I thought I might share some of a project I'm doing at the farm. For those who don't know, I've helped my cousins farm for about 7 years as I had time. Changes in life has led to me working for them full time, so I enjoy being back farming again full time. Because of my experience though, I'm the official farm mechanic, lol. How fitting. 
So, I had suggested to them several times they needed to upgrade to a 4wd tractor for tillage work. Some discussion came up for a purchase of a MFWD tractor, but it didn't pan out. I again brought up looking for an older 4wd tractor instead. My "selling point" being that if they found an older one that needed work, I could spend the winter getting it back into shape. (Quick note, this is a father-son operation, but there are 3 kids total. 2 boys, 1 girl. One of the boys farms together with the father, and the other boy works for the local FS Co-op.) So, one of the guys found an International 4586 for sale about an hour away. Turned out, I knew the guy who was selling it. I had worked with him while I was running the shops for Republic. I still had his number. Gave him a call and we eventually went down looked it all over (2 trips) and they bought the tractor. Chris (the son who farms) and I went down and got it running so we could bring it home.
The tractor has 2400 hours on the clock. It has sat, according to the PO, for about a year and a half not running. It was started that last time and moved to where it is sitting, but failed to make it all the way to the barn and was pushed the rest of the way with another tractor. Prior to that run, we can't get a straight answer as to how long it had sat....outside. The PO inherited it when another farmer (original owner) who had no children, left their farm to the PO's dad. The PO says they never really used it once they had it. It looks to us like it was used as the main tillage tractor when it was newer, but has sat for a long, long time. We think it did get used some over the last.... oh, maybe 10 years, but from how everything looks we think it likely hasn't been used in at least 5 years. The fuel tank is full of bio diesel, that has turned to sludge. The exhaust is rotted off at the turbo, or broke. Not real sure yet. Batteries did have some charge in them, but not enough to do anything. So, we replaced the batteries, and went to work getting fresh fuel to the motor. For those who don't know, these tractors were made for IH by the Steiger Tractor Company. They basically used the Steiger frame and cab, with whatever IH dictated to them for a powertrain. The engine is a DVT-800 IH V8 diesel. The trans is a Dana 5 speed Hi/Lo truck transmission. (Think 2 stick Mack.) The transfer case looks to be the same as Steiger used, but only single speed. I think it is also a Dana. The finals/ axles are IH 986 rear ends that are gutted with the exception of the ring and pinion. Pretty simple built machine.
We plan to pick it up this week, so when we get it home and start working on it, I'll update more. I may run a thread on Red Power Magazine forum also. If I do, I will link to the thread on here, but still update this one, only not likely in as much detail. You don't have to be a member of RPM to view, but you do to post, so all are welcome to follow there for details.
Here's some pics that were used in the For Sale ad, and 2 videos. One of it on the first start up, and the other of Chris driving it.... trying to break loose the stuck clutch. Forgot to mention that. After we got it running, I discovered the clutch was stuck. Oh well.... I've dealt with that before. Not sure if we will keep beating on it trying to break it loose, or just pull the trans and replace it. Not so much fun to do a clutch on this though.... easiest way is to take the cab off. So... anyway, that's what I've been kind of busy with for a week or two. Here's the pics! Video's below.
47440566_2259625300738449_7952345867980111872_n.jpg47578020_2259623284071984_6605992866156118016_n.jpg47357571_2259623074072005_8662402660357373952_n.jpg47386385_2259622967405349_3829609831451328512_n.jpg47436678_2259623347405311_6830445499108032512_n.jpg47579454_2259623594071953_6633320656433840128_n.jpg
First start:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B397...1&index=2&t=0s
"Test drive" and try to break the clutch loose:
Sorry for the poor quality on this one. I recorded it in low resolution to send in a text.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIAWncQYgA0&index=2&list=PLF5uGazAJz3iq96k azfud3gUAOPgRQWN1
So, I had suggested to them several times they needed to upgrade to a 4wd tractor for tillage work. Some discussion came up for a purchase of a MFWD tractor, but it didn't pan out. I again brought up looking for an older 4wd tractor instead. My "selling point" being that if they found an older one that needed work, I could spend the winter getting it back into shape. (Quick note, this is a father-son operation, but there are 3 kids total. 2 boys, 1 girl. One of the boys farms together with the father, and the other boy works for the local FS Co-op.) So, one of the guys found an International 4586 for sale about an hour away. Turned out, I knew the guy who was selling it. I had worked with him while I was running the shops for Republic. I still had his number. Gave him a call and we eventually went down looked it all over (2 trips) and they bought the tractor. Chris (the son who farms) and I went down and got it running so we could bring it home.
The tractor has 2400 hours on the clock. It has sat, according to the PO, for about a year and a half not running. It was started that last time and moved to where it is sitting, but failed to make it all the way to the barn and was pushed the rest of the way with another tractor. Prior to that run, we can't get a straight answer as to how long it had sat....outside. The PO inherited it when another farmer (original owner) who had no children, left their farm to the PO's dad. The PO says they never really used it once they had it. It looks to us like it was used as the main tillage tractor when it was newer, but has sat for a long, long time. We think it did get used some over the last.... oh, maybe 10 years, but from how everything looks we think it likely hasn't been used in at least 5 years. The fuel tank is full of bio diesel, that has turned to sludge. The exhaust is rotted off at the turbo, or broke. Not real sure yet. Batteries did have some charge in them, but not enough to do anything. So, we replaced the batteries, and went to work getting fresh fuel to the motor. For those who don't know, these tractors were made for IH by the Steiger Tractor Company. They basically used the Steiger frame and cab, with whatever IH dictated to them for a powertrain. The engine is a DVT-800 IH V8 diesel. The trans is a Dana 5 speed Hi/Lo truck transmission. (Think 2 stick Mack.) The transfer case looks to be the same as Steiger used, but only single speed. I think it is also a Dana. The finals/ axles are IH 986 rear ends that are gutted with the exception of the ring and pinion. Pretty simple built machine.
We plan to pick it up this week, so when we get it home and start working on it, I'll update more. I may run a thread on Red Power Magazine forum also. If I do, I will link to the thread on here, but still update this one, only not likely in as much detail. You don't have to be a member of RPM to view, but you do to post, so all are welcome to follow there for details.
Here's some pics that were used in the For Sale ad, and 2 videos. One of it on the first start up, and the other of Chris driving it.... trying to break loose the stuck clutch. Forgot to mention that. After we got it running, I discovered the clutch was stuck. Oh well.... I've dealt with that before. Not sure if we will keep beating on it trying to break it loose, or just pull the trans and replace it. Not so much fun to do a clutch on this though.... easiest way is to take the cab off. So... anyway, that's what I've been kind of busy with for a week or two. Here's the pics! Video's below.
47440566_2259625300738449_7952345867980111872_n.jpg47578020_2259623284071984_6605992866156118016_n.jpg47357571_2259623074072005_8662402660357373952_n.jpg47386385_2259622967405349_3829609831451328512_n.jpg47436678_2259623347405311_6830445499108032512_n.jpg47579454_2259623594071953_6633320656433840128_n.jpg
First start:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B397...1&index=2&t=0s
"Test drive" and try to break the clutch loose:
Sorry for the poor quality on this one. I recorded it in low resolution to send in a text.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIAWncQYgA0&index=2&list=PLF5uGazAJz3iq96k azfud3gUAOPgRQWN1
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