26 Series Tractors

[SDman]

This post relates to something I have wondered about for many years.....and it has to do with the marketing of both John Deere and IH in the 1960s. In short, both companies sure had a lot of holes in their lineup as far as HP was concerned.

 

First, if you look at IH, when the 06 series started in 1963, the 706 was marketed at 72-73 HP and the 806 was marketed at 94-95 HP. Then in 1965, both gas and diesel models of the 706 were increased in HP to 76HP....the diesel engine was changed from the D-282 to the D-310 German diesel while the gas engine went from a 263 to a 291 in size. At the same time, IH introduced the 656 to fill the HP hole under the 706 at 65HP. However, the gap between the 7 & 806 was still quite a difference. This continued on with the 56 series as the 756 was unchanged from the late 706s in HP, but the 856 went up to 100HP. With the 826, IH had something to split the HP difference between the 756 and 856. IH also had something that was a more direct competitor to the John Deere 4020.

 

Deere was in a similar boat. IIRC, the 3010 was originally 55-60HP, while the 4010 was 85 HP. When those morphed into the 3020 & 4020, the HP gap was still sizable as the 3020 was around 65 HP while the 4020 was 95HP.

Sure seemed like both companies had big gaps in HP throughout the 1960s. In the late 60s, IH brought out the 26 series and the 1456, while Deere brought out the 4520, 4320, and 4620 to fill some of the holes in their lineups

[DT Fan]

1 minute ago, nepoweshiekfarmalls said:

Not mine (wish!), just posting to share the information.   I happen to know that one resides over in Keystone, IA.   

Are the owners initials MR by chance?

[nepoweshiekfarmalls]

2 minutes ago, DT Fan said:

Are the owners initials MR by chance?

Yes.  Watched him purchase it on an auction. 

[Nebraska1206]

While the 1026 was mainly introduced to showcase a larger horsepower Hydro tractor, the conglomeration of parts from the other models is quite unique.  Basically, a C4 block version of the 1256's engine, using the engine cooling and sheetmetal from the 1456, then using the rear end/axles/category 2 hitch from the 856.

[kal]

3 hours ago, DT Fan said:

Are the owners initials MR by chance?

Isn't there a rare 826 by Huxley?

[DT Fan]

5 minutes ago, kal said:

Isn't there a rare 826 by Huxley?

May be. I've seen one at the state fair that's a gas. Don't remember if hydro or gear drive. Could be that one. 

[jeeper61]

8 hours ago, EquipmentJunkie said:

In manufacturing, weight = dollars.  Therefore, a lighter tractor is nearly always less money than a heavier one. With this comment, I'm looking Kubota square in the eyes.

I agree with you there the labor is about the same on a small tractor as it is on a larger one so the material cost is about the only place to reduce cost 

[John Rowehl]

I think this screen shot definitively answers the question about IH’s intent with the 826.

Someone had posted an IH marketing sticker on this forum a couple of years ago with the same message.

[Big Bud guy]

2 minutes ago, John Rowehl said:

I think this screen shot definitively answers the question about IH’s intent with the 826.

Someone had posted an IH marketing sticker on this forum a couple of years ago with the same message.

Wonder if that's why JD updated the 4020 in 1969.  

[John Rowehl]

Here is what I mentioned in my previous post.

[Lazy WP]

We had a 826 diesel hydro at a ranch I was on in the southwest corner of Nebraska. Dead pull, my Case 830 Case O Matic would out pull it. Hydro was solid too. PTO horse the 826 was a beast. It would handle the 12.5 foot disc bine better than the MXU130. 
If you can’t tell, other than the cab, I had no use for the 130. I was never happier than the day the 1486 showed up with a new motor!!

[kal]

14 hours ago, DT Fan said:

May be. I've seen one at the state fair that's a gas. Don't remember if hydro or gear drive. Could be that one. 

Yes.

[Big Bud guy]

 

On 11/16/2021 at 5:11 PM, bitty said:

 856 custom was the 4000 answer 

My opinion it wasn't.  I think IH saw JD had a little success dumbing down the 4020 so IH did the same thing with the 856 and 756 trying to get a few more sales from price conscience farmers.  And if tractordata is right, the 826 came out the same year as the 4000.  So that tells me the 856 custom and the 826 were built at the same time.  

[John Rowehl]

Someone in a different topic discussion said that aside from the engines, the 826 and 856 models were the same. Just wondering if that is correct. (I have an 826)

[stronger800]

We had an 826. Only tractor that has ever left the farm. It was a beauty, but the pump guy recommended either it get sold, or we do a $3k pump conversion I think it was, and then it wouldn’t be original either.  We regret it.  Manual. 8 bolt hubs. 18.4-34, it was pretty 

[stronger800]

Probably ‘99 or so that was.  Pump guy used the last of his “good” available parts on it and said the parts available after that were poor

[Injpumped]

While the VA pump is hard to get hard parts for, they will literally run forever, if taken care of, run good fuel, filters and fuel additive. They only seize when neglected and fuel goes sour, or injectors are neglected and fail, thus causing pump failure. If engine is being rebuilt, have pump  injectors properly rebuilt, and it will run for a long time trouble free!

[nepoweshiekfarmalls]

4 hours ago, John Rowehl said:

Someone in a different topic discussion said that aside from the engines, the 826 and 856 models were the same. Just wondering if that is correct. (I have an 826)

Very few differences between them.  Cast radiator housing and grille come to mind,  but that is cosmetic. 

[1480x3]

5 hours ago, John Rowehl said:

Someone in a different topic discussion said that aside from the engines, the 826 and 856 models were the same. Just wondering if that is correct. (I have an 826)

Think the chassis is a little smaller like a 756 size on the 826, could be wrong though

[stronger800]

We have have minimal pump issues around here 10-15k hours on some machines, but the 826 had had pump work twice, by the late 90’s.   Pump guy was/is  highly regarded in the area and we didn’t question him at the time 

[nepoweshiekfarmalls]

1 hour ago, 1480x3 said:

Think the chassis is a little smaller like a 756 size on the 826, could be wrong though

756, 826, 856 are the same chassis.   The 8's have a taller dash and radiator support. 

[1480x3]

5 hours ago, nepoweshiekfarmalls said:

756, 826, 856 are the same chassis.   The 8's have a taller dash and radiator support. 

I thought the 826 and 756 had the lower radiator/grill, but the 8s are the same with the 756 different.  Learn something every day.     😃

[Steve C.]

40 minutes ago, 1480x3 said:

I thought the 826 and 756 had the lower radiator/grill, but the 8s are the same with the 756 different.  Learn something every day.     😃

I think I remember seeing that too, most likely on an old thread in this forum.  But I have no idea - never got to spend much time around any of the three.

[stronger800]

826 is full size.  Somebody mentioned earlier that it was lighter than an 856 but I’m not sure why that would be. That’s why I said that our 826 had nine bolt hubs and 18.4-34s, same as many 856’s seem to have. 

[Eason]

 I own all 3 off the oddballs, 1026, 826, and a 664. The 826 took the place of the 756 diesel. The ONLY way you could get a 826 gas was a Hydro. If you have a 826 gear drive it isn't factory. Also Raleigh at Herr's told me the 826 hydro transmission case is smaller than the 1026s.