2+2's

Mike Fitz · Sep 21, 2009

What are peoples opinions of 2+2's good or bad ,just curious.

NY 986 · Sep 21, 2009

They would be alright if you could find one under 3000 hrs and were to put 100 to 150 hours on annually. IH took an existing 86 series tractor component-wise to make the 3X88 series 2 + 2's. For example the 130 hp 3388 was pretty much built from the 986 tractor. My point is the drive line is really not much more than adequate for the horsepower. And I'm one of the guys who thought the 86 series was not that bad of a tractor. I have not heard of a early 2 + 2 going several thousand hours without major work needed.
I have heard the 6388, 6588, etc. were vast improvements over the so-called 3000 series but there are very few on the market at any given time. I don't think the few 7000 series will get past the collectors for an ordinary guy to get one.
Unless you just have a tremendous itch for a 2 + 2, I would go for anything other than that.

Anonymous-0 · Sep 21, 2009

I have a 3588 and love it! It has 8100 hrs on it. We use it to plant and do other tillage. It is a traction powerhouse, As long as you use it like a MFWD like it was intended, they are great. I have mine set at 180 HP. It has given us little trouble.

Absent Minded Farmer · Sep 21, 2009

Mike, I've wanted one since they (& I) were new. They have always caught my eye from a mile away. Well, two miles, one mile to the hood & a mile from the hood to the cab. ;^) Da schnozz takes a bit of getting used to. I think of them as the ugly Farmall although the name died out a few years previous. They don't have the makings of a heavy tillage tractor i.e. if the tractor is rated at 7 bottoms, get a 6. Good tractor for pto work & cultivating. If you put duals on, don't turn too tight. The extra tires don't like the cab steps. The articulation joints like to oval out, too. They did have the first, or one of the first, digital read-outs for all of your gauges & the gauge clusters are modular. Fairly comfy interior, yet, not the quietist with the turbo screaming. Shortcommings aside, they are a good tractor if taken care of. - Mike

Hugh MacKay · Sep 21, 2009

Mike: I have driven one, didn't like it near as well as big articulateds with operator controls on front half. In that catergory I have driven Deere, IH and New Holland. Definitely not enough power train for duals all around on 2+2.

Perhaps the most annoying item I found, as you begin to turn, rear half actually turns away from direction your turning, leaving you somewhat blinded to direction your going and definitely blind of any implement. The big articulateds give a good view of where your going and a great chance to see your implement on every turn.

The turning radius is actually shorter on the big articulateds. 2+2 just another bad idea from IH, and we all know the results of those bad ideas.

scot in pa · Sep 21, 2009

We had a 3788 that we turned way up for the chopper. Excellent tractor for hot weather if no one believes in fixing the a/c. The engine is way out there, and the fan blows forward, and it"s a bit quieter with the engine and exhaust way out there too. The 7580 Allis would run circles around it with the same size plow though, where the Allis wasn"t near the tractor on the chopper.

We had no problem with the cab steps, but when turning with duals it was easy to park something on the tires when you straightened it back out. It can take a little wigglin to get something like a manure spreader away from a dual. We had them on it for packing silage, and it was available one day when we needed something with 1000 pto for the spreader.

If you have fuel delivered, make sure it is near your tank when the fuel man is there. They hold a lot.

haymaker421 · Sep 22, 2009

When I was pretty much farming on my own, I got a 3388 cause I was tired of getting stuck with no help to get out. Now, if I farmed on the flatest land in Kansas, I would have one. I have never had a tractor I liked better. It does everything and does it well. I have planted, done tillage, mowed hay, baled, everything. It's not a big tractor but you get all the advantages of a big tractor and they are cheap! I saw a 3788 go for $4000. at an auction once. I wouldn't mind having another one.

Bill in IL · Sep 22, 2009

Everyone has their opinion and I really like them when I was young and working on the dairy. We had a 3588 and a 6788 that was dualed up. The 6000 series was much better on power as it should have been but we initially had some trouble with the torque but got it all straightened out. The 3588 actually seemed to have less power than the 1066 we had and it was suppose to have 20hp more. Both engines were stock. I think the divetrain robbed a lot of power. Traction wise though you could not beat them hands down better than a FWA tractor.

Despite Hugh's opinion I like having the cab on the back half (everyone has their opinion) You could see your implement better especially hooking and unhooking. Turning is a little strange but so are the steiger type tractors too till you get used to them.

I would love to have one but really don't have a use for it at this time its in the wrong size range for me to use.

pete 23 · Sep 22, 2009

We sold several 2+2's and it was a love or hate situation. Biggest single problem was with the hydraulic system. Closed center system with out a charge pump just didn't lend it self to long lasting trouble free service, same as on the late 86 series row crops. Changed some over to gear pump conversion with limited success. As far as power, when you put four traction wheels on the ground you just don't have that spin factor to let the engine breathe so to say so they seemed doggy compared to two wh drive with same horse power. The thing I did like about them as a mechanic is you could use same tools to work on them as you did the row crop (with a couple more splitting extras) unlike the large 4wh drive machines which required a whole different shop so to speak.

Hugh MacKay · Sep 22, 2009

Bill: It's good that we all have our own opinion. I used two mirrors on my Deere for hitching, I could see it without turning around.

Mike Fitz · Sep 23, 2009

Thanks for the replies everyone. I have a 3588,for about 20 years now, and after figuring out their quirks have been pretty satisfied with the tractor. They are not a Steiger in horsepower or build but in medium horsepower applications do quite well. We have a 1066 and a 806 with a turbo and use the 2+2 to do the same jobs it gets better milage and pulls the implements more smoothly and consistantly. It would be nice to have one of the new fwd's but the 2+2 is long ago paid for so I will keep running it. I have a friend who has 7488 and a7288 and says they are awesome, if only IH could have made them a little sooner.

2+2's

Mike Fitz

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NY 986

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Anonymous-0

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Absent Minded Farmer

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Hugh MacKay

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scot in pa

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haymaker421

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Bill in IL

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pete 23

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Hugh MacKay

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Mike Fitz

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