Allis CA

 I must say you are the reason for the volt meters on the dash of each custom electrical system I install on a old Allis tractor. They seem to work fine and I have not had any issuses.

This CA will be a neat little puller and may suprise some folks. They can do a pretty good job on the track I am told. 

Regards,

 Chris

 Well the plan is to assembly the front end of the CA soon and get the tractor turned around in the shop to pull the left wheel and the axle housing. I should go do some research on changing the brake drum. AC book makes it sound fairly easy. We will see.

Our club is planning a few more pulls this year so would like to have this ready to go this spring even if I just re assemble and do some upgrades. 

Regards,

 Chris

 The CA is not moving along very fast. I did get the wide casting, short arm ,upper front casting installed. Also moved the alternator ahead another 1/4 inch to have better alignment with fan and crank pulleys. 

Need to get the CA mobile again, to move it under the jib, for work on the brake drum issues.

Tractor pulling will be here soon.

Off to try to trim apple trees today. Then soon to get ready to put up Maple sap tubing lines. Yep that time of the year is coming. With spring not that far away.

Hope things are good in Orange land!

Regards,

 Chris

 I got a pretty nice manifold form a AC parts guy in NY. The ears on mine are broke 

Shop will be used for working on Grandson Nics new to him van for his electrical business. Stripping old wordage off the sides and getting it ready for his suppies and tools.

Regards,

Chris

Yes Nic has full access to the shop anytime. His wiring work really makes it a great place to hang out and occasionaly I do some work/ play also!

I need ot check the flatness, and probably take the manifold to a machine shop and have it surfaced. That would be the right thing to do!

The CA tractor waits!

Spending a lot more quality time with the wife now days. Things change in life. We are enjoying our breakfasts together at the local dinor several days a week.

Regards,

 Chris

  I suppose that you got the early manifold because it was cheaper than a NEW one. I'd still be tempted to get a NEW one and sell the early manifold to a B/C restorer looking to appease the correct police. Those early manifolds in perfect condition are worth more than the NEW ones cost. 

I jacked up the tractor, loosened the lower casting fastners enough to get .020 inch shims in four places. tightended the bolts and checked for clearance in the sector gear. There was a little. Now this might have gone away if I had lowered the tractor. 

Shortened the two castelated nuts for the drag link to allow cotter pimns to be inserted.

Then proceeded to make some minor improvements to the steering wheel. Old, cracked, and crusty with black stuff coming off on your hands. You know what I mean. Sanded the hand grip area, filled in the cracks with 2 part  5 minute epoxy, sprayed a coating of flat black just to get started making it look better.

Sanding required to smooth the epoxy a little, then a couple coats of black finish. Should be just a tad better for the old CA, and whoever may be driving. Would love to see my great granddaughter pulling this tractor in another 12 years!

Regards,

 Chris

 Ruby is untrained and spoiled rotten! She is in control most of the time! Perfect!

The steering wheel update looks good! Pumping up the front tires helped bring the steering to a acceptable condition:

I did move the CA around to get the left rear under the jib. Brake work next up.

Regards,

 Chris

 I am ready for the majic words on getting the old brake drum off the shaft. I do have the lock nut and lock screw out of the old drum. All the exterior of the old drum is broken off down to the hub. Tried some heat and pry bar. Some heat from the blue wrench. Some Kroyl. Some sawsall work some cold chisel blows. A little action with pry and air chisel. Well it hasnt moved yet! But we will get it. Thought about some type of puller working against the end of the shaft??

By the way these top pins are way eaiser than WD style lower brake pins! And Paul was right the brake bands were junk! 

Some shots as I removed the left rear housing:

 I would like to get in and cut the old drum down to the keyway. But I just dont have a tool to do it. So I came here to ask for some advice from those that have removed CA brake drums.

Regards,
 Chris

 Yes I was thinking the same thing. And that means I need to pull the other side also!:(

But its the right thing to do. This poor old tractor probably needs everything! Just not sure I want to go that deep?

 Thanks for the suggestion on the seal/s. Now would be the time for sure!

Regards,

 Chris

 New seals ordered from Sandy Lake.

Friend John and I worked on the brake drum removal. It is not a easy task. Broke off the exterior portion. Used a dremel and a small wheel to slit the casting about 3/16 deep above the keyway. Then a cold chisel through the drilled hole and it continued and split the casting. A lot of prying and choice words. The key was actually hard to get out too. I wanted to clean up the axle, and finally got it but not easy to get in through the hole in the exterior. Installed the new brake drum, and set screw/ lock nut.

Ruby was checking out the old brake drum:

Regards,

 Chris

 Yes the entire casting cavity was full of mouse nests, and debis! What a mess! I think I would build some type of puller and or get a grinder small enough to get in the brake hole to cut the old drum apart. Cutting down above the keyway is the way to split the cast drum. After I salvaged the key and installed the new drum over the key, I tightened the bolt/ lock nut down. But the new keyway in the drum must be deep because the key kicked up more than I expected when viewed from the end. Humm?? Still looks like the key will work. 

Off topic: Today was all maple related with a annual membership meeting and dinner. Then Cheryl and I strung another 200 taps ( about 1/3 of our total ) this afternoon. 

Hope things are good in Orange land!

Regards,

 Chris

This tractor has had the hand clutch removed and the brake drum looks pretty good on the right side. But I think I will try to pull that side apart and put in tha new seal for the rear diferential. 

Regards,

 Chris