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Bremen, KS | The first cab tractor I ran was an IH 856 with an Excel cab. Some years later we added a used Excel cab to the other 856 on the place because it had AC. The AC quit a couple of years later and apparently no one could fix it as the expansion valve was NLA. During that time we ran a loaner 1456 with one of the "white box" cabs. What all three cabs had in common is that it would have been more quiet riding in the crankcase.
In '82 dad traded an open station 756 gas for an 886 with cab and all the amenities. We thought we had arrived in heaven. The cab itself was fine but there were other shortcomings with the overall design. Undeterred I thought adding a 3588 2+2 would be a good idea. It was not, but not because of the cab. In the spring of '84 I proposed the purchase of a 4430 for a silage chopping tractor which proved to be a pretty good idea. Eventually all of the IH tractors were replaced with JD SGB tractors and that's what we have today. For silage chopping I found the SGB much preferable to the IH cabs.
We've not jumped to the 7000/8000 series JDs as I think they're too expensive for what they are.
For those that complain that the door on an SGB is too small, consider that the cabs were designed in the late '60s and early '70s and farmers were quite a bit less rotund than today. No question we want to have more stuff installed in the cab and carry more stuff with us than ever dreamed of 55 years ago and that is where the limitations truly show. The design goal of eliminating one of the posts and incorporating the ROPS structure was done quite well, IMO. The large view out the side windows unbroken by a post and with the front corner posts set back further than six post designs gave a great view in the field which is what really matters. Road travel is a bit awkward at first but soon isn't a bother.
It seems no one reminisces about the IH 66 series cabs. | |
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What Is Your Opinion On The Sound Guard Cab?
