Allis CA

it has 'Z' code gleaner engine in it.

A little more power to the wheels, which is not always a good thing. 

Regards,

 Chris and Cheryl

 Took the Allis CA crank to the machine shop for evaluation of the thrust. Both the old and new thrust bearing measured about the same. Thrust was about .010 over spec.  So have decided to have him remove the crank gear, clean up the thrust surface on the crank and remove a little from the crank snout. Then re set the gear on the shaft bringing this dimension back to spec.

A few parts:

I did get the new battery charger on the E tank and half of the CA fuel tank has been in since yesterday. This charger has a timer for about 2 hours. Seems to be working OK.

small moves.

Tractor pull last night with the WZ. 3500 lb class had more than enough power and spun out well before the 300 foot mark. Well the clutches and governor spring worked fine. Now to find the best weight class. I think the additional weight on the rear (1000 lbs) bring it back to the 4500 lb class. It may be balanced much better??

Regards,

 Chris and Cheryl

The little CA project is fighting me every step of the way today. I did get several parts sandblasted. my compressor overheated and kicked off till it cooled down. 

Also prototyping an area in the shop to finally set up some work benches, tool boxes, and storage areas. This should help get some projects moving along quicker, maybe?:) So I need to build support structures for the 24 feet of new old work benchs. Also brought my old craftsman tool box from the house garage to compliment the larger craftsman box given to me by my grandson Mike. So my cost so far is about zero. I will have to buy some lumber for the legs.

Yesterday I had the sandblaster where the toolboxes were. I had to relocate the dust collector on the sandblaster to the back allow it to go back to the other side of the garage door. Just another minor job to keep moving forward. No I didn't clean the top of the tool boxes off as I moved them! It's my trademark. 

My view from the new bench, work area. I plan to wrap around the corner with another 12 feet of bench along the south wall also. Planning for just some shelving under the work surfaces too. Then I should be able to move my 4 x 7 foot work table into this corner as an island. Will this help me move along on the CA? Well its is a good diversion and much needed in the shop. Like any horizontal surface my areas get filled quickly with stuff! All kinds of stuff!

Oh yeah after ice cream with Cheryl we took a ride and looked at another CA. Yes the "Williow" CA tractor, is still sitting in the yard several miles away. Tires bad. water in the pan. Unsure if the engine is free? My guess is it's froze tight. Maybe even broken block? Anyway they are still out there. Do I need another? Not really! But the 4 great grand kids might have some fun at tractor pulls if it could be resurrected. Humm? 

Happy labor day!

Regards,

 Chris and Cheryl

 A couple minor setbacks in the area of CA parts. The bearings are re- ordered. They came as incorrect components. A new set of rings were ordered as one of the oil rings was only 1/2 there, the broken portion was missing. I still have many moves to make, so this is not going to really hold up the project much. I have several full days of cleaning parts and nuts and bolts! 

Some cam shots:

Pretty exciting stuff here!:)

Regards,

 Chris and Cheryl

I did get the CA cylinders honed, Much better. Also did some cleaning on the block. Cleaning pistons, thinking about cams. I did fire up the E-tank and have the CA oil pan in there for cleaning. 

Car shows with the 65 Comet and getting ready for tractor pull Monday night with a test of the WZ. Hope that works out with Cheryl, it is her birthday!

Regards,

 Chris and Cheryl

  Take a straight edge and measure back to the throwout bearing from the face of the bellhousing, this should be 5". This gives good thread contact on the clutch rod. I have the tab on the jig set to be 4-7/8" from the block face. This give 1/8" clearance at the throwout bearing. This is a bit tighter than the 1/4" that the service manual calls for, however I've found it allows the pressure plate to release cleaner. After installing the engine, I might need to give the clutch rod a 1/2 turn or so to get 1/2" free travel on the clutch rod (not peddle travel).

I am planning to use the std clutch plate as my Hp will be near stock.

We had fun at the dead boat pull today. Not many tractors as the weather was iffy and folks just don't attend if the weatherman says rain.

Probably had 30- 40 hooks. I pulled in 3750, 4000 and 4500 lb class with the WZ. The clutchs are not good in this old Allis but I was able to pull the flat boat loaded with dirt a little farther than several other tractors when loaded up for the 4500 lb class.

Its wasn't pretty but the old Allis got it done!

Thanks to my wife for tolerating me playing in the sandbox with the guys!

Regards,

 Chris and Cheryl

Well we have made some small moves to get items to bring this CA engine back to working order sometime in the future. A reworked cam and lifters from Paul will get things started. Some things to learn to get that set up correctly. Lots of measuring of the crank journals and the cylinders and pistons. Sandy Lake (Brenda) has helped figure out some of the other components to refurb this engine. New rings have been checked in the bore and the end gap is within the specs of .007 to .017 inches. pistons are being cleaned up. I will hone the cylinders to get a good surface. A new set of main crank bearings at .010 under should tighten up the thrust. So those are on their way also.

The head and flywheel are at the machine shop for improvements. New clutch and pressure plate and complete gasket kit is ready for being included in the assembly.

I am going to clean the block or take it to be cleaned. All the tapped holes in the block have been chased and cleaned out. 

The electrolysis tank needs to get set up again to help clean some of the engine items, like the pan and the front cover. I did get the new stud installed in the front of the engine, replacing the bent one (from when the block fell on the floor).

I will try to get some pictures loaded. Yea lots of work to do on this tractor. 

Tractor pull tomorrow at local show grounds. If the weather is good we will get to pull a stone boat loaded with dirt as the weight classes increase. I am taking the WZ with a bunch of weights loaded on it. Man the jib crane works great to install these weights. Will try to get some pictures too. Kind of a fun pull to let off steam and earn bragging rights. 

Regards,

 Chris and Cheryl

 As I mentioned in my clutch synopsis above: A heavy springed pressure plate will quickly ruin the thrust bearing in a BE/CE block. Aftermarket clutch rebuilders will claim that additional spring pressure will be better for the clutch disc, however it has an averse effect on the thrust bearing.

  One of the blowhards insisted he had a CE block in a B puller that he had built with extra stroke and bigger bore. While on a westward trip, I took a 100 mile detour to have a visit with this person. The engine that he claimed to have pressure oiled rods had an inspection hole big enough to pass a softball into just under the magneto. Then he proceeded to claim he had other CE blocks that had pressure oiled rods as well. I insisted that he pull a rod cap and try to run a wire through the hole, after he tried this, he found that the hole had a bottom and did NOT go all the way trough to the main bearing. Next when I asked him to explain the rod oiling holes in the camshaft, he thought they were for piston cooling, really in a CE block! Then I asked why the hole in the rods? If the rods were pressure oiled wouldn't the holes allow loss of oil pressure?

After that the claim that BE/CE blocks had pressure oiled rods died.

 If you would be interested in a high lift reground cam for your CA, I still have a couple that were reground by the Preacherman of N.C. who has sadly passed on. In all my years of pulling the CAs I've tried many different camshaft grinds and none did what his can, most were less performance.