D-15 start push button

Thank-you for sharing your unique info on the D15 Series II Starter Button discussion

I had a good laugh

Clearly lots of passion in this thread showing the ownership we all have for our Allis Chalmers Tractors and equipment and a credit to the owners keeping the machines and memories alive 

As I mentioned, I've built the wiring systems both ways for our customer's. Some had a key crank switch, some had a the push button. I sell both a HD key crank switch as an option in my systems as well as a new Starter button. Ya know, anything that's mass produced, things can change during production stages. A good example is the Ford Mustang where in 1964 it was built a certain way in assembly, and yet there were some revisions or changes on the assembly line and along came the 1964 1/2 Mustang. And the parts changed.

Now, when it comes to the books and what they represent, I have to agree with Gary to a certain extent. One of the main reasons why I don't sell Starter or Generator parts is because the books aren't always correct when they tell you this certain P/N was used in this certain model unit. Well, that's not always the case. I found this out back in the late 60's when I first started rebuilding. You see, back then, we didn't have "exchange" units.  We ordered the internals for Starters, Generators, Carburetors, etc. and rebuilt the unit ourselves in house. We also were the "Parts Guys" too! As times progressed, it seemed more and more the books weren't accurate all the time, and I started to send parts back to the warehouse or parts store to get the correct parts to do the job. Why was that? Who knows? My thought was maybe Delco, Autolite, Prestolite or whomever was coming out with different designs to improve their product and so things didn't match up with what I had or the books said. Sometimes I would have to bring the part to the store for "show n' tell" to make sure I got the correct part. Hence, the reason I don't sell internal parts for these particular units.

Its the same with wiring diagrams and prints. I've been dealing with that silly stuff since 1975 when I opened Custom Circuits. Actually, even before I opened Custom Circuits, because I was building wiring harnesses for 60's GM Cars and Trucks at that time. I have some original prints from AC that I acquired when I first got into studying and building the wiring systems on the AC Tractors and realized some of them were quite different from the diagram in the service manuals. I actually tell our customer's to go by the service manuals because they seem to be more accurate. Maybe the service manuals were printed later after production of the Tractors started. Who knows? When Jo Jo and I used to attend a lot of the GOTO shows, I remember like it was yesterday some of the older gentlemen coming up to the tables looking at my wiring systems that I had on the easels and chuckle saying to me "I worked on the assembly line at Allic-Chalmers and we used to change that wiring right on the assembly line when need be". And I would say REALLY! How did you revise those. One gentleman said: "Ah we used to just cut n' tape em' back up again when we put somethin' in when a change came down". I shook my head laughing, but I did see some of those "taped up" harnesses that came in to me to use as a pattern. Especially on the "D" series Tractors. I would ask our customer "did you change this wiring at the rear of this harness"? Most of the time the answer was "nope that's the way it was when Dad or Grandad bought it new. "We just want to restore it exactly the same."Soooo.... I guess my point is, people can argue all they want about whats right or "factory" and what's wrong, but things change all the time during production. I deal with a lot of our Muscle car customer's that are Hell bent on what is "Factory". I've talked to people that originally worked for GM on the assembly line at Willow Run, asking them about "Factory" parts and what was used for certain Hi Performance models. They would look at me like I left my other head home. Most of the time the answer was "hey fella', we had to build a certain amount of Cars a day". "I don't even know what you're talking about with this "Factory stuff". Well, that's what I kinda thought afterwards. Don't get upset at one another guys, changes happen and there's no explaination for it. Ya just gotta' move on. It is what it is......... 

Steve@B&B

Yeah, some of those key switches were borderline at best! That's why I offer  a couple optional high amp Ignition switches for the "D" series. The other problem that caused a lot of issues was using those under rated key switches with 4 blade terminals on the back and running 8-9 circuits to them. In the Automotive electrical business, we call that "stacking" which is NOT recommended today. As age comes on, so does corrosion, when corrosion starts, resistance starts, and as resistance builds,  then along comes heat, and once components start getting hot to where components start to melt, along comes the smoke, and you know what comes after the smoke....     Then comes the fire extinguisher! 

Steve@B&B