Tractors of 1972

There are alot of IH 1066 &1466 around here i can only remember 1 220 there were alot of D series '190XTs and 7000ser. around this part of the country. also i rember a couple of JD 5020s also alot of 4020s there was a man here that had a new AC190XT and a new JD 4020 this was about 1969 and he said that the AC would out plow the JD but the JD would out disk the AC.

Edited by ctbowles58 - 26 Dec 2011 at 8:42pm

You're going to get three different answers depending on what forum you are on. Of course, the AC is going to win on this forum.

I like the 220,   and the 1466-the 66 series all suffered from the poorly designed torque amplifier, I do know the 5020 had that miserable boat anchor of an engine,  the infamous 531, each one came from the factory with a grenade on a timer in the oil pan, when the timer went off parts flew out the side.,!!!!

Allis sold a lot more 190XTs around here than 210s or 220s, but Deere sold more 4020s and 4320s, I never saw a 5020 around here. We did have some 1466 and a few 1566 but most were 966 and 1066. In 1972 we still had more IH than Deeres but Deere was gaining on them, AC was a distant third.

IMO,  IH started declining with the 66 series and further with the 86 series unless you like replacing clutches & TA's for a hobby.  56 series were tough.

I know this is going to be vastly unpopular, but neighbors replaced their 1850 cockshutts (Olivers) with an 1105 and 1135 massey late in 72. They beat the hell out of them and overpulled them. They had a 1500 4wd that went down with a tranny issue and used the 1135 to pull 3 12 foot # 36 discers to seed with one spring. It did it, I still remember it going down the field half pulled over to the side from all the draft. Theyre were lots of 1105/1135 tractors in our area. Another guy bought a 1155 with the v-8, it lasted one summer and was gone, engine was thirsty and loud. They were good tractors, easy to work on and had decent factory cabs with  A/C. Id take my Dads 190xt over one any day though, Trev

There were several MFs around here also. They were mostly smaller tractors though. Around here, you either loved or Hated MF. The people that had them thought they were the best tractors in the world. The others would almost shoot you for bringing one on their property. We (and most of the other Massey haters) said the people only liked them because they had never been on a "good" tractor and didn't know any better.

I will admit that I own a MF40 backhoe though. It's a pretty good machine and would give other hoes of the same vintage a run for their money. IMO I think they built the industrial equipment a little better than their ag equipment. The crappy power steering (typical Massey) is the only complaint I have with it.