Farm Equipment - Help! 1938 AC Starting Issue

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Help! 1938 AC Starting Issue

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=22957
Printed Date: 18 Feb 2025 at 7:34pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.10 - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: Help! 1938 AC Starting Issue

Posted By: vintagetoys
Subject: Help! 1938 AC Starting Issue
Date Posted: 27 Dec 2010 at 11:08pm

Let me start off by saying thanks to all the vintage restoration/tinkerers out there on the forum. I'm mainly a watercaft guy myself, but my father has always wanted an Allischalmers like his grandfather owned many years ago.

Dad finally picked up a 1939 type "B" tractor a few months ago. His tractor is pretty much a bare bones model, nothing electrical to my knowledge. In usually less than 5 cranks the tractor roars to life & runs like a batt outta hel*.

My father started the AC yesterday for his brother & something odd occured (I atleast think so). The crank start handle swung around & slambed into his wrist. Low & behold the x-ray confirmed a broken wrist. Poor dad!!!

So here is my question: Is this a common issue with these tractors? Is there certain do & donts when starting these type B's? I haven't had the plesure to start the tractor personally. Any help and/or info would be great.

Replies:

Posted By: David Maddux
Date Posted: 28 Dec 2010 at 12:03am

B's were the worse, the crank handle is so short, you can't get out of the way. First: You never wrap your thumb around the crank. Grab the crank with thumb tucked in. It also sounds like the engine might have been firing a little soon. I like to follow the number one spark plug hole with a piece of mechanics wire. When you feel the piston hit top dead and stop rising, Go just a little more to allow the rod throw to come around, so that when it fires, the only way to go is straight down. I learned this the hard way when my Dad got sent to the hospital after getting kicked in the chest with a lot bigger tractor. After you do this , then you can double check timing at the timing hole. Dave.

Posted By: MilesGray (CO/KS)
Date Posted: 28 Dec 2010 at 12:08am

Welcome to the forum, this is the best place to get information about AC tractors ever!

Sorry to hear your Dad broke his wrist, But the B's have been known to bite.

Here are a few things I do to try to be safer around the Tractors:

1. Don't spin the crank when trying to start it

2. Don't grab it like you would shake hands with it, cup it in your left hand with the thumb to the side with your fingers, Lift up and let the crank move away from your hand as it comes over the top.

Believe me, you Dad isn't the first one that this has happened to, and he won't be the last.

Once again, Welcome to the club... or is it an addiction? LOL

Miles

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Miles Gray (CO/KS)

5 1938 B's, 1940 B, 1944 WF C, 1948 NF C, Gleaner A, White Top Rotobaler, 1957 IH Golden Jubilee... I'm either a collector, or crazy!

Posted By: AllisChalmers37
Date Posted: 28 Dec 2010 at 2:13am

I have a crank starter WC (1937) and when I crank it hard to start it I let go and pull my hands away when I here the magneto impulse click. It has the spring on the crank handle that kicks it out of the front of the engine. If you don't watch what your doing the crank could get caught and act like a propeller on an airplane. I've heard of several people breaking wrists, arms, and knees starting these old tractors. Thank God I have not got that lucky yet.

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1937 WC, 1950 CA, 1959 D14, 1967 190XT, 2006 Ram 3500

Posted By: swit
Date Posted: 28 Dec 2010 at 6:38am

I hand cranked mine all last winter starter was shot I never had it kick on me i did follow what you are all saying about the thumb all ways pushed down.maybe just plane stupid luck. since then had starter rebuild no more cranking.

Posted By: WC7610
Date Posted: 28 Dec 2010 at 7:41am

Welcome to the AC brotherhood. The nicest people and best advice you will find on the web.

For my 38 B, I move the crank to the 3 o clock position and crank it with an open palm-left hand as Dave suggested above-to the 9 o clock position.

Post a picture for us-We'd all love to see your tractor.

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Thanks

Most Bad Government has grown out of Too Much Government- Thomas Jefferson

Posted By: vintagetoys
Date Posted: 28 Dec 2010 at 8:00am

Great infomation evereyone. My dads patiently waiting for me to drop off the printed responses. Maybe this will spark an interest in computer usage, we shall see. I'll post a pic of the tractor later this week. Thanks again.

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If you like vintage check out dynafoil.com

Posted By: GlenninPA
Date Posted: 28 Dec 2010 at 9:54am

5 cranks is too many. If you set the timing right using Dave's method, you should be able to pull once to get fuel in the cylinders, and the second pull should start it.

All good advice, as the B can be a snappy little devil, especially if the timing is firing a teenie bit soon....

Posted By: Dick L
Date Posted: 28 Dec 2010 at 11:19am

I have had them kick plenty of times but no injuries that lasted longer than a few minutes. I only crank with quarter turns pulling up and at the top I pull the crank out of the pulley center. After a few practices it just seems to happen. It can't bite with the crank out of the pulley.

Posted By: Dave Richards (WV)
Date Posted: 28 Dec 2010 at 3:48pm

I bought a crank for my WD45. Just had to try it. She caught me in the hip. Only thing that hurts worse is when you do it a second time because you can't believe it happened. Turns out the Distributor was stuck in the full advanced position. Always started on electric because I was turning it with 12 volts. (turns faster) Now that the advance is fixed, it starts even better.

Posted By: Brian Jasper co. Ia
Date Posted: 28 Dec 2010 at 6:48pm

I have a hand crank for my CA. I've had it almost as long as the tractor (15years) and have yet to have enough guts to try it. I've started my Oliver 60 (engine is about the same size) by hand many times.

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"Any man who thinks he can be happy and prosperous by letting the government take care of him better take a closer look at the American Indian." Henry Ford

Posted By: Fred
Date Posted: 29 Dec 2010 at 6:59pm

I haven't tried to crank start my B since it has an electric starter but you haven't lived until you crank started a 1934 Chevy. It was not intended for a regular crank start as it had a starter but mine wouldn't start when it was hot. 1934 was the first year for Chevrolet to put in a vacuum advance and I knew you needed to retard the spark for cranking. Luckily on the distributor there is what they call an octaine selector. You could retard the spark temporary without disturbing your distributor timing setting. My starter would start the car cold but don't stall when she was warmed up. Many a time my wife would be pushing me to get it started and that didn't go over well. I went to crank the Chevy one time and forgot to retard the spark and had to straighten out one of the fog lights and repaint it because the crank swung around and hit it. That 6 cylinder kicks stronger than a team of mules. I found a NOS armature and that solved that problem. That Chevy crank fits my B.