Al, the cabs are essentially the same externally. The internals of the cab are quite similar, but the trim and controls are totally different than an 86 series. They have a short park brake lever down near the floor on the left side, and a small arm rest that can flip down next to the seat as a real narrow "buddy seat"(if you know someone real skinny) or, it would help if you were real wide... The shifting levers and 3 remote levers are all on the left side. Just behind and next to the door frame is where the 3 remote levers are located. They are color coded yellow, blue, and black. There is 2 shift levers, one for reverse, low, medium, and high ranges, and the other is for speeds 1-6. The speeds are split 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, and is a powershift between 1-2, 3-4, 5-6. The clutch has to be used to shift from 2-3, 4-5. The transmission is fairly similar to an early Magnum I've been told. So, you have 6 reverse speeds, and 18 forward speeds, instead of, as you know, an 86 series 4 reverse speeds and 8 regular (12 w/ TA). Those have what is called a sentry module that controls the actuation of the powershifting, and that sentry module is pretty pricey, about $1000. It can be a source of the transmission not working in certain speeds, or stopping during powershifts. There is a device you can buy called a test harness that plugs in where the sentry goes, and it will allow you to tell if the issue is electrical or mechanical. Those are about $200. The test harness is NOT to be used for working the tractor, only testing. The sentry won't let one clutch pack engage until the other is fully disengaged. With the test harness, it will allow it to engage one clutch pack before the other is disengaged, causing them both to be briefly engaged at the same time and damaging the clutch packs over time. If you pop the little panel off at the bottom of the steering column, you will see if it still has the sentry module hooked up or if someone has installed the test harness and worked it, ruining the transmission. The test harness is basically a little harness about 6" long with 3 regular automotive relays on the end of it. The sentry module is aluminum, looks like a motorcycle CDI box, has heat syncs on it, and 2 automotive style relays that plug into the face of it. As I said, look in there and see if there is a test harness hooked up before you buy it. If it is, the transmission will be toast and it better be CHEAP. I believe (can't remember offhand) that the 3 point and PTO levers are on the right side as well. 88 series runs much higher RPM, and has a pusher style fan. The 5088's had some final drive issues, but I believe it was specific only to the 5088, as I'm almost certain the 5288 uses the same final drive as the 5488, and are pretty much bulletproof. Some of the 5088's were updated to the larger series final pretty early on in life, I believe it was a fix as fail repair. Now days, if you have to repair a 5088, it's a much better idea to just go ahead and update it to the larger models' final drive parts. I believe it is a * after the serial number on the 5088's indicated it was updated under warranty. Pretty sure that it was only the 5088 that had the final drive issues, and that the 5288 and 5488's were the same and were a heavy duty unit, someone will correct me if I'm wrong.
Ross
