Allis d17 engine run away
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=73174
Printed Date: 27 Sep 2025 at 5:31pm
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Topic: Allis d17 engine run away
Posted By: hhf
Subject: Allis d17 engine run away
Date Posted: 09 Jul 2013 at 12:52pm
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I have a 1961 Allis d17 gas. It runs fine for about 1/2 hour then all of a sudden the engine will rev up way beyond what the governor can handle, or maybe the governor is going bad. In any event I need to back the gas linkage way down to nothing fbefore the engine will slow down. thanks John |
Replies:
Posted By: Don(MO)
Date Posted: 09 Jul 2013 at 1:17pm
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I'd stop using the tractor and pull the governor assy off look at the spring,weights, pins that hold the weights on and the bearing assy. ------------- 3 WD45's with power steering,G,D15 fork lift,D19, W-Speed Patrol, "A" Gleaner with a 330 corn head,"66" combine,roto-baler, and lots of Snap Coupler implements to make them work for their keep. |
Posted By: Rick
Date Posted: 09 Jul 2013 at 1:20pm
| I'm with Don..I'd say the weights went! Rick |
Posted By: hhf
Date Posted: 09 Jul 2013 at 1:22pm
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ok, thanks, I've never pulled one apart before, any gotchas that I need to worry about. this will take a few days to do, not sure what to look for but I can pull it apart and see if anything is broke or dirty thanks John  |
Posted By: Charlie175
Date Posted: 09 Jul 2013 at 1:56pm
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It's real easy to do. Go to agcopartsonline.com and looks at the parts diagram for the governor. 4 bolts hold the cover on, that is all you need to take off to look at the inside. If you see things gone bad then further disassemble is required. ------------- Charlie '48 B, '51 CA, '56 WD45 '61 D17, '63 D12, '65 D10 , '68 One-Ninety XTD |
Posted By: DrAllis
Date Posted: 09 Jul 2013 at 2:06pm
| I doubt that it's governor weights. When they pitch the weights they stay broke, not work fine for 30 minutes and then act up. I'd be thinking the linkage behind the generator, especially the cotter pin on the link rod at the carb getting stuck or jamming the linkage. |
Posted By: Rick
Date Posted: 09 Jul 2013 at 2:14pm
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Well, hopefully it'll be something easy. However, I've had three different D17's that have thrown the weights and two of them acted just as he described above.They were in the process of coming apart, I think and then...they did! That was my scenario, but maybe John's case will be different. If they do come apart, you'll know it. Hopefully, it won't break any teeth of any of the gears, which can happen too. Rick |
Posted By: hhf
Date Posted: 09 Jul 2013 at 2:39pm
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ok, theres is no harm in taking it apart, i did look at the linkage, it seems ok and I can throttle it back as long as I back it way down. The moment I move it at all after that it will try to rev up again. It will take a few days to do this but I'll let you all know what I find. I appreciate the input, hopefully there is not too much wrong Thanks John |
Posted By: DaveKamp
Date Posted: 09 Jul 2013 at 4:08pm
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Or a throttle plate that's breaking loose from the throttle shaft... in any event, none of the above situations are advisable to live with (for long)... ------------- Ten Amendments, Ten Commandments, and one Golden Rule solve most every problem. Citrus hand-cleaner with Pumice does the rest. |
Posted By: hhf
Date Posted: 10 Jul 2013 at 8:09am
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sorry it took so long to answer back, I was out last night, but thanks for the added info. More stuff to look at. I'm gonna try to pull the governor tonight and see what goes. I'll update this when I find out thanks to all for the suggestions and help John |
Posted By: bill2260
Date Posted: 10 Jul 2013 at 8:12am
| Before I pull the distributor, take the cap off and mark where the rotor button is pointing. Makes it so much easier to time after reinstallation of distributor. Bill |
Posted By: DaveKamp
Date Posted: 10 Jul 2013 at 9:01am
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Another thing that may be happening... not as likely, but possible: If the advance mechanism is sticking... it may be that it's somehow running in a partially-advanced state, but with much more throttle opening than should be required... and the advance finally works it's way out, which brings engine speed way up... ------------- Ten Amendments, Ten Commandments, and one Golden Rule solve most every problem. Citrus hand-cleaner with Pumice does the rest. |
Posted By: hhf
Date Posted: 29 Jul 2013 at 8:54am
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well, it took a while to get back, but here are the results of my problem... I pulled the governor and found that the weights flew apart, it looks like the thrust bearing went as well and I cannot find the clips which hold the weights on. I may need to pull the oil pan as well because that is probably where all the little parts are sitting. There is no gear damage so I lucked out there. My issue now is finding the weights, clips and thrust bearing which so far seems difficult. If anyone has any thoughts about where to find them I sure would appreciate it. Thanks so far for all the help John |
Posted By: Rick
Date Posted: 29 Jul 2013 at 10:30am
| hhf...PM me about the weights, pins, keepers and thrust bearing. I might be able to help you. Rick |
Posted By: hhf
Date Posted: 29 Jul 2013 at 12:15pm
