IH 544 TA

Let's say if I were to drag home a non-hydro 544 and it developed TA problems, what would be my options and what would be the estimated cost of each? Also how can I check the TA by only driving the tractor? I assume it would need to be under a load to tell properly. Also is there any other things to watch for with the 544? Thanks in advance

Carlton: Why should you be more concerned about TA than any other part of tractor. It's 35-40 years old and if it was used a lot the whole damn thing could be worn out. You should be able to check TA if the brakes are good. Even if bad, TA will cost a max. of $1,200. Hell, if you end up needing PTO clutches, main clutch, rims, radiator hydraulic pumps, etc. those could cost a whole lot more than $1,200.

The TA has developed a bad reputation. Completely undeserved, but most people are incapable of thinking through things logically and rationally to see the real situation. They jump to the easiest conclusion. Frankly that's a big part of the problem with our society today; everyone's brains are mush and they can't think for themselves. Think what you want of me for that comment, hate me if you must, but it's true, and I really don't care what you think.

Lots of these old tractors have bad TAs. The logical conclusion is, the tractor is 30, 40, 50 years old. The TA is just plain WORE OUT after thousands of cycles and countless of hours of use.

Most people, however, do not take into consideration the age and previous life of the tractor. They think that things last forever, and their tractor is in brand-new condition. The TA doesn't work, therefore all TAs are bad, nothing but problems...

Another thing that's beyond most people's comprehension is the fact that if they fix the TA now and do it right, that TA will last literally FOREVER. These tractors will never see the kind of use they had back in the day, and a properly maintained TA would last just as long as any other major component on the tractor.

MKirsch: So true, I farmed and put 75,000 hours on 5 TA equipped tractors. My average hours of service on a TA between rebuilds is 10,000. My average hours of service on a Farmall diesel between rebuilds is 10,000. My average hours of service on a Farmall gasser between rebuilds was 4,500 hours.

Since it costs close to twice as much to rebuild the diesel over gas, and since it costs 3 to 4 times as much to rebuild a diesel engine as it does a TA. The result, it's cost 3 times as much to keep engines in these tractors as it has TA, yet TA gets the bad rap. Go figure.

The t/a's that I have rebuilt with gasket kit are roughly $600 plus core. T/A clutch $200.

Since I know little or nothing about IH tractors, I too was worried about what I heard about TA's and the cost of repairing them. I had read figures as high as $5000 and I thought I would get on here and find out. The one I looked at looks very good and sounds good as well. As straight and rust free metal as I've seen in a while. I haven't driven it yet but he is asking $4000 for it and the rubber is all at least 80%. The one drawback is that he is not the farmer he led me to believe but actually just trades on tractors. Now if he isn't truthful about that then it makes me wonder about the tractor.

Sounds like a tractor jockey to me. My personal opinion on tractor jockeys is, if they want a reasonable price for a tractor there is usually something wrong with it.

TA won't cost anywhere near $5000 to replace unless you also do the clutch and quite a bit of transmission work along with it. Frankly I wouldn't worry about it if you can stand on the brakes and it doesn't slip.

Another good test of a mechanical TA is to get the tractor on a good uphill slope and push the clutch halfway in. If it doesn't roll back down the hill, the TA clutch, and ramp and rollers are working properly.

Sorry, it appears I have the price of a hydro rebuild confused with a TA rebuild.