Deciding between an IH 5288 and JD4640

Anonymous-0 · Mar 26, 2013

I"m looking at purchasing a different tractor and found two clean tractors in my area. An 1982 5288 and a JD4640. The 4640 has been gone through and even the AC has been updated to the new JD tractor variety. He wants $20,000 for it. The other guy with the IH wants $18500. Tranny updates were made and it has great paint with 5000 hours on it. Hoping he might take $15,000. Which is the better option?

caseyc · Mar 26, 2013

I"m color blind so my choice would be the 5288. If I take my blinders off then I can"t really knock a 4640. I think the 5288 will be a bit more nimble and will use less fuel doing the same work. With the updates it will handle up to 200hp. Also, you have a solid windshield to look out of, unlike the deere.

Just my thoughts,
Casey in SD

Anonymous-0 · Mar 26, 2013

I really appreciate that. I too am colorblind, though resale value could be a future factor. I grew up with Allis tractors. I appreciate both of these brands and the come with the same size 7.3L engine and everything.

Anonymous-0 · Mar 26, 2013

If you use the pto or three point much look at where the levers are and how handy they are. chris

caseyc · Mar 26, 2013

The engines are actually 466's, 7.6L 8)

charlespretzer · Mar 26, 2013

I used to have 5288. It was one of my favorites.
Very good tractor. On resale the Deere will do better,but then you pay more up front.I'd say the resale pitch is a wash but I'm sure some Deere boys will disagree.

caseyc · Mar 26, 2013

Chris, you made me think of another point. The 5288 I believe can have a dual speed pto. Even if it doesn't have one it can be installed fairly easily where as the 4640 your stuck with a 1000.

Casey in SD

Anonymous-0 · Mar 26, 2013

Right.... My pickup popped into my head when I was typing that.

Anonymous-0 · Mar 26, 2013

It's an attractive tractor. The Deere has a loader with bucket and spear too. I'm not sure if he is parting with that for the price yet though.

John_PA · Mar 26, 2013

The value of the good clean 2 wheel drive tractors keep going up. I don't like the fact that the IH only has one cab door, but the side console is nice.

On the other hand, those deere cabs were called owl cages for a reason. I've never driven a deere of that vintage that I liked.

Have you looked at any of the 8000 series Allis Chalmers tractors? They were very nice tractors, and I see them in the $20,000 price range on tractorhose.

caseyc · Mar 26, 2013

All cabed IH's through the 88 series have doors on
both sides...

jm. · Mar 26, 2013

I will tell you this I saw a real clean 5288 with 2800 hrs sell the other day. Broke 20 thousand at auction. I would have never thought so but only takes two to run the price up. They were pretty poplar tractors here in our area. The loader on the JD is a positive so guess it just boils down to what do you want to drive.

John_PA · Mar 26, 2013

Yeah, you are right. I don't know which tractor I was thinking about when I wrote that.

EDIT: I just reread what I wrote. I meant that the deere only had one cab door, but the side console in it was nice. I didn't like the ih side console as much as the deere console.

sometimes I wonder where my brain is when I am typing... I mean aside from watching peppa pig.

nickg · Mar 26, 2013

really more a personal prefrence. Deere guy tell you the 46 a red guy tell you the 52. If you truly dont care look at which parts place is closer to you. Look at the hrs on and how theyve been treated.Personally I hate the cabs in the 86 and 88 series. The only good they did in the 88 was move the hydraulic levers higher up. The deeres are a lot more operator friendly to me and a whole lot easier to get in and out of the cab even with only one door and all around a more comfortable tractor to operate. Just me tho

NY 986 · Mar 26, 2013

The 88 series tractors were made for three years with low volume per year due to the farm economy crashing during the early 1980's. This could greatly impact parts availability for things such as the transmission. The 4640 for most of its production run was made during the boom in the late 1970's. Parts availability is excellent to my knowledge.

