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Farmall & IHC Tractors Discussion Forum

IH 685-What do I need to know?

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Greg Kramer

04-16-2007 21:13:16

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Hello, All.

I'm looking at an IH 685. I'm new to anything this large and, frankly, don't know what I'm looking at or what to look for. I've figured out that it is plenty of power for my 16 acres and the jobs on it. I could do with less, but don't want to get caught short.

This tractor was used on a golf course for maybe 20 years. Low hours. Needs a brake job ($1500?). Has no implements with it at all. So I'll need a mower, a loader, and maybe eventually an auger. Might need to plow, don't know yet. Backhoe is probably too expensive.

What problems should I look for? What features should I look for? How can I tell how good this thing is? The serial # is: B510917B020288. What does that tell me? I can't even figure out the relationship of International, International Harvester, Case, and Farmall.

Any and all help is welcome.

Thanks. Greg

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greg kramer

04-17-2007 18:08:18

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Re: IH 685-It's an orchard machine in reply to Greg Kramer, 04-16-2007 21:13:16

Thanks again for all these replies. I have more information now.
The 685 is an orchard machine: lower clearance. Should that concern me? My terrain is not too rough, but would it be a problem while plowing or normal road maintenance? Also, this machine was left out some (I don't know how much). So I am told shifting is rough and the controls are rusty. Are these likely to be simple to take care of of problems that might be pretty bad?
Again, thanks to all of you.
Greg

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Fromjb2

04-17-2007 16:10:30

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Re: IH 685-What do I need to know? in reply to Greg Kramer, 04-16-2007 21:13:16

Hi Greg, seldom are the brakes worn out just require bleeding. Worst thing that can happen to those tractors is someone forgets to release the parking brake and drives it with the parking brake engaged. The parking brake is a band around a drum in the rear end and if it is driven with the parking brake engaged, the band gets chewed up and ends up in the hydraulic system clogging the filter and causing other problems. Usually a hydraulic fluid change and 2 or 3 filter changes will get most of the bits but the parking brake will never hold on a hill.

Otherwise an excellent tractor, can't beat the German D239 engine for long life.

JimB

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Milton

04-17-2007 08:08:29

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Re: IH 685-What do I need to know? in reply to Greg Kramer, 04-16-2007 21:13:16

Your International "B-685 tractor was made in England and most likely have a German made Diesel motor in it. The last part of the SERIAL NUMBER -
B020288 will date your tractor. Good luck with your tractor - it should last for a good many years.

Milton

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bshannon

04-17-2007 07:07:30

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Re: IH 685-What do I need to know? in reply to Greg Kramer, 04-16-2007 21:13:16

Great little utility tractor. We've had one for several years and as others mentioned, they are pretty maintenance free. Another plus is how easy they are on fuel. One thing I've noticed is that the linkage on the PTO will freeze up if not used for a period of time. This isn't a big issue, some WD40 or such will usually fix this. Ours does not have a torque, depending on your use, the torque gives a better selection of speeds.

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Nat 2

04-17-2007 05:46:11

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Re: IH 685-What do I need to know? in reply to Greg Kramer, 04-16-2007 21:13:16

In order to "figure out the relationship of International, International Harvester, Case, and Farmall" you either had to have lived through it, or you need to research it. All the information is out there on the Internet.

International Harvester is the parent company. International and Farmall are lines of tractors built by the International Harvester company. Farmall tractors are row crop tractors. International tractors are both the utility types and Wheatland tractors that were commonly used out in the midwest where row crops like corn and beans were less common.

Case and the farm equipment division of International Harvester were merged in 1985 to form CaseIH, which has since evolved into CNH or Case-NewHolland with the addition of the old Ford and NewHolland lines of equipment to the company.

In CNH, there is the CaseIH equipment line and the NewHolland equipment line.

The Farmall name has been resurrected in recent years on compact utility tractors built by CaseIH. They're not "real" Farmalls, though.

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georgeky

04-16-2007 21:44:33

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Re: IH 685-What do I need to know? in reply to Greg Kramer, 04-16-2007 21:13:16

Those brakes are what goes out on those. The rest of the tractor will seldom give any trouble at all. They have most modern features such as independant PTO, hydrstatic steering. syncronized transmission,shuttle shift,differential lock and the works. Some have the torque amplifier which give it 16 forward and 8 reverse gears. They are capable of farming a lot more than 12 acres. They are rated at 62 HP. It is an IH designed tractor, IH also built the Farmall tractors, that is what they called their row crop line. They are no longer made. In 1984 Tenneco bought IH and merged it with Case. Case essentially quit building its own line of tractors and implements soon after and IH was left. Others will dispute this, but it is what happened. I would drive the tractor and see how everything works. Make sure the PTO and steering works good. The condition of tires, they are expensive. See that clutch doesn't slip and general appearance of tractor will tell you what kind of care it has recieved. The brakes may only need bleeding. These are one of the finest tractors in that size range you can get.

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Greg Kramer

04-17-2007 09:21:33

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Re: IH 685-What do I need to know? in reply to georgeky, 04-16-2007 21:44:33

I appreciate this and all the above replies. Thank you. One of my questions is about maintenance and repair. I heard that the B (British) made tractors are harder to find parts for. Is this an issue that should concern me? Also, I don"t have the skills to repair anything but the most obvious problems. Is it a mistake to get into a 20 year old tractor. (To add to the problem, I live on an island that has less selection of mechanics than one might elsewhere-there are some, though.) I don"t mind learning, but I"m nowhere near most of you folks.
Thanks. Greg

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georgeky

04-17-2007 10:58:42

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Re: IH 685-What do I need to know? in reply to Greg Kramer, 04-17-2007 09:21:33

Greg, that is not an issue with this tractor. You can get every part of it at Case IH dealor. All of the smaller(less than 65 HP) tractors were made at the England plant. It is not a B series tractor like the old B250,275 and so on. If the tractor has been properly cared for it will last for many years. We have four 84/85 series IH tractors and have very few problems with any of them. I have a 1980 584 and dad has a 1981 484 that we bought new and the brakes are the only thing that has needed fixed yet. The 584 has 8200 hours and the 484 has 6100 on it and neither have had the head or oil pan off. Dad bought a used 685 so he could have a cab to feed with and it has not had any problems yet.

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