185 vs 190

I like my 190, unfortunately it had a lot of hard use before I got it. One thing I have always liked was the fact even though it is well worn it always starts no matter how cold it is. My 180 D is still my favorite though. It is so comfortable, especially when moving pastures all day. 

FREEDGUY wrote: [QUOTE=Tbone95] OK, I don't know anything about these tractors.......but....What possibly is so awesome about a throttle lever that it gets best all time ranking???[/QUOTE  It's LITERALLY at your wrist sitting in the seat with your forearm resting on the seat arm (right arm). No leaning forward or worse yet, AROUND a steering wheel like other colored tractors (red for sure).

Tbone95 wrote: Interesting. Thanks. Like Gary says, truly great throttle control includes a foot throttle for loader work or a quick boost for a few feet across the yard or some such thing. It was an odd comment to me not being familiar with the tractor. Best all time comments usually are something about fuel economy, power to weight, hydraulic function....all the love for a throttle lever sounds funny!

FREEDGUY wrote: Gary Burnett wrote: FREEDGUY wrote: [QUOTE=Tbone95] OK, I don't know anything about these tractors.......but....What possibly is so awesome about a throttle lever that it gets best all time ranking???[/QUOTE  It's LITERALLY at your wrist sitting in the seat with your forearm resting on the seat arm (right arm). No leaning forward or worse yet, AROUND a steering wheel like other colored tractors (red for sure). To really have great throttle control a tractor needs a foot throttle as well as a hand throttle.Things like loader work one hand on the steering wheel,one hand on the hydraulic levers and foot throttle to change engine speed easily.   Sorry, I have run Case tractors with a foot pedal, doesn't work so well with rough terrain  , a flat barn yard "might" be the exception, but then there is that much more "linkage" to fail  , JMO. Again, it's the placement of the throttle lever on the console that is very convenient

Earlier in the post cost was briefly talked about. According to tractor data the 185 was way more expensive than a 190. $18k for a 185 and $7,800 for a 190. Maybe that’s a 1964 price on the 190, but XT was $8,700. So, unless tractor data is incorrect, that’s a huge difference in price.

Tractor data price is generally shown for the first year of production.

Doc, unfortunately they don’t give what year that price was in effect. I did select diesel on the 190. That’s why I said it may be a 1964 price. I am not doubting your point just stating what tractor data has listed. Bad thing about Allis, records were not well kept by corporate or published. Dealers had much better records, unfortunately those are mostly gone due to dealer closings.

Almost a 1000 pounds difference in weight and larger tires, larger platform, heavier internal drive components and a 190 has the big field tractor stance over the 185 which has pretty much utility stance but with drop axles to get the row crop capability.

I love both models and a 185 is a better yard tractor so it definitely has it's place for usefulness yet today. The 190 has long been outpaced as a field tractor but can still hold it's own doing the duties that the 185 is great at. That's my opinion.

Everyone eventually copied the layout of the 190 and for some reason Allis went backwards until the later 8000 series.

We bought a new 185 in 1972 with 2 hyd. remotes(4 outlets),front weights and hyd. single speed PTO for $7,500.( $100.00 per HP.) It was a good tractor but after we got the 1974 200 with gated PD,we realized how un-handy the controls on the 185 were. All AC tractors from the 190 on should have had the throttle in right hand console. Instead they went backwards until almost the end of 8000 series. A VERY DUMB move by AC.

Edited by Ky.Allis - 30 Dec 2019 at 12:26am

Years ago, the allis-Chalmers dealer told me that the 301 in the 185 had a different cam than the One Ninety diesels had. I didn't know whether to believe him then, and i still don't, because i have never heard that anywhere else. I guess it really doesn't matter anyway.

Thanks for the reply. I guess that dealer was talking through hat. People said then that he had to many extracurricular activities.

soggybottomboy wrote: Years ago, the allis-Chalmers dealer told me that the 301 in the 185 had a different cam than the One Ninety diesels had. I didn't know whether to believe him then, and i still don't, because i have never heard that anywhere else. I guess it really doesn't matter anyway.

So many variables in comparing these horses. I have a straight one ninety gas with snap coupler hitch and the 265 gas engine, an early one ninety XT diesel with no 3 point, only 540 PTO, and mechanical PTO with the lever beside the seat. My son has a very late model 185 with 3 point, both PTO's, and hydraulic PTO clutch. Might add, too, that the one ninety gasser has the worst PTO engagement ever; the little knob on the floor that you have to try to get a grip on and pull up. With all of that being said, it would be impossible to declare one of them a hands down winner as favorite of the 3. Obviously the XT is ruled out when 3 point work needs to be done. The 185 has a very nice 3 point, but surprisingly, the gasser when using snap coupler to 3 point adapter is about half handy, and makes a good snow blowing tractor being it has a cab and awesome heater. XT is best baling tractor, however a hydraulic PTO clutch would be a 100 per cent improvement. Both one nineties have the best control layout as previously said, but I certainly wouldn't shame the 185 for that. Keeping the detent balls lubed up on the throttle and PTO levers will bring a little new perspective to ya on them. Gasser is obviously the least fuel efficient without question. XT has the most balls by far. Efficiency comparison between the XT and 185 would be splitting frog hairs. Could go on and on and never come up with a favorite. I like them all three and glad to have them. Darrel