Power Director Question
Printed From: Unofficial Allis
Category: Allis Chalmers
Forum Name: Farm Equipment
Forum Description: everything about Allis-Chalmers farm equipment
URL: https://www.allischalmers.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=209769
Printed Date: 22 Mar 2026 at 2:24am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.10 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Power Director Question
Posted By: Steve A
Subject: Power Director Question
Date Posted: 18 Jan 2026 at 12:38pm
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1957 Series 1 D17, fairly low serial number. Unknown hours, tach was not functioning when I bought it, shows 3500 hrs but obviously more than that. What has me wondering: When the tractor is not moving, tractor in any gear--including reverse, and I shift the power director from neutral to either the high or the low side, it seems to have a growl or hesitate slightly as it starts the tractor into motion. It snaps in fine and stays engaged. It does not slip or lose power. I've had it about 6 months. Pulled stumps with it, pulled an 8 ft wheel disk with 600 lbs of weights on the disk, no power issues, no slippage any gear 1 to 3, high range and low. Shifts from high range to low range and back while in motion/pulling the disk, plowing snow, or puling logs with no issues, does not do the growl then. If I use the foot clutch, change from neutral to low or high, and start it in motion with the foot clutch, it doesn't do it. I've held the brakes, and also tried starting it from dead stop with a load on and off. No change, same situation. It does not "creep" when it is in gear with the power director in neutral. I'm basing this question on owning a 1967- 170, and a 1974- 175. In comparison, neither of these does that: Both snap in smoothly and no hesitation. Both the 170 and 175 "creep" if the tractor is in a gear and the power director is in neutral with no load on. Something to be concerned about or don't "borrow trouble" ? Thanks! |
Replies:
Posted By: 8070nc
Date Posted: 18 Jan 2026 at 3:15pm
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Shooting from the hip here. My gut feeling is you have a bearing dragging farther back maybe in the differential or a final drive. We had a 170 that did the same thing. It turned out to be a axle bearing. One reason i say that is it doesnt creep in neutral. Of course it could be a brake ------------- 1984 80780 1957 D14 DES 300 with 25000 engine 616 tractor |
Posted By: Steve A
Date Posted: 18 Jan 2026 at 4:06pm
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Just put new brake linings, springs on it this summer. With the rear wheels off the ground they spun freely by hand, didn't seem to have any play or drag. Didn't have any side to side or up/down slop on the rear wheels when I pulled on them by hand. Speculated it might creep when the oil was cold and thick but no difference between 80 deg and 15 deg. I hadn't thought about jacking the rear end up to see if it had any inclination to rotate the wheels then. Will try with rear end off the ground tomorrow. |
Posted By: Steve A
Date Posted: 18 Jan 2026 at 4:26pm
| My thinking was that if was further back than the power director it would do it on takeoff with the PD engaged. Since it is smooth and quiet when you let off on the foot clutch with the power director already in high or low it probably has something to do with the clutches in the power director. Do they wear down to the point where they get a little rough, noisy and cease to creep? |
Posted By: DrAllis
Date Posted: 18 Jan 2026 at 5:42pm
| It sounds like the Power Director compartment is very low on oil. The dipstick is to the LEFT of the gearshift and takes a wrench to remove. It it has the correct oil level, if it was mine, I'd dump a gallon+ of diesel fuel in that compartment, run it for 10 minutes with the trans in neutral and the P.D. also in neutral and drain it all out and let it drip overnite. Drain plug is just below the clutch pedal and takes 1 1/8" wrench. Refill with 2 to 2 1/2 gallons of 821 oil and give it a whirl. |
Posted By: Steve A
Date Posted: 18 Jan 2026 at 7:45pm
| Thank you. Will do |
Posted By: 55allis
Date Posted: 18 Jan 2026 at 10:56pm
Is that recommended for one that has been sitting for a long time? Or just as a service? ------------- 1955 AC WD45 diesel with D262 repower, 1949 AC WD, 1963 A-C D17 series 3, several Allis garden tractors 
