tractor computers

Doug Wi

Member
the new tractors are loaded with them. I don't want one like that. How new can I go and still stay away from too much electronic stuff? My newest now are a couple of 1987 CIH 1594's and don't think they are computer controlled.
 
they are not only computer controlled... there is human fingers that will shut that tractor down via computer if you miss tractor payments.
 
My thinking is the computer installations happened gradually, over time, and started with simple computer devices. [And I dont' know enough to really comment on this, but anyway....] As time went by, I think things have got progressively worse/better, depending on your judgement. Started very simple, I think.
 
I will go out on a limb here and say probably 2000 model year and older. Not that they don't have electronics just that there is not near as many or complicated as they are with the new emissions crap and everything that goes with it. And you still get a lot of modern niceties with them.
 
I worked at Deere dealer in 95 and the 8000 series had a fist full of computers behind the cab. In 87 CaseIH had one on Magnums for hitch. Maxums had a field full of electrical switch and diodes. Hard to get away from electronics now days.
 
I had some experimental hardware on a large mining truck in some mines out west a few years back. It was designed to improve fuel filtration on the engine. First few service intervals went pretty much as planned at one site then things went awry. Filters were plugging way earlier than expected. I was able to log into the data monitoring systems recorded, stored, and uploaded by the onboard computers which is meant to be a diagnostic tool for machine owners and service managers but the factory has access as well if set up that way. Sure enough, filters plugging in ~100 engine hours when it had been closer to 500 hrs as was the design target. I started looking at the rest of the machines in their fleet and saw similar trends in other machines at that site. We were able to trace it down to multiple loads of dirty fuel and a malfunctioning coalescing filter on their 1 million gallon bulk fuel tank at the mine site.

I'm not particularly a fan of big brother watching but there are cases where the ability to gather data by the engineers that designed the thing can diagnose problems remotely without ever setting foot on the worksite.
 

Around ten years ago my cousin bought a NH that is around 60 HP for a chore tractor around his dairy farm. He told me that what he asked for and they gave him in that model was no electronics.
 
To my knowledge, it is not done in North America. But the functionality is there and does get used in other parts of the world.
 
The first one used in IH tractors was in 1982 for the clutch and transmission of the 5088, 5288, and 5488 tractors.
 
I agree with your thinking as to gradual introduction of more and more electronics. Was trying to get a rough idea when they really got complicated. Thanks for all replys.
 
Very limited truth to this. As far as I know, only Deere can do this, and only then if it has JDLink. JDLink can be turned off by pulling a fuse, unlike GM's OnStar. I guess Case IH also has AFS Connect 2.0, but I'm not fully sure what that's capable of doing.
 
We have a JD 7800 and most of the problems we have had with is have been electrical. Computers are nice and add nice features. However the issue down the road will be availability of replacements. Any aftermarket can copy a gear for example, but copying a computer board is not that easy. Random side note, new tractors like the 8r Deeres, steer by wire. This means a computer in the cab on the steering wheel talks to another computer controlling a hydraulic valve that actually steers the wheels. New electronics on tractors go far beyond basic computers today.
 

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