Challenging restoration or junk??

[HCJtractor]

I found this old motor grader in the forest and the landowner would give it to me. It's been sitting here for decades. What do you think? Structurally, it looks sound, with only surface rust. Obviously, the engine and hydraulics would need major rebuilds or replacements, but mechanically, it looks fairly simple. I will add that I would have to farm out any engine and hydraulic pump work, but could handle the disassembly, mechanical parts, and sandblast/paint myself. Would it be worth the effort to tackle such a project?

 

[sweettractors]

That would be a fun project. I would locate some of my needed major component parts before I fully committed. Ken Sweet

 

[HCJtractor]

Ken, have you ever seen any grader like this? Wonder how old it is? Also wonder if restoring the engine is even possible, or if a new retrofitted diesel would be more likely.

 

[KWentling]

I would love to run across a deal like that. As far as restoration, I would think engine overhaul parts would still be available because it likely shares engines with ag and industrial tractors. It might share transmissions also. If the tires are shot, that will probably be a big expense. Being it is hydraulic, I would think it wouldn't be older that 50's or 60's but that is just guessing. My dad bought an old Allis grader back in the early 70's that we made into a land plane, and it was a mechanical machine. I'm thinking it was a 1940's vintage but may have been older. You might find some information from the guys over on the Heavy Equipment Forms. They have a grader section.

Kim

 

[sweettractors]

Ken, have you ever seen any grader like this? Wonder how old it is? Also wonder if restoring the engine is even possible, or if a new retrofitted diesel would be more likely.

I have never seen one like it. I would guess it to be out of the fifties? If you were going to restore it to show, I would go with all original that I could find. If you are just going to fix it up to use it, after market or retro parts would seem fine. Ken Sweet

 

[outinthetalgrass]

Educated guess....Made in the mid 50's at the Allis Chalmers plant in Springfield Illinois, at 6th and Stevenson Dr. I worked at the Service station (remember those) across the street,and it looks a lot like the ones they were building and shipping at the time.
it is a model D

 

[slaveToHorses]

Yup, nailed it. A model D. You can find them for sale. Here is one
ALLIS-CHALMERS D Motor Grader For Sale At MachineryTrader.com

It would be fun to restore, as long as you have the tools to deal with heavy objects and big stuborn fasteners. If not then it is a great excuse to pick up a torch and some 1" impact sockets

If you have a use for a grader, then this would be a perfectly workable unit. I think my neighbor has one of similar vintage.

 

[beenthere]

I found this old motor grader in the forest .......... Would it be worth the effort to tackle such a project?

What use or uses do you have for it?

Had my drive black-topped this summer, and the crew used one in the next section to grade the drive before laying down black top. Very handy for that job, and light to haul around on a long equipment trailer behind their dump truck.

As you said, should be simple and straightforward if no major parts are broken.

Looks like a fun restoration project, but a big one.

But junk, if you can't/don't finish it.

 

[SuperCobra]

Not to sound too pessimistic but I would count on it needing work more than it is worth. There is probably a good reason it was left in the woods. Then again, who knows, maybe they just parked it because they weren't using it.

 

[Dogballs]

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