What were AC's Future plans?

I don't think there were any engineers left to plan or think ahead.

Only the 8095 was proposed, I don't believe there was any reason to change the 8000 series to 8XX5 - those tractors were only 4 years old.  The 8095 was basically an 8070 with a 200 hp Komatsu engine that was being tested.

The 6095 was a 6080 with a 649T (301) engine in front of it.  A powershift transmission was also being tested for the 6000 series.

Ron Eggen wrote: I don't think there were any engineers left to plan or think ahead.

Edited by VAfarmboy - 25 Jan 2017 at 9:10pm

If the tractor division had not been sold along with other divisions Allis Chalmers would have gone bankrupt. Allis Chalmers liquidated all assets.

Gleaner plant stayed open and kept producing combines and then produced tractors too in the late 80s to the mid 90s. Don't know if anyone transferred down here. Never heard of any. I've heard lots of stories about the Gleaner plant since it was only an half hour away.

At "Coming Home" I met a group of previous Allis Chalmers Executives while the Parade was going on.  Course we did not talk about this.  Also, at our dinner, one of the members of our table was a former worker in the West Allis Plant.  

I have a Simplicity Walk Behind Snowblower that bought back in 2008 that was a Bridge & Stratton built product, runs great but a little disappointed in the paint quality since B&S took over Simplicity, not that any of the other brands paint quality is that much better.

I do run a lawn care business on the side and did start out with an AGCO Allis 1614H with a 14HP Kohler Command engine and 38 inch deck. Still have it today, it was a quality built machine from Simplicity and still cuts great. Had an AGCO Allis 1920H Garden tractor with 48 inch deck that I ran for over 10 years, it was a great mower, but the downside was it was a latter 1920H, with no diff lock, and even with weight and chains, I had some difficulty with traction running a snow blower, but it had plenty of power. Some days I miss the old girl, but I have been really happy with my Deere mowers.

As much as I love the Simplicity mower and design, I switched over to Deere for part's availability. Id love the Simplicity Legacy, but never could find a decent one with 4x4 as a suitable replacement to the 1920H. Id like to think one day Il get a Legacy but I have been impressed with my X748 Deere and won't give it up. Wish Simplicity Product support was a bit better and were more common. Most guys up here are either Kubota or Deere now for mowers.

JasonB wrote: I have been impressed with my X748 Deere and won't give it up.

I have a friend that worked on hydraulic systems for the 40/50 series Gleaners and when they were introduced all he was offered was a PINK SLIP !  Kind of turned him against any future employment with Big Corporations .

I always felt that AC's Harvey Engine Plant engineers sat on their thumbs too much. The 301s & 426s were great engines during their times (D series, 100 series, then 70xx series tractors). but In my opinion, the newer 80xx series tractors deserved an upgrade to their engine options ( more fuel efficient, larger displacement, & more powerful engines). Case began using the Cummins 5.9L in 1984. ACs Harvey Engine Plant needed to offer several updated AC diesels or before 1980, AC should have began offered more Diesel engine options from other companies besides Perkins.

The "Big Al" story is a good example of how AC had the 25000 powerhouse, but failed to market & service it properly to the big truck industry. It had loads of potential. During the early 1970s. Cummins introduced a new 450hp truck engine for the 65mph truck speed limit. Shortly after, US speed limit was set at 55mph. That didn't stop Cummins marketing saying their turbo diesel could rev slower which delivering excellent economy, have reserve power to keep truck at 55 on flat or thru hills, & be reliable. They had service at many truck stops.

The 616-620-720 would sell today if they had power steering. They are for their size the most powerful and nimble sub compacts ever. A newer power plant would help also. JMHO Tracy

Ratliff wasn't upper management of AC he came to Deutz Allis to make it profitable,as they only lost 3 million the last year of action,before they lost millions of dollars,KHD finally wanted rid of it that's how it became Agco ; and Ratiff saw potential  got Deutz Allis and it was almost paid off , don't remember the scheme he done but it was legal !

Edited by DougG - 28 Jan 2017 at 7:28am

ACjack, thank you for your input. Clarity of what was actually happening internally at AC's west allis HQs explains much. So were the AC 433(200s), 649(301s), & 670(426s), the only newer 1960s AC designed diesels? From studying Norm Swinford's book, the 1960s industrial lineup (mostly dozers) used the older Buda 344, 516, 731, & 844 engines. I know the Gleaner N7 got the 516, and the 8550/4w-305 got the 731. Why didn't AC put the 516 into the 7080 & 8070 tractors? Was it too costly to tool these onto 7080 & 8070 tractor transmissions?

Mark said the drivetrain in the 7-8000 would NOT take the torque....