Difference in axle widths in B and C's

We have an early B that has the tapered keyed axle , early B with foot brakes . My son just purchased a C that has a lot wider stance in the rear end . When did Allis switch to the wider rear ends ? My son wants to make a lowered B and had purchased this later model C to be the starting assembly , but the wide rear end is going to be a deal breaker . Did Allis offer a wide and narrow axle ?

they use the same radiator, motor, clutch, transmission, and bevel gear case... The "C" has 6 inch wider  final drive cases and axle shaft on each side, so 12 inches wider overall... and the "C" axles have 5 bolt ends and hubs bolt on like a car... the "B" has the tapered 2 inch bull axle end as you said.  You can put any of the components on either tractor if you want. The wide finals will fit on the B and the narrow will fit on the C.. not the internal parts, but the complete case assembly.

The tractor was originally a C , we are pretty confident of that . The nose of the tractor has the cut out for the C steering shaft coming out of the narrow spindle housing . We want to make the tractor into a dropped tractor . I was not aware that C's were wider than B's in the rear end . Years ago and I mean decades , I had a C that we put a B front end on and I do not remember the C having a wider stance . Next question is what is the front axle off of ? It is adjustable . Was an adjustibale axle an option on B's and C's prior to CA's . And my final question does the axle have any value ? We have a B wishbone axle to turn upside down for the drop conversion . We just don't think it will work with this wide stance in the back .

A slammed B would make a cool cruise-nite rat rod.

Edited by Ken in Texas - 18 Sep 2016 at 9:14pm

Something 1950 B and up with C deep dish wheels should work for you. Like I stated above you also have the option between the deep dish C style wheel and the semi dished almost flat early B 5 bolt reversible wheel. A little harder to find than C wheels but I have a pair of the semi dished B wheels only available.







Edited by Ken in Texas - 19 Sep 2016 at 6:02am

I could be wrong but you should be able to switch the output shafts from the C final drives to your B final drives and then use the B final drives for the project. I have switched the flanged output shaft from an adjustable axel B and a splined shaft from a standard B . The shafts are the same on the inside.

YEs, you can changed the B flanged output axle with a B splined output axle.. You can not change internal parts with the C final drive. The C output axle will not interchanged....... speaking of the B flanged axle, there are SOME around, but the tapered spline is much more common. Not impossible to find, but pretty rare in most parts of the country.

Ken, do you see many in Texas ? I wonder if they were more popular in certain areas of the country.. IM sure there are some in the mid west, but looking at used for sale the past 15 years, about all I see is the splined rear with wishbone front end .... I have several Bs, of course most of mine are pre 1948 also !

My kids 50B has the 5 stud flanged axle

I will try to post pics tomorrow of the adjustable front axle and the serial number of the tractor . This tractor also has a magneto and a coil , which makes me scratch my head . Tomorrow guys I promise .

OhKen wrote: This tractor also has a magneto and a coil , which makes me scratch my head . Tomorrow guys I promise .

The old internal coils in the mags had a tendency to heat up and melt the insulation in them letting things short out. If the coil went bad, you could rig it with an external coil , making it into a distributor.

Ken, is there a reason the B 5 bolt hub sticks out so far ?  I have wondered about sleeving the C shaft and turning it to fit the oil seal... then building up the original shaft a few thousands to fit the outboard bearing. The hub would set in an inch or more compared to the B position.  Is there a dirt shield or something on the back of the hub that would need reworked ?  Or a C hub might be better ?

I wish the picture of the three axles included the forth which would be the B axle stub on the left with the 5 stud B Hub adapter in place. They ran on a B using a almost flat semi dished 5 hole B wheel.
   I have several sets of B axles and matching Splined Adapter Hubs. Near all have bad splines. Been seriously thinking of welding the hub to the axle and hiding the modification with the big axle nut. These welded up parts should be very similar to the B flanged axle pictured in the center with a little less tread width when installed.
   I have the 5 hole semi dish B wheels too. They actually have the same bolt pattern as a C or a B with the flanged axles

Edited by Ken in Texas - 21 Sep 2016 at 7:30pm

You have mail

On the B, the straight adjustable front was available in 1940 Ken says.
Which year was the last for ordering a B with the arched front end?
Thanks