International Harvester Comparisons

[rScotty]

Sounds like the OP knows mechanical things. So do I. And I going to say go with whichever one has a good power steering and a good 3pt lift. A lot of older converted tractors didn't have power steering because they weren't really made for a loader. They were also front end heavy. So get the one with a good power steering, and good 3pt lift... and if both do, get a good PTO.

Also, in something that old, a diesel would have to be in excellent shape or else I would very much prefer a gasser. That era of industrial gasoline engines were as good as diesels, and carbs and spark are easy to diagnose & repair ....plus any old gasser does start much easier than an old diesel in the cold.

We did much the same thing with a 1950's JD 2 cylinder and a trip bucket loader. It did the job and we thought it was wonderful. A lot of that was simply not having money and not knowing any better.
In fact, we still have it and it still works.... but nobody wants it. And nobody cares to use it.

We now have a Kubota TLB and wish we had bought it decades earlier... but of course we couldn't.

Keep in mind that even a 20 hp compact 4wd from the 1980s will get more actual work done... and with a whole lot less of your own effort. So after the IH, keep your eyes open.

rScotty

 

[LouNY]

Either one can do the job, it should come down to which ever one is the easier for you to get on and use.
Myself I'd be looking for a bit more HP.

 

[dieselscout80]

I would also look at the transmission gears of both of them.

The 606 only has a 5 speed unless it has a TA then it 10 speeds, but a torque amplifier (TA) may or may not bring issues. IIRC the TA would free wheel in low going downhill.

Also, the 1st and revers are kinda fast for loader work.

TractorData.com International Harvester 606 tractor transmission information

www.tractordata.com

2424 transmission speeds

TractorData.com International Harvester 2424 industrial tractor transmission information

www.tractordata.com

Neither are great loader tractors.

How much are you going to be mowing? The ability to cut with a say 8' rotary cutter will be faster than say a 5' or 6' cutter.

 

[CliffordK]

Neither are great loader tractors.

Our old International had a narrow bucket. Apparently it was rather good at digging (although the capacity was limited).

Both of the pictures appeared to have fairly wide buckets.

 

[CliffordK]

I was browsing a bit yesterday.

This is up near Seattle.

45hp 4x4 Diesel Tractor - farm & garden - by owner - sale - craigslist

Late 80's Mitsubishi MT4501D tractor. 45hp diesel, high med low manual transmission, 4x4, diff lock, power steering, 3 point and 3 speed PTO. 791 hours on a non-working meter. Starts and runs well....

seattle.craigslist.org

$3500 isn't bad for an older 4x4. No bucket, but there has to be one that could be adapted to it.

It says "Needs some general maintenance and repairs but it is a working machine." Whatever that means.

Anyway, I think the OP is quite far away, but it does give an idea of other types of tractors to keep an eye open for.

 

[techjeff]

Sounds like the OP knows mechanical things. So do I. And I going to say go with whichever one has a good power steering and a good 3pt lift. A lot of older converted tractors didn't have power steering because they weren't really made for a loader. They were also front end heavy. So get the one with a good power steering, and good 3pt lift... and if both do, get a good PTO.

Also, in something that old, a diesel would have to be in excellent shape or else I would very much prefer a gasser. That era of industrial gasoline engines were as good as diesels, and carbs and spark are easy to diagnose & repair ....plus any old gasser does start much easier than an old diesel in the cold.

We did much the same thing with a 1950's JD 2 cylinder and a trip bucket loader. It did the job and we thought it was wonderful. A lot of that was simply not having money and not knowing any better.
In fact, we still have it and it still works.... but nobody wants it. And nobody cares to use it.

We now have a Kubota TLB and wish we had bought it decades earlier... but of course we couldn't.

Keep in mind that even a 20 hp compact 4wd from the 1980s will get more actual work done... and with a whole lot less of your own effort. So after the IH, keep your eyes open.

rScotty

rScotty has hit the nail on the head with his priorities. Power steering, Good 3pt hitch because you'll want a heavy implement on the back (ballast) to get the most out of a 2wd tractor. But, if you're ok with doing a little wrenching, it's an easy job to rebuild the rear hydraulics. That's just one of those things you do when you buy an old tractor.

