Rescuing a $500 Road Grader that was Forgotten in a Field... Was it WORTH it?!?

Easy to fix and plenty of parts. A piece of history that needs to be saved.

After you took the valve cover off and saw how clean it was, THAT was all the reason you needed to save this grader. Plus, as you mentioned, parts are available for that engine. I'm sure you'll find other parts as well. It is definitely worth saving.

You are a talented mechanic. The calm music is nice and the editing is good. I look forward to seeing a follow up video on the grader. Thank you.

I can hardly wait until you dive in to working on that grater. This definitely will be an amazing adventure for you and for us. Thank you for sharing

I always look forward to your videos Matt, I'm betting that engine will run nicely once you play with it a bit. Thanks for bringing us along.

I can tell that you like that Allis by the care you took buttoning up her engine. Look forward to hearing her running and moving. I'm glad you rescued her.

I look forward to watching this project moving forward. As an aside, the name of the alternator is pronounced Delco “Reemee”. The company was founded in my hometown and was based there as a GM subsidiary during my childhood. Cheers!

Looks like a WD45 motor. Parts should be available very easily. Farm tractor parts will make the repairs as well as the radiator.

That grader looks pretty damn good for how old it is!!

Thanks for the work and the video! Yes it looks like the machine is recoverable and hopefully with the love you are putting into it, will be available for work soon enough. Thanks for showing us what's what. Hopefully someone will help you out with some affordable parts.

I thank you for your time and effort in fixing old cat machines, and old equipment:) I like watching you fixing old equipment and sharing your experiences.

WOW, I know you guys still did a lot of work there but that went pretty smoothly compared to some of the other recoveries that followed you home.

I have seen you recover a couple of moto graders now, and that doesn't look like a fun experience, especially in an environment like this. I'm shocked that you didn't get stuck. Nothing but respect bro. I thought I was doing something when I recovered a riding mower out of the woods, lol.

Fantastic small grader for a lane or small road- great 50’s look to it too. Good work, Matt.

It would have been interesting to see the press and jig setup that they used to bend that tubular frame at the factory! If the lower outlet on the radiator isn’t repairable any stock rad of the same dimensions will probably work or one for a AC tractor is likely the same.

I literally just bought an old Alis Chalmers like this one (a very basic 1956 model) - except that mine doesn't have the wheel tilt and the hydraulic circle drive. It's a neat little machine that I'm looking forward to getting to work with. I'm looking forward to seeing how this one comes together!

It may be a bit of work, but if the water pump housing is cast iron, you could always try brazing it back together. I have seen Keigh Rucker at vintage machinery do that for a number of crazy broken cast iron tools that worked fine afterwards. That looks like a cool grader. Someday I hope to have a non-condo with a real shop and shop yard to hopefully have similar fun. :)

Nice rescue bro, looking forward to see you get back on it and get it running and driving in the future. Safe travels

This is my first time seeing your channel, so I don't know anything about you, but I do love old machines. Back then they were both simple to work on, and built to last. Good luck in getting her working again.

I love the work you do, great job.

Found this on Goggle: Cast iron is used for water pipes, machine tool castings, transmission housing, engine blocks, pistons, stove castings, etc. The metal can be brazed or bronze welded, gas and arc welded, hardened, or machined. In terms of limitations, the cast iron must be preheated prior to welding. It cannot be worked cold.

Hey man, great show, love heavy equipment. Glad you're back dragging old junk out of the woods. Keep up the good work. Where in the world do you get those crazy looking pants? I might need to get me some.

You were very brave to take that truck in there. I would have got stuck for sure.

Proud of you rescuing these old but still good machines. I get the feeling older machines are going to make a comeback. No computers.....

thank you for saving these old treasures....your passion shows....thanks for sharing your experiances with us !

Love when old iron gets saved. Maybe start fixing some of the previously acquired items? Love, health and respect from Scotland UK.

Matt, engine is WD45. Parts all over the U.S. Steiner tractor parts should have everything you need. Air cleaner is also WD45 tractor part as well as radiator. Yours is the first I've seen with a cab. The tube main frame is unique. Every other grader builder used square tubing. Check the mounts on the tube for the turntable cylinders. Everyone one I have seen here in Ohio is busted and the welding is very horrendous. Welding on top of a crack doesn't fix it.The best fix is cutting the damaged tube section out and welding in a new piece. I think yours is ok from what I've seen so far in the video. AL B in Ohio.

