Farmall 230's

Dean Olson · Oct 17, 2012

I'm going to look at a pair of Farmall 230's. One is a parts machine and the other "ran when parked" several years ago.

One has the touch control the same as C,SC,200. The other has the universal mounts that are controlled by a cyclinder on each side. Both have fast hitch.

2 questions:

1. Would the 230 have a touch control on it from IH or did someone add it or maybe rebadged a SC or 200?

2. All things being equal does a 230 have any more or less value than a SC or 200?

TIA

IH fan · Oct 17, 2012

I thought the Touch-Control was "phased out" duing the 230 series, so it could have had it. I don't know why they did away with it as it was a handy thing and would have allowed earlier implements to be used.
My thinking is the 230 [u:ea4e478f47]might be a little[/u:ea4e478f47] more valuable due to the low production compared to the earlier models.

mkirsch · Oct 17, 2012

IIRC the 230 could be special ordered with the Touch Control. Normally it came with the new HydraTouch system, which is just a reservoir under the tank and one hydraulic remote that usually controlled the fast hitch.

I suspect that IH phased out the Touch Control on the 230 because they figured most people would use rear-mounted Fast Hitch implements with the tractor.

A running 230 is definitely worth more than a Super C in equal condition.

Mark Peters · Oct 17, 2012

(quoted from post at 15:23:05 10/17/12) I thought the Touch-Control was "phased out" duing the 230 series, so it could have had it. I don't know why they did away with it as it was a handy thing and would have allowed earlier implements to be used.
My thinking is the 230 [u:35de3b00a8]might be a little[/u:35de3b00a8] more valuable due to the low production compared to the earlier models.

I have been told that you could order the Touch Control hydraulics for the 230 from the factory instead of the Hydra Touch hydraulics that were the standard offering. I`ve seen a half dozen or so 230`s with touch control and checked the casting date code on the touch control housings and it jibed with the rest of the casting date codes on the 230. IMHO the 230 is worth at least $500 more than a comparable condition Super C, equally equipped (fast hitch). There were far fewer produced, more scarce. Funny ,though, because I think the Super C w/FH is the better tractor. Just not worth as much, collectorwise.

IH fan · Oct 17, 2012

I spent many days cultivating corn and beans with a Super C and I always thought it (200 is the same) was the handiest small row crop tractor ever made. I liked that you could push the Touch Control levers forward, [u:86b467e686]then[/u:86b467e686] lift the Fast-Hitch and the rear would come out of the ground at the same place as the front if timed right. We also had the rotary hoe type shields so you could cultivate corn in 3rd gear the first time through when the corn was small. For beans we used the regular shields and it was slower.

Bill Lisbon · Oct 17, 2012

When I was a teenager I worked for a Earl Lentz, A farmer in Lycippus, Pa. He had a 230, it was the most used tractor on the farm. A great little tractor, worth it's weight in gold.

LMack · Oct 17, 2012

To use the earlier front mounted implements was simple enough by just switching the rockshaft control arm for the cylinders. The front cultivator frame mounts, side dresser mounts, planter hopper mounts and the chain planter drives were identical to the SC and 200. A long control rod was needed to extend to the rock shaft for the cultivators to control the planter drive clutch. Other implements such as corn pickers required a special kit to change from the C style touch control to the Hydra Touch. My Uncle had a 240 with the Hydra Touch and I never liked it (We had a 200). Seemed like depth control was not as positive. The two point was improved for the 230 over what was used on the SC and 200.

Mark Peters · Oct 18, 2012

(quoted from post at 23:28:00 10/17/12) The two point was improved for the 230 over what was used on the SC and 200.

This is where I wouldn`t necessarily agree. In my earlier post, I said I thought the SC was a better tractor than the 230 . The fast hitch is what think sets them apart. Much more adjustability with the SC fast hitch. IMHO, the 230 fast hitch was a step backward. I think they cheapened the fast hitch and called them "New and Improved". I know I`d much rather plow with my SC`s than with my 230, even though the 230 is a little stronger- not much though.

Farmall 230's

Dean Olson

Well-known Member

IH fan

Well-known Member

mkirsch

Well-known Member

Mark Peters

Member

IH fan

Well-known Member

Bill Lisbon

Member

LMack

Member

Mark Peters

Member

Similar threads