Needing something a bit larger for a small ripper and chiseling / discing. Don't want the weight nor quite need the HP of a 4586 or similar, but have taken an interest in something like a 3588 single front and rear. I have an 886 that I love everything about (except the occasional tough job on the shift lever) and a 2+2 '88 is very similar and would love to have one. Have heard alll sorts of stories over the past couple years on the net on them, some good, some horrible. Would rather hear thoughts from some of you guys since I've been on here awhile and can pretty well read the username and know if they're going to post what they know or what the think/wish they know. (Very few in that latter category by the way, but we all know one in every walk of life.) Let me know, if I find a mechanically sound machine, with below 4,000 hours or so, are they just notorious for breaking parts or are they just like any other 30 year old tractor in that regard?
- Thread starter IHMANKY
- Start date
They were a glorified 1086, at least the rear end was close to that. Stay away from them, I have heard so many horror stories that I could write a book. If you going to stick with red tractors find a Magnum MFWD, or similar. They were under powered and had tons of problems. Sorry to be negative but I hate to see someone on a budget buy something that turns out to be a lemon for them.
formerly ny bill
Well-known Member
i've had a 3588 for 10+ years. i use it mainly for plowing with a ih 700 6-18 with a buster bar, pulling a 5 shank subsoiler, and packing a silage bunk. when the 2 wheel drives can't handle the mud, the 2+2 has also planted corn, run a 2 row chopper, and pulled a big manure spreader. not to mention pulling out things stuck in the mud/snow.
other than replacing the center hinge bushings, it has been trouble free. i wish i had another one like it.
other than replacing the center hinge bushings, it has been trouble free. i wish i had another one like it.
soybeanjoe
Member
I think the 2+2s are one of those thigs you either love or you hate. I demoed a new 3588 back in the day and quickly became a charter member of the "haters" club. After a 1/2 day of plowing with it I sent it back to the dealer. Of course, maybe having to wait 3 days while they worked on it to get to use it a 1/2 day might have had something to do with my decision.
Good friend bought a new 3788, ran it less than a yr & traded it for a new 5488.
Good friend bought a new 3788, ran it less than a yr & traded it for a new 5488.
Bermuda Ken
Member
The 2+2 is actually a good machine. They are a fwa tractor NOT a baby STEIGER!!! So many people that tried them thought they were a STEIGER and b!tched when they found out they were not.
A few others couldn't understand how it steers. When driving it, watch the front wheels, not the hood. Where ever the wheels go, you go too!
When compared to any other fwa tractor of EQUAL HP, the 2+2 will out pull and out work every time. The equal sized drive wheels and true BALANCED weight design of the chassis are the key to thier performance.
A few others couldn't understand how it steers. When driving it, watch the front wheels, not the hood. Where ever the wheels go, you go too!
When compared to any other fwa tractor of EQUAL HP, the 2+2 will out pull and out work every time. The equal sized drive wheels and true BALANCED weight design of the chassis are the key to thier performance.
minnesota red
Member
had a 3788 pulled a 16-39 planter with liquid fert in the hills and never complained much.
I heard all the horror stories about them but in the end it was still what I could afford at the time, put 500 hours on it without a issue.
traded it for a 7110 magunum and I will tell you that the 7110 will not pull with the ant eater.
If the center pins are in good shape I would say go for it, it does take a little time to get used to running them but once that is over they are a damn good tractor.
use it like a 150hp FWA not a 250hp 4wd and leave the pump alone and you will be fine.
I heard all the horror stories about them but in the end it was still what I could afford at the time, put 500 hours on it without a issue.
traded it for a 7110 magunum and I will tell you that the 7110 will not pull with the ant eater.
If the center pins are in good shape I would say go for it, it does take a little time to get used to running them but once that is over they are a damn good tractor.
use it like a 150hp FWA not a 250hp 4wd and leave the pump alone and you will be fine.
I agree with that assessment. They were never made to be anchored down to heavy tillage tach hour after tach hour. I think the right idea is to use a 3588 like 1086 with MFWD or a 3788 like a 1486 with MFWD. The guys that used them like that had the best luck with them. Only know of one with the original motor though and that was on a farm that treated all their equipment like fine china. I think I would not go against the odds and would look at something else even if his budget does not say 5288 or a Magnum
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
My chiropracter tells me, he used to work for IH back then, he used to paint them off the assembly line! Interesting I thought,,, Chad
We had a 3588 back in the 1980's. We had problems with it, articulation bushings, u-joints and other assorted problems. That being said we really liked the tractor and I would buy another one today. We pulled a 25foot 490 disk with ours in low 4th with no problems. It would out-pull the 1486 we also had at the time.
They were totally over sold as a four wheel drive tractor. In their place they worked well. Not a power house, but you must remember when you put four large tires on the ground the traction will make you feel like about 20 percent horse power less than what you have due to the lower slippage. Same thing happened to the 4366 only much more so. Totally underpowered for the size and weight of the chassis. If you kept the 34 inch tires on them they did fairly well but with 38 you were done. Turn them up, melt the manifold first thing, pistons next. Like on customer said though. If you don't turn it up you may as well take the 1066 out in the field. Adding the intercooler and different radiator made them much better but a 600 cubic engine would have been the real answer. Two plus two is just that, a row crop with added traction and flotation on loose soil. Less compaction etc. If you can find one that has served others well you probably have a pretty good one. If it has been plagued with hydraulic problems or used on a pto a lot I might pass on it.
minnesota red
Member
5288 or 7110 mfd will not hang with the 2+2, for what he has stated he would do fine with a 2+2
minnesota red
Member
now why would you turn it up? It is well proven that the driveline will not hold up and you could get enough power out of the 414 to tear the drive line apart so a 600 incher would be a complete waste.