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DrAllis wrote:Posted By: DrAllis
Date Posted: 18 Jan 2026 at 11:10pm
| Prior to the series 3 D-17 (and any D-14-15), the Power Director/PTO gears compartment was just that....a compartment that never got the oil changed and there was no filter to clean the oil. The clutch dust mud laying in the bottom of the housing can get pretty deep and the diesel fuel will help to flush it away. He never acknowledged if it's even full of oil or not. I suspect very low on oil, or oil so muddy that a flush is needed to solve his clutch engagement noise complaint. |
Posted By: 55allis
Date Posted: 18 Jan 2026 at 11:27pm
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Mines a series 3, that mean the filter takes care of that problem? Sorry for taking over the thread but it really caught my attention… Thanks DrAllis!! ------------- 1955 AC WD45 diesel with D262 repower, 1949 AC WD, 1963 A-C D17 series 3, several Allis garden tractors
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Posted By: Steve A
Date Posted: 19 Jan 2026 at 5:41am
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Didn't acknowledge yesterday as it was 5 deg and I waited a bit until I had to go out and fill the wood furnace for the night. Yes it's low. Nope I didn't realize that was entirely separate and looked right past that dipstick. I was thinking it was lubricated with the hydraulics or the transmission. I should have known better; looked right at the diagram in the owners manual I bought on line and missed it there too. The 170 dipstick looks a little like a dipstick to check; this one really looks like just a bolt. Same location, no excuse. Evidently it has been overlooked a lot as it was painted shut and took a pretty healthy yank to pop loose. Thanks for pointing me in the correct direction. Update to follow in a few days. |
Posted By: DrAllis
Date Posted: 19 Jan 2026 at 6:27am
| If it's really low on oil, I'd probably add 2 gallons or more of diesel fuel to try and give her a good flush. |
Posted By: Steve A
Date Posted: 19 Jan 2026 at 7:57am
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Nothing diesel here, so going to town this am to get a couple gallons and some oil. Backstory on it: I bought it from a guy who purchased it last year to snowplow his driveway. Had a 50 ft driveway, claimed he discovered he had more tractor to maneuver than area to clear. He had a friend doing all the talking. That guy said he was an IHC fan and didn't know much about A.C. It once had a snap coupler back blade, he had sold that. Also had a factory adaptor for snap coupler to 3 point adapter. Owner prior to them had welded a crossbar of old drawbar on it and a 4'square tube in the center. Said that was used to move trailers around. They said they bought it the year from a guy whose dad purchased it new in 1957. He passed away, the son didn't want it. No books with it, and I wouldn't be surprised if nobody has checked that dipstick since 19_ _ ??? I get the feeling the tractor sat for a few of years; the button on the power director lever was completely stuck in the down position and the governor to carb mechanism was sticking. Factory hydraulic valve leaks, pump and ram are good. You gave me advice about that earlier in the summer. I realize my mechanical abilities in getting into that pump/valve project, so I added exterior valve and filter which solved that. Negates the traction booster, but not planning on plowing with it. Somebody had been in both the hydraulic compartment and the rear end, as old blue RTV sealant along those. Wondering this morning where the oil went and if the seals on the side are any good. |
Posted By: ACinSC
Date Posted: 19 Jan 2026 at 1:30pm
| Good info! I just used a very long screwdriver to scrape the bottom of the power director oil cavity. It came up clean. Thought it might have a bunch of crud in it. Does work ok and I keep it full. I can see how it could be easily overlooked. My dipstick had a copper washer. I was told it should be a o ring type? Thanks Sorry should say I have a 1961 D 15 |
Posted By: DrAllis
Date Posted: 19 Jan 2026 at 1:31pm
| You were told wrong. |
Posted By: ACinSC
Date Posted: 19 Jan 2026 at 1:33pm
| Thanks Dr Allis! |
Posted By: Steve A
Date Posted: 20 Jan 2026 at 6:55am
| Working fine this morning, that seems to have solved the issue. Thanks again Doc! |