Allis-Chalmers D-12

Bayrat · Sep 15, 2002

I own an Allis-Chalmers D-12, 1962 vintage. The hydraulic cylinders leak somewhat and I have to add oil every so often. My father owned the tractor previous to me and said he used 10w non-detergent motor oil in the system, which lubricates the gears and runs the hydraulics. I have my doubts about this being the right lubricant, anyone here know what should be used in this tractor? I would like to drain and flush it this winter anyhow.

Steve_in_Ont · Sep 15, 2002

Many older machines can use nearly anything (by today's standards) that you have. Oils have really progressed in the past 20 years. I have an old Cat 977 that I use 30W engine oil in everything (engine, transmission, hydraulics). 10W can be used in the hydraulics, but it just leaks out faster...

Bayrat · Sep 16, 2002

Thanks Steve. That makes me feel a bit better. I topped it off with 30w this week (5 qts) because that was all I had and it had leaked down while bush hogging enough to prevent me from raising the mower to move it. I'm wondering if the cylinder leaks became worse, I'll have to check. I would like to convert it over to a regular 3pt hitch. It has what Chalmers called a quick hitch and unless you have the adaptor for each implement, you have to remove this thing from one to the next and it is a real pain. I am wondering if one of those quick adaptors Central Tractor used to sell would work on it. Also, I need to rebuild those cylinders, don't know if I can get parts for them any longer /w3tcompact/icons/sad.gif.

pfoxy · Sep 16, 2002

Bayrat, I'd be willing to bet you can get parts for those cylinders. Maybe not as a 'kit' from an AGCO/Allis dealer (although there's a good chance you can) but surely from a hydraulic supply house.

I was able to get a lot of parts for a 1949 Allis #3 sicklebar mower from my local AGCO dealer. Never ceases to amaze me in this day and age of 'planned obsolesence" that Ag dealers stock (or can get) parts for 50 year old machinery.

radman · Sep 17, 2002

We used to use 20W nondetergent for our D15 and D17's. I currently have a D 19 and use regular hydraulic oil (10W). Local tractor dealership says they now use AGCO's standard hydraulic oil in all of their old AC's. As you can see, there seem to be many options on these older tractors. Just don't use a detergent type oil. My dad did that once when I was a kid and the oil became very foamy and wouldn't work properly. The tractor hydraulic oil had be drained and changed. No damage however.

gator · Sep 18, 2002

I had a 64 AC D-12 wide front end with 3pt hydraulics and used Kendall 20wt. non detergent in it. An old mechanic at the local tractor shop that worked on AC's his whole life said to use it, so I took the word of experience.