[AT] Climbing on and off of our old tractors

[Will Powell]

The C is a pain to get into, nice once your on it (or in it). I use the steering wheel and slide past the left fender. The paint is worn smooth on the left fender. My C had its column pipe busted, and I see many others that have been busted or repaired surely because of the stress of climbing in or out. 

Not as bad with the WC or WD, but they are still a challenge. I made my father a step for his WD. 

I think the 8n is the easiest to mount. But, once I am mounted I enjoy driving the C the most. 

Regards, 

Will Powell 





----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Al Jones" <farmallsupera at earthlink.net> 
To: "Antique tractor email discussion group" <at at lists.antique-tractor.com> 
Sent: Monday, November 2, 2009 6:30:28 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern 
Subject: Re: [AT] Climbing on and off of our old tractors 

I don't know if a C is anything like a WD/WD45, but on those two it feels 
like you're in a cockpit rather than on a tractor! 

Al 


> [Original Message] 
> From: Indiana Robinson <robinson46176 at gmail.com> 
> To: Antique tractor email discussion group <at at lists.antique-tractor.com> 
> Date: 11/2/2009 6:03:27 PM 
> Subject: [AT] Climbing on and off of our old tractors 
> 
> Well, it got a little embarrassing today. I was going to put the 
> little Allis C in the barn and was going to have Diana pull start it 
> since it has such a weak starter. It has been weak ever since we got 
> it many years ago. I may have to break down and buy one but I think I 
> will try replacing the field first. It has been serviced so many times 
> over the years I have probably about worn the bolts out. :-) It is 
> also bad about losing ground. 
> I love that little Allis and once in the seat it is quite comfortable 
> but mount / dismount has always been pretty hard. The old friend who 
> bought it new died at around 85 or so and I always joked that he might 
> have made 100 if it were not for climbing on and off (especially off) 
> of that C. The only way I have ever been able to get off of it is to 
> pull my feet back so both feet are on the axles just in font of the 
> seat, grab the wheel and hoist my self upright standing on the axles. 
> A little awkward but not a serious problem. Not until today... I had 
> some trouble getting into the seat due to my #$%& knee but made it OK. 
> Then I had to get off to do something. Er, uh, I need to get off... 
> Somebody get me off of this thing!! 
> I tried all sorts of silly things including scooting around and trying 
> to get my leg over the fender. Not going to happen... I was sitting 
> there thinking about it and Diana was watching me wallowing around, 
> trying her best to keep a straight face. It crossed my mind to have 
> her bring the loader tractor over with a chain hanging down from the 
> bucket so I could pull myself up on it. Finally I just forced my heels 
> back on top of the axle amidst a great deal of cussing and ouching, 
> grabbed the wheel and jerked myself up. I'm sitting in the house right 
> now waiting for those pills to take hold... I think I will wait for 
> Son Scott to get home tomorrow and have him put it in the barn. 
> I have written here often about what a poor job many manufacturers did 
> in the old days about operator comfort and convenience. 
> I have watched at shows and auctions for several years now looking 
> specifically at which models are easy to mount /dismount. Using my 
> Fergie TO-20 is really easy compared to that Allis. I always thought 
> that it was a little sad that our old friend didn't get what he wanted 
> at the time he bought his new tractor (1946). He had been looking at 
> the Ford N's and came to our house and drove ours (ours had add-on 
> running boards) and he loved it. At the last minute his two grown sons 
> talked him into buying the Allis C instead telling him that the Allis 
> would do anything that the 9N would do (they didn't have a clue) and 
> it was much much cheaper. He always regretted that he listened to 
> them... Yes, the Allis C is a nice little tractor and I love having it 
> (and so did he) but he soon learned what it would not do. It would not 
> pull a 2 bottom 14" plow nor would it pull a tandam disk that cut 8' 
> across the back. He had to use a 1 bottom plow and a smaller disk and 
> it was a bear to mount / dismount. It also didn't have a lift of any 
> kind except for a tiny cylinder for the mid-mount sickle mower. Then 
> later my father bought a little 3 point "utility box" (carry all type 
> unit) that was manufactured by a friend in the implement business. it 
> was like a little truck bed with stake sides and was as handy as a 
> third hand. When he saw us using that on the three point he was 
> disappointed all over again. He had one of those rough ground farms 
> where it was important to raise critters and he could see a hundred 
> applications where he could have used one of them. It was quite nice 
> since you could lower it to the ground and load it then back it up to 
> a truck or dock and unload. I still have it here but the wood is shot. 
> I hope to restore it an have it at Portland next year. 
> 
> 
> -- 
> Have you hugged your horses today? 
> 
> Francis Robinson 
> aka "farmer" 
> Central Indiana USA 
> robinson46176 at gmail.com 
> _______________________________________________ 
> AT mailing list 
> http://www.antique-tractor.com/mailman/listinfo/at 


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