IH 986

Been looking for a good older used cab tractor in the 90 to 100 hp range and have looked at several. Just don't want anything new with all the electronic crap on everything. Maybe put 100 hrs a year on it for light tilling, planting corn and pulling a wagon. Found a 986 that is on a lot as a consignment. Very clean not a drop of oil leaking anywhere, clean cab, original paint and great Firestone rubber. Appears that it has been kept out of the weather as well. Has a fairly new round sticker on the side that states something like O.E.M Case IH TA so I assume it has had a recent TA job. It has around 7K hours but I do not know if it has been rebuilt or not. Starts right up with no blow by that I can tell. They are asking around 15k for it. Does that seem way out of the ball park? How many hours would one expect to get before it is overhaul time if it has not been overhauled. I am in the south as a region reference. Thanks for any help.

Kenny

It seems (with no visuals or dependable maintenance history) to be 20% to 30% high. However, the total package might be worth that if it is as good as it looks and sounds as described. You need to have an opportunity to run it to operating temperature under load. Purchasing an equal money new tractor would get less than 1/4 of the tractor. If you like it buy it. Jim

I know it seems like a lot of money, but either there beat to pieces, or they have had excellent care! But does it have a water filter on it ?

This looks like a much better deal:


https://ksu.craigslist.org/grq/6064303406.html

So ran the 986 tractor out today and seems to run very well. Starts right up. Barely turns over before it fires off. Everything works as it should- even the dome light inside. Like I have read before the shifting into gears is a pain but I guess you have to get use to that. One thing I do have a question about is when the clutch petal is pushed in the red hydraulic light on the dash comes on when clutch is released the light goes off. Have talked to the owner and he told me it had always been that way. He has had it for about two years. I have read in the forums that it is normal. True or false?

True. Suppose to do that.

They can run 8000 to 10,0000 hours between overhauls. It just depends on how they were used. If they were light tillage and hay tractor with decent maintenance they can run 10,000 hours fairly easy. If they were the "big tractor" on the farm and pulled a little to big ripper or chisel it could be past due an overhaul.

Given the condition I would think the owner would provide some real maintenance history on the tractor - like how many hours the TA has and who put it in (or if it actually got a TA and not just a sticker). If they are not willing to provide documentation on the tractor and you are buying it -as is - where is - just like at a consignment auction where people dump things they don't want to work on anymore I would agree its 25% to 40% over priced. If they can provide some real documentation and history on the tractor it might be a little high but it also might be worth it.

Well i thrpw my two cents in here , Like Jim stated , does it have a water filter , it should have being a 86 . the little red light comes on each and every time you push the clutch down as it is telling you that the MCV pressure is dumped to allow easier shifting . NOW if that light comes on once warmed up at and idle then you have a problem in the MCV or T/a . What i look for is how bad is the ft. axle for ware in the steering , any unusual noises from the transmissions or rear end , does it have brakes ?? are the two wires going to each brake drum housing hooked up and not showing any light in the dash ?? How does the T/A shift (here i like to try then in HIGH range in at least high third while loading the engine with the brakes and drag it down to around 15-1800 RPM then pull it into low with my foot read on the clutch incase it does not drop down and stops dead in it's tracks as even though it stopped because the sprag is toast does not mean that it will not grab and this can be BAD . CAB mounts They do go bad and the cabs settle and can cause binding on shift linkage . PTO yea it may turn with no load but here ya don't know till ya hook to a load . That is not a biggy as they are not hard to work on IF you have a couple special tools One can be home made and yes you can make the test port fitting also if your good at welding and have a lath . Now as for price yea he is a little high .

Went back today and pulled the trigger on the tractor. I looked and it did have a water filter on it with a date that it was changed (10-1-15) about 18 months ago. Had another person look at it with me and their opinion was wow this thing is in great shape. Was able to negotiate a little on price but not much. Oh well paid a little more that I like but it is only 3 miles from the house and I have no transport cost involved so that is a plus. Thanks for all the help you guys gave me!

Went back today and pulled the trigger on the tractor. I looked and it did have a water filter on it with a date that it was changed (10-1-15) about 18 months ago. Had another person look at it with me and their opinion was wow this thing is in great shape. Was able to negotiate a little on price but not much. Oh well paid a little more that I like but it is only 3 miles from the house and I have no transport cost involved so that is a plus. Thanks for all the help you guys gave me!