Allis Chalmers

Your opinion if an Allis Chalmers 185 will work as a Farm class Pulling Tractor

That depends greatly on the rules and what you are pulling against.
AaronSEIA

The rules are very similar to the national Rules

If its not modified, I don't know why not.

I don't know the national rules either. How many cubes and RPM? What kind of tractors are you up against?
AaronSEIA

Thanks Aaron, will be pulling against an 1800 Oliver, 706 Farmall, and 4010 JD. Max RPM's will be about 2300. Hoping to find a 185 AC that is
not turbo. Any suggestions.

WHAT "National Rules" ?? The NATPA ?? I am quite familiar with the NATPA and your tractor model entry must be a 1961 or older. The oldest 185 tractor is a 1970 model year. A Farmall 706 is also too new at 1963. The 4010 and 1800 Oliver are OK. Now, even if age isn't an issue, the AC 180/185 aren't exactly a great choice. They are only 301 cubic inches and are non-turbocharged, so about 80-85 HP is the most HP you'll ever get by turning it up. The 4010 has probably been overhauled and has 4020 pistons/sleeves in it, making it 404 cubes and can make 115 to 120 HP. How do you think that's going to turn out ?? The other thing is the great majority of 180/185 tractors have 18.4 x 28 rear tires, which is quite small compared to what a Deere could have with 34 or 38 inch diameter rear rubber. Now, maybe the rules will allow you to mount up the tire size of your choice so you can be equal to your competition, but without 100 more cubic inches or a turbo-charger (like a 190XT or 200 had) you will be waaaaay short of horses to seriously compete. I've been pulling for the last 50 years and there isn't too much I don't know about the sport. A 180/185 stripped down to 5500 lbs with a turbo added is very competitive, but the way I think you want to do it isn't. I have a friend that my brother and I built him a 6700 lb twin-turbo 180 that makes 1200+HP and runs in a gear faster than road gear @ 4500 RPM's. He's 73 now and maybe I could talk him into retiring and selling it ??

Dr.Allis, Thanks for the in-site of what the 185 AC could do compared to other similar size pullers. The "Tractor Data" of the internet says the following. "The AC 185 was one of the Crop Hustler models designed to pull at higher speeds and cover more acres per hour.

Our club will allow some classes to begin in 1971 which would clear the 185. I took your advise and compared the 185 AC to the 4010 JD.
The JD has considerably more C.I., but will cost more to purchase.

Thanks for the "food for thought"

Good luck with whatever way you go. I can build you a 405 cube engine in that 185 engine block, but that isn't cheap either.

Thank you. My wife has a very tight budget.

What is tough in open antique the mid west non turbo is 460-560 IHC with a 501 RD gas engine punched out to 600+ cu. Or a 770-880 with a 426 waukesha of same cu. I have a D17 Diesel with a 426 in it also. 4500lb. With some weights. Can pull 4250.

Maybe a picture of D17

Would like to talk to you further about your suggestions, but would like to do it over the phone. Can you call me at 817-239-3354 or can I call you?

Al

(quoted from post at 07:09:55 02/10/20) Thank you. My wife has a very tight budget.

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Its none of my business what "tight" means, but tractor pulling and tight budgets do not belong in the same sentence.
AaronSEIA

Sounds like you might want to shoot for the 3 MPH class.