Allis-Chalmers 8550 4wd Super Beast Tractor

In this Big Tractor Power video we take a look at the 305 hp Allis-Chalmers 8550 4wd tractor marketed as the Super Beast. The 8550 was produced from 1978-1981 in West Allis, WI. This video features time in the field, up in the cab and the specifications of the Allis-Chalmers 8550.
Watch for Allis-Chalmers 2500 and 2600 disks in the video.
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[@robertlee4809]

We had one..same disc as well. Daddy had me hit a 960 acre field that bordered a lake bottom. They had just blown a beaver dam a month before and a lot of that bottom was exposed. It looked dry..buckshot, Mississippi Delta..I tried to get it out. If I had stopped as soon as those BRAND NEW RICE/CANE tires, I could have raised the disc as high as it would go, unhook it, drive it out, come around behind the disc and pull it out backwards. But, at 12 years old, when I stopped, I open the door and stepped out on the ground🙄one D-8, one Case 2590 and a 4 wheel drive Case 2870, 3 2" cables. I had to dig down 5 feet with a sharp shooter shovel to unhook the damn disc (that was 3 hours of digging hard buckshot clay) i had to carry, and hook up all 3 of them big ass 50 ft cables. I was so tired after that, I didn't stick another tractor for years🤣🤣

[@swiftsavvy6786]

Back in the 1980s my grandpa had one of these along with 14 Internationals. The Allis was the most reliable out of the 15 and it did the heaviest work

[@johntoothman4888]

Give me a lawn chair and an ice tea!! Sit and watch these tractors all day!!

[@byrne5948]

John Toothman Amen

[@SKC640]

Give me some ice tea and I'll operate these tractors for free all day!

[@johntoothman4888]

@@SKC640 Ran enough equipment, would be just as happy to sit and watch!!

[@SKC640]

John Toothman I hear you there I am still young so my back can take a few more hours lol I just won't run a log skidder anymore would rather pour concrete. Speaking of operating I am warming up my tractor as we speak to snow plow got about 12 inches of snow so in about a few hours I'll want to sit with you instead haha.

[@johntoothman4888]

@@SKC640 Lmao!!

[@andyharman3022]

Jason needs an AC 8550. I can tell he really wants one. The dual stacks really do it for me. I can see why they're called Queen Mary's. Compared to other tractors of the age, the A-C seems really advanced in the transmission, hydraulics, and ease of operation.

[@jamesbarbour8400]

Indeed. I personally thought that these tractors were very futuristic looking (from a '70s perspective), whilst their successor models were not nearly as stylish

[@mfreund15448]

That is still a state of the art tractor!! I bet it was incredible back in the day.

[@RJ1999x]

Allis Chalmers was always about 30+ years ahead

[@robertlee4809]

They were amazing tractors!

[@ColinFisher]

A rare glimpse of Mr. BTP himself!

[@57fitter]

Kriiiiikey!!

[@Lars559]

Great catch. I’m fortunate enough to have someone in my area that still runs one of every Allis 4wds. They are truly cool tractors.

[@nellsonstout7001]

Neat! Including a 440?

[@Lars559]

@@nellsonstout7001 Yes. 440 too.

[@kylekroft9154]

Love these big ol'' beasts

[@bigtractorpower]

They are impressive.

[@darrelschulte6214]

I wish my 8550 looked that nice ‼️ That one is beautiful

[@America-First2024]

Always loved the look of the late model Allis’! 😊👍🏻

[@bigtractorpower]

Me too. 👍

[@stanleybaker3400]

This video really takes me back thankyou

[@spliceoncharlie]

Love older tractors like this one that has a "TALL" stance. "Beast" is a good name for this Allis. These older tractors, with the tall stance, just look awesome, no matter their color's, out in the field or just going down the road. Saw an older 8-wheeled big Ford that had a tall stance like this setting out in a field last month. Thanks for posting.

[@spliceoncharlie]

@@nellsonstout7001 It was an older 1970's tractor, Blue with FORD on the hood in bold white letters. No matter who built it, it was a good looking Blue Ford.

