeah throw a set of chains on and she should walk rite though it. Great job on the restoration kb9tci ! Does the Grader use the same 226 engine as the Allis WD-45 tractor ?

Hi!!
Congratulations on the outstanding job restoring that old boy and giving it his pride back!!
Awesome job!!
You got yourself a nice collectible item.
One good thing with those old Allis Chalmers graders is that so many were built over such a long period of time that you'll never have any problems finding spare parts.
Really Nice!!
Max.

Beautiful job bring the old critter back like that. Those grader tires are about less than useful on snow at best. .learned that on an old Galion. But in hilly country, they can make for some interesting rides downhill in snow and ice.

td25c said:

Yeah throw a set of chains on and she should walk rite though it. Great job on the restoration kb9tci ! Does the Grader use the same 226 engine as the Allis WD-45 tractor ?

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I think it is the same engine. I'm not 100% sure, but I have always assumed as much and was always told it was the same. I need to run some numbers and check sometime. It has been a stout little engine since I put a WD-45 carb on it!

ol' Grump said:

Beautiful job bring the old critter back like that. Those grader tires are about less than useful on snow at best. .learned that on an old Galion. But in hilly country, they can make for some interesting rides downhill in snow and ice.

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It can get a little interesting. I had my brother on standby and had to have his assistance a few times when I couldn't get going. Gave it a nudge with the backhoe and off I went.

I had to swap off tires and modify my rims to run traction tires off a truck. It had 7.50-20 grader tires, but they were beyond shot. I slotted the valve stem holes and put 8.25-20 truck tires on it. They fit fine, but it does not leave much room for chains.

That was a heck of an ordeal getting those rims off the machine. Rusted on was an understatement. If I did not have a hoe, they would still be on there...

One rim was flat out junk. I lucked out by talking to an old iron peddler, and friend of the family. He told me that I could find rims off an old Gleaner combine and cut out the centers to replace the bad rim.

He even had a pair. I bought both. I was quite skeptical, but the old man was spot on! I don't even know which rim I changed after they were painted and mounted.

I have a set of 6 almost new-looking military style tires I picked up on a sale that I have ready to swap out if I get ambitious...

Now to find a set of chains!

It sure looks like a WD engine . We have a 1953 WD-45. Pretty good puller with a snappy governor. I also found a picture of a D grader with a cab. My scan is not the best . Dad was at an Allis- Chalmers meet and spotted a WD grader.

I can't quite read that scan. Does it say the engine size? I have read on other forums that it is the G-226 engine. I am on my phone right now. I will have to look on the computer later to see if I can read that sheet. I'd love to know what it says!

That cab would have sure been nice, but I will give the old beast credit, since it fired right up at 0F.

That WD grader might be a little easier to turn around! That is the one thing that this grader struggles with. One will build some upper body strength after a few times in the seat.

Yeah sorry kb9tci about the scan. It came from a book titled www.barneandnoble.com/w/allis-chalmers-story-charls-h-wendel/1000064935?ean=9780879388287 Great book for any Allis fan.

It stated the D model was built from 1949 to 1965 and used the G- 226 for the gas engine.


Yes.... They start great in cold weather. We also have a 1973 Allis Chalmers 170 tractor that uses the 226 gas. Both it and the WD will fire rite up in the cold stuff.

Another random thought...... An older model combine cab might not be to bad to adapt to the Allis D-grader?

Nice restoration job. In the first picture it looks as if the serial number plate is there. If you post the serial number I can tell you what year it is. It will have the G226 engine and depending on year it will either be the same as a WD45 or D17 engine. I could be the older one as the starter appears to be on the top of the bell housing. Mine is a 1959 and has the starter on the left side beside the engine. The wheels also appear to be drop centre style as opposed to the flat rims with the snap ring. They are great little machine but mine is very much in it's working clothes and I have added power steering and a foot controlled throttle to make it more user friendly to operate.

Model D grader,
My dad started up in earthmoving in New Zealand in 1947. His first new machine was an A-C Model D grader. He only ran it for about 12 months before selling it off to a Speedway Association for track maintenance. I believe it was either a problem machine or possibly under powered for the task intended. The replacement was a Cat N#10 which he ran for a number of years. The same year he purchased a new M-D TD-9 bulldozer, so things must have been going pretty well as the following year he bought a new Ford 4 yard tip truck.
Best regards, dozeron.

I finally made it over to look at the serial number plate this morning. Here is a picture of it. Does anybody know how to find out what year it is?

It says D-1982