Oliver 1850 diesel or ih 856 diesel

Baranx4

New User
I was curious of the choice here, so many people praise the 1850 for its Perkins engine and pulling power and the ih is known for that also. If you couldn't purchase both, which one would it be? Neither is really a chores kind of tractor.
 
Both are good tractors but excluding whether they have additional features such as MFWD or one has versus one SCV and the other has two I would lean towards the 856 and the extra displacement in the engine. If you have two specific tractors in mind condition might be the deciding factor if one was in considerably better condition than the other.
 
856 for two reasons...
1. More cubes (I'm a firm beliver in having close to 400 cubes for 90+ HP)
2. Differential lock (It was optional equipment when they were new)
 
I would take the 1850 hands down. The two speed or better yet three speed is unlikely to have problems where the IH is very likely to have expensive torque repairs. The Oliver has a old school shift lever right into the transmission. The IH has the slop o matic with complex linkages that is usually worn out and can be expensive to repair. The rest of both tractors is pretty good.
 
I'll argue that statement. Our Case diesels with 401/451/504ci engines take less fuel than most brands smaller cube engines and have way more torque.
 
I wanted to jump on but my 1850 is a gasser and I've never driven an 856. Our 1206 would eat my 1850's lunch but then that is two different engines again.
 
Now Galen, none of that stuff on an IH is that pricey to repair. I like the shifter on an 1850, but I also like the side shifters on an 856. They are easy to repair, and if you don't buy the parts from IH, they only cost a couple hundred bucks to replace EVERYTHING. Then they'll probably only last another 30 years with cheaper parts. I modified the shifting linkages on the ones I do so that all the ball joints and shaft pivots can be lubricated. They work much better that way. If a torque goes bad, you buy a replacement unit for under $1000. The whole thing that is. I think the one shaft and a couple other small things for the O/U I had to fix was like $1350. If someone doesn't know anything about tractors, it's gonna be pricey either way. They would have to pay someone to remove and or repair the TA or the OU. I think the Perkins are easier to work on, and parts are much cheaper, but they both are pretty good engines.
 
My uncle has an 856 turbo and my other uncle has a 1850 and hands down I would rather the 856. In my opinion the 856 has more power. And I am more of a red guy.
 
The 856 Farmall is a little newer tractor with a little bit more horsepower; the 1850 Oliver might be better compared with the earlier 806, as far as power goes. However, considering the IHC's transmission problems with their TA, I'd go with the Oliver myself. I've owned a few IH's over the years, and I wouldn't give you a dime for a TA; they're junk. They are either out, going out, or thinking about going out. They made a John Deere man out of me -
 
(reply to post at 11:04:52 10/11/17)

Hey baranx4
I grew up on red and know very little about
Oliver’s
But one thing I do know is the red ta gets
A bad rap
We farmed a couple thousand acres in the 70 and
80s
Had very little trouble and we plowed it all every year
The main thing is get what ya want
They both are older tractors and get one that you can
Be happy with
Dugger
 
You are Right on the Fuel Our 30-70-90 Series Case Tractors Use a lot Less than the guys around here with those Short Stroke Diesels,John Deere's Ford's /Diesel is a slow Burning Fuel & Slower sence they took out the SULFER ,
 

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