The blurry line between CUT and UT???

[Grandad4]

IH also inadvertently started the urban legend that hydrostats aren't meant for "real tractors", because their innovative new drivetrain didn't fare well under the demands of heavy tillage work and less than perfect preventive maintenance practices. An old farmer friend of mine - true IH man - still talks about "those darn IH hydrostats". But they sure are great to look at today!

 

[jenkinsph]

Grandad4, the world is full of people who can not recognize that ideas can be improved upon. IH has built some very good and innovative machinery over the years. They also built some models I did not care for but that happens if you turn over a lot of rocks. When I was a small kid my grandfather had a Super A for his garden and either an M or Super M for his field work. Good tractors imo.

 

[npalen]

You beat me to it npalen. IH made lots of hydrostatic tractors. I'm not positive what the largest was, but they definitely put a hydro on a 1066@125 PTO HP and an operating weight of 12,000#. That, my friends is even bigger than a utility tractor (at least by the standards of the day). A partial list of their hydro tractors includes: 544H, 656H, 666h, 70, 84, 86, 186, 100, 966h, 1066h, 826, and 1026. The small frame ones are still used extensively for veggie growing. They offer an infinitely adjustable ground speed relative to PTO speed and can be had cheap in many cases. Great for running tillers and transplanters.

Here's one for sale near me: IH 186 Hydro Tractor


Regarding the 656, they aren't all hydro. Probably a small percentage, really. The standard transmission is a 5F1R with a 10F2R torque amplifier transmission also available. Interestingly, the hydro transmission on the 656 would do 21 mph on the road.

I did not realize that IH made all of those hydrostats! The IH 186 listed for sale is one sweet but rugged looking tractor compared to today's "plastic bubbles".