1952 (?) Allis Chalmers CA

[Anonymous-0]

I just brought home what the previous owner thought was a 1952 AC CA. The serial number by the shifter is CA30962. That would make it a '53, wouldn't it? He had to jump start the tractor to get it going, but once it started, it ran fine.

I got it home and had to put it on the charger for a while on the 6 volt engine start setting just to fire it up to get it off the trailer. I left the charger on it until the snow started flying last night, but today I had to put the charger back on it to get it going again. Am I looking at a generator problem?

I noticed driving it around my circular driveway last night that there's a LOT of play in the steering. Is this common? How best to tighten the steering up? When I was looking at the steering assembly, I noticed that on the "drivers" side (left side when seated on the tractor) there was a cylinder powered unit hooked up to the tie rod. There isn't one on the other side, though. Was that a power steering upgrade that didn't get completed, or was it original equipment? I'm not sure, but I think the tie rod end is rubbing on the tire, too, on that side, and it looks like both sides are towed in too much.

I noticed near the shifter a lever with a chain linkage that goes down to what I think is the PTO shaft, but it has slack it it, and I know the PTO operating lever is behind the seat, so was wondering what that might be.

What category equipment should I be looking for with this model? I'm planning to use a landscaping/rock rake for cleaning up 30 years worth of pine needles and rocks on 10 acres and pulling enough little scrub pine trees to make most of the property mowable and usable/accessible, then using the rake and a field mower that my brother already owns to maintain it.

I just tried to include a pic, but I need to play with this web site before I'll be able to add one.

Jim Comfort

 

[Lonnie Smith]

That would be a 1953. The slop in the steering coould be in any one or all of the points between the steering wheel and front tires, you need to wiggle the steering wheel and check everything that moves. the hyd. cylinder sounds like an add on, never seen power steering a on a CA before. Is it a wide front? The chain sounds like it's for the snap coupler attatchment.

 

[JMS/.MN]

You really need to get an operator manual. Power steering on a CA? No way, unless someone jerry-rigged something in the last 50 years. Certainly nothing factory. And one side, not the other? cyl? Again, PS, no way. Generator problem re starting? Likely a bad battery. KISS formula. Don"t throw parts at it if you don"t know what you are doing. Chain linkage? maybe you"re lucky enough to have a CA with the Snap-Coupler system. Has nothing to do with the pto. Your serial number is indeed a 1953. Then look for the I&T AC-11 service manual.

 

[Jim Comfort]

Thanks, guys,

I just set up a membership to the site and it won't let me upload any pics yet, but I'll get some pics up as soon as I can.

On the steering, the play is in the column shaft with the steering wheel. It looks to be a closed system that probably has an issue at the end of the shaft in the unit on the tractor frame where the linkage is attached as well.

The guy I got the rig from said the battery was about a year old, so I put it on a 6 volt 2 amp trickle charge overnight, I'll see what happens. Trust me, I don't have enough cash to start throwing money at it willy-nilly, I just want to get it practical enough for the uses I listed above. This is going to be a working rig, not a show rig.

I think you're right about the snap coupler, but does that mean that I'd need a snap coupler add-on for all my implements, or can I remove the bolts (the side arms don't have enough play to remove the arms from the pins to change the implements?

On the steering gear, I don't see any hydraulic hoses going to it, it looks similar to a screen door closer only bigger, and it's attached to the left side tie rod. As soon as I can upload pics, I will.

 

[Jim Comfort]

Here's a link to the tractor, if it'll let me do links.

https://photos.yesterdaystractors.com/cgi-bin/gallery/gallery_pic.cgi?pic=http;//photos.yesterdaystractors.com/gallery/tphotos/c139784.jpg&firstrec=34122&Parameter=&w=tphotos&cc=0

 

[Lonnie Smith]

One thing to remember on a 6 volt is that the connections are as important as a good battery. Wouldn't hurt to remove all connections and clean them good.

 

[RalphWD45]

I have seen shock asorbing cylinders attatched to 4 wd truck steering, I think they are used to stop the steering wheel from jerking in your hand , if your front wheel hits something. Maybe someone put it on trying to make up for a worn out steering gear box!

 

[Jim Comfort]

Ok, so I can upload pics and insert in posts, so I'll try and get some pics up, especially the unit on the tie rod and the 3 point.