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Allis Chalmers 180 sometimes can't get into gear.

Printed From: Unofficial Allis
Category: Allis Chalmers
Forum Name: Farm Equipment
Forum Description: everything about Allis-Chalmers farm equipment
URL: https://www.allischalmers.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=208359
Printed Date: 30 Sep 2025 at 1:09pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.10 - http://www.webwizforums.com


Topic: Allis Chalmers 180 sometimes can't get into gear.
Posted By: Isaiah Jones
Subject: Allis Chalmers 180 sometimes can't get into gear.
Date Posted: 30 Sep 2025 at 9:14am
Hi everyone. Like the title says we are having issues with our Allis Chalmers 180. It's is a gas and the serial number is 6906. It will go into gear sometimes with no problems, but now as of last week sometimes all it wants to do is grind gears. I adjusted the clutch pedal yesterday and it's more of a black and white situation now of where it will go into gear no problem or not at all. Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you.




Replies:
Posted By: DanielW
Date Posted: 30 Sep 2025 at 9:51am
I'd suspect the pressure plate springs/arms are getting a little worn and not always releasing and/or the shift fork on its rail might be a little dry/sloppy. Depending on the symptoms. Both were issues on my 180 at different points in time.

Is it not going into gear because it grinds when you try to get in gear? Or not going into gear because it just doesn't seem to want to 'slide' into gear - but isn't grinding. The shift rail and forks on Allis's weren't exactly their best work. When I went to put a new rail in mine with a deeper detent position (I did it preemptively to prevent any future 3rd gear jumping issues) I was expecting the shift rail to be hardened. I didn't want to just grind a new detent spot in the existing rail, as the detent hole wouldn't be hardened. I accordingly made my own new 'deep-shift' rail from 4140 and sent it for hardening with a batch of other parts we had going out for hardening. But then for giggles I tested the hardness of the original one at work and found it was only about as hard as cold-rolled mild steel (20 HRC if I remember right). My old rail and fork were also wore a little on the sliding surfaces, making for a little slop which I think was making mine hard to shift sometimes. Those parts don't seem to get a good dose of lube up there. After working on it, I now overfill my tranny a little to try and make sure they get some lube splashed on them. Not sure if that helps or not, but it's something I do.

If you do have to go into the top of the tranny, make sure you replace the shift fork for 3rd (or rather, 5th/6th as it's labelled on the 180) with a new one. The new forks you get have a little more meat in the right spots to have a little more positive engagement and help prevent the gear jumping issues.

But first question would be to describe your problem. If not going in because of grinding, it's probably worn springs on the clutch pressure-plate. If it's not grinding but just doesn't seem to want to slide like it used to, it may require some shift rail work. If that's the case, you could perhaps even make it better for a while by lubing up the shift rail and fork with some tacky grease.


Posted By: Isaiah Jones
Date Posted: 30 Sep 2025 at 10:06am
My post is mud... Right now it will either go into gear fine or it just wants to grind gears when wanting to put in gear. Sounds and feels like the gears are not slowing down when clutch is pushed in. Your description of worn spring sounds right. I think it's odd it's doing both right now.


Posted By: Joe(OH)
Date Posted: 30 Sep 2025 at 11:18am
I had a 180 gas with a bad rear main that would shift sometimes and most of the times it would not.  The oil was causing the clutch to stick to the flywheel.

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Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.



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