1850 Gas Opinion

[B.c.c.]

Am thinking about a 1850 gas wide front with a loader for handling small bales with a grab. What are things to look for on a gas 1850? Would get used about 80 hours a year for bale handling and maybe that much more for snow plowing and manure compost handling. Do their front ends hold up in loader duty, and how good is their power steering? Thanks.

 

[OliverGuy]

I learned why mine had 3 gas tanks when I started farming with it! She was a thirsty girl. Good ole tractor that will start in any kind of weather. Don't know about loader, hydraulics aren't always their strong suit. Never had many problems with mine, still got it.

 

[Cas]

We had an Oliver 1850 gas for years. It is a little heavy on gas when using for tillage. At 60 hours a year might not be an issue.
Used it for a few years with a loader and hydraulics handled it good.
Front end held up well. Couple things on the front end are I wouldn't use it on a loader if it had the swept back front end. Second, I think the steering geometry works better if the wishbone is mounted below were it attaches to the front tube. Top mounted wishbone is ok, but I prefer the bottom mount on the front end.

 

[B.c.c.]

The other choice I was considering was an Allis 190XT. Most of those seem to be turbo diesels which make me wonder how well all that holds up over time. True, we are thinking more size and weight than sustained hp, but an unblown gas engine would seem to be simpler and cheaper. For as few hours and light a duty as we're considering I wouldn't mind buying a little more fuel.

Another things the Allis people talk about is transmissions jumping out of gear in some cases. Any of that with the Ollies?

We have a pretty good Agco dealer nearby, and our Masseys and Hesston moco get good parts support there. They routinely work on both Allis and Olivers there as well.

 

[rrlund]

I'd go with the 1850 before the 190. No transmission issues as long as you change the filter and keep it filled. A little heavy on the gas,but otherwise no problem. I use a 1600 for the same thing. Here's a picture of it pushing silage,but for the most part the bale grabber is on it year around.

 

[blue924.9]

(quoted from post at 05:05:08 10/09/13) The other choice I was considering was an Allis 190XT. Most of those seem to be turbo diesels which make me wonder how well all that holds up over time. True, we are thinking more size and weight than sustained hp, but an unblown gas engine would seem to be simpler and cheaper. For as few hours and light a duty as we're considering I wouldn't mind buying a little more fuel.

Another things the Allis people talk about is transmissions jumping out of gear in some cases. Any of that with the Ollies?

We have a pretty good Agco dealer nearby, and our Masseys and Hesston moco get good parts support there. They routinely work on both Allis and Olivers there as well.

the 190xt's and later 190s had revised trans and differential designs that were better than the older ones

 

[blue924.9]

(quoted from post at 05:05:08 10/09/13) The other choice I was considering was an Allis 190XT. Most of those seem to be turbo diesels which make me wonder how well all that holds up over time. True, we are thinking more size and weight than sustained hp, but an unblown gas engine would seem to be simpler and cheaper. For as few hours and light a duty as we're considering I wouldn't mind buying a little more fuel.

Another things the Allis people talk about is transmissions jumping out of gear in some cases. Any of that with the Ollies?

We have a pretty good Agco dealer nearby, and our Masseys and Hesston moco get good parts support there. They routinely work on both Allis and Olivers there as well.

the 190xt's and later 190s had revised trans and differential designs that were better than the older ones

 

[Bob M]

1850 gas is a pretty bulletproof old tractor. We used ours HARD for 25+ years as our "big" tillage tractor. It still sees occasional use now to plow snow/operate a snowblower.

Biggest issue is its thirst for gas. Also the stock Marvel USX carburetor is kinda fussy, and carb repair parts are getting hard to find.

Aside from that it's a good horse. Plenty of power, starts easily even in sub-zero weather, and has good hydraulics/power steering. It's also reasonably nimble considering its size.

 

[Mike (WA)]

From what I hear, you need one gas tractor capable of pushing snow there in the cold country, so you don't get snowed in and then can't get a tractor started. And the 1850 would be a good choice, IMHO.

And please, no lectures about the wonders of block heaters. The same blizzard that brought the snow probably also knocked out your 'lectricity.

 

[Anonymous-0]

If the 1850 is in good shape I'd definately go for that over the Ally. The 50 series hydraulics aren't as good as the 1855 series but plenty good enough for your work and definately as good as about anything else of that era. Allis wasn't noted for their hydraulics in those days. Our 1850 has enough weight to handle about anything you can pick up with a farm loader.

 

[B.c.c.]

First off, let me thank everyone for their opinions.

We are considering putting up about twice as much hay as we have been, and selling the additional stuff. We consists of the wife and myself. No kids, no nearby ambitious 17 year olds. 1,000+ bales a season already sort of whips our 60+ yr old hinies. Another 1,000 means doing something besides kicker wagons.

I talked to a Hoelscher rep recently and he said for their 10 bale grab, at least 80 hp size tractor and loader. That rules out our MH50 gas and MF175 diesel. It’s not the weight of the hay so much as the “overhung load”.

This is N. Central Ohio and if the proposed tractor/loader also got used for snow, that as some have pointed out is another big reason to go gas rather than diesel. The MF175 has always started but we had to resort to ether a few times.

I have no experience with any of the “newer” Olivers or Allis. Growing up, we had an Allis B for a while, and the neighbor had a Super 66 he baled with.

Both the Ollies and Allis scare me a little for parts support, but Agco seems to be trying to accommodate them. What we want does not warrant going to some sort of overkill such as a Deere 4020 or even a Massey 1080 or 285.

Anyway, sounds like a 1850 gas wide front “std trans” might be the way to go. Thanks again.

 

[B.c.c.]

We had our MH50 gas for 5 years outside of Duluth, MN. Ran 5W-30 in the winter and she always started. Never once had to use ether.

 

[Anonymous-0]

make sure it has a pto pump or is atleast plumbed through the power beyond port to a cross/gresen or similar valve, the 1850 pump is a little slow for a loader and the remotes dont work very nice with a loader ,BTDT!

 

[MikeinKy]

If you are in northern Ohio you talk to Kenny Kuhns about one of his accumulators. I have one and like it.

 

[Josh in Pa]

Buying another tractor, an accumulator, and a grab seems like a pretty expensive way to handle another thousand bales. That assumes your barn is ready for mechanical handling. If it is, perhaps a stack wagon would work? Much cheaper and your current tractor could run a small one.
Josh

 

[B.c.c.]

Actually we started out thinking stack wagon. However that doesn't do much for loading the stuff out. It does appear that with luck an accumulator rig could be pieced together from the used market for about the same money as a stack wagon. And we could in a good year go over 1000 bales to sell, hopefully closer to 2000.

Considering the way the weather has gone the last two years I am skeptical about going forward with it all, but first you have to know if it's an option to begin with.

Once again, I thank everyone for their input. It has been helpful.