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Just curious whether anyone had any experience with or thoughts on an old Allis Chalmers M (crawler). Anything to be on the look out for other than frozen steering clutches, etc? Had heard the M engine was prone to cracking, any more so than other old iron?

12/16/2010 3:35:14 PM

[email protected]

Nilbert, How old is the machine, They go back to the 30's, How many horse power, they had engines as low as 22 hp.
They also made both gas and diesel engines depending on the year.
My dad built roads back in the day. I drove an Allis Chalmers crawler before I drove a truck.
Generally the engines were only good up to about 1200 RPMS, anything more was extremely hard on the cast parts of the engines. this was the diesel's, after a time, they had RPM regulators on the crawlers because of motor issues, they seemed to be minimal as long as you stayed under the 1200 rpms.
I remember the stuff on the motors, but don't remember anything about the steering clutches, I can ask Dad about it.

12/16/2010 3:50:49 PM

Hamburg, NY

Nilbert,

Nebraska test # 216 (also listed #239 but I couldn't find anything on it)

http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1847&context=tractormuseumlit

Gasoline and Distillate engines but no diesel I believe Eddy.

I have a later crawler - the H3 (1961) - which was about the same size - the HD3 was diesel.

http://www.allischalmers.com/images/hd3.jpg

Lot of expense to keep up - the undercarriage is about 80% of the cost of keeping up any crawler. If you're not going to do too much with it and you like to turn wrenches - it could be a fun venture!

Ray

12/16/2010 4:31:50 PM

[email protected]

Ray
Yes your right they were gas, my bad, just talked to Dad. He did mention the steering clutches did freeze up, or stick, but nothing too different than any from that era

12/16/2010 4:52:45 PM

This is an old one, Eddy (1939 - but I'd need to check the SN), not doing any serious construction with it, mostly pushing brush and stuff around the farm. If the guy will let me, I'll put it through its paces when I look at it (and if he won't, I'll take it as a red flag).

I have several old Farmalls, and, while the are low HP, they are full of torque and handy little machines. Always thought a little crawler would be nice to add to the collection, maybe to "help" Jim Sherwood's pumpkin patch out when he's away on summer vacation, stuff like that. ;)

Ray, thanks for the links, I will check those out.

12/16/2010 5:44:50 PM

Sort of Sunny Sometimes, WA

Neal, just stay away from the Allis B. Toklas tractor. I hear they smell funny, don't get a lot of work done and are fuel guzzlers.

12/16/2010 9:48:37 PM

Hamburg, NY

Nilbert,

You can clean the clutches many times by just filling up the housing with fuel oil and then some gasoline to rinse. Done this before and works pretty good. Be careful with the gas! A little work is a great fix most of the time. /Ray

12/16/2010 10:07:43 PM

Hamburg, NY

Serial number is located on the right side of transmission case, by clutch inspection cover. There were 14,524 made - 1939-1942

12/16/2010 10:12:19 PM

Thanks Ray and Eddy. Erin, not so much...

I'm planning to take a look tomorrow, it'll be a good way to kill a Saturday since there's not much going on for bowl games yet.

12/17/2010 1:47:58 PM

Billerica,Massachusetts

as i understand the M crawler came with a 4 cyl gas engine.

the serial numbers are as follows.

1933: 1
1934: 402
1935: 842
1936: 1942
1937: 3842
1938: 7067
1939: 8127
1940: 9540
1941: 11380
1942: 12947

Glenn

12/17/2010 6:18:50 PM

Nice little crawler, I took it for a spin on Saturday. It's a 1939, fired right up, heavy blade, no smoke from the engine. The engine is a 4 cylinder, 318 cubes. Hydraulics are a bit noisy, but that could be because of the size of the pump, lines, and blade.

The seller was a pretty nice guy, too, he didn't even flinch when I nearly took out his house on the test drive. I guess I'm not quite used to a hand clutch (steering clutches, yes, actual hand clutch to pop it out of gear, not so much).

12/20/2010 10:05:20 AM

Mulino, Oregon

So Neal, when are you coming over to get it 'stuck' in my garden? lol

12/20/2010 4:39:34 PM

You looking to tear something up in addition to the sprinkler system, Jim???

12/21/2010 3:34:46 PM

Sort of Sunny Sometimes, WA

You're welcome Neal. . . Geesh, you try and help some people. . . .

12/21/2010 10:31:28 PM