I do however disagree with his suggestion that you can get more work done with a newer 4wd compact. I have two 4wd compact Kubota's. The larger of the two is a 1996 L2350 with 25HP engine and large R-1 tires front and rear. While you could make the argument they do some things better, my feeling is that my 1965 International 424 and my 1956 Ford 850 2wd tractors can both do way more work than the kubota's. Both these old tractors lift twice as much in the front loader as the kubota's, and I use heavy 72" gannons and an 84" land plane on the rear. There is no way the L2350 can wield these implements. Not to mention the front drive shafts on both Kubota's have already failed from trying to use them like tractors. On the B7100 it snapped the front U-joint and on the L2350 it stripped the splines where the driveshaft enters the front diff. The flimsy front shafts on both on these tractors are about the diameter of my fingers. Turns out it's a common problem with these light duty tractors. It was an expensive repair. You won't break anything on these old tractors. They are super heavy duty and built back when steel was cheap enough to use plenty of it. Weight is your friend in an old 2wd tractor. The more your tractor weighs, the more work you can do. Of the two internationals you're looking at, if the condition appears equal and I intended to move dirt and grade or heavy ground engagement, I would go with the bigger 6 cylinder 606. that extra hp would be nice. I see the 2424 has wheel weights and better tires so there is a little advantage there. The 606 is a little sexier looking than the industrial yellow paint on the 2424. Either tractor would be an excellent bargain at those prices if they are in good condition.

 

[Thomas]

Which model you decided to choose consider rear tire chain also rear ballast for winter use.

 

[LouNY]

I used 2wd tractors for many years for my driveway work and snow removal. My driveway is mostly steep 14-16 degree slope, on ice 2wd could be a handfull to stop, often had to use the bucket.
The new style Euro studded chains do a much better job then any ladder or duo-grip could do.

Oliver 1550 and an IH 574

 

[rodneyn]

Hi there! My husband and I just bought a 20 acre property. We will be moving our horses there in a few months and also want to try our hand at the homestead thing.

We are looking for a tractor for our new farm. We will generally be using it to brush hog the fields, move round hay bales and plow/scrape snow (western NY winters.)

There are two older (1960s) tractors that we are looking at that are approximately equal in price ($3300-$4000.) All else being equal (assuming they both start and drive) is one better suited for the job than another? Is there any particular advantage/disadvantage to either (known issues, hard to get parts, etc?)

#1 - International Harvester 2424 - comes with bucket
#2 - International Harvester 606 - comes with bucket and forks

Thank you for your help!

2424 is more like 404 - 40 hp 4 cyl gas the 606 is 60 hp - 6 cyl is this gas or diesel both were available for 606. Parts are available as stated. Manuals for repairs available, tons of YouTube mechanics you can follow that work and restore these tractors. Cheap horsepower over compact diesel’s 4wd. Biggest thing to check is hydraulics, brakes and clutch. If hydraulics work power steering will to. You have to be mechanical inclined to keep these units running. Not like today’s compact tractors. Both tractors are heavy so don’t plan on running over septic field with these tractors. Where as compact diesel is lighter. Pick your challenges wisely, it was stated well these are 50-60 year old tractors they need tinkering with to keep running well. Much like old Volkswagen air cooled motor.

 

[RjCorazza]

The topic of 3 point hitches has come up, so I will add that the 2424 industrial may not have one.
That would be a deal breaker for me.
Also, if a primary use is moving round bales, make sure the loader can handle it. Otherwise, older IH machines are well built and easy to work on compared to modern machines.

 

[Bentrim]

My 3 1/2 cents (adjusted for inflation)
The industrial tractor is built for industrial type work, usually heavier where needed. The front axle should be non adjustable and made to take more punishment than an adjustable ag model. The loader should be built heavier to handle digging in the earth, with a stronger frame and mounting points. They also have limited wheel width adjustments.
The ag tractor is usually built lighter duty than an industrial model as they don't usually has the stress put on the chassis. Most loaders for ag tractors are made for material handling manure, fertilizer, etc. and are not made to dig in the earth. The ag version have many wheel width adjustments, better wider for slopes.
But all that said it is you choice onm either one, I would closely look at each one, start 'em up, drive each and get the feel of each one. Then decide on the best one for your situation.
No matter what added weight to the rear in a must for heavy loader work, even a cross bar thru a barrel of concrete is fairly cheap.
Oh yeah if they are equiped with differential lock may be a great help/safety measure

 

[CoyPatton]

Pretty sure if you are mechanically inclined and have a computer they are still easy to work on. Why do you even care about their computer status? You join some FBI computer status task force?

