8550/4w305 measurements
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=205050
Printed Date: 28 Jul 2025 at 2:16pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.10 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: 8550/4w305 measurements
Posted By: 55allis
Subject: 8550/4w305 measurements
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2025 at 11:04pm
So now I’ve been thinking way too much and long in this cold weather  Anyway I’m thinking about building a small 4 wheel drive tractor out of two Case garden tractors and I’d like to have it based off a 8550 or 4w305. So I’d be needing to know how far from the front axle to the hinge in the middle and from the rear axle to the hinge in the middle and some pictures of course ( I’ve never even seen one in my life other than pictures). I’ll probably have more questions as I start the build so be ready!! Thanks!!    ------------- 1955 AC WD45 diesel with D262 repower, 1949 AC WD45 |
Replies:
Posted By: DrAllis
Date Posted: 22 Jan 2025 at 7:59am
| Wheelbase of 126 inches. I would assume the articulation point is half-way between that. Overall length of 285 inches. Height of 139 inches but that will depend on which tire is used. |
Posted By: 55allis
Date Posted: 22 Jan 2025 at 10:47am
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Thanks Doc!! ------------- 1955 AC WD45 diesel with D262 repower, 1949 AC WD45 |
Posted By: 55allis
Date Posted: 23 Jan 2025 at 10:09pm
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Dumb question: where do they pivot side to side? Like I said earlier I have never seen one in person in my life (I do sure hope that I do someday) so don’t make too much fun of me!! Lol ------------- 1955 AC WD45 diesel with D262 repower, 1949 AC WD45 |
Posted By: DrAllis
Date Posted: 24 Jan 2025 at 6:27am
| The top pivot is a spherical ball bearing which allows turning/bending and the rear axle to keep following the ground. I'd have to get next to one to measure, but from one side view picture I have, that big top pivot bearing is approx 57 inches rearward of the front axle centerline. It isn't at 63 inches "dead-center" of the wheelbase. For what you're doing, who would know ?? The lower pivot is a dog-bone style with a spherical bearing at each end, which also allows the rear axle to follow the terrain as it rolls along. EDIT: CORRECTED NUMBERS. |
Posted By: AC7060IL
Date Posted: 24 Jan 2025 at 8:24am
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55allis, if it helps & you’d want any technical diagrams of either AC 8550 or 4w305, just go to this Agco parts link. https://parts.agcocorp.com/us/en" rel="nofollow - https://parts.agcocorp.com/us/en Click on the “parts book” in upper right of home page. After parts book page opens, just type in the model “8550 or 4w305,” into the search window. Another page with all corresponding books will be displayed. Click on the “tractor” book & an index of all parts diagram pages is displayed. |
Posted By: 55allis
Date Posted: 26 Jan 2025 at 8:18pm
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Thanks!! Maybe some on here would be nice enough to post up close pictures… please!! I don’t know one of those tractors around here anymore, I knew a distance neighbor had a 4W305 30 years ago but I already talked to them and they didn’t know where it went. ------------- 1955 AC WD45 diesel with D262 repower, 1949 AC WD45 |
Posted By: AC7060IL
Date Posted: 27 Jan 2025 at 5:40am
| https://www.tractordata.com/farm-tractors/000/2/1/216-allis-chalmers-8550-photos.html" rel="nofollow - https://www.tractordata.com/farm-tractors/000/2/1/216-allis-chalmers-8550-photos.html |
Posted By: AC7060IL
Date Posted: 27 Jan 2025 at 5:41am
| https://www.tractordata.com/farm-tractors/000/1/9/190-allis-chalmers-4w-305-photos.html" rel="nofollow - https://www.tractordata.com/farm-tractors/000/1/9/190-allis-chalmers-4w-305-photos.html |
Posted By: DrAllis
Date Posted: 27 Jan 2025 at 6:40am
| Great picture from the side. I have corrected my dimension numbers above. |
Posted By: AC7060IL
Date Posted: 27 Jan 2025 at 7:56am
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55allis, if you’d like different views of either 8550 or 4w-305 tractors, try this easy method. Go to your search browser box & type in “Allis 8550” & then hit your return key. A google page will probably open? On that google page just below its browser box will be a row of choices; “All, Images, short videos, videos, Shopping, forums, etc,,,” Click on “Images” & you will see all sorts of photos of that tractor. |
Posted By: 55allis
Date Posted: 27 Jan 2025 at 1:10pm
Thanks Doc and AC7060!! I found some pictures on Bigiron auction results that help also.  Now it’s making sense how it all works. ------------- 1955 AC WD45 diesel with D262 repower, 1949 AC WD45 |
Posted By: 55allis
Date Posted: 28 Jan 2025 at 10:30pm
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I’ve been thinking for a bit and came up with a few more questions again. So I’m thinking about strength and trying to do the calculations to get it right. Is the thick arm in the picture above hardened or higher strength than plain steel? What is the thickness, width, and length of those two arms? What size is the pins? Hope I’m not asking too many questions for a’ll…. ------------- 1955 AC WD45 diesel with D262 repower, 1949 AC WD45 |
Posted By: DrAllis
Date Posted: 29 Jan 2025 at 7:53am
| The ONE (not two) dog-bone lower link (pretty sure) is simply mild steel. It has no need of anything special. Size?? about 2 inches thick and about 5 inches wide. Length?? I have no idea and it doesn't really make any difference right now. How big of bolt at the spherical joint?? Probably an 1 1/2", but again this isn't important at this point. Park your two Case tractors nose to rear and space them to proper scale of 126 inches of wheelbase and start designing the project. The diameter of the rear tires on each may not be to scale either, or make them the point of scale and build around their diameter. And as far as the dog-bones pivot bolt size??? for what you're doing a 1/2" grade 8 bolt would be plenty !!! |
Posted By: AC7060IL
Date Posted: 29 Jan 2025 at 11:38am
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55allis, these YouTube weblink may get you started? So far, this guy has made 8 parts to his miniature Case (2-155s) articulated 4wd tractor. Part 1 shows his mostly original units before much fab work has been completed. Part 7 shows his steering challenges & how he engineers a resolve for it. Guessing you may benefit from trying to tackle major challenges first, & then perhaps reverse engineer from them??? This is why I included Part 7 which I’d think you’d want to watch first? Maybe ask yourself; 1. When completed, what purposes will your 4wd unit provide? Show parades? Pull a wagon? Garden tiller? Snow plowing? Ect?? Part 1 https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=I4eiXKnr5XA" rel="nofollow - https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=I4eiXKnr5XA Part 7 https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vhyMT-rf_lY" rel="nofollow - https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vhyMT-rf_lY Anyway, once you start watching these YouTube parts 1 & 7, you’ll easily be able to find the other parts. Hope it helps. |