Restored d17 project

Is an interesting thread. Thanks for sharing

Use Brake line

Inverted flare. A quality tool should form that fine.

If you can't find a new or used one, you can make one.
I made a lot of new ones for my WD45. You may need to use a little different fittings than original but no one will notice. You could probably go to about any mechanic that does brakes too and have him make and flare you one.

I don’t think previous mechanic knew what he was doing and when he put the rocker on none of the push rods was down in their holes correctly and he ran the bolts down instead of gently pushing it down there for bending all the rods.
I just drove it around only to discover a very bad hydraulic leak when lifting.
I think this line is the culprit…

I think it is shot…
Going to try to find a part number and maybe find a good used one.

1955 AC WD45 diesel with D262 repower, 1949 AC WD45

Why 8 bent push rods ????????

Good news once again!!
It runs like a champ!!

1955 AC WD45 diesel with D262 repower, 1949 AC WD45

Well it’s now on the path to come together again!!
Got the rear crank seal put in and the fly wheel on, now I’m waiting on the clutch input seals to come in, maybe tomorrow afternoon mail and I need to pick up the head from the head shop.

1955 AC WD45 diesel with D262 repower, 1949 AC WD45

....and remember to GLUE felt in place.

DrAllis wrote:

Intake valves on any D-17 head are 30 degrees. Exhaust are 45 degrees.

Called him and he figured that out before he did anything.
Thank Doc

1955 AC WD45 diesel with D262 repower, 1949 AC WD45

It’s been a week now and I’m still waiting on the head…
He did give me an update and found the seats was ground to a 30 degree instead of a 45 degree… so he’s going to grind them again to correct them.
Would that be enough to stick the valves? And bend the push rods?

Onto the rear crank seal: it does appear to have been replaced BUT in the process it appears he turned a wrench too much and cracked the top seal retainer.

What material is that made of? Is it weldable?
It feels like aluminum but it could be cast aluminum.

1955 AC WD45 diesel with D262 repower, 1949 AC WD45

Talked to the shop who has the head and he hasn’t looked at it yet…
Said he’d try to look at it today or tomorrow.
The valve guides look original, rust is still on the bottom side. So I don’t think it would be that.

1955 AC WD45 diesel with D262 repower, 1949 AC WD45

Ok guys,

I am on the edge of my seat (ok the couch) and the popcorn is almost gone! I need Dr Allis to tell me a little more about valve guide placement. No I am not a engine builder. No I know nothing about valve guides. (I have a machine shop do the head work on any engines I am working on which is not very many) But it sounds like if the guides are incorrectly installed this stops the valve movement and then can bend the pushrods on the other end of the rocker? I am a little confused but I am old and easily confused too.

Humm This is like a who dunit murder mystery. Let's all take a trip to 55 Allis land stand around drink coffee or beer and noodle and lay hands on this awesome restoration.

Sorry for being sarcastic on the restoration thing. I do a little work every couple years on my own stuff. I make many mistakes. But I do not call any of these old tractor projects "restorations"! That word is for folks that have way more skills than I have. But I must say I was not impressed with the very first exterior picture of this finished restore D17. Sorry maybe my expectations are too high. And yes shiny paint does not mean it will run. I understand that. But if a customer is going to pay good money for 7 years of fiddling the details should be slightly better inside and out. Just my rambling 2 cents. Not trying to step on anyone's toes here. I hope this tractor can be completed for the owner and that they get many years of enjoyment with it. Makes me want to find the old D17 and fire it up!

Regards,

Chris and Cheryl

I just started another batch of popcorn.

I like the wrong head or wrong rocker arm combo idea for some reason? :) Maybe the butler did it!

I also wish Don Bradley was able to chime in on this engine situation too. RIP Don!

Just thought of another one for the team! Could the push rods have been purposely pre bent so that they made the valve train look like it functioned. Ok that idea is stranger than aliens building the pyramids!

Edited by Sugarmaker - 27 Aug 2025 at 6:57am

D17 1958 (NFE), WD45 1954 (NFE), WD 1952 (NFE), WD 1950 (WFE), Allis F-40 forklift, Allis CA, Allis D14, Ford Jubilee, Many IH Cub Cadets, 32 Ford Dump, 65 Comet.

TedN wrote:

... I wasn't aware of two different pedestal heights that SteveM mentioned, but I was able to find a picture on Facebook of a D17 engine, and it looks like the pedestal mounts are about 1/2" taller...

The only thing I have heard about regarding two different pedestal heights involves the early WD heads vs the later WD and the WD45 head; i.e. the 'Short' head and the 'Tall' head, which requires different pedestals.

According to three different online advertisements selling rocker pedestals for the D17 they measure 1.945" tall.

Here’s a picture of the rocker currently…
I never changed anything from when I pulled it off.

1955 AC WD45 diesel with D262 repower, 1949 AC WD45

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