David G

Well-known Member
I drove my first 1486 today pulling 15' flail chopper.

The tractor had plenty of power, but it was really inconvenient to use. I did expect more from a late 70s tractor. My biggest issues were that the shift is not synchronized, the shift levers block access in/out of the cab and the controls are really spread out.
 
This was my first time using the TA, I was nervous, but remembered all the comments on here.
 
i had pretty much the same to say about the 1086 i had. did not like the shifters there.
 
The 86 series would have an electrically shifted TA so moving the lever fast or slow is not that important on those. Just keeping in mind not to shift it from hi to lo in an engine braking situation applies. Never drove an 86 much but that was a very poorly laid out operator station.
 
I got unpleasant task a few years ago to run a 1568 for disking for a local farmer I was helping because the powershift was out on his 2294 Case, I was so glad when it was fixed a couple days later and I never got in the 1568 again.
 
I don't think the IH engineers ever had much seat time on any of their creations. When I traded my side console 4020 Powershift for a 1066 it didn't take long to miss the creature features of the John Deere. I liked the comparative power of the IH but man it was so much more inconvenient to operate!
 
Kind of my feeling when I climbed into a Case Power Shift and a Deere . What is all this crap in the way. Jump in the IH and go.
 
I had 1000s of hours running a 1486 and 886 series tractors growing up. I never remember the shifters being "in the way". I do remember the AC working great back then.
 
One thing to remember on an IH of that series is if you're moving and try to shift, don't push the pedal all the way down. If you do, you'll engage the trans brake, making it harder to shift.
 
Whoever designed the 86 series cab layout was about 23 years old, 5' tall, 120lbs, and left-handed. It is not well suited to 6'1" tall fat guys.

I'm sure the idea was to have the shifter on the left and the hydraulics on the right for loader work. That way you could run the loader with one hand and shift with the other.
 
I put over 5000 hrs on a 1086 we bought new in 1983. Hardly gave any trouble in all those hrs.
I enjoyed running it and passing the fuel barrel and not having to stop and fill up. They were a pretty fuel efficient tractor for the time. I had no problems with the gear shifters being on the left side until it came to having my girl friend ride in the cab with me. Now that was awkward!
I hear people complain about the doors opening backwards. Never had a problem with them. Opened correct to me, just like my pickup. Climb in, half turn sit down. Deere you climb in and make pretty much a complete turn. Wasted time.
I'm 6.2 in my sockfeet and now I probably think they are very cramped but before my knees started giving trouble I had plenty room in them. But I haven't been in one in many years.
 

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