grain truck

I found a grain truck but I don't know much about this model. It runs and drives fine but has no breaks.what Can any of you tell me about this truck.

They were great old trucks. All the guys that Dad and Grandpa had them and they ran forever with normal service. Not sure what it would take to fix the brakes. But, it would be worth fixen in my book

I always recommend finding the closest Case-IHC dealer, find the oldest old guy in there, and ask him. You might get lucky.

Looks like a loadstar 1600, Great trucks , lots of them made and should be able to still get parts for it. Put some brake fluid in it and pump it up and see where it is leaking, May get lucky and it is just a rusted out brake line.

Look in the glove box (and around in the cab) for a single sheet of paper called a line setting ticket. It is a description of the various components used to build that truck. From axles, to ignition, IH used many OEM suppliers. It is no deal killer, but handy. They are very sound trucks and have no specific issues. The brakes are hydroVac (most likely) and have a booster using engine vacuum and master cylinder pressure to add boost. (it is not found at the firewall, but underneath) They are strange units and require bleeding at more than one typical bleeder at the unit. That must be done first, If not fluid will never make it to the wheel cylinders Ever!!
It always takes 2 people (or a power bleeder that fits the reservoir) to get it operational. Look for rusted off lines, and leaking wheel cylinders. If the leaks are not fixed first, it will fill the system with air and the bleeding will start again. (some will be blood). Brake fluid on the shoes will make driving a serious hazard, as a grain truck needs all the brakes they could have been designed with but weren't. Working well it will stop. This is all I know, but it comes from working for IH trucks when these were being built, as technician, and service manager. The parts are readily available, but the Hydrovac might cause heart problems, even rebuilt. Jim

Ah Hydra vac brakes !!!!!. What a pain in the drain they are. On a truck that old you may as well start at the top and work to the bottom . And also good luck on finding everything you need to fix it and fix it wright the first time. Like new master cyl. new hydra vac unit new brake lines new brake hoses new wheel cylinders new brake adjusters and hardware kits. and new brake lining . i have worked on way tomany of them , never liked them never trusted them and always a problem with them .

Great truck. I have a 1966 IH 1600 Loadstar with twin hoist dump. I used it on the farm when I was grain farming. When I moved to the ranch in Texas the grandkids insisted I take it and the IH-3588 with us as they all loved driving them. I put over 1200 dollars in the brakes but they again don't work. I always make sure the emergency brakes work as they will fail without notice. I haven't used the truck for much in the past 15 years but it is still in great shape other than the brakes. This winter I'm going to go through all the components and repair/replace as needed. It already has all new shoes, new wheel cylinders, master cylinder, etc, so I suspect the VacBoost is broken, which is common. They are still available and sometimes a rebuilt kit will fix it. If you decide to buy, be warned brake upgrades are expensive and not a lot of fun. One time I had 340 bushels of wheat on mine and came to the end of the driveway and no brakes...almost rolled it over trying to make the turn. Good luck.

Jim, can you open your e-mail, I have a couple questions for you on a 1600 IH

When I got my 74 1600 the master cylinder needed a rebuild, after bleeding the brakes I was good for a couple years till the hydrovac was slowly going out, put one on last year and been good ever since. If you get brakes but have to pump them every time you want to stop look at the master cylinder, a lot of times when the hydeovac is going bad it will kick the pedal back toward you or after pressing the pedal 5-10 seconds it will get hard as mine did. Good trucks though, the past 2 years of siloing corn my IH was the only old truck running at the end, the dodge always gave out first! My dad had a 69 that he literally abused and it took it day after day.

I had a good friend, a neighbor, he had a 1600, 1974 also, but it had a steering connection, kinda a leather thing, kept going out, he figured it was left over scout parts. Other than that it was a good truck.

It is open Jim

She's a keeper. It probably has the 345 in it. It was kind of a gutless wonder but then again I only drove it in school bus form. There are brake parts out there but they are pricey. Don't let that dissuade you, as they are pricey for ALL old grain trucks. She'd haul anything you put in her and grunt and groan the whole time. When you empty it the thing will beg for another load.