Allis G - Strange creature?

I want one, they are "cute", but not my favorite

In the sixties we disliked them because real men drove big tractors.  We used WDs and WD-45s along with farmall H and Ms in the field, and 9N fords in the orchards.  My Uncle really wanted a G for his truck crops.  He called it a "Gas driven hoe".  As teenagers, you just couldn't look cool on one.  And when school started again it was much better saying " I ran the WD-45 all summer" rather than "I operated the gas hoe".

I've always thought they were cool. perfect for cultivating. Low center of gravity. Great visibility. More power and versatility than a small, lawn tractor-based garden tractor. Good-looking little unit when fixed up.

Well, there are people, including one that I know of on this forum that still make a living with them. Some have re-engined them to extend their life. Like others have said, for the truck farmer they were unbeatable. Sexy, maybe not, but with their unlimited visibility, low center of gravity, and maneuverability, they were/are very versatile. Remember, function before form........uh......except in women! LOL

I'm looking forward to trying mine.... I fully agree with Chuck(ONT)'s last comment. I suspect that the design took some getting used to back then...... and there were competing small tractors. Also, the implements were unique to the G, so no ability to transfer to/from other tractor lines.

Hmm, just thinking about competitive models. If a Cub was supposed to be in the same class, I don't think they quite hit the mark. Not to offend anyone with one, but to me they were mostly a big lawnmower. I shouldn't judge. I know a lot of people have done a lot of work with a Cub. Just don't do anything for me.

Mine set on the porch for a couple years before I decided to use it. Now, I wish I had 2 or 3 more and a farm to go with them ! I have so many ideas for things to do with them there's no way 1 can do them all ! And I am in no way a small person and I have no problem getting on and off. I can almost touch the ground while seated ! ha

With my father we sold the G for the life of the unit in Baltimore County Maryland just north of Baltimore, MD.  In our area it was a highly successful tractor.  In fact, when they were discontinued we were very upset. 

I always heard the B would have competed better in truck farming and tobacco if it would only have had a good low or creeper gear.   1st on a B is not very slow.

DREAM wrote: Brad, i'd like to see one of these wiggle hoes you're talking about. sounds interesting, though I would probably get confused with the hands and feet.LOL!

Here ya go DREAM: http://centralmich.craigslist.org/grd/1915201623.html

Like the G, these are still highly sought units for certain farming operations. My brother in law farms a couple thousand acres here in northern Michigan and owns a couple working Friday Wiggle Hoes  for his truck garden operation.


Edited by Brad MI - 30 Sep 2010 at 3:21am

Brad, thanks for sharing the pix of a "Wiggle Hoe".  Looks very functional.  Would have expected seeing one at Portland show, or did I miss it?   Herb

My G should be back together some time this year. Discovered a bad ring gear and pinion gear late in the restoration. But one thing I didn't see mentioned is the hauling issue. The G will fit nicely in the back of a 3/4 ton 8' pickup box. I'm looking for one now so that I can bring my G from Maine to Hutchinson, MN and Gadsden, AL next year and leave the trailer home. Bob@allisdowneast

LouSWPA wrote: Well, there are people, including one that I know of on this forum that still make a living with them. Some have re-engined them to extend their life. Like others have said, for the truck farmer they were unbeatable. Sexy, maybe not, but with their unlimited visibility, low center of gravity, and maneuverability, they were/are very versatile. Remember, function before form........uh......except in women! LOL

Yep!

I'll be using my G today. I have one with a 23hp Kubota diesel, 12vdc, live hydraulics and it is great. Only thing I would change is the seat...a nice big cushy one with a backrest.

I'm 6'4" and 240 so it isn't especially comfortable but it does the job very well. I'm putting on a fall fert blend of lime, kmag, boron, copper, zinc and manganese...after I broadcast I'm cultivating with the G to work the fertilizer into the soil. Supposed to start raining on Monday so things will take off with lower weed pressure, rain and fertilizer.

The G does exactly what it was designed to do and does it very well. I can cultivate about 1 acre/hour. With the live hydraulics, adjusting the depth of the hoes is a snap. I steer with my left hand and put the right front tire about 3 inches away from the row..cleans to within 1 inch of the row, with very little cultivator blight. I use the right hand to adjust the depth when needed and to support me on the right fender.

I had an email from someone with a question about his G...he said he had broken a rear axle...I should have asked what the heck he was doing to break an axle on the thing.  I usually have the throttle as low as possible for seedlings and then 1 or 2 clicks higher for more mature plants that are harder to bury than seedlings.  That diesel will only use about 1.5 gallons in 8 hours of cultivating.

To get a crew in to hand hoe and weed runs $500-800/acre. It doesn't take long to pay for a G at that rate.

Jim Lindemood wrote: Got a G to do gardening duties. I do like it a lot. It is a little hard to get on and off, and the cultivator handle hits my legs, don't know where to put my feet to be comfortable. I'm not big, just the design of the tractor. She does what she is supposed to do - and sure beats a hoe. Ya gotta admit, they are kind of cute too.

I use a 4 row  dual toolbar springtooth (gravelly loam) with 7 S-tines with crowsfoot sweeps on it and I just put my feet  on the tool bar instead of the pegs.

I cannot get my size 13 boot onto the left hand brake.

I put a clutch in a cub for a guy and I drove it around after I was done. I thought first gear was a little fast in that also as I was grading the drive with a belly blade but I thought it was cool too. Steered easy,comfortable, has down pressure,smooth little motor but not that much fun to get off and on.