[@benbright5382]

Such good visibility in a cab of that age. Great video .

[@kstimberwolf1588]

Love it! As I was growing up we had all AC tractors. 220, 200, D17 propane, and a Gleaner M combine. I wanted my grandpa to buy one of these in the worst way, however it didnt happen. Great video keep them coming!

[@bigtractorpower]

Awesome AC line up.

[@AgricultureINDIA-91]

Thanks for the video! An amazing Tractor!!!

[@bigtractorpower]

Thank you for watching.

[@motorcop555]

Love the Allis brand!

[@bigtractorpower]

👍👍👍

[@jackiejohnson6064]

I operated one identical to this 8550 back in the late 80s nothing but power . if I had the chance I would buy one.

[@bigtractorpower]

Very cool. They are an awesome machine.

[@mikebythesea45]

In 1987 and 88 I worked for a farm in Vermont, we had a variety of iron on the farm, most of it old and worn and full of character. We 'demoed' a pair of used 8050 and used 8070 from the local Allis dealer for a couple of weeks during tillage and planting. Both were cab and 4wd, the 8070 had 600 hours and the 8050 had 1,200 hours but no radio. Since I was the low guy I got the 8050, and spent time discing ground. I recall the 8050 having good mid range torque, harsh shifts, tight turning, I really liked the extending steering wheel button! I recall the only thing I didn't like about it was the short wheelbase, it would bounce and porpoise when going across the headlands, where a Ford or Deere were longer wheelbase and smoother. We didn't buy the Allis Chalmers but I enjoyed my seat time in them.

[@Kham93]

First time seeing our tractor on KZbin , fun fun!

[@toddbrewer8215]

Good to see the old girl still working.

[@ih1206]

Quite the machine with he twin exhaust pipes. There was one of these 4wd AC rigs on Craigslist not long ago. You don’t see many of them around anymore. Also I’d like to see more of that tandem rig at the end also. Those are pretty cool setups.

[@bigtractorpower]

The 8550 is a classic. I have footage of the tandem WD I plan to share.

[@farmtoycollector998]

I Love Allis Chalmer tractors. My grandfather farms with a D17 and 185. Awesome video and keep up the good work.

[@bigtractorpower]

Very cool.

[@chadshafer8095]

Beautiful Sounding Tractor. Love any of the Allis Chalmers 4 Wheel Drives.

[@bigtractorpower]

👍

[@jamieshields9521]

Well done on vid👍, I have seen one these at dealerships but never in field operating. Love 8550 singing especially from cab, those twin stacks 🤤.

[@bigtractorpower]

It’s a stand out tractor. Thank you for watching.

[@Dan-qy1rg]

Nice tractor and disc. Thanks

[@bigtractorpower]

Great tillage team for sure.

[@Yosemite-George-61]

My favorite tractor of all times... Great video, Thanks !

[@bigtractorpower]

The 8559 is a cool tractor.

[@stanleyteprovich]

Back in the day I plowed with a JD 2030 and a three bottom toggle trip. 50 ac in 24 hrs. Road travel included 45 minutes one way. Now I got some big hp units but old school. If I could only turn back time now. Tks for the good video’s.

[@bigtractorpower]

Thank you for watching. 45 minutes is a trip in any tractor but that’s a hike in a 2030. There was an 8550 in Tractor House recently for $10K. You can get some of the 70’s monsters pretty reasonable today.

[@stanleyteprovich]

bigtractorpower yes my big boy is a Case 2390 and a sweet 4440 which was on display in the early 2000’s for the Dress a Deere Program. She has a 4455 series motor in her . I bought last year January 2018 at Dennis Polk Auction. 500 hrs on her since she was redone, my Dream Tractor I finally got one.

