Farmall 826

I am looking at an 826 and dont know much about them what are the pros and cons

Overall they are a real sound tractor. It has a German diesel engine. This engine is real easy on fuel but very spendy if you have to overhaul it. I don't know what they are asking for it but I would guess you could probably find a decent 856 for what they are asking for the 826. If an 856 has been well cared for they are just about bullet proof. I had an 826 once and it was a good tractor but I think I would rather have the 856. The 826 might be a little more nimble if you were going to use it for loader work. Make sure to get as much history as you can on the tractor. Especially motor wise. You can spend more than the tractor is worth in the blink of an eye. Of course that is true with just about any old tractor. Good luck.

I'm no tractor expert, but I've had a crash course in "826-ology." I've had one for five years now, purchased with 8000+ hours, now with 8300. It was pretty neglected but cheap. I bought it to use on my small farm, not as a collector's item. I've had to put some money into it but the 826 has lived up to its rep as a very fuel efficient tractor.

The 826 is essentially an 856 with a smaller engine. It's rated stock at 92 PTO hp but can be easily and safely tuned slightly over 100. For long term durability, that's where I'd suggest keeping it. While it isn't as powerful as an 856, or the "green giant" that dogged IH back in those days, the 4020, it does very well. Interestingly, my neighbor has a 4020 with several thousand less hours than mine, yet my tractor pulls the exact same implements in the same ground (at a similar level of effort) and does it using 1.5-2 gallons an hour less. Does his run poorly and mine run good? Perhaps, but my neighbor finds it mildly irritating < ). From the practical standpoint, if the 826 has the power and features you want/need, it will serve you well. If you are looking for collectability, the 856 is more popular, but more common. In terms of parts availability, they are about even. I'm not sure I believe the "common knowledge" that the D358 Neuss engine in the 826 is a money pit. In comparing engine parts prices casually, I don't see a huge difference.

Hot spots are coolant in the oil from cylinder sleeve o-ring seals leaking, a worn-out TA (common to all IHs), worn out shift linkage. The injection pump on the D358 is expensive to fix. At 8300 hours, the engine on mine is running very well, using next to no oil. The shift linkage is very sloppy. The front end is a bit loose. I had to replace the brakes and repair the diff lock. Beyond that, it's mostly standard IH and tractor stuff to look at.

The German 358 for its size in the 826 is one of the most fuel efficient engines IH made, as a matter of fact all the German's are fuel sippers. As for the 358 being a money pit I have to take issue. If you compare overhaul kits for the 358 and the 407 in the 856 you will find the german kit is actually cheaper. The german is a wet sleeve versus the 407's dry sleeve. A wet sleeve engine is very easy to overhaul, slip the old sleeves out clean things up and slip in the new ones. A dry sleeve is a different story. The dry sleeves have to be fitted just right or the piston will seize and chuck a rod thru the block. The only spendy item on the German is the fuel injector pump. Some parts for the pump are no longer made so they are high priced and hard to find.

(quoted from post at 04:31:08 03/29/09) As for the 358 being a money pit I have to take issue.

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Not with me, I hope, because that's essentially what I said. That "money pit" myth is bandied about casually by people who repeat what someone else said, but without looking for themselves. Not knowing any different at first, I accepted it but after looking, I don't see a huge issue at all. A few odds and ends are high but if you look at it broadly, it evens out, and as MNScott said, the difficulty of dry vs wet sleeves kinda evens out any differences.

Frankly, the engine is the best part of my 826.

Funny story. I had a Dynomax performance muffler left over from a truck buildup project. The stock muffler on the tractor was ear-splittingly loud, not to mention restrictive. I had tried another performance muffler with even louder results. In both cases, I had to wear headphones to avoid (more) hearing loss. On a whim, I fitted the large case, straight thru muffler. Amazing! The tractor is quiet but with a lovely tone, even zinged up to 2200 revs. One thing I like about the D358 is when it's really warmed up, it doesn't even sound like a diesel. Barely a knock at all.