General IH ?'s

Timis · Apr 25, 2011

I've always been a "red" guy - but most of it was Case as thats what I grew up on. This year got a 1586 - the IH 86 series was the tractor to have in my area growing up and I finally got one. Really excited about it. I have a couple ?'s just wondering if you guys could help me out. The TA and tranny - why do they have such a bad reputation? and why does it lock solid in the low side? MM and Oliver used similar systems but theirs would free roll. I know the Oliver system is hydraulic shift and very reliable. I'm guessing it had more to do with how many were sold vs competitors. When did IH begin to lose its edge - at what point do you think the IH brand was doomed to fail?

CNKS · Apr 25, 2011

As to what caused IH to fail, go to the first post in the discussion section of www.redpowermagazine.com, the thread is locked in place. There are several pages of opinions, some good some bad. Basically the downfall began in 1958 with the introduction of the 460/560, which had more power than the rear end could handle. Although IH fixed it, in my opinion that was the beginning. The end was poor management, overproduction, a strike, and a recession. The biggest problem by far, in the end, was poor management. IH was building excellent tractors at that time but it was too late. The 86 series is out of my area, I grew up with the letter series. although there are a lot of people on this forum with the later tractors, they are emphasized on the Red Power Forum, with little info on the older ones.

IH fan · Apr 25, 2011

As to your question about the TA... early TA would "roll free". Not sure what year or model they changed, but it was probably an improvment that they did not freewheel. Rumor was that in the hills north of where I lived, there was a SMTA lost in a ravine due to a hired man expecting it to slow down when he engaged the low side and it didn't.

Bob M · Apr 25, 2011

Visit your public library and check out "A Corporate Tragedy" by Barbara Marsh. It does an excellent job describing the combination of a poor economy, botched labor relations and IHC's pervasive management arrogance and imcompetence that resulted in its demise.

rhtx55 · Apr 25, 2011

In my opinion, the 460 560 debacle couldn't have come at a worse time, Deere came out with their 'New Generation" 3020's & 4020's, and that was pretty much the death nell for IH.
IH put the 460 560 tractors into production without extensive testing of their new designs, they were way ahead of Deere with a new six cylinder powered tractor which I am sure was their intention, and customers were wanting increased power tractors to fit their increasing acreage farms.
A lot of smaller farms went by the wayside back then as most younger farmers were getting better pay in the factories.
IH certainly bounced back with their 806 & 1206 tractors, but by that time Deere had established their market share which previously had been held by IH for decades.
You have to give Deere credit, those 3020's & 4020's were excellent tractors, a lot like the 806's & 1206's, most are still hard at work today, and commanding premium prices.

Roy in UK · Apr 26, 2011

We had several MF tractors over the years with Multi-Power. None of them caused us a pennyworth of trouble where the transmission was concerned. The only IH we ever had that was fitted with a TA, a 674 was a pain in the neck!

General IH ?'s

Timis

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CNKS

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IH fan

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Bob M

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rhtx55

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Roy in UK

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