High Hour Allis Diesels

So we've all heard the stories of high hour tractors of other colors. I'm just curious how many on the forum here could testify to how high Allis diesels can go without a rebuild. I'm interested as I haven't heard much at all on this and haven't lives long enough to see my own go high. Take it away...

-Slim

Have seen 7060 with 15000 hours on it using FS 15w40 oil. Motor never touched. Was traded for a 8070 and I lost track of it.

I have a customer that has an 8030 with 5 original hole in it Has about 11000 hours on it. Does not start good but still running. He said it burnt a piston and they just replaced that hole probably 15 years ago Same customer has 6080 with at 10000 that has never been touched

Edited by Gary(WI) - 08 Dec 2016 at 6:24am

We have a 1960 D-17 diesel that before we rebuilt it the tech showed 9000 something hours but Dad can't remember when the tach stopped working. Been in our family since new and the only thing grandpa had to do to it was put a new head on in the early 80s when it cracked. Other than that it had never been overhauled. It was still running before we rebuilt it but was wore out by then. Who knows how many total hours were on it.

all depends on how they are taken care of. any brand will fail prematurely if it doesn't have good upkeep and regular service. I know, I've seen a lot more AC engines with longer time on them than other brands. just observing in our area thru the years, generally green tractor need their first overhauls about 5000 hours area, IH about 6000 hours area, and AC 7000-7500 hours area. I've also seen all brands have 10,000 + hours on them before first overhaul. I've also seen 50-70 year old tractors of all brands that have never had an overhaul (and no hour meters), might be safe to say they might have 20,000 + hours on them....but who knows?  

I have a Perkins in a 170 with 9650 hours with no known work, but my grandpa had a 185 with loader that was rebuilt at 2000 hours and the dealer said the oil rings were in upside down? and parked in a shed with a little over 2500 because reverse is the only gear that stayed in.

Edited by mintenfarmer - 08 Dec 2016 at 8:23am

rebuilt a 200 with 27000 original hours, had a bad head on it from the factory Allis Chalmers replaced the head when it had 200 hrs on it, otherwise untouched, it had spun a bearing at this point. Same guy had a 210 with 17000 hrs had a new clutch, and a water pump.

1936 WC. Hours???

I know of a few  One Eightys that have over 12000 hours on them , were in all farming details, 4 bottom plows , 12 ft discs during planting time , then the main hay tractor in the spring  never missed a beat,  a couple are still going strong   

Our neighbor has a 200 witch we figure has approx.68000 hours it had run every day at least 3-4 hours every day since it was new. I did the last overhaul about ten years ago it was overhauled 3 times but the block was getting bad-leaking around the sleeves so we put a combine engine in it. In the summer most days all day long.But it will jump out of 3rd gear the trans has never been touched.The farmer that owned it pastaway 3 years ago cattle were sold so now the 200 just sits but its done its share of work.

Wow! I've heard of some pretty high hour engines, but some of these tractors you guys have mentioned are truly a stalwart testament to the Allis Chalmers engineering and design. They ran with the best of the other brands and are still going strong today. The legacy lives on. Goes to show as well that if you take care of your equipment, it will take care of you.

-Slim

back in the late 60's grandpa toured a vegetable farm in Michigan as part of some dealer training and said they were getting extrodanairy hours out of tractors (like 10,000+) before overhaul because they always stayed warm. always plugged in when not running