How would you rate Tractors cabs???

JD Seller

Well-known Member
There is a post below comparing IH and JD tractors. One of the biggest differences would be the cabs.

The Sound Guard Cab that came out on the JD 30 series tractors was a real game changing thing. Compare that to the IH 66 series or the AC 7000 series cabs.

Then IH came out with the 86 series cabs. A big improvement over the 66 series cabs but still not the best cab in the world. I bought a 1486 NEW. I hated the cab and ride so much that I only kept that tractor 4 months.

Then along came the 1980s:

JD did not change their cab very much just some minor refinements to the original Sound Guard Cab.

AC brought out the 8000 series and actually had a GREAT cab. That cab had double doors and lots of room. Compared to the AC 7000 series it was a night and day difference.

IH came out with the 88 series cabs. They where a step up but cooperate troubles eat up any "Boost" that IH might have got out of that cab.

White continued with the same cab they had. They just changed some colors. That cab always seemed real narrow.

Then IH and Case became CIH. The first few tractor models where mainly just red Case tractors. Then in 1987 they brought out the "Magnum" series tractors. Finally IH/Case had a seriously GOOD cab. Easy in and out with nice wide steps. Plus a fair amount of room. Truthfully they jumped ahead of JD as far as cab design then.

JD did not make the jump to a new designed cab until 1992. The 7000 series JD tractors had/have a Great cab.

Now just about every brand has a pretty good cab. Even the smaller import companies are putting a pretty good cab on their tractors.

What a big change from 1970 to today. JD had the Year-round copied cab on the 20 series tractors and IH had theirs that was just about the same copy. To todays tractors that the cabs are quieter than most cars.

My first cab tractor was a IH 1486. I was really disappointed in that cab. Things just where not right with it. The gear shift levers made getting in and out not easy. The ride was terrible. When I sold it and bought a JD 4440 I thought "Finally a good cab" LOL Quiet, cool and warm depending on the season.

So what was the first good cab tractor you drove/owned????
 
First really nice cab tractor i drove was an 8000 series john Deere tractor. Which case tried to copy on the MX but they did a poor job of it . We had an alis Chalmers growing up and an 86 series international tractor with cabs I liked both of those cabs
 
1970 Case cabs were ahead everyone for a few years. The Jd sound guard with the center post was a pain comparativly. They did have some that were quieter than the cases, but some were not. Case also had the shifting and controls that were easier to use than most. I always thought the IH"s til the 88 series required to many hands to opperate, and what were they thinking with that behind the steering wheel throttle. The ford"s starting with the 7700-9700 series had good cabs, but the shifter coming through the floor should have been named moved.
 
Seriously? I hate the 1486 steps and find them extremely hard to get in and out of, but a 4440 cab in my opinion is not one lick better. I hate the door position and squeezing between the steering wheel and seat to sit down! I have a 5060 New Holland and I find that cab very user friendly and quiet. As a John Deere man I am amazed that you are referring to the suite as a cab.
 
70 series Case cabs set the industry on its ear for a few years until the new Deere and A-C cabs came out. I preferred the JD Soundguard cab's visibility and controls layout to the Case cab. I used the throttle more than the shifters. In the Deere I could lay my arm on the arm rest and grab the throttle. On the Case I had to reach over the top of the shifters to grab the throttle. The Case layout would probably have been the better choice on a loader tractor.
 
I've always liked the Ford Q cabs that were introduced in the mid/late 70's. They were late enough that they avoided the mistakes of Deere's and IH's cabs... you got two easy opening doors, steps instead of a ladder... and just step in and sit down rather than crawl and twist around to get in the seat. Those cabs are obviously dated by today's standards but in the early 80's were pretty decent. Massey also had a decent cab in those days.
I was never a fan of Deere's cab...

Rod
 
Animal: Your NH 5060 is only about twenty years newer than the tractors we are talking about. You would need to compare your NH 5060 to a JD 6430 or a CIH MX or CX cab.

What are you meaning by your last sentence??? I don't get it. LOL
 
The pain with the Case 70 series cab was it was an after thought. It made working on anything under the dash a real pain. Working on the brake valves being one of the them. The wide post and cross braces really took up a lot of room too. Your right though for a 1970 cab it was step ahead.

I had to laugh about you complaining about the center post on JD cabs. My youngest son complains about that all of the time.
 