[@austinkortens5933]

My family has 2 8550s that are still used and one as a parts tractor both used for tillage one has dual straight pipe exhaust with a rebuilt engine love those tractors always will be a orange fan Both work with 4 fold chisels

[@timothymcmurtrie5277]

I love the old 4 wheel drive tractors from the 70s/80s orange,green,red,yellow I love em all. No electronic B.S on these old guys just raw H.P and pulling power

[@chadtheartist5081]

I'm in love... Growing up I loved Allis Chalmers and Deere. We had Allis Chalmers lawn mower. I think a 410, it was more of a garden tractor than anything. The cab/door shaping and angles on this style was tops.

[@bigtractorpower]

The AC Accusta cab has a cool look. It’s tight on the inside. I own a 1964 AC B-10 that I mow my lawn with. Allis made good lawn and garden tractors.

[@chadtheartist5081]

@@bigtractorpower Our garden tractor was a beast. I used to pull out tree stumps with it.

[@jimmystrain883]

Really enjoyed the video Jason, thanks

[@J.Goncalves55]

Ótimo video amigo. Muito bom relembrar a Marca Allis Chalmers. Muito ajudou a produzir e construir por esse mundo afora. Parabéns pela postagem!

[@felipecanali1610]

uma pena esses tratores nao terem vindo pra ca, la hoje é valtra

[@ArmpitStudios]

That era of ACs and Whites had excellent design. So late ‘70s with those great angles.

[@burtbrooks7731]

That’s a sweet set up👍

[@darthgraggus2690]

LONG LIVE A-C TRACTORS. I have a '55 WD and it is just good to operate one. HEAVY METAL.

[@bigtractorpower]

Very cool. AC made some solid tractors.

[@johnrighter4850]

The dairy farm just north of me has one of these tractors, awesome machine !!!

[@bigtractorpower]

Very cool.

[@curtiscains8533]

Beautiful Machine. That is my Ole Stomping Grounds

[@lrobie123]

tractors from a time that could still be repaired without all the overcomplicated equipment on tractors made today

[@ericlakota6512]

I do love the looks of old alis charms like the smaller 17 18 19 they were my favorite but i love the colors they look good all painted up fresh

[@bigtractorpower]

AC had a great farm equipment line.

[@stuartleis9079]

I enjoyed the video of the Allis Chalmers 8550 tractor because we had one. We also had a AC 7580 which we traded in on the new 8550 in 1982. At first we liked it because we had nothing to compare it to except the 7580 we traded. It was much more powerful and did our work quite handily. As the hours rolled on, the problems arose. A serious week point was the CV joint in the high speed shaft that drove the rear half of the tractor. We replaced 3 of them; each one only lasting maybe 1000 hours and each one costing nearly double the last one. Next was the cables that controlled the shifting and hydraulics. They were cables inside a sleeve and seized up making it unable to shift or use the hydraulics. The engine had poor torque. Very noisy, quite powerful but only at high rpm. Once the rpm started to drop, so did the torque and it wouldn't recover. What it could do was guzzle diesel fuel. Far too much. It wasn't until we purchased a 1982 Versetile 895 rated at 5 hp more than the 8550 that we were able to compare the two and see what a vast difference there was. The 895 was head & shoulders above the AC 8550 in all aspects. Quieter, much more powerful, far more lb/ft of torque, and used less fuel. The Cummins engine in the Versetile was what they called Constant Power meaning you could throttle down the rpm and maintain the torque. It was amazing compared to the torque shy AC 8550. Sure the AC had a live PTO which we used to run an air seeder and adjustable wheel tread that some row crop farmer might use, it meant nothing to us. Another sore spot was the factory 20.8 x 38 Armstrong tires. They soon began to crack on the side walls and go flat. We needed to replace them and AC would not warranty them. That tractor got traded for a 1985 Steiger Panther 360 and all out problems were solved. That was one hell of a tractor that we farmed with for 20 more years. Those twin turbos and twin mufflers on the AC 8550 were all show and no go.

[@bigtractorpower]

Thank you for the detailed mechanical history. The 7580 is the one AC 4wd I have not filmed yet. I hope to track one down.

[@BenRiddick07]

We have a 7020 allis Chalmers, runs like a champ! 14000 hours and counting

[@bigtractorpower]

Very cool.

