86 Series Tractors w-o Factory AC???

How common in the day was it for the farmer to order/buy an 86 series tractor with heat only and no AC?

What kind of ordeal is it to install AC in one of these tractors?

Thanks!

Well, nobody has posted a reply so I will give it a semi-educated shot. Are you looking at adding air to a non-air tractor? If so, Installing air conditioning in an 86 series isn’t that hard of a job. A little over a year ago a friend of mine put a Sanden kit in my 1086. I was just the hired hand helping him. The 1086 and probably the rest of the 86 series used a York compressor. This kit replaces the York with a Sanden plus all new hoses, receiver dryer and expansion valve. About all that was left untouched was the evaporator and condenser so we had our hands on 80% of the components involved with the air conditioning system so it’s practically all brand new. It took about a day but he knew his stuff and knew what to reach for. If a completely new system through the aftermarket is installed (recommended) and you do the labor I would guess it would cost shy of $2000. While it’s apart I would replace the cab fan with the new aftermarket fan with two motors instead of the factory fan with one motor with the squirrel cage fan on each end of the motor. The new one is so smooth and quiet you won’t know it’s running and it moves a lot more air.

I recently looked at an 886 that had no factory air conditioning and was surprised to see that. Found out it was an option, not necessarily
standard equipment. The thought was, in as many 86 series tractors have AC that needs repair/retrofit 134a kit, one might be ahead to install a
complete air conditioning system from stem to stern - knowing what you had once finished.

Thanks for the reply.

I can’t imagine running an 86 series without air anywhere in the United States in the summer. When the air acts up in my 1086, which isn’t very often, I’m getting it fixed that day or the next day.

I would put the Sanden compressor on if they are available for it. Those old Yorks were junk new. I have not seen A/C that stayed working with a York more than one season before it needed charged or some work on it.
Look into what you're going to use for the refrigerant before buying as 12 is gone and 134 is being phased out now I have heard.

Maybe my 1086 is a freak. The first York lasted 4000 hours. I bought the tractor new. The second York lasted 13000 hours, yes 13000. It wasn’t pumping much cool toward the end before it locked up. Now this Sanden, I believe it’s the 6 piston one, will freeze a guy out. The guy who did the conversion claims the York or York clone pumps better at idle speeds than a Sanden. I can’t see that this Sanden is any less efficient at idle than at speed. This summer I had trouble with water condensing on the windshield from the defrost vents refrigerating the windshield. Had to run the wiper once in awhile.