Pretty awesome find on that baby. It does seem to me that it took a LOT of effort to get it off the trailer and into final position in the yard. I can't imagine that was the best plan for that, but I realize things to the way they go.. Great video either way, thanks for the great content!
edit: 29:00 man.. the thought that someone would think it was a GOOD IDEA to push a vintage piece of equipment around with forks directly to the radiator. I could see if it was a casualty of a collision or a freak of nature or something, but to intentionally do that.. even my 2 year old daughter would tell you no, no that is a bad idea. Jeez, the carnage is ALWAYS worse than first looks, to see that cast water pump cracked and how the alternator is mashed in, it almost brings tears to my eyes. I hope you can find parts for it. I'm sure you will!

Hello Matt I've watched you for a while now and I'm wondering how Big Red and the other two machines are going? I know that you were looking for parts for BR but haven't heard anything about it lately.

The radiator should be fixable. A good radiator shop can fix it. If you try to repair yourself be sure to immerse the core in water it won't become unsoldered.

Nice Grader and being an Allis Chalmers, you should have found plenty of readily available parts. Nice looking gate by the way

FYI you need to secure your load using the tie down points or the sidebar of the trailer only
Anything other than those points are not allowed by DOT rules and insurance policy
Be careful and safe

You got a great deal on that road grader I sure do like the old equipment keeping it out of the scrapyard and putting it back to work😊

Be careful with those knuckle buster controls. They kick back hard if you don't release it before the cylinder reaches the limit of travel. Its a good candidate for a restoration. I love to see old iron rescued and put back to work.

Nice recovery, well done. PLEASE get the lift chain for the forklift fitted though 😮

Rescue and recovery expertly done. I reckon worth restoring, good on you.

Looks like a great machine, fun to bring it back to life.

You’ve become quite the expert of relocating dead heavy equipment!

Warms my heart to see you save the old girl!!!! Always enjoy your channel!

Have a look at diesel creek . Looking forward to a great series and seeing your grader operating.

That service truck might not be fancy but it gets the job done and keeps proving itself

Great looking grader! Looking forward to future videos. Take care!

Looks pretty good for a 50's model, but then again so am I. Even though it needs a lot of TLC, it should come back pretty quick.

*It will be great to see that grader back in action again. How is Big Red doing? What ever happened to all the machinery you hauled out of the factory some time ago back to your building out back of your home...?? Have you put them back together yet and even using them???*

I have watched most of your videos. Keep 'em coming. We can see more of the dogs too. They're great. Wish I was able, I would come help you with that AC. Physically or financially, I just can't. Thanks for the great videos.

Good morning Matt, that's another fantastic piece of machinery that needs saving.
I think that is a 1950's have you seen the archive footage for the Alice Chamer grader on Clip-Share?
I didn't realise how many attachments were available for these amazing machines including a belt takeoff to dump the dirt to one side or even into a dump truck. The belt got its power take off from your machine somehow and was available in two different sizes. Does yours have the ripper attachment that you can raise up when not in use?
Find your videos so interesting and please keep them coming

She's definitely in great shape for age. Extremely excited to see in operating.

i am impressed that for a guy who is so machine savy you are not too proud to risk a few blisters and just use a shovel.

Yeah its definitely worth saving. You got a CAT now you'll have an ALLIS. I've always liked the tube shape of those old ALLIS graders too. The rippers being behind the blade is different and neat too. Save it and fix it up brother. I hope to see you do more in depth restorations on these pieces of equipment one day farther past just getting them started. It would be awesome to see you do total rebuilds on these tractors from tearing down and rebuilding the motors all the way to fresh bright paint. Then put a Salvage Workshop logo on them all how grading companies of that time period put their logo on all the equipment in their fleet. All the manufacturers decals and lettering then your logo on the equipment somewhere like the doors maybe. $500 was a heck of a deal. I can't find any deals like that round here where I'm at. People round here want to charge you what it would be worth if it was already restored completely when it's in that shape or worse. Awesome as always to see you saving these old jewels.

What a great find! I look forward to seeing it running again.
Best regards
Fred Thomas in Skokie IL.

