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Gary Burnett 
Orange Level Access
Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: Virginia
Points: 3010
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 Topic: 185 Motor Problem
Posted: 02 Mar 2025 at 12:16pm |
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Was using my 185 and all of a sudden it started blowing white smoke and had blow by.Coolant is now in the oil,this a a well used tractor but has severed me well.We're thinking to pull the head to take a look and then proceed from that point.Not going to sink alot of $$$$ in it as don't think it'd be worth it.What are you alls best guess to the problem?
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DrAllis
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Joined: 12 Sep 2009
Points: 21385
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Posted: 02 Mar 2025 at 12:25pm |
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O-rings on the sleeves. Leave the engine assembled and fill the radiator and pressurize it to 12 psi and no more. Get the oil pan off of it and watch to see where the problem is coming from.
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tbran
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Joined: 14 Sep 2009
Location: Paris Tn
Points: 3481
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Posted: 02 Mar 2025 at 1:13pm |
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Yup, showing up quite regular now. You can get motor kit, dress up and maybe JB Weld the pits in the block and hone down, roll in a set of brgs at a minimum. Running unit in decent shape $4500-$9500 - What are you going to replace it with that has a new engine ?
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When told "it's not the money,it's the principle", remember, it's always the money..
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Don Jr NY
Silver Level
Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: Waterloo NY
Points: 346
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Posted: 03 Mar 2025 at 4:16am |
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I had the same thing happen about 5 years ago. Just as the Dr. said it was an o-ring failure. Stripped block and had it checked and 5 out of 6 holes had pitting around the base where the o-rings seal. Reliance offers a sleeve for the base. If you have a good machine shop they can bore the bottom of the block and install the sleeves so the o-rings will have a new surface to seal against. It was not cheap, about $250 per hole. When I was all done with the rebuild I had a total of $6000 into the motor. Yes, that's a lot but where are you going to get a 75 hp tractor with a new motor for less? Just some food for thought. Don Jr.
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Gary Burnett
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Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: Virginia
Points: 3010
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Posted: 03 Mar 2025 at 7:32am |
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I think this will be headed to the parts row,its had a lot of hard hours on it 2nd gear is shot,foot clutch weak,the motor had some blow by and used some oil but was a good back up baling tractor.Bought it about 10 years ago for $800 and have used it as is right much for various things.Good parts are the tires and rims,hydraulics,steering,PD all work fine.Can't see sinking much $$$$ into it as it'll become an endless money pit I think.I have a nice looking Oilver 1550 Utility and a good motor out of a White 2-70 I need to put together,it'll make a good replacement tractor for me for the 185.Thanks for the replies.
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DSeries4
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Joined: 12 Sep 2009
Location: Ontario, Canada
Points: 7434
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Posted: 03 Mar 2025 at 2:46pm |
 Gary Burnett wrote:
I think this will be headed to the parts row,its had a lot of hard hours on it 2nd gear is shot,foot clutch weak,the motor had some blow by and used some oil but was a good back up baling tractor.Bought it about 10 years ago for $800 and have used it as is right much for various things.Good parts are the tires and rims,hydraulics,steering,PD all work fine.Can't see sinking much $$$$ into it as it'll become an endless money pit I think.I have a nice looking Oilver 1550 Utility and a good motor out of a White 2-70 I need to put together,it'll make a good replacement tractor for me for the 185.Thanks for the replies. |
Aside from the transmission, even with a rebuilt engine and new clutch (which can be done at the same time) will result in a pretty cheap 75 hp tractor that will be able to provide many more years of service. Sounds like most other parts on the tractor are good. It would be worth saving rather than throwing it in the fence row.
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'49 G, '54 WD45, '55 CA, '56 WD45D, '57 WD45, '58 D14, '59 D14, '60 D14, '61 D15D, '66 D15II, '66 D21II, '67 D17IV, '67 D17IVD, '67 190XTD, '73 620, '76 185, '77 175, '84 8030, '85 6080
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Gary Burnett
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Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: Virginia
Points: 3010
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Posted: 04 Mar 2025 at 7:03am |
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Well if anyone thinks its a candidate to be fixed up its for sale for about what I think I can get for it parting it out.I would never use it enough to come close to getting the money out of it I'd have to spend to get it up and running.
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Alex09(WI)
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Joined: 15 Mar 2012
Location: CECIL WI
Points: 1725
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Posted: 05 Mar 2025 at 7:16pm |
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For anyone who is concerned this may happen to your tractor, a preventative measure would be to flush out the green antifreeze and put the Red HD coolant in for wet sleeve diesel engines. Has additives to help prevent cavitation and electrolysis issues. Can be bought at any over the road semi truck parts store. Lets keep these Allis-Chalmers tractors running for many years to come!
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www.awtractor.com
A&W TRACTOR 920-598-1287
KEEPING ALLIS-CHALMERS IN THE FIELDS THROUGH THE 21ST CENTURY
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Ed (Ont)
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Joined: 08 Nov 2009
Location: New Lowell, Ont
Points: 1418
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Posted: 06 Mar 2025 at 8:06am |
Alex09(WI) wrote:
For anyone who is concerned this may happen to your tractor, a preventative measure would be to flush out the green antifreeze and put the Red HD coolant in for wet sleeve diesel engines. Has additives to help prevent cavitation and electrolysis issues. Can be bought at any over the road semi truck parts store. Lets keep these Allis-Chalmers tractors running for many years to come! |
That's for sure! I have been preaching this for a long time. Or if you insist on the green then change it every 3 years. On our big truck diesels we used a test strip to test the coolant every oil change - then use the correct filter with the right DCA reading which was zero DCA or 4 units DCA or 8 units. 
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Gary Burnett
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Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: Virginia
Points: 3010
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Posted: 06 Mar 2025 at 11:48am |
Well the motor in this tractor went around 45 years and some some very hard use before I got it and I doubt the coolant was ever changed.So how long would it have lasted with what you guys are talking about?
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