IH Terrastar

[Builder]

They do not meet emission standards. IH is buying credits from the government while they keep trying to get them to meet standards. My experience with the IH EGR emission system has not been favorable. I know in NE ohio this past winter, you could not find an EGR cooler for a DT 530 or 570 from December to mid Feb. We had four plows out of service waiting on them most of that time!!!!!!!

I also would be leery of it because , again in my experience, the multiplex electrical system does not get along with road salt very well. I realy used to like the older non emissions non multiplex IH's, but have been very disappointed with what I have seen out of them since about 2002.

I hear you there. My '92 4800 is a dream to work on. It's as simple as my Kubota tractor. When I tilt the hood, my 10 yr old son can point to all major components and name them. No multiplex wiring, either. :confused2:

Really wish I had the Allison MD3060 instead of my 7 speed manual.

 

[Ryan03]

I hear you there. My '92 4800 is a dream to work on. It's as simple as my Kubota tractor. When I tilt the hood, my 10 yr old son can point to all major components and name them. No multiplex wiring, either. :confused2:

Really wish I had the Allison MD3060 instead of my 7 speed manual.

The MD3060 is exclusively what we run in our plow trucks. Most of our issues with them are the main trans interface harness. On the older pre 02 4900's it would occasionaly green out at the trans valvebody plug, On the newer IH's the air cab jiggles that harness to death and it rubs through everwhere, especialy on the top of the trans.. You haven't lived until you have changed one of those out the at 3:00 AM in a 2in an hour snowfall in the left berm on OH Rout 2, 30 mi. outside of Cleveland {3 lane BUSY freeway].

The MD 3060 is mechanicaly almost bullet proof. We gross around 50k on our single axles fully outfitted with plows and salt, and will put the trans in 3rd gear and plow with the accelerator flat on the floor for 12 hrs non stop, crew after crew, for days on end, and we have lots of long steep grades. I have only seen 5 burned up in 8 years, out of a fleet of 40 trucks.

IMO, IH makes some pretty trucks with great ergonomics. I wish they could get they're act together with the electrical system and emissions component failures already. Multiplex is here to stay, and many other car and truck manufacturers have been using it reliably for years, it is time for IH to step up and work out these bugs.

 

[Builder]

Oh, I've fixed plenty of equipment at 3 AM in the cold, and with no mechanic. Just me and my tools. But I know what you mean. I swear 1/2 this equipment has a built-in panic sensor that causes equipment to fail when you need it most.:laughing:
I agree with the 3060 comments. What a tranny. Trash trucks run them hard, too.