Farm Equipment - Buying a 170

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Buying a 170

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=36094
Printed Date: 21 Aug 2025 at 7:05am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.10 - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: Buying a 170

Posted By: colsoncj
Subject: Buying a 170
Date Posted: 24 Aug 2011 at 10:36pm

Looking at trading a truck for an Allis 170 diesel. I dont know much about tractors, but I'm very mechanically inclined (Bachelor's in ME and starting building cars and now 4WD rockcrawlers over 10 years ago) and work on all my own stuff (or junk depending on who you ask).

Just like boats, campers, and cars I havent owned in the past, I know from experience there is a huge learning curve on what to look for, knowing whats a cheap fix, and what is a deal breaker.

I'm hoping to shorten that curve and get some solid advice on what I should be concerned with, look at, pay attention to, etc when looking at this Allis.

Thanks in advance for the help!

Replies:

Posted By: HagerAC
Date Posted: 24 Aug 2011 at 10:49pm

Check the power director to see if it snaps good into high and low. That is the big lever on the right of transmission housing. Check to see if the tranny pops out of any gears esp. 3 and 4. Check front axle for wear etc. Everything else is just common sense such as engine noises, blow-by, brakes, power steering. 170 D are good tractors, uncle has got one.

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30+ A-Cs ranging from a 1928 20-35, to a 1984 8070FWA, Gleaner R52

Posted By: colsoncj
Date Posted: 25 Aug 2011 at 6:04pm

Thanks for the heads up. I assume by power director you're talking about the HI/LOW for the transmission, correct?

Anything else I should be on the watch out for, or any tests I should perform during the inspection.

I've been told raise the 3 pt up and stand on it to see if it drifts down. Also lower the bucket all the way down and rotate, and it should pickup the front of the tractor.

Posted By: MI8050
Date Posted: 25 Aug 2011 at 7:02pm

The powerdirector is the high/low range shift. The one thing I would check is to try to drive it downhill in third gear and see if it stays in gear. These tractors in my opinion are among the finest AC ever built. They are like a D17 series 5, lots of years to get the bugs out of them, and they were.