Using late model IH tractors

Hi, I have a small farm and hay operation. I'm interested in using some 60s to 70s model IH tractors. I like the 706, 806, 856 tractors. I've been told that they use a lot less fuel than comparable JDs.

Are parts readily available at the CaseIH dealerships? Price? Any other advice?

Al diesels will work on less fuel than gassere, so steer that direction. Nebraska tests will show the fuel consumption per horsepower hour for all tractors you are interested in. The reality has less to do with fuel consumption (which you will find to be close enough to be of less concern) the issues are two: Initial price, favoring IH by about 40% (a generalization) fortractors of the same drawbar capacity, and utility value with similar tires.
The second also favors IH, it is repair costs and parts cost. Mother Deere seems to charge substantially for components. Service work is an independent dealer's perogative, but again Deere costs are often higher. Check your dealers for both to compare on say a head gasket replacement labor and parts (plus shop materials, and waste disposal charges as well)
JD tractors are no more or less likely to be self destructive, (some particular models may not fit that description, but the same goes for IH) I hope this is the info you need. JimN

Ken: I suppose small farm is a relative term, however it seems to me your main problem will be too much horse power to bale a bit of hay. And too much horse power will used too much fuel. 45 years ago I was baling (small bales) 600 tons of hay per year with 35 horse power on baler, plus two smaller tractors so I could rake and cart hay at same time as baling was being done. That 35 hp tractor was pulling baler with thrower and 20' wagons. That system took 15 men to keep it running at capacity, 60 to 100 tom per day.

Now if your looking at round baling 60 hp would be nice, you can get rid of 14 of the 15 men. In the 1970s I found my 656 diesel would bale as many round bales per day as my 1066. 656 burned 1 IMP gallon per hour baling, 1066 close to 6 gpm. 656 diesel is a very nice tractor, comfortable to drive, good dependable horse power, and not many hi tech gadgets to cause trouble. You go larger than 656 and your getting into a much heavier chassis, costs will increase.

I must confess, I did like 656 on the small square baler, much better than the old 300, although it never did bale anymore hay on a given day. You see,I was getting older and liked the 656 comfort. You get the same spilt in chassis size between 60-70 hp Deere, and enjoy the same fuel savings in doing so.

Thanks. I currently use a '67 model JD 2020 to cut with a 7' Kuhn. I use an'00 model NH 1920 to rake and pull the early 80's NH 310 square baler. Looking for round baler also, probably 4X4 net wrapper.

Again, no problem with parts availability?

Appreciate the help.

I cannot say for those certain models but I can say for even the older ones most parts are still available. Certainly some are not IE hubs and other large parts but that holds true for autos as well. There are a lot of these machines still in use today so parts should not be an issue.


T.C.

well, maybe get a hydrostatic transmission, so you can adjust the groundspeed for haying. For instance, I asked this question before. As I was looking into getting a JD 630 or 730 for baling, and was enlightened that the ground speed of the 730 was faster than that of the gears of the 630, and made it an unfit choice as a baling tractor. So, like I said, be sure to get something with appropriate low gear range in regards to proper rpm and groundspeed.

arod: Don't even mention hydrosttic transmission to a guy concerned about his costs. Those are only for folks with money to burn. Hydrostatics are fine if they don't give trouble, however if they give trouble, they'll soon make one hell of a dent in $10,000.

Besides I can take a 656 gear drive diesel, and at the end of the day I will have baled just as much hay as the guy with a 656 hydrostatic diesel. IH designed the Hydrostatic for precission work like vegetable harvesters, transplanting, spraying, etc. A hay baler is not a precission implement.

Al diesels will work on less fuel than gassere, so steer that direction.

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Using less fuel doesn't mean less cost. Remember a gallon of diesel has a 50% cost premium over a gallon of gas.

well, maybe get a hydrostatic transmission, so you can adjust the groundspeed for haying

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It takes more power to run a hydrostat. Any savings by the constant adjustment of ground speed would (most likely) be lost by the added horse power it takes to drive one.

The only parts availability problem I've heard of with this vintage tractor is the injector pump on those with the German diesel. Lee

730's are actually geared a shade slower than 630's, the G's and 70's are pretty fast for a baler tractor but a good 720D or 730D would be just about ideal and they run really cheap on fuel....if you want to hear d-lut--d-lut--D-LUT--D-LUT--d-lut--d-lut all day.

Well,.......I believe that the 856 was one of the all time best tractors ever made.

Parts should not be a problem, the dealer will have most parts needed for servicing, if you have a hard time finding any parts just get on this forum and ask.

You can pick up a good tractor for not alot of money, be prepared the TA will probably be weak (unless you find a good one) but the tractor will drive fine without a good working TA.

good luck