question TA delete tractors

[pt756]

I guess the obvious thing would be you would not have the T. A. to use, Also you wouldnt have to replace it, It would kind of be like a John Deere 4020, Was there many made, Once somebody commented a lot of tractors from out west were T>A> delete, Once in awhile there is one around here but not that common, 

[acem]

TAs were uncommon on tractors down here in the south. Probably less than fourth of the tractors had TAs in the 06 and later series.

My Farmall 504 is even TA delete.

Ya know, you can roll start an IH tractor without TA!

[dale560]

48 minutes ago, pt756 said:

I guess the obvious thing would be you would not have the T. A. to use, Also you wouldnt have to replace it, It would kind of be like a John Deere 4020, Was there many made, Once somebody commented a lot of tractors from out west were T>A> delete, Once in awhile there is one around here but not that common, 

We have a 1256 that is factory TA delete. We only used it for loader work and some mowing. But for mower conditioner or sickle mower it is nice to have TA to slow down if needed. The wheatland stickered tractors were TA delete but they were made to pull a grain drill or cultivator up and down a field at the same speed all day long.

[Big Bud guy]

56 minutes ago, pt756 said:

I guess the obvious thing would be you would not have the T. A. to use, Also you wouldnt have to replace it, It would kind of be like a John Deere 4020, Was there many made, Once somebody commented a lot of tractors from out west were T>A> delete, Once in awhile there is one around here but not that common, 

I've never seen a factory TA delete IH tractor out here.  

[acem]

2 minutes ago, Big Bud guy said:

I've never seen a factory TA delete IH tractor out here.  

I know people who run IH tractors that have never have had a tractor with a TA. Some don't even know what a TA is!

[Long Farms]

TA delete tractors shift better. You take twin tractors with 8k hrs, one TA one TA delete and the TA delete will still shift and click into gear way easier than the TA tractors. Hydros are my priority loader tractors but 2nd to those is TA delete tractor for loader work. I have no preference either way. I dont need a TA. My area was 50/50 when new. Now a TA delete will sell faster than a TA model. As long as its factory TA delete its welcomed here. If was factory TA and then deleted, I hate it and kick it on down the road. I only sell TA delete transmissions. Never had any parts buyer interest in a TA transmission off many different models i parted out. 

My factory TA delete IHs. 

[Jacka]

Would and have passed on any factory TA delete tractors.Wouldn't want to own,run,or sell one without a TA assembly.Makes the tractor easier, better to run with a TA.Increases operator comfort and safety in my opinion. But I farm in the hills of Pennsylvania.Pulled my first TA back at 8 years old on a MTA and now 65

 

[Matt Kirsch]

It wouldn't be like a 4020 at all... You could actually shift down one gear, potentially without stopping, instead of having to drop from 5th to 2nd because you needed a little more power pulling the hay rake up a steep hill. Or, having to stop anyway because you're in 6th and need to downshift to 5th.🤣

[stronger800]

I’ve never seen a factory TA delete or even a cheap repair TA deleted tractor here in NY.  I have only purchased two tractors from out of state but when looking for them (in times before smart phones and 100 Internet pictures) if I seen one listed for what I thought was a cheap price, I would call and ask, and it wouldn’t have a TA.  Actually I have seen a 756 or 706 without one, but never a 10 or 1466. 
 

 

[acem]

Brian is right about the shifting.  All of my TA delete tractors shift better than the TA tractors.  Not sure why.

Down here the Category II  tractors are more likely to have a TA than the Category III. 

The TA delete tractors are very simple and reliable tractors. 

We rarely do tillage on hills down here.  

[HydroTek]

Shifting quality is mostly the adjustment on the dump valve and transmission brake

The delete tractors do not have need for the dump valve
... and the rotating mass of the shaft is much less without the TA
so the brake is set much more loose 

All that adjustment is operator preference, and can get pretty far out before adjustment is made
there is quite a large operating window for what is "right"

I have adjustments that I consider "right" and necessary
but others may get by with grinding gears or jerking on the shifters 

Keeps me working in the shop and money to buy stuff for my hobbies 

[naedlaen]

Thanks @HydroTek for that explanation.  The extra mass would mean the transmission brake would need to engage fully to be able to shift after the same time as the TA delete.  I have operated a 706 and 826, both with TAs, but it was so long ago that I do not remember much about them other than the cab on the 826 made hearing protection necessary if you were doing more than just moving it a short distance. 

 

Neal

[tommyw-5088]

We had a 1086 t/a delete from factory , 

886 i have now is factory t/a delete 

504 is also factory no t/a 

 

 

[Eason]

Down south T/A deletes were sold to larger farms that had hired hands who could "break an anvil with a rubber mallet". Most owner operated tractors had T/A's.

[dale560]

We like the 1256 with ta delete on loader. They shift better, another thing that would help is a fiber clutch if available instead of the sintered brass factory unit.  

[Gearclash]

On 9/29/2025 at 8:23 AM, acem said:

Brian is right about the shifting.  All of my TA delete tractors shift better than the TA tractors.  Not sure why.

