CaseIH 485 and 685 Tractors

Out and about this morning and got to have a look-see at a CaseIH 485 and 685 tractor. Read about them, posted a few questions about them in the past - can't say I've ever looked at one up close.

I don't know nothin' - but these tractors looked very heavy duty, rugged, well built, simple in design and the ergonomics (I thought) were very well done,

Don't know what kind of sales or challenge they made to the MF, JD and Ford tractors of the day/same vintage, but if I was in the market for a new tractor when they were made - and a used one today, it would certainly be a model I'd consider.

Both had quick attach loaders and one rear remote.

Bill

The CIH 485 and 685 where a very minority of the market around here. They are not a bad tractor good motor. The shifter was kind of in a bad place. They shifted hard or at least that was the complaint I heard on them. I only traded in one CIH 685 and I lost my butt on it. The market value around here was terrible. There must have been areas they did better in because the blue book value was an average of reported values but the local value was half of that.

I've had a 485 & a 585.....like JD said, really good engines, shifting quad. leaves something to be desired. Company I worked for had a fleet of 485's that were used for grounds maintenance. They had many hrs. on them and I don't remember any engine issues at all. Heavy for their size and rode well.

Hi, they were a good 40 to 75 HP IH utility tractor. Made from early 1970 to 1997, Diesel engine built in Neuss Germany, everything else built in Doncaster UK. The same rear assembly was used in all models, so a 40 HP 484 had the same trans/diff as a 70 HP 884. Many small dairy farms in eastern Canada had them as their main tractor or as a loader tractor. There were also some industrial models and row crop models but the row crop models were rare in North America. The ones delivered to Canada were completely assembled in Doncaster UK and the ones delivered to USA were in crates and were assembled in Louisville. The USA ones are different as they have Delco electrical systems, sometimes different front axles and power steering system.
Weaknesses, if Lucas electric system if Doncaster build unit, parking brake being left engaged and tractor driven chewing up parking brake band in the range transmission and the bits getting into hydraulic system. The German Diesel will run for many years if regular maintenance is performed.

Re 484 with IH 2355 or like quick attach loader, not recommended if you are using tractor to move large round or square bales because of the swept back front axle. The 684 would make a better loader tractor, it has a heavier straight front axle and could have a "Quick Reverse" option and a 17 GPM hydraulic pump.

My two cents
JimB

We had a 584, 585, 484, another 584 and neighbour had a 494? And other neighbour had 685.

Our 584 was 4wd and had a 2255 loader and something like 14,000 hours. The 585 had 3000 or so hours. The other 584 had the silly slot shifter but all the rest had a 4 speed car style sync shifter on the left and drove fantastic. The 585 with the foot throttle was open station and still is my favourite raking tractor.

My neighbors had a 585 that I used a few times. This one had a car type shifter that shifted well. These brothers were fanatical about maintenance. They would not do any, period, but the only problem that I was aware of that they had was clutch wearing out which is normal for a loader tractor. They also mowed a fair amount with it using a ten foot disc mower conditioner.

Around this part of the country, s.w.Pa, those Internationals were / are the gold standard of utility and loader tractors. They were ahead of their time with synchro shift etc. I have a 2014 deere 5065E and a 1987 Int 585 and a 1975 Int 574. The 5065E comes in third - a distant third!

85 series was the gold standard of utilities back in the day. Almost every farm here has/had one at one time, many still have one or similar model.

I don't know why people think the shifters are an issue, fully syncroed speed trans and usable spacing. LH shift perfect for loader. IH had LH reverse shuttle before it was the trendy thing to do.

Have a 495 here, newer version of 485. Compare if to any modern utility of the size, there aren't as nice or have the same features available. I know, went shopping recently....

I own a 485,it is a very fuel efficient tractor.I also work on some at my part time job.The biggest issue is brakes,but not too bad.Mine has been pretty good to me,but it is low houred. The ones at my job have a lot more hours and seemed to have held up very well.They are very nice to operate,but they are not the easiest to climb on and off of.Mark