Construction and other equipment - How old is this grader?

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How old is this grader?

Printed From: Unofficial Allis
Category: Allis Chalmers
Forum Name: Construction and other equipment
Forum Description: everything else with orange (or yellow) paint
URL: https://www.allischalmers.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=25917
Printed Date: 19 Jul 2025 at 5:15pm
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Topic: How old is this grader?

Posted By: MCTphoenix
Subject: How old is this grader?
Date Posted: 18 Feb 2011 at 11:45am

Hello, I'm hoping someone can tell me about how old this "D" grader is. It's serial number is D-5597. Thanks in advance from a newbie!

Replies:

Posted By: MNLonnie
Date Posted: 18 Feb 2011 at 1:44pm

D-5597 would be a 1959.

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Waukesha B, B, IB, G, styled WF, D15, 615 backhoe, 2-Oliver OC3's, 4 Ford Model T's, 3 Model A Fords, AV8 Coupe, AV8 Roadster, 1933 Ford Wrecker

Posted By: MCTphoenix
Date Posted: 18 Feb 2011 at 2:31pm

Thanks ! I guess it's a little newer than I thought. It's missing the brake linkage on the bottom... is there any junkyard that parts these things out? A source for new brake parts?

Posted By: DonBC
Date Posted: 19 Feb 2011 at 1:27pm

I too have a 1959 D grader. I expect that you are referring to the simple drum brake on the transmission. They did make four wheel hydraulic brakes as an option. I have the original parts book for mine and I did order reproduction Maintenance and Operators manuals from Tony Carbaugh Enterprises. I have not had much luck finding parts machines. I did stop by a salvage yard in Winnipeg, Manitoba several years ago and they did have a couple of parts machines. They had been stripped down and there were a couple of things that I wanted but the old guy that owned the place wanted a way too much money for the parts.

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Jack of all trades, master of none

Posted By: MCTphoenix
Date Posted: 19 Feb 2011 at 4:05pm

I hope I'm not getting in over my head. I've never used a grader or tractor of any kind and although mechanically inclined I've got no experience with diesel engines. A year ago we moved into a home a mile down a dirt road then realized it's not maintained. No one else seems to care but I cant take the washboard anymore. Gonna learn to use the grader... still looking for online tutorial videos of some sort.

Posted By: DonBC
Date Posted: 20 Feb 2011 at 12:06am

If the serial number starts with a D and not DD then it should have a gas engine and not a diesel unless someone has re-powered it. I had never operated a grader before I got mine but it did not take me long to get the hang of it. I had operated other equipment with buckets and blades before so that helped. If you are dealing with washboard then make your first pass with the moldboard angled fairly sharply, try and cut to the bottom of the washboard and blade toward the centre. Change the blade to a little flatter on the next pass which should alter the pattern of the bumps and leave the road fairly smooth. Leave the road slightly crowned in the middle when you are finished. To make these old graders last make sure that you are on top of maintenance.

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Jack of all trades, master of none

Posted By: Darrell, Jr. (MN)
Date Posted: 20 Feb 2011 at 12:07am

I can give you a couple tips as an operator. Make small adjustments and go as slow as possible if you are trying to make vast changes, and then go not quite as slow...lol. Try to do you work after a nice rain, or water it down before grading. If you have severe washboards or deep potholes you will need to either make a cut or scarify to deepest washboard or pothole. cutting works if the ground is loose enough, otherwise you will need to scarify to get it loose enough to grade. Once you get it ready to grade you can then take a pass on each side carrying your extra material to the middle to give you a nice crown, then once you get the hang of it you can take and roll everything from one side to the other, and then the next time go the other way. Just keep in mind that small adjustments work better than large ones and each adjustment will change once the rear tires get to it, but with graders like the D their length aids in keeping smooth surface.

Posted By: MCTphoenix
Date Posted: 22 Feb 2011 at 10:38pm

Thanks for the tips... can't wait to try it out