At low speeds I could see the non TA tractors shifting easier.  But at rolling speeds I will take the TA every time.  Changing gears while getting up to road speed is much easier if a person pulls the TA during the HI 2 - HI 3 shift.  There is too much ratio gap to easily make that gear change without splitting it via the TA.  HI 3 - HI 4 is not nearly as bad, but I still like to split that one too, especially if I am pulling something heavy. 

Essentially the IH HI - LO quadrant - TA transmission is a poorly laid out 18 speed truck transmission -- from a conceptual standpoint. 

[acem]

I can float the high gears when on a road but never when doing tillage or any real field work. With field work the tractor just stops...

Same way with a JD synchro range except you don't have to float the gears on the road. 

The synchro range was still very popular in JD tractors down south as well. Even in the sound guard cab era.

[Jacka]

3 hours ago, acem said:

I can float the high gears when on a road but never when doing tillage or any real field work. With field work the tractor just stops...

Same way with a JD synchro range except you don't have to float the gears on the road. 

The synchro range was still very popular in JD tractors down south as well. Even in the sound guard cab era.

That is why you need a TA.Put it in a higher gear,get to a spot tractor pulling down,need to go slower because baler,chopper cant take it or on turn,headland to slow down lift implements.Pull TA back,get through it throw it ahead and keep rolling. I could imagine plowing with out a TA.Makes life so much easier 

[766 Man]

  A few area farmers bought 06 TA delete tractors new to save a few dollars.  

[stronger800]

In the late 80’s a tractor with no TA was about half price, around here 

[MacAR]

We were sorta on the line in my area; North of here (S. Missouri) most had TA's. South of here (Central AR) most were TA delete. I like a TA myself, but have seen many of the TA deletes around here. Matter of fact, Dad's SMTA was a factory TA delete tractor (believe it or not) and the only one I've ever seen in person though I've heard of others. Of course, we didn't know at the time it was "uncommon" and so the old man sold it when he wanted to upgrade. Sorta wish I had it back now... 

Anyhow, seems like most of the tractors I see for sale these days are TA delete, and I usually won't give them the time of day. For the work I do, I feel a TA is necessary; power steering, fast hitch, etc aren't but the TA is a must-have for me. But lots of folks around here don't agree with that, as evidenced by the dearth of TA tractors. 

[dale560]

15 hours ago, MacAR said:

We were sorta on the line in my area; North of here (S. Missouri) most had TA's. South of here (Central AR) most were TA delete. I like a TA myself, but have seen many of the TA deletes around here. Matter of fact, Dad's SMTA was a factory TA delete tractor (believe it or not) and the only one I've ever seen in person though I've heard of others. Of course, we didn't know at the time it was "uncommon" and so the old man sold it when he wanted to upgrade. Sorta wish I had it back now... 

Anyhow, seems like most of the tractors I see for sale these days are TA delete, and I usually won't give them the time of day. For the work I do, I feel a TA is necessary; power steering, fast hitch, etc aren't but the TA is a must-have for me. But lots of folks around here don't agree with that, as evidenced by the dearth of TA tractors. 

The smart delete was more common. They actually changed model numbers so there are late year super m s that had the different. Front casting and hydraulic under the tank without ta or live pto. If you scrape away layers of paint and look at serial no they start with smta. 

[MacAR]

2 hours ago, dale560 said:

The smart delete was more common. They actually changed model numbers so there are late year super m s that had the different. Front casting and hydraulic under the tank without ta or live pto. If you scrape away layers of paint and look at serial no they start with smta. 

Ours did have the LPTO, I do remember how much I enjoyed that when mowing or baling hay. The only thing it didn't have was a TA, but the decals were pretty well gone by the time we got it, and I don't know that I ever looked at the serial tag. 

[tommyw-5088]

I dont know what what im missing i guess . Grandad ordered them T/a delete . The 1086 was traded off for the 5088 i have now .I still have the 886 factory T/A delete . many thousands of hours later i dont at all see the point . 8 speeds are the same as an deere powershift up to the 4840 . Those sure seemed to do ok in TX . Still see an odd 4840 going . my 706 is awaiting a restore , its T/A delete too . been busy and not looked at it in months . We farmed about 1100 acres , conventional tillage with a 1086 and 886 both T/A delete . L-3 ,L-4 is what we used and got along just fine . we did have a 706 and 1066 with T/A .I dont remember using it much . Thats been a long time ago though .

 

[Matt Kirsch]

Everybody's needs, and farming conditions, are different. Flat ground, consistent soil... you can just stick it in a gear, sink the plow in the ground, and go until you catch up to your dog that you've been watching run away for three days. When you live in an area where the ground goes from gravel to clay to sandy loam to cobblestone in the same pass, and you lose sight of the other end of the field because the hill you're on is that steep, you find yourself shifting up and down multiple times in a pass. Sure you could run a gear slower, but you'd never get anything done putzing around that slow.