A/C D-14 used as a personal Aircraft Tug - Thoughts??

RTR

Well-known Member
Hey guys. The girlfriends parents own a 1978 Navajo Airplane and store it in the local airports hanger. They use it quite frequently....once a week at least (more or less). Her dad also has an Allis Chalmers D-14 sitting in an old workshop of his uncles in the corner that he inherited years ago. He would like to do something with the tractor.....now that he knows I restore Farmalls.

I've been thinking about it and he really has no real working use for that particular tractor as he has newer equipment for their farmland and hires alot of it done. Since he has to pull the plane out of the hanger by hand, I figured that would be a perfect use for the tractor thus allowing it to "earn its keep" rather than fixing it up only to look at it.

What do you guys think? Would I need to make any special or specific modifications to the rear hitch, tires, or front? What about extra weight....would that be needed? Its going to be pulling the plane straight out of the hanger on flat asphalt about 200 feet tops.
 
Well if he does it by hand the tractor would just play with it. As for a hitch yes you would need a hitch set up so that the plane could not roll into the tractor and then hurt the planes prop etc.
 
(quoted from post at 03:47:45 03/18/16) Well if he does it by hand the tractor would just play with it. As for a hitch yes you would need a hitch set up so that the plane could not roll into the tractor and then hurt the planes prop etc.

Not sure if he does it by hand but I was told he needs something to pull it and out of the hangar with.

I'm gonna go up this weekend (2 1/2 hours away) and thought I should try to get it running to assess its condition. Thought it would be best to work on it there before I haul it home to restore. It would give a good idea of what all would need to be done and see if he wants to do it.


What tools do you think I'll need to get it going ?? Here is what I got......

Cotter pin puller, stubby +- screwdrivers, regular +- screwdrivers, extra long - screwdriver, medium channel lock pliers, small channel lock pliers, 3/8 drive standard sockets, extensions, and ratchet (3/8" - 1"), open end wrenches (3/8, 11/32, 5/16, 7/16, 1/2,9/16, 5/8, 3/4), multimeter, wiring stuff, 12 volt battery, starter fluid, pb blaster, sandpaper, rebuilt zenith carburetor (from a Farmall Super A and 140), small crescent wrench, 24" pinch bar, compression tester....

Anything else I should need??
 
I normally work on Farmalls but just recently went through an A C D14. I think you would need a spark plug socket in addition to what you already have. And I agree you would need a hitch with some way to hook up to the tow bar for the plane. That D-14 will really play with that plane so you won't need to change tires, add weights, etc.
 
(quoted from post at 07:35:19 03/18/16) I normally work on Farmalls but just recently went through an A C D14. I think you would need a spark plug socket in addition to what you already have. And I agree you would need a hitch with some way to hook up to the tow bar for the plane. That D-14 will really play with that plane so you won't need to change tires, add weights, etc.

Is the spark plug socket a 7/8 like the farmalls?
 
If the D-14 is like the WD/WD45 and D-17 the plug socket will be the common 13/16 and use a NGK3112 I would say the auto lite 437 but now days they are made in the land of almost right so there not very good
 

Thanks old. Got it.

Does anyone happen to know the Napa or O'Reilly Auto Parts part numbers for a few ignition parts? It would be nice to call tomorrow morning to "order" said parts so they gave them if needed on Sunday when I work on it.

I could possibly need an ignition coil,breaker points, condenser, rotor button, and distributor cap. (I've got an extra set of wires)
 
Chances are that if the tractor was running when parked you will only need a point file for cleaning them up. I would take the carb off and blow it out (does not take very long) as
well as empty the glass cup at the fuel shut off. Make sure the gas smells like it still has life otherwise drain and replace the gas.
 
(quoted from post at 11:20:42 03/18/16) Chances are that if the tractor was running when parked you will only need a point file for cleaning them up. I would take the carb off and blow it out (does not take very long) as
well as empty the glass cup at the fuel shut off. Make sure the gas smells like it still has life otherwise drain and replace the gas.

Definitely gonna do all of that. I would like to have the parts available if needed......just in case since I'm a ways away from the tractor and have limited time. Anyone happen to know of the part numbers?
 
Just remembered I had a picture of it on my phone from when he took me to look at it about a month ago. Is it me or does it look like the Distributor is missing? I realize these tractors have a "verticle" distributor and it could be hard to see. Sorry....just not as familiar with the AC tractors.

34056.jpg
 
Forgot to mention if you are going to change any of the fluids get a 1 1/8" socket or box end wrench for the drain plugs. I didn't see one in your tool list.
 
(quoted from post at 02:04:47 03/19/16) Forgot to mention if you are going to change any of the fluids get a 1 1/8" socket or box end wrench for the drain plugs. I didn't see one in your tool list.

For now, they will remain as is. I just want to see if it will run and how well it will run if it does. I won't run it any longer than 10 minutes just to check.
 
Not that it matters much for the parts you need but that looks like a D12 or D10? There is no Hi/Lo lever on the side and the starter is mounted on the side whereas the D14 has the starter in the center on top. A tune up kit would be the same anyway. A D10/D12 is only worth more money (not too many were made) than a D14, don't let it slip out of the family too easily :roll:
 
Aircraft tow bars are rigid one for tow vehicle use have a Pintle ring on the tractor end. You'll want the pintle hitch mounted so it's about a foot
off the ground and you'll need to put one on the front of the tractor for pushing the plane back in. We used lightly modified fords in the military
for moving light aircraft. They were no pto or hydraulics with dropped pintle hitches on both ends. It doesn't take much force to move an
airplane I've moved mine with a garden tractor. The most important thing is make sure the brakes are good. Even a light ding on a plane usually
means a couple thousand dollars.
 
I didn't have time to comment when I first saw your question. I remembered it today and I see that Dakota Dave has covered my thoughts. I also see that you apparently have a D12. That's good, but still overkill. I built a hitch on the front of my zero turn lawn mower, and built a tow bar for the airplane. You want to be facing the airplane as you're moving it, for reasons Dave indicates. Something with an automatic transmission/torque converter, that tends to slow/stop when you let off the gas is safer. Or, like my hydrostatic mower, which wants to stop if you let go of the controls. I wouldn't want to be maneuvering an airplane with a tractor and chance having my foot slip off the clutch.
 
(quoted from post at 00:57:06 03/20/16) I didn't have time to comment when I first saw your question. I remembered it today and I see that Dakota Dave has covered my thoughts. I also see that you apparently have a D12. That's good, but still overkill. I built a hitch on the front of my zero turn lawn mower, and built a tow bar for the airplane. You want to be facing the airplane as you're moving it, for reasons Dave indicates. Something with an automatic transmission/torque converter, that tends to slow/stop when you let off the gas is safer. Or, like my hydrostatic mower, which wants to stop if you let go of the controls. I wouldn't want to be maneuvering an airplane with a tractor and chance having my foot slip off the clutch.

Ok. Talked to them this weekend and found out that it wouldn't be used as a tow rig for the plane. They rent a hangar at the airport and a tow service is included with the rent. Uncle didn't know apparently. If I end up fixing it up, they'll just keep it up at their farm and maybe ride around on it from time to time just to run it. That makes things easier.

Now.....I've got to find some front wheels (rims) and new tires for it!! Would be nice to get them locally but heck I work all the time in Tuscaloosa and can't make a trip to Cullman to check the tractor junk yards. Its about 2 hours away from work.
 

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