I just did a search and there have been several post in this forum about folks IH-544. I am curious what you all are doing with yours.I have a 1968 International 544. I inhearited it when my grandfather pasted away 2 year ago. He has a collection of 10 tractors, and I had my choice of a non-running 544 or a running big old cockshutt (sp). The Cockshutt was a huge tractor and must have been from the 40ies. When I brought it home (the 544) and tried to start it, it would not start, but would turn over. There was a strong gas odor present in the oil. I new this was a bad thing. I initally thought perhaps someone had left the oil cap off and gas from the carb (with the inlet air pipe off) had gotten in there. I notice this shotting of gas out the carb when I was tring to start the tractor. Knowing absolutly about how the gas induction system works on a tractor, I called a nmechanic for help. This was after 4 months of me trying to get it going. Anyways, it turned out the #1 piston had broken its skirt and after a new piston, new rod bearings, gaskets, a starter, etc. it was running like a top. About 4 months later it died again. This time I spent 9 months trying to figure it out. Again I called the mechanic and after about 1/2 he found I had a bad coil. Now $25 dollors later it is running again. Currently I am using it for brushoging 20 areas and pushing the occasional snow here in central Ohio. Of course this year when it is running, we have gotten hardly any snow. I need to adjust the 3 point system to have the actuator levers stay fixed, about 1 inch of play movement. I am missing the sheet metal around the top of the trany (where your feet are between) and have to custom fabricate something. I am also missing a grill. Currently only have chicken wire. As the utility version was not very popular, I have had no luck locating a grill. I am sure one is out there, but for big $$$. I plan on fabricating something up for this also. I have in the back of my mind putting a front bucket on it one day, but have no imedate need for one now. I would like to fabricate a cultivator for it. Just thought I would see what you all were doing with yours.
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