Advice on IH Tractor ?

Up North · #1 05/10/07, 09:50 AM

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IH 5488 Tractor, 2WD, has 3X4 12 Speed Transmission. Estimating it was built 1980-1983. 1,000 PTO, 3 PT. Cold AC. Supposed to be rated at 162 HP.

Any known Mechanical problems or defects with this series of IH Tractors?

logbuilder · #2 05/10/07, 10:27 AM

Ask your question on the yesterdaystractors.com site and you will get quality answers.

http://www.ytmag.com/farmall/wwwboard1.html

Ramblin Wreck · #3 05/10/07, 10:31 AM

Another site (besides the one logbuilder notes) with good info on tractors is tractorbynet.com. I've learned lots there when I was researching new/used tractors in the past few years.

Good luck. That's a huge tractor!

michiganfarmer · #4 05/10/07, 03:50 PM

the only weakness I know of is the torque amplifier. They have good engines, trannys, hydrolics, and front ends. You will get better information from an IH specific board

michiganfarmer · #5 05/10/07, 03:52 PM

except for the cab that looks a lot like my dad's 3088 wich is 100 horse.

**fordson major** · #6 05/10/07, 08:31 PM

you know why ih does not build tractors any more? they built the old ones too last! even the steiger i some times drive was built tough(96' bought new, rid hard and put away wet 18,000 on the meter), we see lots of old high horse ih's in our tour, may be a bit clunky compared too todays cowboys caddy but good solid value!

Up North · #7 05/10/07, 11:54 PM

Thanks fellas. What I have learned thus far is tractor has the IH 466 engine, which has a good track record. The noted defect seems to be the transmissions went to heck early in tractor's life unless IH Updates were completed. Will talk to owner about repair history and go from there.

Max - Your Dad's tractor is a beauty.

agmantoo · #8 05/11/07, 12:12 PM

Weren't the tranny problems related to a powershift type rather than a conventional manual shift one?
I have a DT466 engine and it has been as you stated, sound.

Sand Flat Bob · #9 05/11/07, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by logbuilder

Ask your question on the yesterdaystractors.com site and you will get quality answers.

http://www.ytmag.com/farmall/wwwboard1.html

Another site for International equipment and tractors, go to:http://redpowermagazine.com/forums/index.php

Bob

Sammy · #10 05/11/07, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Up North

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IH 5488 Tractor, 2WD, has 3X4 12 Speed Transmission. Estimating it was built 1980-1983. 1,000 PTO, 3 PT. Cold AC. Supposed to be rated at 162 HP.

5288 was rated at 162 p.t.o. h.p.
5488 was rated at 187 p.t.o. h.p.

Both have the 466 motor.

Up North · #11 05/12/07, 12:25 AM

The gentleman that owns it is retired now. He said it was 162 HP and he "thought" it was a 5488. He's more of a "cow" person really, but he is very fussy about maintanance. Could very well be a 5288. Hard to tell from the angle of the picture. Either one would have enough power for my needs.

An opportunity to upgrade 12 years newer tractor and get airtight, quiet cab with AC for a modest sum. I'll have to think some more on the matter.
Thanks all.

fantasymaker · #12 05/13/07, 02:28 PM

In truck duty there isnt anything better than the 466 engine.
If he is a fussy old farmer is there a chance that he hasnt used it very hard and it still has the original weak tranny?

Up North · #13 05/13/07, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fantasymaker

is there a chance that he hasnt used it very hard and it still has the original weak tranny?

Farmer that owns it is second owner, he bought it at 3,800 hours. Tractor has 5,700 hours at present. Have no way of knowing if original owner did IH Updates or transmision repairs.
Farmer that owns tractor is retired, but he is only 15 years my senior, so there is no conceivable possible way that he could be old. Cuz that would mean that I'm getting....Oh it's just not possible

LOL.

Karin L · #14 05/14/07, 10:34 AM

Up North: That tractor, the one you have a pic of, it looks almost EXACTLY like our old 5488 IH, only I don't see the wheel extentions for duals, and the weights on ours were black (and I think there were a few more bars added too). The only complaint I have about that PARTICULAR tractor is that there's no front-wheel assist. I guess that's why they have the weights on the front :wink: .
Do you know if that tractor DOES have duals? Just curious.

We switched from that ol' 5488 to a CaseIH 7240 Magnum, to have more hp, and an extra tractor with a loader incase the little 844 IH broke down unexpectedly. The 7240 has front-wheel assist, btw.

Karin L · #15 05/14/07, 10:35 AM

Oh wait, I took a second look at the pic and there ARE extentions for duals. My bad.

Up North · #16 05/15/07, 12:00 AM

Karin L. - Yes, tractor had duals. The Case Magnum Series Are excellent. And, of course, MFWD is , well...totally awesome. Currently our resources are being marshalled to transform the operation into a more modern setup with milking parlor efficiencies, so we will "make do" with some older 2wd Horses for the moment.
The first tractors I drove as a wee lad were a Farmall "Cultivator" B and a Farmall M, so you can understand how I could "suffer along" with a 5488, or 5288 as it were