Okay Allis guys, educate me.

There has never been a piece of Allis Chalmers equipment on our farm in my lifetime(I am 47). There was an Allis dealer in our town that closed about 1973. There were 3 other Allis dealers within about a 25 mile circle so there was a fair amount of Allis equipment in the neighborhood. Ever since I was a kid I always liked the look of the D-15's and 17's and the 170-185's. I have kind of decided that I would like to have one or two of these around just because. So what is the deal with the tranny's on some of these popping out of gear? Is this just from high use or the nature of the beast? What else should I know about these old girls before I buy one? I see some of the 180-185"s say some thing like "Land Handler" or "Crop Hustler" what does that mean?
 
I grew up with AC and we never had an issue with popping out of gear. Nor with the two D17s I"ve had over the last 42 years. I think the big issue is how people shift....if you grind gears you"re going to have problems.
 
I had a D 14 and it would jump out of third gear, if you you were going down hill with a load pushing the tractor. I lived in flat country so it was not a real problem. Might have been if young folks were driving the tractor, but no more so than a MF with multi power out, those old tractors would free wheel down the hill.

Mine would not jump out of gear when pulling. The gear shift lever was bent back under the seat at a very odd angle on this model. The gear shift lever on a D 17 or larger models was not bent at this odd angle.

I do not think the odd angle of the shifter lever had anything to do with the transmission jumping out of gear. Most people used third gear a lot and maybe the gears just worn out faster than other gears in the transmission.

My D 14 was a very good tractor, one old mechanic said, an old D series tractor would starve a repair shop to death, they just did not break down that much.

The snap couple hitch system just did not allow you to borrow equipment from your neighbor. You were on an island by yourself with that hitch.
 
Not an Allis expert but been around them quite a bit. Landhandler and Crop Hustler were marketing gimics, nothing different about the tractors but the decals. Ran a D17 and a D14 over the years and neither jumped out of gear. Friends with 170s and 175s seemed to be common problem. One jumped out of gear from new. Abuse, wear and not being right from the factory could all be factors. I reground the shift rail detent deeper and for more travel on a Case one time to cure a gear jumping problem.
 
Same as JMS I grew up on A-C and we never had a gear jumper that was bought new and used by us. However the reputation is well deserved as all of those models will have popping out of gear problems if they have been abused. Most of the time the cost to fix is $$$ so check in all gears both with load and with load pushing tractor, rev up, idle back numerous times. With prices I see quoted you are far ahead to buy tractor without problems than fix a known gear popper. Diesels in the D series is not the best choice but excellent in the 170-80-85. The A-C power director was the best power shift of the day, pretty much bullet proof. All had decent brakes for the times but things wear out, parts are available. All in all any of those models that checks out OK will give a lot of service with very little input as long as you treat it with respect.
 

Never had gear issues growing up around Allis.
Going from Reverse to 3rd was a common gear change and unless you let the tranny stop motion, it would grind going into 3rd. Do this enough times and the dogs that hold the gear in place would not hold under the right conditions.

D17, 180/185 were some of the most reliable tractors out there.
 
if you opt for the D17 series IV or the 170/175 or 180/185 you'd have low-pressure high-volume hydraulics like most other tractor mfgs, allowing you to run everyone else's "off-brand" equipment (if they let you...lol)

add to that; factory 3-point hitch which was optional on the D17sIV and std on the 1oo series, and you should have a great tractor, barring the gear popping problem.
 
The D-15 series 2, gas, was a different engine, than the D-14 or D-15,gas, more power and a lot of spunk! The 170 and 175 diesel, was a 4 cylinder Perkins brand engine, fairly respectable. the 180 and 185 Diesels, is a 6 cylinder, 7 main bearing, Allis - Chalmers engine.
 
Hello,my advise to you is to buy any of the Allis Chalmers tractors that you like.I have been around Allis Chalmers tractors all my life and as far as Im concerned its the only true tractor every made. Go for it,you will be glad you did.
 
I have a D-14 that i use for chores, tedding, raking etc. I've had it for 20 years, and it's the most reliable piece of equipment I own.
I would suggest a late D-15 or a D-17 series IV (just for the reason that they have better hydraulics, power steering etc.)
Pete
 
Don't even think about an older tractor than a 180/185; they are the best chore and can be big tractor on the place , they are great machines , 6 cylinder 301 diesel , good cold weather starting , modern hydraulics and a 2 speed Powerdirector clutch ; the popping out of gear is common and an AC engineering flaw , but everyone blames the operator for gear grinding , AC had them pop out on dealers lots cause I drove one that did !All you have to do is hold it in gear and it always happens going down hill , about 2500 bucks will get you a tranny rebuild that will solve the problem but that's your choice , don't mess with D series machines , you will get a lot more tractor for just a little more moolah
 
I have had several of these over the years. Still own a 180,185, and 190. They all jump out of gear. It is a job to fix them and is high dollar to take to the shop.
 
(quoted from post at 11:25:06 08/28/14) I have a D-14 that i use for chores, tedding, raking etc. I've had it for 20 years, and it's the most reliable piece of equipment I own.
I would suggest a late D-15 or a D-17 series IV (just for the reason that they have better hydraulics, power steering etc.)
Pete

What he said. X2! My D-14 is without a doubt my most hard working solid utility type machine.
 

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