Never heard of melting a manifold, only seen 1400 out of a 400 series with stock manifolds on it though, the bottom will blow out of the intake manifold at 140ish psi though.
as for the pistons, their is no way with stock components you will get that far before you cook the radiator out.
Never heard of melting a manifold, only seen 1400 out of a 400 series with stock manifolds on it though, the bottom will blow out of the intake manifold at 140ish psi though.
as for the pistons, their is no way with stock components you will get that far before you cook the radiator out.
The rear end is out of a 1086. So is the engine.
On what planet do you think a tractor like that is going to run with a Steiger? Dunno, but lots of people think that way. Just 'cuz the wheels are all the same size and it folds in the middle, doesn't make it a 300HP Steiger...
We had a 3388 for a short time when the 1066 tore up its transmission. I could never get the hang of driving it. Tires were bald and empty, so it didn't pull well on our hilly, stoney ground.
If we had it to do over again, with good tires and some calcium in the rears, I bet that thing would've run circles around the 1066. Then again, it wouldn't have been sitting in the dealer's junk row when we asked for something to use while the 1066 was down.
On what planet do you think a tractor like that is going to run with a Steiger? Dunno, but lots of people think that way. Just 'cuz the wheels are all the same size and it folds in the middle, doesn't make it a 300HP Steiger...
We had a 3388 for a short time when the 1066 tore up its transmission. I could never get the hang of driving it. Tires were bald and empty, so it didn't pull well on our hilly, stoney ground.
If we had it to do over again, with good tires and some calcium in the rears, I bet that thing would've run circles around the 1066. Then again, it wouldn't have been sitting in the dealer's junk row when we asked for something to use while the 1066 was down.
I was refering to the 4366 with the D466 engine that was not up to pulling unless you turned it up and then the manifold was the first thing that gave out. I didn't turn them up, other dealers did and then I had the pleasure of working on them. The 4386 had the intercooler so it was able to much better take the added horsepower. Same thing can happen to the 2+2 if you turn it up and weight it down to hold it .
minnesota red
Member
No way you got enough out of it with a stock pump to do what you are saying.
The first one I ever blew took 120 psi for 6 runs before it let go.
To build 120 psi you will need around 5500 rpm and a T-18-95 and around 750-850ccs of fuel.
take any fuel or rpm away and you will not get anywhere close to that boost number.
A T-04 V series which would have been factory on a 4386 will push around 20 psi on a hard pull, 35 in full out pulling application.
The first one I ever blew took 120 psi for 6 runs before it let go.
To build 120 psi you will need around 5500 rpm and a T-18-95 and around 750-850ccs of fuel.
take any fuel or rpm away and you will not get anywhere close to that boost number.
A T-04 V series which would have been factory on a 4386 will push around 20 psi on a hard pull, 35 in full out pulling application.
If you are going to use it to pull what you do now with an 886, it will be fine, so long as it hasn't been abused. The 3788 we had had some vertical slop in the hinge, but the steering was tight. Real nice on a hot day, the engine fan blows forward and being way out front, keeps a lot of heat away from you. If you have fuel delivered, just bring it in beside your tank and have them fill it off the truck, too. The 3388 ran a DT436 with 8 speed like the 886. The 3588 and 3788 ran the 6 speed like in the 1566 and 1586. The 35 ran a DT436 tuned for more power, and the 37 ran a DT466.
Ours met its demise on the chopper. We had the fuel to it pretty hard and blew the pressure plate apart early in the summer. It was used for tillage, too. It couldn't hold a stick to my 7580 A/C on a drawbar load, but the Allis couldn't think of keeping up on the PTO.
Ours met its demise on the chopper. We had the fuel to it pretty hard and blew the pressure plate apart early in the summer. It was used for tillage, too. It couldn't hold a stick to my 7580 A/C on a drawbar load, but the Allis couldn't think of keeping up on the PTO.
Have owned a 3588 for over 10 years and I love that tractor. The only issue I've had was the clutch needed replacement when I bought it. It has the 466 engine, plenty of power for plowing, ripping, disking, etc if you treat it like a 150 tractor and don't overload it. The 3588 will outpull any equivalent hp tractor I've ever used and the balance is tremendous especially in wet or loose soil. I've never got it close to being stuck, especially with the Diff Lock engaged. I've never had any problems with the steering and it pulls through any turns without using the brakes. The only time you ever touch the brakes is for stopping. It is the best bang for the buck for heavy tillage but don't expect to dual up the front and rear, turn up the pump, hook it to a huge ripper and drag it through the top of China. Stupid utilization will get you problems. I have been impressed with the fuel usage compared to a JD 4850...think the balance and traction advantage equates to better economy and the 466 engine is pretty bullet proof. My starts easier than any of my other tractors. It is like women and wine...some you like but other people don't. I'd like to buy another 2+2, maybe a 3788 if I could find a cherry one.
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