I still remember the day I got up very early to go on a roadtrip with my Grandfather to go to my uncles and pick up his latest stalled project. An Allis Chalmers that he had pulled from the bottom of a scrap pile on his neighbours place, determined to make it run again. As is the case with all of us, there just wasn't enough time, so off Grampa and I go to bring home another project for himself. When this tractor was parked someone was wise enough to drain all the oil and replace it with water. Thank goodness, they store so much better that way.
After many hours and trips to town searching for parts Grampa had the old B stripped down and sandblasted, ready to put back together. With all new bearings and all new seals she was going to be a brand new little lady. That was in the summer of 2007. In December of that year Grampa was suddenly taken from us and poor little Allis sat neglected in the corner of his shop for the winter.
In June of 2008 I decided that I would undertake finishing Grampa's last project. A tall order for an 18 year old who had never worked on an old tractor before with anything more precise than a 5lb sledge. What made this task even more daunting was that I set the goal of having it ready for our annual Fall Fair, the second week of September. The race was on. With the help of a friend I got the sheet metal in tip top shape. The chassis was ready to go so I laid on a deep coat of Imron orange with less than a week to go before her big debut. Only having time to work on "Allis" as she was now called after my regular full time put a real crunch on the last week of available time. I was very fortunate to have my Grandpas good friend and a master mechanic help me do the final checkover and fine tuning to get her running.
At midnight before the Fair opened we hit the starter for the first time. Hallejuah!!!!! She flashed up and purred. Only problem was there was no oil pressure in the brand new professional built motor and the waterpump spewed fluid as fast as it could!!!! With hours fast running out we decided the water pump would have to wait but we split the tractor again and repaired the oil pump to tip top shape.
Allis made it to that show on time, and many shows since, I've added things here and there, she is far from original, but shes mine, and I know that somewhere up there my Grandfather is looking down on me when I load her up and take her to shows, and hes smiling. And cursing, because she isn't original!!!!!!!
Joe Muik
Salmon Arm, British Columbia
Mike Seets says
Hi Joe! My story is similar to yours including no oil pressure! Seems the check ball inside the oil pump rotor shaft is missing. I cannot find one or even what size it is. Can you offer any suggestions? seetsmi@verizon.net THANKS!!!