My first cab tractor was a CaseIH 885xl ,terrible cab. Then I got a Ford 5640,great cab. CaseIH 5140 also had a decent cab, but poor visibility . I still open the door, climb over the wheel. Then go down the hall to the seat on my 966ih, not real cumfy but out of the cold/wind /rain. The cab on my new 135kubota is very nice,with good visibility queit cab, and big doors. Bruce
 
On tractors i have used or own
Not a fan of the ford bubble cabs with the slit back windows that gets annoying and are fairly cramped,

Deutz DX series. Nice big cab plenty of room. Nice big doors Fairly quite. Always have air con trouble and not best coolers any way made for germany not austrlia

JD Sound guard. Hate them for space. By the time i get all 6'5" of me up those little stairs one foot per one around door in cab head out window drag but in door then pull head back in then knees rubbing on windscreen close the door. No room for lunch box and water bottle and spares or couple tools. Not a tractor i like to in and out of all day and them little stairs are great with mud on your boots. Everything else is good bout them quite, everything's located right easy to get to except the pto on dash.

Case magnums. Good cab operator friendly sum levers are a bit of a reach. Plenty of room only problem is those big doors that weigh a ton to open and have yet to find one with a gas strut that works

7800 john deere 8970 ford. Great cabs very operator friendly everything's within reach. Plenty of room to getting and out. Full glass doors are a lot easier to use than the magnum ones.

Any thing made in the last 5 years ive found the key now give me another 10 minutes and press enough buttons we might be rolling.

Cabs have came a long way and would still rather sit in one on a bad day than out in the open
 
I just bought a Case1070 in 1970 an a Jd 38chopper.The Jd salesman was supprised he could get in the Case cab with me an also remarked it was much quieter than theres.
Also it was first certefied roll proof cab an one of features was glass was designed to pop out in event of roll over-It also had a seat belt an even thoughthe batterys were somewhat hard to remove they were equiped with caps that would not leak on a roll over.Also the air conditioner hoses were equiped to uncouple with out loosing freon if engine haad to be split from transmission.
 
At about the same time, my cousin and I bought new tractors. He got a 4240, and Dad and I got an AC 6060. They were the first cab tractors for both of us. Both were equally enjoyable. FULL climate control, and stereo sound! We were still picking corn then, and the "stadium" lights on the 6060 were amazing. You could see the wagon just as well in the dark as in the daylight.
 
I've only had 2. A 4040 Deere with a SoundGuard and the White 2-135 Series 3. Of those two,the White is quieter. My only complaint with the White between those two is that it didn't have the access holes to run wiring to for the baler and chopper controls. I had to drill some holes.
 
I like Massey but the first good cabs they had were on the 2 thousand series that came out in 76 on the 2800. The 1105, 35, and 55 had ok cabs. I find a person is going to like what they like. I was always partial to Oliver/White and Massey, still am, but I started to look at other brands to check them out to find what I think are there good points and bad points. Cabs don't bother me to much yet I am 31, 6' 180 lbs. So I can climb into tight cabs yet with ease. Everitt's sale is coming up I might go and sit in different brands and see if I like it. I like most of them. Tom
 
First cab tractor was a 1955 4wd with the "farmers cab". Since it looked like it was designed and built by a farmer with a stick welder and a pile of scrap iron, the name was pretty accurate. Not rollover rated either. Heater/blower. No AC. Still it was nice to be out of the weather. Still own the tractor and am using it every day. Only cab tractor we own. Working on the hydraulics and rear end basically requires removing the cab. One son owned a 2-105 with a cab. Much, much nicer cab. That's it for us. Wish I had that 2-105 back though.
 
(quoted from post at 01:08:49 08/28/14) I've always liked the Ford Q cabs that were introduced in the mid/late 70's. They were late enough that they avoided the mistakes of Deere's and IH's cabs... you got two easy opening doors, steps instead of a ladder... and just step in and sit down rather than crawl and twist around to get in the seat. Those cabs are obviously dated by today's standards but in the early 80's were pretty decent. Massey also had a decent cab in those days.
I was never a fan of Deere's cab...

Rod

Rod
From my observation you're hardly a fan of anything JD built. I own a '80 Ford 6700 cab tractor and a 5610 Cab tractor before it burnt & I'll chose the JD cab(SGB) any day & any way over the Ford cab. If either brand cab uses/needs a ladder for entrance/exit it's the Ford.

