Need some advice.

Local guy I know. Just took over his fathers farm.The will is settled so everything is his.Under a pile of tarps
he found an IH 826. From what he can make out of the log book. It looks to be a 1970/1971 model. From what he can
see it looks to be in good shape. No idea why it was left in that shape. Is it worth saving

Sure. Analysis is pretty easy. make sure the injection pump is free, Pull the dip stick. See if the engine is stuck. Jim

Thanks Jim.I have been dealing with generators and engines since I was 15. Just never had dealings with tractors that much.How about the HYD system. I guess the normal check out will work.I plan on taking some fresh fuel with me and some new filters.I assume there is a HYD filter.At this time we have two months. To get the things we need. Before they move to the farm.Any thing you can think of will help.

If it all works out. Any Idea what it is worth.

is it the hydro model ?

Hard telling how much humidity has been trying to condense inside the tractor. I would go down under it and loosen drain plugs to let water leak out, topping when oil begins to drip. Don't replace the oil until it is running, Changing it ahead will make it more difficult to analyze. Do the same for the engine oil, and assess if it has diesel in it, or is over full. I would sample the diesel fuel at the valve on the tank, and if bad, replace just the tank contents, and probably not change the filter, or drain systems so it will start easily. Replacing the fuel would only be necessary if it was real old and had bacteria in it. Fresh batteries and see what happens. Jim

I would drop the oil at least after checking it for coolant in the oil when loosening plug. if it has sat 5-10 years I sure don't want that settled thick sludge pumped through the engine. all solids in the oil settle to the bottom of the oil pan. unless it had the oil changed before parking it. I have seen tractor sit so long that you would swear it has clean oil in it when pulling the dip stick. loosen plug and its just goo on the bottom. fuel or hyd. don't matter till after running it. post a picture. its worth some money. log book is a good thing. u talking sitting outside or in a building? plus gear drive or hydro model make a difference.

Should have the German IH Neuss D358 engine with the Bosch VA hydraulic governed pump, which NO hard parts are available anymore. If it's been over a year since engine last ran I'd remove the pump side cover and see how the fuel inside looks as some runs out. If it's tar like or rusty, best remove the pump as is, where is for repair before turning the engine over, possibly making the pump into a paper weight. Tractor might also have been parked do to a bad pump..

Not sure what you call a hydro model.From what he has told me. It has been in a dry barn under wraps. For at least 10 years.As a kid he never saw it.At this time it is under a pile of junk in the barn.From what he has told me. It will take a few hours to get it out.Sounds like fun.

I helped bring out an old DNX-V8 Hercules. Out of an old logging camp in east Texas. That was two weekends of fun.

I thought about pulling the complete fuel system. For overhaul. I have seen old diesel tar fuel to many times

one tractor has the standard gear transmission and the other one is the hydrostatic transmission. has less power and is more of a front end loader tractor. the standard is mainly for field work. get some pictures.

Some good points already posted as I'm not familiar with this machine but did spend 45 years working on diesels in quarry equipment I will say what I might do.

First would be to loosen but not remove any drain plugs and let set to see if coolant or water comes out. It might need to sit like this for several hours or a couple days. Do this for any thing that has oil in it!

If there are drain plugs on fuel tank and fuel filters open them and see what comes out. If it looks like fuel oil and not something from the dark lagoon you may be in luck. New filters would be a good idea.

Next see if engine can be turned by hand at least a couple complete turns.

Depending on what was found up to that point and you decide you might try starting it I would suggest removing what ever you need to remove to get good access to the intake manifold.

Have a second person there with preferably a piece of steel plate to put on the intake to choke off air if engine starts and run too fast. This person needs to know enough to not get fingers in the way or they could get hurt.

Guess I should have said to install good batteries or maybe charge the old ones but doubt they will be any good if set for any time.

How many hours are on it and how old are the tires? It may be worth more to collectors as an "unmolested low hour barn find tractor" than one that has been damaged trying to get it running. I would clear it off, see if the tires will hold air and leave it alone until your friend decides what to do with it. The log book will add a lot of value, hang on to it and advertise it with the tractor, let potential buyers look through it.

Value, maybe half of what a field ready tractor with similar hours and factory options.

I have no idea. I just found out about it. He just found it and it is covered in tarps and junk.About the only thing you can see. Is the seat and rear tires.We have a day of digging it out of the barn.When he moves in.It may be in good shape or junk. His father left the place to him in his will.So lots of exploring to do. Starting with the office.

What color is it ? If he's really lucky it's the right age to
be a gold demonstrator. Check under areas that aren't normally repainted.

Billy If it's a hydro make sure you don't pull it with the transmission in gear. The left hand shifter will be a Z pattern and the right hand shifter will be a straight forward and back pattern. Forward is low, neutral in the center and high back towards the operator. If it's a gear drive the T/A lever is on the left (if equipped) and the transmission shifter is on the right. Good luck with you digging out.