IH 300 Utility - Power Steering and front loaders

Any suggestions?

Ron

IH gave it that short wheel base, thinking they were going to compete with Ford and Fergie. The 300 was just too heavy for that class of tractor. IH created both one of the greatest tractors on the mid 50 and one of the poorest tractors all with the same basic chassis. The Farmall had the wheelbase and tire size to carry the weight, Utility just didn't. A Farmall with a narrow front would out manuver a utility anyday, and in any application. The American row crop builders should have just let Henry and Harry go their own ways. Both retaliated by building larger and row crop tractors.

Much better are the British built Utilities, they had a straight front axle. Sell the 300, for some reason they are hot right now. Take the funds from 300, add to it cost of power steering and a loader. For that money, you could find yourself with a much more modern IH utility complete with powers steering and loader.

I am a tractor newcomer and value the knowledge that you experts have!

I will be visiting this site often!

Thank You!

I'd love to get a more modern Case, but I am in love with this old 300U. It's like the classic car I could never afford.

How much do you think I am looking at to buy parts and an OEM Loader (if even possible to find)?

Thanks!!!

When I refer to British built Utilities, I am talking IH. First the B-250 and B-275 came in the mid 50s, followed by the B-414 then 434 and 444. Most 434 and 444 had built in power steering and the loaders were compact, light in weight yet very strong. Later still in the early 70s came tractor like the 574 followed by the 584. Stay away from the older ones with the B prefix, they are same era as your 300. Bassically what I'm trying to tell you is vast improvments were made to all tractors in the two decades following the 300 or 1955. Quite often you will buy that improved technology for same or very little more money. I think this is true of all makes.

I guess I will go to the local tractor salvage yard and see if they can locate the parts. I'm sure I'm looking at a bill!

Then I have to find a front loader. The guys at the Case dealer were trying to sell me some modern monster of a front loader off of some other brand tractor. I see in my original manual that 300U's were avaiable with optional front loader.

Do you have any great web resources for IH300's?

Thanks very much for your reply! I am pretty new to tractors since we just bought this small farm. I pulled this tractor out of the weeds after 4 years from the previous owner. I have it running great and am storing it in my heated barn. The belly is leaking hytrans like Niagara.

Thanks Paul!

IH made only one loader for the early Ute,that was the U34 Power Loader....the one made with tubular piping.It was mainly a manure loader.

Here"s what he"s referring to

Here"s another with apparently an aftermarket loader. Go to the Tractor Photos area of this site and search under "300 Utility". There are quite a few other examples of a 300U with various types of loaders, so it"s structurally feasible. However as everyone else has stated, you may have to spend as much or more converting to power steering as you will for the loader.

Thanks buddy!

Just stumbled upon this ad and thought of you - you may want to check it out: this guy is selling a loader for a 300U. The ad was in the photo ads listed on this site. It looks like a trip loader however - you would likely find a hydraulic bucket loader much more useful. But it does show you what the original loader for this tractor looked like.

rhtrailer.com/antique_tractors.htm