D17 Series IV
Printed From: Unofficial Allis
Category: Allis Chalmers
Forum Name: Farm Equipment
Forum Description: everything about Allis-Chalmers farm equipment
URL: https://www.allischalmers.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=189578
Printed Date: 30 Apr 2025 at 6:01am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.10 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: D17 Series IV
Posted By: Codger
Subject: D17 Series IV
Date Posted: 19 Jul 2022 at 7:29am
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Is there anything special about this series of tractor? It is one that is still in use but going to be rebuilt over the winter months. My part will be blasting it clean and repairing a small dent in the hood panel. The tractor is very clean and always stored inside working an "organic" food plot farm for many years and they wish to keep it. I don't know if I'll do the paint work or not, (citing cost) but other than very light cosmetic wear, the tractor is very nice always being kept up and tended to.
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Replies:
Posted By: DrAllis
Date Posted: 19 Jul 2022 at 7:56am
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A "good condition" D-17 series 4 gas tractor is very special. They were extremely reliable and had pretty much all the needed features of the day. One with a factory 3-point hitch and four outlets on the back is even better. When it came to hydraulic capacity and control valves, there was NONE any better and many others not as good. As far as cleaning before painting, I am totally against sandblasting the chassis, as the chances of contamination is too great. Steam clean, hand scrape, wire brush and mainly hand operated scotch-brite pads to scuff up all the old paint that has been stuck on the castings for 50+ years, clean it again and paint on top of the original paint. Sand blast, putty, prime and paint sheet metal off the tractor.
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Posted By: Leadoff
Date Posted: 19 Jul 2022 at 8:06am
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Codger
Most of the people on this site will think you are describing the equivalent of a 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Split Rear Window
The D17 was one of the best, if not the best, tractor ever made, period. Produced from 1957 thru to 1968, the Series IV was the last version 1964-68, and featured improved hydraulics and a three point hitch option (previous only had AC Snap Coupler Hitch), and other improvements. AC continued the D17 blood line into the 170, 180, 175, 185 models for many years
Great to hear it will continue to earn a living on the farm.
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1963 D17D Series III. 1965 D15 Series II. 1965 D17 Series IV. 1975 185. 1978 716H. 1979 716H. 1965 780 Harvester/1R&DC. 1957 Model 73 SC 4 Furrow Plow
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Posted By: Codger
Date Posted: 19 Jul 2022 at 1:22pm
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Thanks for the education. This one does have a three point on the rear and hydraulic points on the back. I do know it also has power steering and additional hydraulic outlets on the front. How they use it I really don't know.
I concur with blasting the cast parts. I won't do that but may parts brought me to strip. The tumble blasters do a great job for small parts whether depainting, or derusting. I also have hot tanks and use caustic in them for ferrous parts, and high alkaline cleaner for non ferrous. Both remove paint. I routinely strip & clean heads and blocks for others.
I did the same thing for them about 15 years ago on a Case 530 tractor. It was beige and orange. When this one was done it was much better than new I'm told. It still looks nice, but they maintain their stuff beyond exceptional.
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Posted By: Codger
Date Posted: 20 Jul 2022 at 6:22am
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Talked to them a bit last evening and passed on about repainting parts and scope of their expectations. I guess the engine is getting weak and has never been rebuilt. Tractor is a 1968 purchased new by his deceased father and always kept in the current building when not being used. Was and is still used a lot for grinding feed, baling, harrowing, and raking. They have other tractors used for discing or plowing so this one apparently leads an easy life. The hydraulics on the front were for a hydraulic blower of some type but it's not used any longer.
The tractor is clean enough they are going to "inframe" the engine rather than pull it down. The clutch and brakes are good being about five or so years old and no need to break the tractor apart. The sheet metal will be depainted and refinished with only the one dent in the hood repaired which is from another mower throwing something.
They raise both human food, and feed for race horses along with some custom feed for other animals including a local nature preserve. |
Posted By: DrAllis
Date Posted: 20 Jul 2022 at 6:30am
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In framing one of those is usually always a bad idea. The rear crank seal cannot be replaced in-frame. The cam bearings cannot either and they play a huge role in overall oil pressure readings. Engine getting weak is pretty vague. A compression test verify's weakness. A good tune-up might cure weakness. If they aren't complaining about oil consumption, it may not need an OH. How many hrs on it ?? If it's more than 5,000 it's time if it truly has never been opened up.
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Posted By: Codger
Date Posted: 20 Jul 2022 at 7:48pm
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I'll have to ask. I too prefer out of frame overhauls but I'm not really a mechanic on tractors. It has just over 5200hrs on the meter and we really didn't go into his issues other than some possibly worn parts meaning spindles, tie rod ends, wheel bearings, etc. All normal wear items really.
Told me he drove it home from the dealership I help out when brand new and his dad always had it serviced there. I've never seen it in for work myself but I did deliver a new Grasshopper zero turn mower and seen the old Case tractor which brought this on. When the other tractor was done back in 04 I didn't know him but was referenced by the implement dealer. I learned they purchased that Case new also.
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Posted By: DSeries4
Date Posted: 20 Jul 2022 at 8:54pm
I would insist on an out of frame rebuild. 67 Was the last year of production.
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'49 G, '54 WD45, '55 CA, '56 WD45D, '57 WD45, '58 D14, '59 D14, '60 D14, '61 D15D, '66 D15II, '66 D21II, '67 D17IV, '67 D17IVD, '67 190XTD, '73 620, '76 185, '77 175, '84 8030, '85 6080
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Posted By: GeneD14
Date Posted: 22 Jul 2022 at 8:51am
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uploads/1181/2-D17_Series_IV.jpg" rel="nofollow - uploads/1181/2-D17_Series_IV.jpg
This is the Series IV that has been in my family since new. I've had many D-Series tractors, but this one is definitely my favorite.
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Posted By: WF owner
Date Posted: 22 Jul 2022 at 3:36pm
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By doing an "inframe", you have new sleeves, pistons and rings and probably rebuilding everything in the head. The whole top end is improved to, or close to, when the engine was new. Unfortunately, you still have the old bearings, seals, cam bearings etc.
If there is a reason to to rebuild a low hour engine, an inframe may be ok, but engines with a lot of hours really need a complete rebuild.
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Posted By: MACK
Date Posted: 22 Jul 2022 at 8:44pm
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Take that engine out pull the sleeves and wash it out inside and out. Wash that old crap out that has been In there for hours and years. Take the radiator off and do same for it, inside and out. MACK
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Posted By: Codger
Date Posted: 23 Jul 2022 at 4:57am
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I have suggested that exactly. I'm not a tractor mechanic but hopefully he will go that way. I'm not doing the labor or paying the cost for anything, but they certainly are not akin to doing things less than right in my experience. Everything seems to be readily available for these tractors and not difficult to source. I feel once I pitch the out of frame via the inframe they were originally thinking it will go the out of frame rebuild.
I know the inframe idea was pitched as they had the BCIII Cummins in their grain truck done a few years ago that way. Different application I know as I've rebuilt several in another life.....
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