Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1545857
in, I put it back together again. After a few years, I didn't pull the "A" or the "U," as it was just easier to haul the WC. I put the WC in the open class with bigger piston, cam ground to higher lift, bigger valves and ported heads. The "A" was in the hometown parade, but after a while, it didn't idle well but engine wide-open. It seemed OK, but after a few years, it got worse. I thought it was the intake manifold was getting air. The "A" was sitting in the shop for 20 years, and I was working in the dealership and at home so the "A" was just sitting. Life got busy. With the feature being the "A" at Orange Spectacular in 2026, I started in 2025 to find the problems with the "A." I worked the mag, put a different carburetor on, drained the fuel tank and cleaned it out. I put on a new sediment bowl, as well. I started the "A" and it seemed to run OK. It didn't seem right, with a bad intake manifold. I didn't run it very long with no water in it. When the weather was warmer, I ran it outside and put water in it. It started harder and missed a little, but it was OK after running a while. I put it in the shop, then after a bit, I tried it again. It started hard, then missed a little but then was OK after running a while. A guy brought a tractor for me to work on, so we talked a long time and I asked if he wanted to listen to the "A" run. So, I started to crank the tractor and I couldn't crank very good and I could see water from the head and manifold. I drained the water out of the engine right away. It was No. 3 cylinder, so I took the back head off and put water in the block up to the deck to check for sleeve leaks. After a few days, it seemed to have no leaks. Seemed head gaskets were OK. Found a way to plug the head upside-down and put water in it. I was about 1 inch from the top, there was a little spot but it didn't get bigger. Added water to head to the top. The little spot got bigger, leaking water from the head. Took the front head off, too. I had a stationary engine that was froze up, so I took both heads off and it was in better shape with half-inch stem "A" valves. So, I ground the seats and valves, with the best valves I could find. I put valves in the head and found a guide that had a crack in it. I found from a dealer that had a new guide so that's what I put in. I put both heads on, I torqued heads and set valves. I put water in and ran the tractor for a while and it ran fine. Next day, I torqued the head and set valves again. I ran it for a while again and let the engine cool and torqued heads again and set valves. Since this "A" has not run for 20 years, it was painted corporate orange in the early-'80s. The corporate orange back then was probably the only paint available. Sitting for 20 years, it needed a clean- up real bad, and pulling the tractor in pulls was hard on the paint. I don't have the time before the Orange Spectacular to get it repainted. I also had a cracked heat chamber on the intake manifold, which I had to weld. I also had two different front tires, which I have to replace. The rear tires were two different tires and badly cracked, so they were replaced. The rear rims were real rusty and had holes. I got new rims; they were wider, but I had to grind some cast off to make the rims fit. Lastly, I put the rear tires on. I hope you enjoy the journey that I have shared with you. Lastly, it's because of this tractor that I met my wife. The rest is history. Allis-Chalmers Model A St. Charles, Minn. 33 OLD ALLIS NEWS