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I don't have any part numbers for these things, just what is in the manual, if that is what you are asking. thanks John
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Posted By: Rick
Date Posted: 29 Jul 2013 at 12:24pm
| John...I sent you a personal message. Rick |
Posted By: Don(MO)
Date Posted: 29 Jul 2013 at 12:31pm
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John you got lucky they didn't take the cam gear and front of the block out, and yes the little parts are in the pan now. If you post a shot or two the old weights we can tell if there's more broken parts off the weights still down in the timing cover/pan. If you send Rick a PM he can set you up with the right used parts. When Rick posted "PM" that is a Private Message, not that he needs the part numbers. ------------- 3 WD45's with power steering,G,D15 fork lift,D19, W-Speed Patrol, "A" Gleaner with a 330 corn head,"66" combine,roto-baler, and lots of Snap Coupler implements to make them work for their keep. |
Posted By: biker4jc
Date Posted: 22 Sep 2016 at 6:22am
| I'm hoping this old thread catches someone's attention. My WD 45 just did the same thing yesterday while I was on the road; running along at normal speed, then suddenly it was a racing tractor ........... kinda scarey. Had a hay wagon on behind. Got it all under control, but as I use this tractor daily I can't have this. So here's the question ...... same fix for a WD 45? |
Posted By: Hubert (Ga)engine7
Date Posted: 22 Sep 2016 at 6:53am
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Same fix. Welcome to the Forum/
------------- Just an old country boy saved by the grace of God. |
Posted By: Lon(MN)
Date Posted: 22 Sep 2016 at 7:05am
| I bought weights from Agco. Also had a machine shop fix a couple of mine in the past for the same price. Those clips are fun little guys and can fly pretty far if they get away from you. |
Posted By: DrAllis
Date Posted: 22 Sep 2016 at 8:56am
| Generally, when a governor weight or weights break off, opening of the hand throttle the least little bit, causes the engine to run away wild. This poster claimed the tractor ran for 1/2 hr and took off, which is strange. He either never moved the hand throttle off of an idle, or there were governor weight pieces jammed up inside causing the linkage to not function. The 1/2 hr run time with everything good, and then it takes off isn't a normal scenario at all. |
Posted By: Brian G. NY
Date Posted: 22 Sep 2016 at 9:06am
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John, I assume more than the little clips went down into the timing cover? When the weights "blew" on my D-17, a bunch of pieces went down there. The only pieces that went all the way down into the pan were those tiny little clips. I was concerned that the pieces in the timing cover would eventually wind up in the gears and cause some serious problems. I was a bit intimidated by the task of removing the timing cover since it involves moving the front bolster out of the way. Instead, I bought a cheap "bore scope" from Harbor Freight, made up some special extracting tools and was able to "fish" the pieces out. I will admit it was time consuming and sometimes frustrating but it worked for me. I wish you luck with your repair.
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Posted By: 8050/8030/185
Date Posted: 22 Sep 2016 at 9:48am
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As Dr said Run Away is the word. I had a early D17 many years ago and when the governor went it was a wild ride. Low idle was high idle. I slowed to turn a corner and throttled back up and the 15mph tractor became a 30 mph tractor. D17s were not built to run 30 mph down the road. If it is the governor your tractor will only idle back to 1500+ rpm and it won't go lower rpm until it is fixed. Thank goodness I was less than mile from home when it blew. I would check out distributor problem if heat is making a difference. Heat affects electronics. Good luck |
Posted By: Brian Jasper co. Ia
Date Posted: 22 Sep 2016 at 1:09pm
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I can put up some pics of serious carnage from a governor coming apart. It was bad enough that it got the governor gear, cam gear, and punched a hole in the front cover. I would strongly recommend you pull the pan and wash out the metal debris. I don't know how robust the oil pumps are, but no pump needs to have shavings go through it. DJS has new weights and pins listed. ------------- "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: Scott B
Date Posted: 23 Sep 2016 at 9:01am
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Are there any early warning signs of a governor going bad? I mow some areas that are hilly and rough....would not want my tractor taking off when I was coming up to a hillside or ditch. ------------- D17 Series 1 Allis B- 1939 Allis B- 1945 |
Posted By: Brian Jasper co. Ia
Date Posted: 23 Sep 2016 at 12:52pm
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I don't know if there are noticeable signs, but the weights pivot on pins on the governor gear. If I understand it correctly, the weights wear enough that they break and then in the case of mine it killed the governor gear, cam gear, and punched a hole in the front cover. From what I see on my engine I would take the cover off and see if the weights have and slop on the pivot pins. If they did, new weights and pins are much cheaper/easier than a couple gears after it let loose... ------------- "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: DiyDave
Date Posted: 23 Sep 2016 at 6:22pm
| With enough hours, they can wear down the weights, also check the shaft, it can get tapered, and cause problems... |