I apologize ma'am. We're not well.

The computer concern mention is that neither tractor is equipped with a computer controlling stuff. A headache that will not be present and no need for a computer for diagnostics, just your knowledge of things mechanical.

 

[Gopher Baroque]

The IH 2424 is the same basic tractor as the AG version the IH 424 and it’s got a 3 point hitch.

I like my IH 424 and parts are pretty much still available. However I do think my TC45 is a MUCH better loader tractor due to the hydrostatic transmission and being four wheel drive.

I have an IH 444, very close to 424. It is not a bad size on my 5 acres for field maintenance. Feels like a "real tractor" and the power steering makes easy maneuvering. The fixed frame IH 2000 loader always seems in the way working on the motor - the frame is always where I want to reach to the side of the motor. I suspect mine was about as tired as the ones you are looking at (and the same price point), which is to say, I had to scour up some missing parts through the internet, and fix a bunch of stuff (hydraulics, carb/governor/fuel system, rewired/new gauges/lighting, radiator) to get it to the point where it starts right up, runs "okay" -- except all this work did is unmask that the engine is ready for overhaul. I found all the parts needed so far by researching the internet for various supplliers. A bit of a chore, but do-able.

I still think the iH 444 / 424 is a nice enough tractor, I'm mostly tired of it not being ready to work. I agree with dieselscout80 that a "modern" tractor would nicer.

 

[dieselscout80]

I have an IH 444, very close to 424. It is not a bad size on my 5 acres for field maintenance. Feels like a "real tractor" and the power steering makes easy maneuvering. The fixed frame IH 2000 loader always seems in the way working on the motor - the frame is always where I want to reach to the side of the motor. I suspect mine was about as tired as the ones you are looking at (and the same price point), which is to say, I had to scour up some missing parts through the internet, and fix a bunch of stuff (hydraulics, carb/governor/fuel system, rewired/new gauges/lighting, radiator) to get it to the point where it starts right up, runs "okay" -- except all this work did is unmask that the engine is ready for overhaul. I found all the parts needed so far by researching the internet for various supplliers. A bit of a chore, but do-able.

I still think the iH 444 / 424 is a nice enough tractor, I'm mostly tired of it not being ready to work. I agree with dieselscout80 that a "modern" tractor would nicer.

Your last statement is so true.

It gets old having to fix before work and during work (stoppage) even with post work maintenance.


However, I bought my IH 424 in 2009 and used it as our only tractor until 2022. I even used it in 2023 for one job (spreading fire ant bait).

It doesn’t have a loader so I know knowledge of it as a loader tractor. Other than a 2 wheel drive tractor’s and hills are a bad option.

 

[Flogger]

I have an old Massey MF 40 construction tractor that I likely would not own except it was dirt cheap. I went completely through the rear end and hydraulics and still only had $2500 in it. For many reasons it has turned out to be the best mower/loader tractor I have ever owned. It is built much heavier than regular tractors and being only 40 hp I still use it to feed round bales. It has been used and abused for 12 years on the farm and just now I am needing to do a little work on it. The old timers are much more reliable if you practice good maintenance. In the recent -30 temps it was the only thing I own that started dependably. The only drawback is no rear hydraulics which could be remedied quite easily if I had no either options.

 

[Texasmark]

Problem I have with older popular US used tractors is that the loader frame blocks almost all access to the engine area. Newer compact tractors including my Branson 6530 have adequate bracing in the midsection such that when you raise the FEL there is absolutely zero interference for you to go about engine maintenance.

 

[LouNY]

Not always, just reaching the dip stick on my Branson 8050 is a skin gouging experience.
My fairly old Oliver 1550 wasn't bad at all.