The story starts out at a summer bbq we held. My wife, a local realtor, had invited one of her past clients who had noticed our 1948 Farmall Cub and asked me if I had any interest in another old tractor, I know such a silly question! They said they had an old Allis Chalmers B that he and his dad started restoring but lost time and interest and it’s been sitting at his parents house that they just sold so it had to go. He said if I could get it out from the back yard then I could have it for free!!

So I went there the following weekend and winched it up and out of the back yard and on to the trailer. The motor was seized and all the sheet metal was off it and laying in the leaves for years. After looking up the serial number we found out it was a 1942. Once we got it home we pulled the valve cover and the head and was easily able to free up the motor, then we cleaned the carb and the gas tank and she fired right up!!

The next thing I know I’m driving an hour away to purchase a 1944 Allis Chalmers B parts tractor that was completely torn apart but had better tires, original AC hydraulic piston, shutters and a complete electrical system. Wasn’t long before my wife realized the free tractor would not be so free lol. We got the 42 running good with the help from more parts from Steiner. Then it was time to paint and put it back together, we still have some work to do but as of 11/20/22 it was put together and running for the first time in almost 20 years and we couldn’t be happier with the progress.

Dylan Barese
Gaylordsville, CN

If you would like to submit a story with photo(s) about an experience with your tractor, interesting facts about its history, or a restoration project,  please go to Tractor Story Submissions. If your story is picked to appear on the blog you will receive a FREE Steiner hat. Some stories will also go on to be published in our quarterly magazine. We look forward to hearing your story!