Hello all, I just stumbled across this AC 615 backhoe that the engine is locked up on. It looks to be in pretty good condition overall though it will need a few hydraulic hoses replaced in the near future I'm thinking. The oil pan is off and I can see that one rod cap is missing and the crank has been turned over against the dangling rod and locked there so I know the crank will need turned and that rod replaced at least. The guy who has it said everything on the machine was working and he used it on his place a whole summer after he bought it but then loaned it to a friend and it went down while in their care. He was told it locked up from sitting and had no idea the pan or rod had been removed. He is asking $1200 for it as is and my main questions are can I still get parts for this machine? will another engine type bolt in the place of the original 4cyl diesel? if so what will work? Any info on this machine would be greatly appreciated as I have no working knowledge of Allis Chalmers.
Hello Hillbilly,
You found What? Where? When? Just joking. I own a AC 615i and I love that tractor. Had it since around 1996.
The one I found was in a neighbooring town, had the 160 (power-crater), (gas engine), made by Allis Chalmers - also pretty sure AC made the 2200 diesel engines. Both engines were fitted in a lot of different eqipment and makes from generator plants to field pump engines to crawler, wheel tractors and backhoe's. To best of my knowledge, the 615's were among the
last all American made tractors & engines built by Allis Chalmers.
The 615 & 615i were made from 1970 to 1973. The (i) designation denotes an
Industrial rated machine & engine.
My 2 cents: for some fool to bust a rod bearing cap off in a AC 2200 diesel engine they had to be raw-dogging the living **** out of that machine. To inflict that sort of damage tells me any buyer should look long and detailed for what else could have had the guts beat out of it before that rod cap gave way.
Mine came with the AC oem bucket loader w/ 1 yd. bucket & PTO + 3pt. hitch on it but no backhoe attachment, these were actually made to be "modular" accessory attachments on the 615's that could be selected as needed by new tractor buyers or added later.
I wasn't too sold at first on the AC 160 gas engine but, after 14+ years of working that tractor I wouldn't change a thing. I have all the manuals on it ( gas & diesel ) except the one for the backhoe attachment.
It might take a bit of searching but I've not had any trouble finding both new and used parts for the 615 of mine. If you start reserching you'll find that the 615 AC's were really years ahead of there time with features and accessories.
Anyway, Men - talking about "Tractors"? This could go on all night!
Yep. I know a fair bit about'um - have lots of sources, info and what-all on 615's. let me know if I can help you in any way.
At some point we're probably going to have to talk to each other on one of those "phone" things - imagine that!
Gerry