[@coltoncarpenter3790]

Allis built some good tractors. Allis definitely had the best powershift and still do. Ive got tools for tearing one down but theyve never been used.

[@RJ1999x]

@@coltoncarpenter3790 Interested in selling them?

[@randyberetta6277]

The Beast. My favorite 4 wheel Tractor of all time. The Queen she was. Bad all the way to the Bone. !!!👀 🤔

[@bigtractorpower]

The 8550 is a cool tractor.

[@weedie82]

My Uncle still operates two of these on his CNY farm here in NY.

[@jamiegivens3970]

Great video, pal! I like these classics a lot

[@bigtractorpower]

👍. They are cool. It would be neat to see one with a pan.

[@danlowery3235]

BTP Thanks for the new video , love to watch the tractors at work. These are actually close to me in Illinois.

[@aarondeere]

Friend down the road has one of these. Great to see them in operation

[@bigtractorpower]

They are a cool tractor.

[@markstengel7680]

Wow what a great looking AC tractor. Owner takes great care of his/her machinery. I now know what Mr Big Tractor Power looks like, with you operating the big AC Monster. The wheels look brand new on this AC. Enjoyed this AC segment you provided. Watched & Appreciated 🚜👍👍👍👍👍

[@timhood6970]

Awesome video... I spent many hours on one of these pulling a mouldboard plow in the early 80's! Thanks for sharing!

[@bigtractorpower]

It be cool to see an 8550 plowing. What brand of plow and what size plow did you run?

[@timhood6970]

@@bigtractorpower It was a International (I believe) 10 bottom plow, it was a load on the old girl!

[@thomasmarti5856]

Good to see you behind the wheel !

[@bigtractorpower]

👍 It was a fun tractor to drive.

[@clinkerclint]

Woah!!!! I hope you are doing a video on the tandem tractor at the end of the video! I really enjoyed this one. I worked with a fella that had one that was pretty hot. If I remember correctly, they had to switch to tubeless tires because he was sheering valve stems from turning the wheels inside the tires. Great job as always!

[@brentfarrow8125]

In the background at the end was that two tractors hooked together?😎

[@littlerougue]

We need to know about that thing for sure

[@Man-cv5ws]

The innovation of the 70’s. It’s a shame the 80’s were not profitable. So sad to see the equipment I grew up on fade away. Not saying I grew up around this particular machine.

[@joecameron3512]

Love em beautiful sounds amazing.they also put those motprs in semis

[@toro220d]

Awesome Jason great video

[@jankotze1959]

That is really a beast, can you imagine what return in investment those two machine brought in fr there owners, thanks very much

[@bigtractorpower]

You big time farming in the late 70s with a tractor and disk like this.

[@noelhohberger1188]

Orange power!

[@elizabethcherry920]

Awesome rig, great video

[@josephfinklea3650]

I drove a 7060 in south C it pulled very good tractor but it what slow in 1973.

[@Czecher262]

Another great video. I give 14/10.

[@bigtractorpower]

Wow that’s a great rating. That’s all due to those cool twin stacks. The 8550 is a cool tractor.

[@juanvillarreal6688]

We had 3 of them back in about 91-08. The first was a older 78 model that ended up falling in a ditch near a field. The second was a 79 model that was turned up then the engine threw a piston out the block. We just left it and had a new engine just never time. The last was a 81 model the new look my grandpa would say. He loved it till we just parked it and forgot it even turned over. The transmission was acting up on it but we had 2 parts ones to repair it. Sadly all 3 were sold cheap and haven't ever looked into where they went

[@bigtractorpower]

That had to be impressive to see three 8550s rolling together. It’s unfortunate but engine parts are hard to get for these AC 4wds. I know a farm with an 8550 that is parked because the tires are work out and a new set of tires would cost more than the tractor is worth.

[@juanvillarreal6688]

I am in the market for one but haven't had much luck we want one for a complete restoration project and run it at least half season for our farm. We had alot of unique equipment throughout the past 40 years. From hard times to good years. We learned that a bunch of our equipment is still in use near us and north of us.