"Different strokes for different folks"
 
Non of you have commented on a 4 wheel drive tractor. My favorite cab would have to be on a 895 Versatile. You had enough room to sleep in. While they weren't the best cab ever made, it was the first I was ever around that was actually more comfortable to be in the out in the open.
 
the newer tractors have much nicer cabs. my first one was on a new 185AC. can't even remember the brand name but do remember if the 3rd link wasn't adjusted just right, when you raised the 3pt, it broke out the back window! then we started in on the AC7000 series cabs. they had good and bad points! one was the lack of a door shock, which I fixed by inventing my door shock kit! JD sound guard cabs were nice when I got into them but wow was it tight getting in and out! always bent the radio volume button with my head! international's, I always felt I had to walk down a hallway to get back to the seat. I ran the 5088 series and liked that cab when I was in it, but the doors sucked and visibility out the back was terrible! white cabs were simple but sure nothing special! My thoughts are wondering why they were always scared to make the cabs roomier!
 
Someone should sent this thread to the engineers that design cabs. I wonder if they ever ask the customer what they like and dislike?

As for me.....What's a cab? lol Never had a tractor with one....
 
If you want to talk 4 wheel drives,what about the McConnell-Marc? First cab with an in cab telephone and microwave oven.
 

I saw Sound Guard cabs and the tractors upon which they were mounted back in 1979 when I moved to the country. Thought they were awesome and "LUSTED IN MY HEART" (Jimmy Carter) for one.

When I retired in 2005 I bought one sitting atop a 4230 (100 pto).
The tractor was professionally restored where needed which was asthetics as it only had 3900 hrs on it.

The restoration completely redid the cab, paint, and new rubber, so it was like a new tractor. The cab was very comfortable and quiet. Good visability.

My Branson is my second cab tractor. The cab is nice and roomy, flat floor, high back seat with air compressor and unlike the JD, the exhaust is to the side so you have an unobstructed view of what's in front of you. It's not as quiet as the JD primarily because it doesn't have the preforated foam liner but it's ok.

I have some of the other older cabs out there, including the earlier JD and they did seem primitive.

Mark
 
I always thought this design was far ahead of its competitors.
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As a die hard case guy you get no argument from me on the pia of doing maint on the 70 series cases, and it wasn't limited to the cab area. That was the big change with the 90 series which made them about the best there is in that regard.
 
I've owned 3 cabbed tractors, first one had an aftermarket laurin cab about 1975 vintage, noisy tin can hard bolted to the tractor. Sure makes you appreciate modern factory cabs.

The absolute best cab I've ever been in was a Deutz Fahr Agrotron 90MkIII. They've used the same cab from 1995 or so until now but what a good cab. Sight lines front and back fantastic, controls all set up well to reach, lots of room on the floor and around your head. Not a common machine over here but if you get a chance try one out on a dealer lot.
 
The first cab tractor I ran was my grandpa's 1030 case which had a cozy cab on it, by todays standards it wasn't real good but plowing in October it sure paid off on a 45 degree day. Next my uncle had a 1370 case which was better than the cozy cab mainly for the air conditioning and stereo in my mind, then he bought a Magnum I thought Id died and gone to heaven! room to move around, good visibility, controls were easy to reach, very quiet and comfortable. Now these days the guy I help out on my off time runs John Deere 7000, 8000 and 8R series, those cabs are like riding in a Cadillac compared to the magnum cab in my mind. He demoed a MX series just to keep the IH dealer happy and I still feel Deere's cab was much more comfortable the thing that bugged me most was IH put the cup holder on the left side on the seat instead of on the right with all the other controls!
 
I would agree that on older tractors, the sound guard is far above the rest. However, I believe White also had a very good cab on their tractors. Not quite as comfortable as a sound guard, but close. Case, in the early to mid 70's was a joke in my opinion, and we had several. Even brand new the AC would barely keep you comfortable on hot KS days. I liked the HP of those Cases though. Bob
 
That is a nice picture. They were ahead of the competitors. When you compared back then to a person being a "sissy" for having a cab....and now days a person would be foolish to be without one.
 
I know MM sent out a mailer to find out what the farmer wanted in a farm tractor before the 335 and 445 models came out, but that is a good point. Engineers ideas aren't always the brightest ideas. Good on paper doesn't always mean good.
 
The thing I always liked about the White cabs was the visibility of the drawbar. In the literature White took their picture of the drawbar from inside the cab, JD took theirs from outside the cab straight down, but not too much difference in being able to see it. That was one drawback of having a rear fuel tank. When your hooking up wagons all day it is nice to be able to see where you are going. Although they are a little newer than the topic here, the later Agco/White cabs had a good idea of putting some of the controls on the armrest, which is handy. The only cab tractor I have owned so far is a G950 MM. Took the cab off to fix the pto and have to get it back on after I paint it. The Allis cabs on the 7000 series to me seemed kind of small. I liked the 70 and 90 series Case cabs. The JD Soundgard cabs are ok, but I was impressed with the later ones like on the 7800s I believe it was. I sat in one on a farm sale. I was impressed with the layout of the controls and visibility. Cabs have come a long way, as some of the early aftermarket ones were nothing more than a windbreak, but it was heaven if it was cold. It was what was available so a person didn't know anything different.
 
