If you’re looking for a 50-hp tractor that won’t break the bank, the IH 686 just might be the deal
IN THE SHOP with Rachel
By Rachel Gingell
Farms.com
The International Harvester 686 was manufactured from 1976 to 1980. This was a great era for tractors – competition was fierce among the top companies, so there was a lot of pressure to innovate and improve. While the 686 was produced for just five years, the tractor benefited from three prior models. These ancestors were the 666 (first produced in 1972), the 656 (1965), and the 606 (1962). This long series of testing and improvement resulted in the 686: the top of the line.
After so many years of proven development, the International Harvester 686 really came out shining. The hydraulics on this tractor can’t be beat. The manual transmission can really take a beating. The motor is really super, too. The 686 is an all-around excellent tractor.
A family in my hometown bought one of these tractors new many years ago. The family has a sizable dairy operation. While they took good care of their equipment, they had a lot of hard work to do – including haying on a hilly field, which is a good test of a tractor’s endurance! Their 686 performed like a champ. Year after year, the tractor kept on going. The tractor exceeded 10,000 hours before needing any significant maintenance.
You’ll go far before you need to put any significant work into this tractor – but when you do, you’ll be happy to know that parts are easy to come by. The 686 shares a lot in common with its ancestors (the 666 in particular). So even though International Harvester just rolled 6,000 of the 686 off of the assembly line, demand for common parts is still strong. This tractor is easy to work on, too, with a straightforward design and no major quirks.
These tractors sell for very reasonable prices in my area (southeast Michigan). If that’s true of your community as well, then snatch up the International Harvester 686! These 50-hp workhorses are a great buy.