Mark Hanson’s journey to restore his father’s tractor took him from a rough, run-down machine to a show-winning classic that reminds him of his boyhood days on the farm
Mark Hanson of Fond du Lac, Wis., grew up on a 240-acre dairy operation owned by his parents, Francis and Kathrine, near Richfield, Wis. One of the main tractors that handled plowing, tillage work and operating the chopper was a 1971 Allis-Chalmers 190XT Series III diesel.
When Hanson retired from farming after 15 years, he wanted to spend his time going to antique tractor shows and pulls. In 2004, after seeing an advertisement on the internet, he located a 1958 AC D-17, serial number 4969, with 2,800 hours at an Allis-Chalmers dealership in Lancaster, Wis., and agreed to the selling price of $2,500.
Rough Shape
“Although running, the tractor was in rough shape,” Hanson said. “It had sat outside, the tires were shot, there were oil leaks in several places, and the wiring was burnt and messed up. Someone had tried to change the electrical system plus attempted to switch the generator to an alternator charger.”
“I repainted everything, added new tires, a clutch, gaskets and adjusted the valves. The biggest headache revolved around the wiring. I had to get a diagram to correct that problem. The cost for tires, clutch and other parts was around $3,000.”
Once up to speed, Hanson, who drives a semi for his neighbor, was ready to complete his goal of competing in an antique tractor pull. He took the D-17 to the Washington County Fair in West Bend, Wis.; the Thresheree in Burnett, Wis.; and Waupun Days in Waupun, Wis.; and entered the 4,500-, 5,000- and 6,000-pound weight classes.
Plowing Events
“I enjoy plowing events because these activities provide the charm and solitude of farm life,” Hanson said. “I went to the Retired Antique Tractor Club [RATS] day in Hartford, Wis., and did some furrows. The tractor ran flawlessly with a 14-inch, three-bottom plow, and the fuel efficiency was as good as I expected with a gas motor. My next purchase will be picking up a four-bottom plow.”
The AC D-17
The AC D-17 row crop tractor was developed as a replacement for the WD 45 as a four-bottom plow tractor. Its styling closely followed the smaller D-14 and was made in gas, diesel and LPG versions. It was built in West Allis from 1957 to 1961, and 51,598 gas and 12,284 diesel tractors came off the assembly line.
The transmission (Power Director) offers four forward speeds and one reverse. A separate Power Director hand lever provides an on-the-go shift between direct and lower drive, plus a neutral positive that allows the PTO to continue operating.
Other features included: two-wheel drive, manual steering, open operation station, 19-gallon fuel tank, open center hydraulics and a weight of 4,670 pounds. It has an Allis-Chalmers 3.7-liter, four-cylinder, liquid-gasoline engine providing 63 hp.
Why He Loves It
“The AC D-17 offers plenty of reasons why I like it. These are durability, little maintenance, ease of handling, good turning radius and maneuverability,” Hanson added. “It’s a nostalgic piece and reminds me of those boyhood days growing up on the farm.”
