Neat story behind my new tractor

notjustair

Well-known Member
I had been looking for just the right chore tractor for the last couple of years. I'm kind of picky about machinery. I wanted a 986 or 1086 with a plumbed in loader. Lots of folks hate those gearboxes for loader work, but it's how I grew up and I am comfortable with it.

Today I bought a very nice 886. It has a great history which makes half the deal. It has 3100 original hours and not a leak or drip to be found. It was 35 degrees and it fired up right off. No whining, no moaning, no smoke.

So, to back up a bit. The tractor was sold new in 77 to an older farmer as a chore tractor. He used it a few years and his neighbor bought it at his farm sale. He has had it since - 30 plus years. When I went to go see it an older guy met me and I followed him to where the tractor is. Turns out HE OWNED THE DEALERSHIP THAT SOLD IT NEW and he's good friends with the owner. When the merger happened he sold the dealership as he didn't like the direction it was heading.

I wrote him a check and we were talking about a bill of sale - I had forgotten to print anything and you know how accountants like that. The older guy says, "Wait, I think I have that covered." He pulls out a pad of IH Retail Order forms he had stashed away in 1984. The dealer who sold it new wrote my bill of sale on the paperwork that would have been used at the time. It holds the signature of the owner for the last 30 plus years as well.

I left and knew it just felt right. I had to drive four hours to see it and have to drive back in the morning with the semi, but I got a nice straight tractor that hasn't been cobbled up. Not an extra weld to be found anywhere. The tractor has lived it's whole life in a three mile radius.

If feels good to have another bigger IH again. It's been 30 years since I used one regularly.
 
That is a very good story about your tractor. I might suggest that you post that on The Redpower Forum(Coffee Shop). That is the kind of thing that everyone there enjoys. You'll have to register but it is a easy process. W30Lee
 
Spent quite a few hours on an 886. Enjoyed all of them. Some people don't like them but I do. Should make you a very good tractor and a very good story to go along with it. You will be reminded of it every time you sit in the seat.
 

A pic after I pulled it inside the machine shed.
a206930.jpg
 

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