First cab tractor was a 1066 IH, loud, dirty and the controls were awful. I was used to a 4020, no cab, liked it a lot better. Bought a 4430 JD the first year. Powershift and cab. Great controls, quiet and clean. Demoed a 1086, hated the controls, ride and backwards door. I stayed with the JDs. Had 40 series. I was out of farming in '92, never been back in a farm cab tractor. Ran a lot of backhoes with cabs, Case NH and JDs, liked them all....James
 
I grew up around AC. I would jump back and forth from a 7000 to an 8050 alot. The biggest difference was I didnt smack my head or get hung up on the shift lever getting in and out of the 8050. AC has to win the most improved cab award for its era.

I owned a 4430 and liked the sound gaurd cab, especially on a 30 year old tractor. It was still quiet. Friend has a 4455 and you are right. Other than some small mostly cosmetic differences, it is the same cab.

I never minded the cabs on the 86 series IHs. I guess when I am running any of my FILs stuff, I am in the tractor alot, not doing chore stuff jumping in and out.

I have a 7110 and a MX135 now.

The 7110 cab is very comfortable, everything is in the right place, and quiet. The only thing I dont like is if you are taller and sit with the seat a little higher, you kinda have to duck to see farther down the field through the windshield. If they could have skinnied up that overhead console some, it would be perfect. Small gripe, I know.

The MX cab is flat out awesome. Its the newer generation with alot of glass. In that vintage, though is when all the cabs seem the same. I have run NH Genesis, JD 7400, 7610, and 7820. All have excellent cabs that are very similar as far as comfort, visiblity and such.

For some reason to me, I like running that Magnum over the MX, It just feels more like driving a tractor than an SUV. Although in the winter blowing snow, with that left hand reverser and easy shifting, the MX is my baby.

All the newer stuff is great in the summer if the air is working. None of them really seem to have good windows that swing way open, They are designed to stay sealed up. If the air goes down, you about die in the things. BW
 
I never cared for the JD sound guard cab. Hard to get in and out of, and that split windshield makes my eyes hurt. I grew up with Masseys always thought they had a decent cab for the times. 05 series cab was just huge, 2000 series had a really good cab, just don't get your fingers in the door on a windy day.
 
About 35 years ago ran an 1155 MF that seemed pretty darn comfortable. Liked them better than the neighbors JD's of that era. Fast forward alot of years and I just got back into a cabbed tractor and the 695 MF still seems pretty nice for it's age. Someday I may get something built in this century...but I doubt it.
Can't really complain...I make my living in the front right seat of a 1/2 mil $ fire engine.
 
JD,
With no ill respect for your post, and the evolution of tractor cabs, you totally left out all the advances that CASE made with cabs that they designed and built. The Magnum cab you mentioned that had easy acess and comfort/visibility was 100% pure Case design, from the early 70s.
The first couple pics are of Mr. Bill Simpson, known to all Case dealers as "Mr. Case". The last is an incab view of a white 2594, before the merger. Sure looks like the interior of a Magnum to me.
Loren
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White had a very nice cab and even nicer access. When the first Whites came out in late 1974 they had nice wide steps leading directly to the cab door. Everyone else's steps looked like an afterthought. IH was terrible(66 or 86). Deere's were awkward with the two little pads and then having to shuffle across the battery box to get in the cab. I can't believe it took them till 1992 to finally come out with good steps.

Also, visibility from the seat was second to none in my opinion. The view of the drawbar was the best in the industry.
 
Mr Case and his Thunderbird ,, heard a story that he got caught for speeding and he told the cop he just as well write 2 tickets to save time because tomorrow nite he was coming back thru .. LOl ...I like the 1070 cab ,,I like the door and window gull wing effect of constant air moving thru and out the back window ...one of these daysi would like to get the ac going,,. that big ol' set of bull shoulders , dash board housing is a s-o-b ,,while changing valve cover gaskets ,, the rear valve spring just didn't look rite,,.the durn keeper halves were coming apart..and WE ALL KNOW WHAT THE DEVIL HAD IN MIND TO HAPPEN NEXT ..pulled the injector , compressed air in the ylinder and fixt it ,,, but wow.. little more than difficult ...
 
I never heard a farmer called a sissy for buying a cab back when, but I have heard a lot of comments about farmers spending money they didn't have for something they could do without.
I guess we all hear that comment yet today!!
Loren, the Acg.
 
