IH1066 Question - To repair or not??

Around these parts, 66 series tractors in that condition make the bone yard. There is a large acreage boneyard not far from me. Lot more 66 and 86 grills in that pile than 56. I can also take you to farms in the same area, their main source of power are post 1990 tractors with dozens of 656 and 856 as backup. those guys went throught 66 and 86 stage, and soon found 4 wheel drive was the answer.

I'd take what I could get and run, beyond that you'll only trade dollars.

In this area just about every farm that has IH has a large frame 66 or 86 series. They are use for everythng from tillage, to feed wagons and spreader tractors.

I have 3 of them(2-1086s and a 1066) that are used in my operation regularly. There are a few 06 and 56 in this area but very few.

I don't have much use for a 656 or 806.

For 2 wheel drive power you can't beat them.

And they don't cost $50,000 either.

Gary

Yes, I quite agree there is quite a different situation between southern Ontario and Iowa, however there are also some funny economics between buying a new tractor in Canada and USA, or at least there was. These boys may be crying now over all the used tractors shipped state side, in the past 25 years. they might like to have them back.

All those many years the CAD was plus or minus $0.70 USD, John Deere, CaseIH and New Holland were selling new tractors for less actual CAD here in Canada, than you folks were paying in actual USD. Roughly 40% less money. This started in the late 80s by Deere, they would buy a farmer's used big tractor, ship it to the US overnight, and lease him a new Deere for little more than interest on the investment. A friend of mine did one of these deals selling his 986 to Deere, then leasing a new 125HP Deere. Learning of the deal another farmer landed at Deere dealer next morning wanting to buy the 986. That was in Truro, Nova Scotia, and he learned that 986 had made Upstate New York overnight. I've talked with many others and it's quite clear Deere wanted those used tractors out of the country. CaseIH and New Holland soon got in on the act.

Buying was very little different from leasing. I know a farmer that bought a 160-200 hp CaseIH in 1992. One year later he was offered a price he couldn't refuse for his herd of cattle plus his milk contract. The buyer didn't want his tractors and equipment, thus he had an auction. A buyer from NY bought that one year old tractor, paying $2,000. more than it cost new. In fact the local farmer bidding against him, went and bought a new one for very little more than his last bid at the auction.

This went on well into 2004-2005, may still be I haven't been following it lately. In 2004, I talked with a guy leasing new Deere's. He said when the lease is up, they don't got back to the dealer, in fact they are picked up by US lisenced trucks. It seems as though the industry is determined those used tractors will be sold in the US. I travel a bit, here in Canada, used tractors are scarce here compared to in the US. That may be changing with the dollar.

If you ever look at Iron Solutions, as far back as one year ago a Deere dealer in Nova Scotia has had close to 300 tractors mainly Deere, and quite new ones, advertized. I questioned some of my of my friends knowing full well this dealer normally wouldn't have more than 40-50 tractors in inventory. I learned this is the inventory of 3 bankrupt Deere dealers in neighboring New Brunswick. I have encountered 3 different trailer loads here in Ontario, talked with those truckers, and it was indeed this same inventory and they were headed for places like Iowa, Montana, etc.

This also is probably a substancial part of the reason we in Canada don't see many 10 to 35 year old tractors. It has been the desire of the manufacturers to keep it that way.

But someone who has 1 to 200 acres still can't afford to have a new $60,000, 150 hp tractor.

Those $7 to $10,000 66 and 86 will fit the bill just fine and still do a lot of work.

Yes IH1066 doesn't need a tractor that big, but maybe he doesn't need a new smaller tractor that costs $30,000 either when the old big tractor can do the job of a new small tractor.

I guess what I'm trying to say is you can put a lot of money in an old tractor before you get to half the cost of a new one and still get the job done.

Gary

After the 1950s and IH boosting the hp in all those 30 to 60 hp tractors. which in turn made them burn fuel big time. We shined up to diesels quite easily as horse power increased. I may also be a bit blind sided on this, if it's heavier than a 130-140 and gas, I don't even look.

If you overhaul it and the rest of the tractor is good you may get $9000 for it.

Get an estimate from a shop to overhaul it.

Or you could take it to a auction and get $7000??? the way it sits. If you don't represent it.

But don't run it if it is cavitation. We had a rod go out the side of the block on a 966 that didn't even show any signs of a problem. (oil was fine)

It started hammering and I shut it down within 20 seconds. Dad didn't believe me and started it back up and within 15 seconds he ventilated the block.

After the overhaul it had a filter on it. Was 4 years old with 1500 hrs when it blew.

Gary

Jim

My 966 cost $2500 for the overhaul including a new oil pump.

No injector pump work tho.

Allan