I hope you can resolve the broken parts without too much trouble and we can see follow up road grader fixup and running video(s).

It’s irritating when people get careless and damage things because it’s old and seemingly worthless to that individual. Nice little motor grader, bet it would be fun to operate. That plate you put on to protect the water jacket could be used to line up the bolt holes on the broken parts if you decide to weld that housing part back together and help keep it flat as possible to. Great find,thanks for the tag along vid sir.

That is a nice color, Good tires, and a marvelous ride home. Hope you can get that radiator replaced or repaired.

Very nice !! More old iron saved .....I love it !! I see some great videos to come with this and I want to hear her run ....and I know she will a radiator and some wrenching it will be awesome !! 👍👍

Cast iron is hard to weld reliably but it can be brazed, and end up stronger than it was before. The problem these days is finding someone who still knows all the tricks to do it. That might be a solution to the water pump problem however if you can;t replace it. I seem to recall Keith Fenner had some videos where he went into brazing cast iron in great detail.

interesting to see what looks to be a lovejoy coupling as part of the crank pulley as if it could maybe drive something else. If it can, maybe you can get parts off of equipment associated with that type of accessories.

The white winch/crane truck is really handy, keep good care to it!
Thx a lot for showing!
👍👍👍

Considering how much new equipment is, I am not amazed that you found a good one to refurbish and get back on the road and back to work

Love the video but on a side note if it was in gear you should have notice it when you were toeing it out of the field.

Nice, that engine will be fine, easy to pull out to sort any bell housing issues.

You have spiked my interest. I'm looking forward to the next installment of restoration. Thanks for sharing!!!

Another great vid. Now you have the workshop finished I can't wait for you to get back on machinery renovation.
Cheers
Ian

Definitely a WD45 engine. Water pump should be the same. Radiator might be also.

For the size and awkwardness of this machine, the loading went about as smooth as anything you have picked up... That old service truck is sure worth the effort. The motor grader looks to be in exceptional condition, other than exposure to the elements (and a run-in with an idiot on a forklift). This machine would be a real blast to play with...

I think it was an AC Grader, but it had a bucket on the back. So you could use as a grader and a loader. It belong to the town and I got to drive it a few times. I heard one sold for a lot of money because it was so rare.

Just from the numbers you quoted i couldnt believe that there was a water pump for $114.99 new in stock and radiator was like $250-$300 again in stock. It just blows me away how easily one can acess parts for a 70 y/o machine!

Great video I'm surprised it rolled as well as it did, keep up the great videos brother 👍

I have used a grader that was made to be pulled by horses, although I was pulling it with a Caterpillar 22. When new this must have just wowed folks. Now it looks sort of cute. Progress, I suppose.

Hang on, you have a passion for rescuing and repairing old machines?!?!??!? Well, that explains a LOT of the stuff on your channel!! 😋😋 Sorry, I couldn't resist. I think the people who have been with you for a while are well aware of that passion and I would like to thank you for allowing me to enjoy that hobby vicariously. My days of doing anything nearly as physical as that are over. From someone who isn't even middle-aged yet, I've spent over half my life in chronic back pain from an injury I got while growing up and didn't even take much notice. Add that to the juvenile Arthritis in my spine and good bye to most of my mobility. On the plus side, I can honestly say that I broke my back and decide it "walk it off"!!!!! It's a bit of a lesson really, If there's something you really want to do, do it now while you are still able to. You don't want to find yourself looking back at you life and looking at your biggest dreams that you never managed to achieve due to a change in your life that was totally out of your control

Our firetruck avatar came from the steel mill which also had an identical AC grader like this, same size and model. Delco distributor and Delco generator instead of the upgraded 12 volt alternator. That engine looks young.

The tube frame design was the first thing I noted as well, love its unique old-school design and Allis-Chalmers as well.

You and diesel creek must be in competition for all the old stuff

Looks decent for 60-70 years old! I'd love to know the story behind that Toyota forklift also!

Looking forward to this series on the ol Grader. Bring it on 😊

I think you are lucky to find that machine, very usable.

