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Guys I don't think 504 was a bad idea on the part of IH. I lived in dairy country and in the days of 00 and 30-50, I always believed there should have been a live pto tractor in between 200 and 300, 230 and 350. First we saw the 330 utility. Later when the 40-60 series came along 340 filled the bill. Then we went to 04-06 series. I think 504 diesel was great, they should have put the heavier front end like 300 and 350 under it though. I think by then 404 should have been engineered for live pto. The 504 gas engine has always annoyed me. I bought my 504 gas in the purchase of a farm, I had every intention of keeping it. At the time I bought the farm, 504 was at the IH dealer for an engine rebuild at 1,200 hours. The vendor was having that done, so I was getting a tractor with a newly rebuilt engine. Dealer delivered 504 just as we were about to begin haylage. I put the 504 right onto the 9' NH Haybine. Vendor wanted to operate a bit to be sure rebuild suited him. Little did he know, he had just landed a two week job. At the end of two weeks he said to me, " Hugh if I were you I wouldn't keep that tractor too long. When new it didn't measure up to my expectations, and it still doesn't." Here I was with SA, 130, 300, 504, 656D and 560D. I had every intention of trading my old 300 on a new 1066. 1066 had been ordered and price agreed on trading 300. Decided I best see for myself about this 504. I took a No. 60 3x16 plow as well as 300 and 504 to the field. I plowed with each tractor for about 2 hours. Clearly the old 300 was all over the 504, and that 300 had 15,000 hours of history in 1975, and close to 3,000 hours on current pistons and sleeves. A few days later I approached the IH dealer about changing our agreed trade. He was delighted by the move, getting a more modern tractor with 3 point hitch, power steering, etc. My trade price dropped by $3,000. Was I right in making that move? I think I was. I watched that 504 after that time. It regularly came back to dealer about every two years, traded off on something. It was the only 504 gas he ever sold, and said he wished he'd never seen it. He sold numerous 504 diesels, and people were quite happy with them.
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