5088 with emco mfwd

[marty966]

So this is my first post here,although i have been following for some time, so bear with me. I have a 5088 with the Emco mfwd. The tractor needs some work as in hi-lo or main clutch is slipping under load. So we are debating parting out or repairing. The mfwd is in good operating condition. Any thoughts on the value of the complete mfwd setup? Thanks

[iowaboy1965]

No help other than to say every tractor parted out is one less out there. They are not building any more of them. Once they are gone, they are gone. If it's a decent unit I hope you will decide to fix it or sell it to someone who will.

[marty966]

Tractor is in rather rough condition shift linkage needs help, power steering works off an on, cab interior is pretty much gone, and like the old saying goes with enough time and money most anything can be accomplished.  We just have not decided which direction we will go with it yet.

[IHC5488]

Any pictures?

[marty966]

See if we can get some pics later, to cold to start up in this weather

[brewcrew]

That front end is specific to the 5X88 series. I’m not familiar enough to be certain, but possibly only the 50. I have no idea if there is much of a market for an aftermarket mfd on such a tractor, but I know guys ask big dollars for the earlier units. I’ve seen them with asking prices of $10k.

[766 Man]

  Not familiar with that setup.  Is this the centerline drive type unit?

[acem]

I would expect the your tractor has good value with the mfwd if you are not interested in repairing the tractor yourself.

Depending on your location it's probably worth selling as is to someone who wants a 5x88 4wd.

Converting a 2wd 5x88 to 4wd is normally a big job.\

Where are you located?

Pics would be appreciated.

[marty966]

located in southwestern wi. Will try and get some pictures later when the weather warms up a little. Tractor is in the back of the shed and its too cold to move a bunch machinery right now.

[marty966]

And 766man no it is not center line drive the transfer case is bolted to the bottom center of what i call the clutch housing but the driveshaft is offset to the left

[Matt Kirsch]

If you put it up for sale, someone will buy it if you simply don't want to deal with it anymore.

Sounds like maybe you're looking to cash in on parting it out? I don't know how lucrative that will be. It can take years to make any appreciable money selling parts off of a tractor. Usually it's a $20 here, $100 there. You stuff that money in your wallet and spend it without even noticing. Then suddenly enough of your tractor to render it inoperable is missing and you have nothing to show for it.

Even as desired and high-priced the 5x88 series are, you don't see a lot of call for parts that you're likely to have, those being the grille, cab doors, the cab itself, the engine. Anything that's worn or broken is no good as parts. The guys that specialize in working on 88 series could tell you what kind of parts they usually need above and beyond what they can still get new.

For sure if you part it out, it's going to become a major annoyance for you the moment it can no longer move under its own power. There are going to be a LOT of parts that rarely ever sell: major castings, wheel centers, frame rails. The bulk of that tractor is going to become a permanent monument wherever it ends up on your property. 

My advice is unless you plan on opening a full fledged tractor salvage, let someone else deal with the parting it out. Keep it, or sell it. If you've got another tractor that can perform its functions, it's costing you nothing sitting in the back of the barn as a "someday" project.

[marty966]

So why dont we go back to the first question this thread was started with? And i probably should have clarified a few things at the start. We do need a tractor for running our bale processor, but any of us that have run a tractor equipped with the emco mfwd know its not the best thing in and around buildings. We did consider converting this 50 back to 2wd, rebuilding the transmission,and taking care of the several other issues it has. So the question still is what is the value of the complete mfwd setup? Thanks for all the input so far.

[Matt Kirsch]

What's the value? Whatever you can get for it. These things hardly ever come up for sale so there really is no established market. I would probably start it at $12,500 and work down from there. What's my basis for that number? I went on tractordata, and the only 4WD 88 series listing is a 5288 and is priced at $36500. Most of the 5088's are in the $24-27K range and they're all 2WD. Kinda stepped back, crossed my eyes, did a rough calculation, and that was that...

[acem]

Here's the trick.

As I understand it you need one of your transmission housings for the output shaft to the front axle. Range transmission I think.

So while you are rebuilding your transmission you need to get a different housing.  Then replace the front axle assembly and maybe steering motor.

So you would sell the front axle, transmission housing (with 4wd specific parts), and all related parts.

I don't know the value of the Emco axle assembly or the entire kit to convert to 4wd.  I would guess between $5000 and $10,000 but the difficulty of conversion will detract from the price IMHO.

I expect you could sell the 2wd 5088 you have, needing work, and use that money to buy a 2wd 5088 in good condition.  Or buy a 2wd 5088 needing work for much less and fix it up yourself.

 

[WisIHCFarmer]

Do you do your own mechanic work? If so,Then it's a no-brainer. Fix it and keep it. If you have to hire it all done, you'll be ahead selling it as is, and buying a mechanically good, pto tractor. Absolutely no clue on the value of the mfwd setup. I'd have to guess that really wouldn't pay to do. I have a better idea, keep it, and buy another good 88 series, and then restore this one someday.  Or just let me come take it off your hands lol

[marty966]

So i wasnt aware that the range transmission needs to be swapped out to convert to 2wd. Thats definitely a game changer. Assumed this 50 had the mfwd field installed by the looks of it.  And we do our own mechanic work. We are running a 3788 for the heavy work and another 5088 2wd for the chore tractor,so would rather have another 2wd 50. Thanks for the input you have brought about a decision.

[jass1660]

Just take the drive shaft off and change front axle. No reason to change transmission to go back to 2 wd.

[marty966]

Shouldve said to sell or trade the complete mfwd setup.

[acem]

It's possible the Emco transfer case may be different. The factory driveshaft for the front axle comes through the transmission housing. This area is not normally machined to accommodate the 4wd parts on a 2wd.

Pics would help. I'm just going by how the factory setup works.

[marty966]

The transfer case on this one is bolted to the front of the transmission housing towards the bottom center., looks like the same spot as the later center drive line .

[Drysleeves]

1 minute ago, acem said:

It's possible the Emco transfer case may be different. The factory driveshaft for the front axle comes through the transmission housing. This area is not normally machined to accommodate the 4wd parts on a 2wd.

Pics would help. I'm just going by how the factory setup works.

It's different than factory AWD.

The pre-1983 production 50 Series tractors do not have the removable cover on the front center of the transmission housing where the factory system output shaft is located.

I've seen the Emco system in pictures installed on earlier production models only.

[acem]

So I may be wrong about needing the transmission housing.

If it will bolt up on the 2wd tractors without replacing the housing it could be more useful.

Does someone know more about the Emco unit?

Pics of the transfer case would be nice.

 

[marty966]

So heres afew more to add to the discussion. Both our 5088s are 1983 models according to serial number. 4wd is s/n 4582. 2wd is s/n 4958, and the 2wd tractors transmission housing will not accomodate the transfer case. No plate no mounting flange.

[marty966]

On another angle may be that the adapter plate between the engine and the trans housing would have to be swapped?

[Drysleeves]

6 minutes ago, acem said:

So I may be wrong about needing the transmission housing.

If it will bolt up on the 2wd tractors without replacing the housing it could be more useful.

Does someone know more about the Emco unit?

Pics of the transfer case would be nice.

 

There's an external transfer case of some type. I've only seen pictures so I'm no authority. The transmission front casting on the early 50 Series had a round "area" on the center transmission casting that was a bolted plate of the same shape in later production. It was as if IH really did design the tractor line with All Wheel Drive in Mind as the literature advertised when it became an option. I'm sure they wanted to reserve AWD for the 2+2 product line but when the Super 70 tractor was delayed for various reasons and Deere had the grader front end on their 50 Series, plans changed.