I'm not a big fan of the sound-guard cabs. At the time they may have been quiet, but after 20-40- years of dirt, water, and leaking oil lines, the insulation's gone from between the engine and dash, and with the exhaust manifold way back beside your left knee, they still bake you. And where do you put your lunch box? OR your right knee? Half the time, there's a console in the way. And a PTO lever having a boxing match with your left knee. And the air filter over your head?

Plus I drive them down the left side of the road. The muffler, air intake, and door post can easily hide a semi (or 2) coming at you, unless you lean way over and lay your head against the left window.

IH 66 series were better than nothing in the cold wind. And could still be opened up for air flow. Not the greatest for getting in and out of. I bent some all-thread into lower steps to hang on the 1566 one summer when my knee was bothering me with that big first step.

I never had any issues with the shift levers on the 86 series (or the 3788). And there was some open space for your right knee when turning to look behind you. Throttle placement wasn't an issue for me either. Didn't like the fore/aft movement of the 3 pt lever, prefered the fore-down/aft-up of the earlier models.

The 7100-7200-8900 series Magnum cabs may be a Case lay-out, but the rest of the tractor carries IHC DNA, including the shape of the cab. But once again, there's a console right where you quite often want your right knee to reside.

The new MX/Magnum cabs have quite a bit more room. But not quite as much as some of the newer JD cabs. At least they both finally got the console out of the way of your knee. And with all that glass, it's odd running the AC on a sunny winter day inside that greenhouse.

I haven't been in the cab of a new Steiger, but there's 2 mufflers on the things (at least on the 450QT the local dealer had at the fair) that I think could be welded together to create enough interior space to house a B series Cummins. And they're mounted right beside the door. Not going to be great for visibility. And it's going to let A LOT of hot air in as soon as you open the door, probably radiate a lot of heat in with the door shut, too.
 
Hey everybody,

I am an industrial design student currently working on a project with John Deer focusing on Cab design. Your posts have been very helpful so far as I consider issues within a cab to address.

I wanted ask if you could clarify why high visibility is important?
Is storage within the cab something you feel needs to be addressed?
Any other complaints you want addressed?

Thank you for all input.
 
(quoted from post at 13:12:52 09/01/14) Hey everybody,

I am an industrial design student currently working on a project with John Deer focusing on Cab design. Your posts have been very helpful so far as I consider issues within a cab to address.

I wanted ask if you could clarify why high visibility is important?
Is storage within the cab something you feel needs to be addressed?
Any other complaints you want addressed?

Thank you for all input.
f you would spend a year or so driving various brands of tractors in real hands on farm conditions and you should be able to answer your own questions.:wink:
 
(quoted from post at 21:12:52 09/01/14) Hey everybody,

I am an industrial design student currently working on a project with John Deer focusing on Cab design. Your posts have been very helpful so far as I consider issues within a cab to address.

I wanted ask if you could clarify why high visibility is important?
Is storage within the cab something you feel needs to be addressed?
Any other complaints you want addressed?

Thank you for all input.

Michael: I will give you my opinion

Visibility:

Is just about job one in cab. IF you can't see how are you going to control the tractor??? Good visibility can effect operator comfort and endurance.

An example is hauling grain. You maybe hooking and unhooking wagons several times an hour. IF you have to do contortions to see the drawbar then that will wear on the operator. One of the worst cabs for this is a IH 1086. You just about have to craw out the back window to see the drawbar.

GPS may do the driving in the field but you have to get there first. You have to be able to see the fence posts, on coming cars and such to be able to use the GPS.

Also a tractor used in barnyard applications like loader work or feeder wagon work. That almost never will be GPS controlled. You need to be able to see things well.

In the cab storage:

There is a need for some in the cab storage but not loads of it. Tools and such should have a toolbox area for them. Chains can be carried in under the step boxes to keep mud/dirt out of the cab. So that just leaves room for a lunch box and paper work/calculators and such.

Storage needs to not be in the way of normal operation in the cab. Look at the field office storage in a JD 7810. It is a box that sets up high to the left of the operator. Just the perfect height to crack your elbow on when steering in rough field conditions. Also in the way with a buddy seat.

As for general complaints on modern cabs. Poor labeling on all the controls. I know that International symbols meet all the requirements but I hate having to grab the operators manual to find out what a goofy symbol means. A gear with two arrows pointing at it with a line under all of it does not tell me much. Trans pressure light is much easier. Especially on a tractor that is going to be sold 80% or more in the US.
 

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