Woud you buy an Allis?

Elkins45 · Jul 7, 2011

I'm giving some thought to buying a relatively inexpensive older Ag tractor just for plowing, mowing and tilling and leaving it at the farm. I would probably save enough in trailering costs to make a 3-4K tractor a reasonable investment. I'm looking at older MF models like the 135 and the like, but I found an Allis 175 on Craigslist that seems reasonably priced.

My question: are repair parts and maintenance items still readily available for Allis Chalmers or would you avoid buying one for fear of it becoming a giant paperweight once something breaks?

Duffster · Jul 7, 2011

Elkins45 said:
I'm giving some thought to buying a relatively inexpensive older Ag tractor just for plowing, mowing and tilling and leaving it at the farm. I would probably save enough in trailering costs to make a 3-4K tractor a reasonable investment. I'm looking at older MF models like the 135 and the like, but I found an Allis 175 on Craigslist that seems reasonably priced.

My question: are repair parts and maintenance items still readily available for Allis Chalmers or would you avoid buying one for fear of it becoming a giant paperweight once something breaks?

I would have no problem with that tractor. An Allis is less likely to become an orphan then some of the others.

Farmwithjunk · Jul 7, 2011

Elkins45 said:
I'm giving some thought to buying a relatively inexpensive older Ag tractor just for plowing, mowing and tilling and leaving it at the farm. I would probably save enough in trailering costs to make a 3-4K tractor a reasonable investment. I'm looking at older MF models like the 135 and the like, but I found an Allis 175 on Craigslist that seems reasonably priced.

My question: are repair parts and maintenance items still readily available for Allis Chalmers or would you avoid buying one for fear of it becoming a giant paperweight once something breaks?

Seems like the 175 has a Perkins diesel, right? (wrong?)

Parts for the tractor are still available through AGCO dealers. Lots of aftermarket stuff too. IIRC, that's a Perkins diesel. Cat owns Perkins now, and was once part of Massey Ferguson (AGCO) The 175 was a popular tractor. That means many still exist. And THAT means there's a market for parts. AGCO is in business to sell....even if it is parts. They aren't apt to turn their back on Allis Chalmers owners any time soon.

AC 175's are generally good "cheap horsepower".

Grandad4 · Jul 7, 2011

Sadly, Allis Chalmers is no longer a "live" brand still in the tractor business. While AGCO (an agricultural conglomerate) owns the name, as best I can tell they do not offer any parts support for it. AC equipment is collectible though and many old AC tractors are still at work, which means aftermarket sources will have many parts available.

It may not be quite as convenient if you need something ASAP and you might have to dig a little to find certain items. You'll want to check over that 175 pretty well so you know if it is basically sound or not. If the clutch is going, it's blowing oil past the rings, has gearbox or rearend problems, etc., you'll want to keep looking or at least prepare yourself for the inevitable downtime.

Would I use a near-vintage tractor to be my one and only tractor and my farm operation depended on it? Probably not. As a standby occasional use machine or for a "hobby farm"? If it was a good unit, sure.

Added comment: Just read FWJ's comment about AGCO parts support. He da man. If he says they've got parts for it, listen to him, not me.

flusher · Jul 7, 2011

Elkins45 said:
I'm giving some thought to buying a relatively inexpensive older Ag tractor just for plowing, mowing and tilling and leaving it at the farm. I would probably save enough in trailering costs to make a 3-4K tractor a reasonable investment. I'm looking at older MF models like the 135 and the like, but I found an Allis 175 on Craigslist that seems reasonably priced.

My question: are repair parts and maintenance items still readily available for Allis Chalmers or would you avoid buying one for fear of it becoming a giant paperweight once something breaks?

I have a 1964 MF135 diesel deluxe with multipower with 4600 hours. Paid $3600 for it in Jul06. Right now it's in my shop for a rear pto oil seal, an engine oil leak and a possible problem with the pto clutch. Old iron sometimes becomes a challenge.

Check out that 175 thoroughly before even thinking about a purchase. The usual things--fluid leaks, smoke on startup, smoke during operation, clutch works OK, tranny works in all gears, brakes in good shape, 3pt hitch works OK.

AND, check the Web for parts availability. Here's a story: I bought a 1945 Oliver 60 row crop tractor a few months ago (I collect and restore old iron). Runs fine, but the brakes are shot. Brakes are band type. I can find suppliers for linings and rivets, but not for the bands. I'll have to salvage the bands. Also need to have the drums turned. Problem: there's a goofy nut holding the drum to the differential shaft. So today I spent time making a tool to handle that nut. Just a typical example of the problems that arise with these old tractors.

Good luck.

Mace Canute · Jul 7, 2011

The AC 175 could have a gas engine or a diesel engine. It used two different Perkins diesels, a 236 ci initially and then they switched to a 248 ci starting in December of 1970, serial number 1459. The gas engine was a 226 ci engine.

JoeinTX · Jul 7, 2011

ACs are (were) good tractors. True, the brand was discontinued by AGCO a few years ago but that was primarily because they were marketing essentially the same series of tractors in a rainbow of colors and the orange line just wasn't unique enough any longer to warrant maintaining them.

For parts, check AGCO's online parts system here:

AGCO Parts Books

I searched specifically for AC 175 series and that's the page it pulls.

Turbys_1700 · Jul 9, 2011

Parts support for many Allis Chalmers tractors are very good due to the large quantities sold...
They still have a lot of product out in the market place...
We have 2 D-17's, a 180, and an 8050...
Parts have never been an issue concerning repairs if and when a repair was needed...
They are very reliable for the most part...
Some of the series had a few issues with jumping out of 3rd gear...
Allis engines are very tough...
If that 175 has a Perkins that just makes it that much better in my opinion...
Our 8050 currently has a water pump leak that is being repaired...
Looking at tractor data they show that AC built 6,494 units from 1970 to 1980...
With that many units being built I would think that parts would still be available...

LD1 · Jul 9, 2011

Nothing wrong with allis tractors. So I cant really add to what others have already said.

But I do have to advise you to go look at the 175. I fear you dont really understand just how big it is.

You want a tractor for "mowing, tilling, and plowing". And if you feel a MF135 is about right, that is a 38HP tractor that weighs 3500lbs.

That 175 is a 64HP tractor with a weight of 7800lbs:confused2: And I am not really sure if you are going to want a tractor THAT big or not. It is going to depend on your property, what type of tilling/mowing you have to do.