Been waiting on this series to start
Hope you get it going and operating well

Looking forward to seeing this one brought back to life. Thanks for the video

I'm ready to see her moving under her own power thank you for sharing this six stars

I generally like watching your channel. This episode shows some issues though. 1 when cribbing for any jack to lift anything, one does NOT set the boards all in one direction but at perpendicular angles much like the boards of a subfloor do not go the same direction as the joists. Binders, improper way to set up a binder is to use it to pull on a tag end of the chain. Proper way per DOT and NTSB as well as Osha is to fit the chain and place the binder in the slack of the chain to cinch the chain down and not be subject to the chain coming loose. That is why the chains have the hook design they do so has to cause the chain to be attached unto itself. A mile of winch cable out, but now drop weight not even so much as a rag to keep the cable from becoming a whip and removing someone's head when it snaps. Any pull longer than one full wrap of the drum must have a drop of some kind on it. Oh I know "I've done it ten thousand times like that." The more times you roll the more chance of crapping out and everyone else's lives are on the line.

Actually now that I am feeling better, I do remember, Dirt Perfect finding a salvage yard that has a lot of different heavy machinery in it, I do believe they had graders in it also, its located some where near C and C equipment, in Indiana.

The water pump looks to be a regular Allis Chalmers water pump. Readily available from Steiner tractor parts .My guess is the engine is a wc, wd or wd 45 all these engines are from that time.

Well I agree we all have to save something ! Without history we cannot go forward , thanks as always !

That looks like a GM alternator. I've used many of them to convert engines from 6 volt to 12 volt. I am going to guess that engine was also used in AC tractors as well so the water pump might not be as hard to find as you might think. I like to squirt ATF with Acetone to free up seized parts. Plugging holes I use kitchen foil and Saran Wrap. I have a terrible problem with Mud Daubers so everything including electric Moters must be protected from the bastards.

This looks in decent condition, good recovery.

I seem to recall the tubular frame cracks being in the early models but it did give those graders a bad reputation. Eventually they made box frames like the other graders of the day. Usually the tags on older machines listed patents and the date they were filed so the grader might be several years newer than the newest patent date. Many rural townships purchased them to grade their gravel roads. Earlier graders were pulled behind a team of horses then tractors and required a man on the grader making adjustments. Rural county workers were often part time and were farmers so they were familiar with the Allis Chalmers tractor engines. They basically used the same engine and hood as one of their tractors of the era. They were smaller, lighter and cheaper than the Caterpillar models so they worked well on the narrow rural muddy roads that would have to be graded after a rainfall.

I can’t wait for more on this build!

For the water pump housing, put it back to shape using JB Weld and filler or something. Cast a sand mold around it and cast a new one. Would be cool to see, at least I think so.

It's a shame the designers didn't carry the round tube frame all the way back around the engine. It looks like they got scared half way though.

Another very interesting project. Thanks for saving another machine

Sure looked tidy under the valve cover! Hopefully you only have a stash of hickory nuts or dauber nests inside the bellhousing.

Honestly,glass bead the disassembled pump and braze it back together, done stuff like this plenty of times,sure ,you may have to tweak some holes .I know you can do it !,and if i was closer by ,I'd do it.I believe you got the skills to get it done.:)

Right now in PA. Matt from 'Diesel Creek' head is exploding with excitement!!!

Around 42:26, Looks to me like the governor housing may have multiple cracks between the input lever and output side. Might be tracks in the dirt build up. Also looks like the input lever is scraping the housing.

I would say its worth it. Love old iron. could be a nice little machine.

That's the cutest road grader I've ever seen. Alice Chalmers D3858??? That's about the size we need for our dirt road. Thanks for posting. Cheers from eastern TN

Matt, If you have gotten further on that AC grader, It sounds like it's in gear. Something to check my friend You do have a lot going on, but it doesn't look like that grader is going to be to bad to get going. Good luck to you.

Don't be afraid to adapt a late model electric water pump to hold until you find a serviceable original replacement.

if nothing else you might find a water pump from an allis chalmers farm tractor that would fit the engine, mebbe even a replacement engine. there are still a lot of old allis tractors around, and i'd bet one of them used the same engine. as long as your into it for less than scrap price, it's definitely worth it. the big money will be in the hydraulic hoses. i'll bet you will have more in replacing them than the entre machine.

Is the crane on your service truck down? Great video! Love to se the old iron running again.

Looks like a cool project. Casual observation looks like you are just about maxed out of room in your Storage Yard.