Opinions Please! 350U or 444

hello everyone. I have a question that is sort of just a general opinion type question or maybe looking for info I guess.

I have a IH 350U w/ front loader. Painted industrial Yellow and have used this tractor and it runs great. Has IPTO and TA work fine. I use it to bale hay, about 50 acres 2 times per year. I take the loader off while baling. the only issue that bugs me really is the exhaust coming out under the operators position! otherwise its a good tractor and I surely can't complain!

BUT a good friend of mine who knows I like IH has a 444 that he is selling. He bought a newer NH tractor. This 444 has a loader also and runs good. I haven't seen or run it yet but plan to go over to take a look. The differences I can see are the 350 is about 1000 lbs heavier and it has a TA. whereas the 444 has a hi / low range. I don't know if that works like the TA or not. The TA comes in very handy I will admit while baling! I assume the 444 has live PTO also.

In any case my question is are there any other real advantages to selling my 350U to get the 444? Any suggestions or opinions are much welcome!

I know that the weight of the 350 is a bonus to me as I bale on some sloping ground where I need the extra back end so to speak.

Thanks for all suggestions! Or things to watch for. what would YOU do in this situation?

PS I should add I'm fairly sure I can sell the 350 to almost offset what he wants for the 444...

444 is a more "modern" tractor, but underpowered compared to the 350. The Hi-low transmission is not the same as a TA. It has a small lever that you shift (with the clutch in). 1st high is slightly faster than 4 low, if I remember right. In other words you have 3 more field gears between 4 low and 4 high. If you need to use the 350's TA with your baler, I doubt if the 444 will handle it. Otherwise a good tractor. 444's usually sell for $4000+.

Hi Mark, in 1957 thru 1962 we had a 300U but our 300U was a late production model and had same C175 gas engine as 350U. We did about 10,000 bales a year with 300U and IH 45 baler also ran an IH 15 single row corn harvester. Then we traded for B414D (older version of 444). The only difference we noticed was on the fuel bills as the B414D would only use about 3/4 CDN gal/hr of Diesel on the heaviest corn chopping where as the 300U would use close to 3 CDN gal/hr of gas.
Occasionally we missed the T/A but the better lugging power of the Diesel usually pulled thru the tough spots.

JimB

A BD 154 (diesel) or a C153 (gas) is what the 444 comes with.

The diesel is pretty nice, a bit cold natured to start though. And no TA on the 444.

Mark: You left out the most important factor, that being gas or diesel. If I had a 350 diesel it would be gone down driveway PDQ. If the 444 is diesel and the 350 gas, it wont hold a candle to the 444 on the baler. If they are both gas, I'd give the edge to the 350.

As far as weight is concerned ballast can make the 444 just as heavy as your 350.

It is a Gas 444. If it were diesel I would have jumped at it also... so all and all it sounds like a draw or maybe slight edge to just keep my 350. Other than getting the exhaust up front thats the only thing that bugs me on the 350 really. I was thinking since the 444 was a bit newer design it might be worth the upgrade but maybe not! thanks for the opinions!

I guess that I will add that I use a NH 66 to do my baling. not a large baler by any means but she doesn't miss a beat that is for sure. based on the responses though it sounds like I might just keep the 350 instead. I will have a look at the 444 just in case I see anything that sticks out at me!

Mark: There are a couple things to consider. As you said 444 is newer, will have a much improved loader, it will also have 3 point hitch vast improvement over any 350 hitching.

Your 350 may be working well, but they are prone to steering box problems. Parts for that problem are getting scarce and expensive. Either one of those tractors are going to play with that NH 66 baler. You have to be the judge, however I find potential problems sell better while they still work well.

Thanks again Hugh for your insight and Help! We'll see what she looks like and go from there! I do agree from what I have seen the steering can become an issue from what others tell me on the 350U. right now she works good but from pictures the steering setup on the 444 is much nicer.

If the 444 has power steering it is a vast improvement over the 350. The 350 has the edge in the PTO department.

The 350 is independent while the 444 is only live. The PTO on the 350 can be engaged and disengaged without using the transmission clutch. The 444 PTO can only be engaged with the transmission clutch fully released. It has a two stage clutch where as you release the clutch pedal the PTO clutch engages first before the transmission clutch is engaged. In other words, the 350 PTO can be engaged as you are moving but to engage the 444 PTO you have to stop to move the lever.