Farmwithjunk
Super Member
International Harvester never did quite get the T/A to bullitproof stage, but it was EXTREMELY popular. The T/A in the 66 series was no worse (nor any better) than the T/A's from the letter series on through 'till it went out of production. IH must have sold millions of T/A equipped tractors. There is a T/A elimination kit available, or they can be rebuilt at a price.
The 766 was a later version of the 706. Both were VERY good tractors, meant to compete directly with the Deere 3020 (and later on, the 4030) MOst farmers that I know who owned 766's in their heyday ended up turning the pumps up and/or turbo-ing them. Usually, they netted around 90 to 100hp when turned up. (80hp stock) In these parts, a nice 766 will bring big bucks. ($6000 to $8000) Tires are expensive, but it isn't UNCOMMON for a used tractor of that age to need new sneakers.
My opinion on new vs old? New is nice. But new (in 2009 terms) is complicated and expensive. I own old tractors that are daily drivers. (as old as 38 years, and still logging quite a few hours on the job) and I own new tractors. The new ones do have saftey features not found on the typical "oldie", but those oldies have their merits too. All things equal, I'd expect my 38 year old Massey to still be plugging away in another 38 years and the 2 new Deere 6430's I just recently took delivery on will be parked in a fencerow in 25 years. Once major components start failing, they'll just be too impractical to put back on line. (read; TOO EXPENSIVE) HArd to say.....Check back with me in 2034 and I'll give you a better answer.
The 766 was a later version of the 706. Both were VERY good tractors, meant to compete directly with the Deere 3020 (and later on, the 4030) MOst farmers that I know who owned 766's in their heyday ended up turning the pumps up and/or turbo-ing them. Usually, they netted around 90 to 100hp when turned up. (80hp stock) In these parts, a nice 766 will bring big bucks. ($6000 to $8000) Tires are expensive, but it isn't UNCOMMON for a used tractor of that age to need new sneakers.
My opinion on new vs old? New is nice. But new (in 2009 terms) is complicated and expensive. I own old tractors that are daily drivers. (as old as 38 years, and still logging quite a few hours on the job) and I own new tractors. The new ones do have saftey features not found on the typical "oldie", but those oldies have their merits too. All things equal, I'd expect my 38 year old Massey to still be plugging away in another 38 years and the 2 new Deere 6430's I just recently took delivery on will be parked in a fencerow in 25 years. Once major components start failing, they'll just be too impractical to put back on line. (read; TOO EXPENSIVE) HArd to say.....Check back with me in 2034 and I'll give you a better answer.