[@bigtractorpower]

I saw one in tractor house for $10,000 recently. It looked decent. The hood had had some engine heat wear on the right side.

[@dehavenfamilyfarm]

The farm I worked on when I was younger had two small AC tractors- a 180 and 185. Nice tractors, but you had to be careful as transmission parts wore out, they would pop out of third gear. Nice video!

[@bigtractorpower]

The 180 and 185 are nice tractors. Many still going strong.

[@RJ1999x]

To clarify, the transmission wasn't wore out, the owners were grinding the gears until the edges were gone. It's owner abuse not poorly made gears.

[@davidadcock3382]

@@RJ1999x Thank you for more of your wild assumptions and wild speculations RJ 1999. There is reason Equipment Dealers had repair shops.

[@kennyc7651]

Wow what a great tractor good video

[@bigtractorpower]

Thank you for watching.

[@jimmystrain883]

Nice AC and disc

[@freedomring4813]

I operate heavy equipment mostly big excavators and loaders, but love big farm tractors best.

[@bigtractorpower]

Construction machines are cool. Thank you for watching.

[@mrourcanada8964]

That was awesome you get a chance to drive it I’m surprised you don’t get more opportunities to sit behind the wheel of more tractors that you film

[@bigtractorpower]

It was fun to drive. I don’t drive often because of all the filming I want to get done in a day. If I am driving then a few more passes are done and there is less to film in the field or I am missing another machine down the road. This was filmed on a Saturday and I filmed this 8550, a 4W305, A86 Gleaner, Massey 9450 and JD 7720 Turbo. I want to drive but filming that next machine is more pressing.

[@Ghost-bx8ld]

Super Beast!

[@uTubed007]

Hey ! BTP just had a chance to see you in the video. Because of your BIG voice I had imagined a thick neck guy and what-do-you-know, you're a big neck guy. Plaisantries aside, happy to "meet" you and keep these great videos coming. TYFS

[@lukefarms9909]

You should do a video on a Allis Chalmers D21

[@Ron-rs2zl]

Gleaner photo bomb was clever but that tandom tractor at the end is the show stealer. We are all wanting more of that one. Great video,big orange fan here in central Wisconsin. I have my grandpa's first tractor an AC WC!

[@bigtractorpower]

It was an all AC cast 😁. I have a video on the tandem WD planned. It’s a neat set up.

[@countrygent4]

It had a de-stroked version of the 844 Big Allis Chalmers engine used in the HD20 Crawlers with twin TO4B Garrett Air-Research Turbocharges like used on the 7030-7040-7045-7050-7060 Tractors with a slightly smaller compressor (cold air side) wheel.

[@leejamestheliar2085]

Great video ,I was just watching the ICE crystals form on my windows..this made me THINK warm.....😎😁

[@tonyburelle6633]

Sweet machine, thanks

[@bigtractorpower]

Thank you for watching.

[@samueljoejr5191]

I don't know how you do it, but you always come through with great stuff. thanks.

[@samrugtiv3839]

Well done,thanks. Sam

[@bigtractorpower]

Thank you for watching.

[@dominikdrabich]

Did You enjoy driving it ? ;). Thank You for video

[@kevinhowell646]

2 thumbs up and 2 big toes love AC here thanks 🙏 sir

[@bigtractorpower]

Thank you for watching and for your enthusiasm.

[@jimmystrain5943]

I like ALLIS CHALMERS

[@generationll]

I remember when the Allis Chalmers 5020,5030,7020,7045,8550 was introduced in 1977.Its funny that when most of its competitors like AC,Case,IH,MF,Ford were all getting 300 hp plus 4WD tractors to market in the 1970s John Deere would not even touch the subject

[@bigtractorpower]

Deere did not get to a big 4wd until the 1982 8850 and they really gained a presence when the 9400 came out for 1996.