Scott 730 · Mar 26, 2013

Not to be a wise a$$ but what would be the advantage to having 2 doors anyway? Alot of cabs now have so much electronic stuff like monitors in them now that you couldn't use the right door if you wanted.

hd6gtom · Mar 26, 2013

Coachbret, My memory isn't good anymore, but I seem to remember a lot of dash electrical problems with the 50 series IHC. If that isn't a problem anymore I would like to have 1 of each. Both were good powerhouses.

John_PA · Mar 26, 2013

emergency situations, convenience, tight parking in sheds(which is my problem), claustrophobia(also my problem)...

It's one of the things that bothered me about the Allis Chalmers 190. It only has a step on one side of the platform. Of course, with it, jumping off the other side in an emergency is always an option. The Gleaner K alos had just one door. scared me to death on these hills. Of course, with a cab, you are supposed to have your seatbelt on, and stay in the cab if it rolls. I somehow don't think the cab on the K would fair well in a roll over situation... and I am pretty sure it didn't have a seatbelt... One of the reasons I like the deere 6620 Titan II sidehill. It does have 2 doors.

Regardless, it is just my opinion and one of the things I didn't like about those tractors.

I am pretty color blind on equipment, as long as it is comfy and does what it is supposed to do. I have a JD combine, cornplanter- ford, Farmall, New Holland, and Allis Chalmers tractors, and the rest of my machinery looks like a bowl of fruit loops.

caterpillar guy · Mar 26, 2013

The Deere is the better buy. They had issues with the fan through the radiator and when the bearings go so does the radiator.

caterpillar guy · Mar 26, 2013

In addition to my last opinion We have a couple of barns full of IH tractors from an H to a 4166 with a couple of Stiegers. One Deere.

IaGary · Mar 26, 2013

That was the 5120 5140 and so on.

Not the 88 series I believe.

Gary

Anonymous-0 · Mar 26, 2013

The 88 series was the last nail in the coffin for IH!!

Anonymous-0 · Mar 26, 2013

IH had a much better engine, jd never did make a diesel worth a crap and I have worked on new ones as well as those no-torque ,fuel drinking green 466's

Nathan (SD) · Mar 27, 2013

If you are doing light duty work. I will bet the IH will be better on fuel. The 466 engine was used in a pile of applications cuz it was a good one. As far as operator comfort, I think the JD is your better choice. Looking out of the back of a 88 series is not convienient at all. Just depends which features are more important to you.

JD Seller · Mar 27, 2013

It would depend on how long you are going to keep the tractor. The IH 5288 is a pretty good tractor but it was only made a few years. There are few after market parts available for it and who knows how long CIH/Fiat is going to keep the part available for it.

The JD 4640 is a good tractor too. They where super reliable unless they where turned up sky high. I have seen them running 225 hp. Then the main clutch would get dicey. The biggest advantage is that the JD 4640 shares a lot of parts with the 30 and 50 series. There where many more of them made. So there are a lot of after market parts available too.

I would lean toward the JD 4640 if you do not need 540 PTO. IF you need/want 540 PTO then go with the IH 5088.

The JD will ride way better than the IH 5088. The 86 and 88 series where like running a bucking bronco in rough ground.

Bill in IL · Mar 27, 2013

Sure makes it easy to work on all those electronics installed in the cabs with 2 doors.

Tx Jim · Mar 27, 2013

(quoted from post at 08:56:01 03/27/13) Sure makes it easy to work on all those electronics installed in the cabs with 2 doors.

I'm curiious what electronics require repair on a JD 4640? The circuit breaker/relay board is easilly accessible through the LH door. Once engine is started the 4640 will run and drive with batteries disconnected.

Bill in IL · Mar 27, 2013

Not referring to electronics or electrics of the tractor. Referring to monitors installed and taken out seasonaly like for planter, sprayer, baler. It makes it easier if you can get to the back of them and work with them from the steps. In my opinion of course.

Deciding between an IH 5288 and JD4640

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