Thought this was really cool

michaelwis wrote: My take  having purchased a brand new 7040  in 75 , and looking back .. there sure would have been  a lot of changes with that cab , if  i were the engineer ..

I had worked for AC from 1966 to 1969 and then went to MM when AC closed the La Crosse plant (didn't want to move to La Porte, Indiana).  I still remember heading for the big AC display at the Minnesota State Fair to see their new tractors.  When I climbed into the cab, I couldn't believe that they put such a phone booth on the tractor and provided such poor steps.  I was in my early 30's, pretty agile, and weighed 175 lbs.  I couldn't help but think about how hard it would be for a 220 lb, 50-60 year old farmer to get in and out.

daughter#1 wrote: A friend of ours is a Moline man and has had both the a4t and the  4-150,  Liked to run both of them, but of course the 4-150 was favored.  He now runs fendt, and jcb tractors his first was a g1000 which he still has.  P.S. were you invloved with the project to put an allis motor in an a4t ???

I've heard back from the former AC proving ground chief engineer.  He remembers them getting an A4T for a "competitor evaluation," but not ever re-powering it.  The A4T's were the first articulated tractor from a major tractor manufacturer and one was probably looked at as part of the lead-in to the 8550 design.  To bad the 8550 engineers didn't pick-up on the articulation joint being centered over the middle of the drive-shafts.  A lot of CV joint problems would have been eliminated and the frame wouldn't have had to be redesigned for the 4W tractors.

If there is/was ever an A4T with an Allis engine, some privateer did it.  The first A4T's only had a 110 PTO hp MM engine in them and were grossly underpowered for their size and weight.  That could have lead to someone re-powering the tractor.

Dad questions me why, but I'll take the 7080 over the 8070 on the graincart. I like the smaller cab for that job. It gives me far better view out sideways because the windows taper in at the top. Also there is no roof overhang. The 8070 has a cab post right where I need to see while the 7080's post is farther ahead giving me a larger rear side window. If  only the 7080 had PS, FWA, and 516 N7 engine,-----WOW.

I'll give credit to whoever put an air cylinder on the 8000 series door. Name one guy who has run a 7000 series that has "NOT" felt the shoting pain of a door swings closed and hitting them in their side. That will make you say words that your mother thought you didn't know.