[@embassypictures.5629]

I love videos of these machines becuse here in sweden they dont exist becuse the dealerships that imported them were the same dealership that imported nuffield tractors and the dealship decied to fully focus on nuffield tractors in 1960s and they stopped selling AC tractors. That was the end for AC in sweden.

[@Larebear75]

They just released this same exact Tractor for Farming simulator 19 on console and it's awesome it looks and sounds just like this actual 8550

[@bigtractorpower]

Very cool to hear.

[@piperdoug428]

Just bought one of these.

[@bigtractorpower]

Very cool.

[@piperdoug428]

@@bigtractorpower And now i have two of them, lol

[@piperdoug428]

@@bigtractorpower so the first of my two 8550 is serial number 1109 which makes it 26th off the line in 1978 which is pretty cool, i'll check see how far apart the 2nd 8550 number is later

[@2009deerejohn]

Neat tractor, always liked the Fiat-Allis wheel loaders:) As always, great video and keep them coming

[@bigtractorpower]

The 8550 is a cool tractor. Allis construction equipment is always neat to see in action.

[@interman7715]

Thanks BTP 👍👍👍👍👍

[@bigtractorpower]

Thank you for watching.

[@zacharylindsay2178]

Hello I just bought me my frist allis chalmers wc ever it need work got 2 new back tires or it today it . Crank start

[@bigtractorpower]

Congratulations. Great classic.

[@jder-ip7jx]

Aw man reminds me of an auction I went to of all allis Chalmers equipment a 7580 went for 8000 bucks too bad it wasn't closer to my farm or I would have bought it

[@bigtractorpower]

A 7580 is the AC 4wd I have not filmed. I hope to find one this year. Older 4wds are pretty reasonable. I saw an 8550 in Tractor House for $10,000.

[@jder-ip7jx]

@@bigtractorpower Ya it's too bad that they go so cheap a lot of power for little money

[@valentusslimroast6716]

nice

[@bigtractorpower]

Thank you for watching.

[@hunterfrohning3612]

I’ve seen that second one running around Jasper County. Knew that tractor looked familiar

[@bigtractorpower]

Very cool.

[@justincase2830]

83K sure seems like a lot of money for the time it was sold. It still seems like a lot of money today.

[@bigtractorpower]

It was a big investment but cost competitive for its day.

[@donnajones8883]

On our farm we run allis chalmer tractors and challenger I wish that we had this tractor on our farm and please show more videos about allis chalmer tractors.

[@bigtractorpower]

Very cool. I am always looking for Allis-Chalmers.

[@larryd8224]

Would like to see one unit of this model converted to modern tracks. With vehicle weight of 26,400 pounds on 8 traditional duals there is a lot of weight on the soil contact area!!

[@littlerougue]

I don't know about super but that thing is sure nuff a sexy beast

[@nickthompson9697]

Was that a twin turbo?

[@johndeerejimmy4019]

What about the guy with 2 tractors running together at the end of the video?

[@bigtractorpower]

I have footage of the tandem ACs. I plan to use that footage in the future.

[@heatmoon]

Do you recall how many hours were on it? AC is made some real beast discs to take out large saplings. Not a lot of room in the cab eh? Not exactly a buddy seat waiting up there for u.

[@user-ng4cy6go6y]

Big Orange Power

[@bigtractorpower]

👍

[@TheSearchandfind]

Question.. why many tractors back then was even close to 300 HP? And yes, I'm talking about the competition from JD IH and others.

[@ShainAndrews]

Needs a touch more boost to clean up that exhaust and put that fuel to work.

[@augustreil]

Do they do multiple passes with the disc ? Any luck on getting torque ratings for these tractors ? Thanks and thumbs up !

[@jaxenwatson6238]

I gotta ask bigtractorpower how many of these Allis-chalmers 8550's were made between the three years that it was produced?

[@bigtractorpower]

800

[@Military-Museum-LP]

Are spares readily available for this old of a machine?

[@RJ1999x]

The parts are available, with the exception of engine parts. The 6120 engine was an odd ball, it was a de-stroked 6138 (844 cu in) which parts are available