IH Tractors on Montana Farm

[PALOUSE]

Ralph, I enjoyed your video of your Loadstar heading down a snowy driveway with a load of grain. Sounded like maybe that first shift wasn't so smooth though? Transmission cold? Gives authenticity to the video.

This has become a popular method of reworking the exhaust systems of gas grain trucks in my area, especially the Loadstar series. Splits the exhaust system, uses straight through glass packs to keep the heat build up down (yeah...right! We kids just like the racket) and gets things up high out of the stubble. The problem with the Loadstars was that the factory exhaust puts a nice hot Y down underneath the cab to run into a single tank type baffled muffler. Then with that wide and low slung front axle to efficiently flip straw and chaff setting on top of standing stubble onto that "Y" shaped hot box a boy scout couldn't light a better fire. Many fires would start when the truck re-entered the field after coming in off a highway run. Just doubling the exhaust pipe capacity got things cooler, added to a straight through muffler. Putting them high up along the frame helped keep things cleaner and also made more room for the under slung hydraulic pump for the hoist. Obviously this muffler is nearing the end of it's life, but the truck is not used on the farm anymore but is the "dust" truck for a local grain terminal.

It appears to me that the new generation of diesel trucks don't seem to be the fire starters that the older gas V8's are. I've always felt that diesels don't have the hot spots that gassers do. And the older six cylinder trucks didn't seem to generate the total heat those hot little V8's do. I've followed a one ton field fire truck chasing a fire line, starting as much fire as it put out. I was in the second truck and we used up all our water just dousing his trail. Eventually they reworked that exhaust system.

[M Diesel]

You would think they would have figured out the muffler thing? Obviously the construction division had it under control.

Here is Hoover in full song last Sunday. Complete with IH part numbers on those pipes!

Obviously no threat of a grass fire.

[Old Binder Guy]

M Diesel,

You can't beat the "dual pipes" on a TD-18! What a pleasurable sound to listen to as well. I can still hear it, as though it were setting there running in my avitar!

Gary

[Loadstar]

Ralph, I enjoyed your video of your Loadstar heading down a snowy driveway with a load of grain. Sounded like maybe that first shift wasn't so smooth though? Transmission cold? Gives authenticity to the video.

This has become a popular method of reworking the exhaust systems of gas grain trucks in my area, especially the Loadstar series.

Well this is my third attempt at replying. Lost the first one, then just had the second attempt all typed and ready to go when pandemonium broke loose in my barn on the monitor and I rushed out in such a hurry I guess the post got lost. Anyway, my chickens are safe and there is one dead raccoon so all is well.

Greg, you have good ears to notice those details. Yes, the 304 stumbles a little when cold but pulls like a trooper once its hot. Second gear synchronizer is a little lacking also.

Thats an interesting pic of the exhaust mod on the Loadstar. I'll attach pics of mine to show that the pipes and glass packs ride fairly high in the frame. So far, so good, no fires yet. My drivers are careful at harvest time to avoid high stubble and heavy straw. I've heard it said before that Loadstar trucks were bad for starting fires with their low riding pipes.

[Old Binder Guy]

]

Thats an interesting pic of the exhaust mod on the Loadstar. I'll attach pics of mine to show that the pipes and glass packs ride fairly high in the frame. So far, so good, no fires yet. My drivers are careful at harvest time to avoid high stubble and heavy straw. I've heard it said before that Loadstar trucks were bad for starting fires with their low riding pipes.

Ralph, Farmall Kid would concur with your last statement. When he was young and driving my Loadstar for me during harvest, we'd just stopped the combines. He pulled up into pretty low stubble. I walked over to the truck and he yelled it was burning, as he could see flames through a hole in the gearshift boot. I just skidded underneath and flailed my legs around and put it out. Apparently some "hanging" stalks had just burned off and fallen to the ground. That was an extrememly fortunate situation. I've fought wheatfield fires and they are a terrible thing. The flames leap 10'-12' and you can't get much closer than 50' due to the intense heat. I brought three of them under control with our old R-120 and weed sprayer. With someone following the water trail after the water has knocked it down, a scoop shovel puts out the remaining fire easily. I don't even like to think of it.... I'd usually cough and hack the rest of the afternoon on those days.

Gary

[PALOUSE]

Well, the Loadstar series are good farm trucks around here, once you "adjust" the exhaust system. Beyond that I've heard that they make damn good beer trucks, even with the factory exhaust. And we NEED good beer trucks.

[Loadstar]

Well, the Loadstar series are good farm trucks around here, once you "adjust" the exhaust system. Beyond that I've heard that they make damn good beer trucks, even with the factory exhaust. And we NEED good beer trucks.

Greg, theres a good chance this Loadstar was a beer truck or something like it before it became a farm truck. I know it didn't log all those miles just trucking grain to the elevators in those days.

Gary, I guess your story is good incentive to carry a fire extinguisher, or at least a shovel on the grain truck.

Got a pic of threshing near Truax, SAsk many years ago. No idea what the engine or thresher is but I'd guess with two wagons of sheaves and two pitchers at work , its a good sized one. Looks like they are prepared to work after dark, notice the coal-oil lantern hanging on the canopy of the engine.

Anson, just a heads up,there is lots of water headed down your way from Sask. once our snow begins to melt. I just came in from taking a few pics of yet another spring time blizzard. At nearly 5 months, this seems like one of the longest winters I can recall.

[M Diesel]

Who is the masked stranger dude who shows up in your pictures?

Or is this the Canadian version of Wheres Waldo?

Brrrr.

I'm thinking my Loadstar was a beer truck. Sure has a lot of wear for just a farm hauler.

[664 CDN]

Anson, just a heads up,there is lots of water headed down your way from Sask. once our snow begins to melt. I just came in from taking a few pics of yet another spring time blizzard. At nearly 5 months, this seems like one of the longest winters I can recall.

Ralph, looks like your snow is coming here tomorow the forecast says 2' to 4".

most of the old snow is gone in the fields & lanes but there is still lots along the fence lines, I even got the motorcycle out on Sun, not enough snow for the Skidoo.

I don,t have any chickens any more but we still get a few masked raiders in the barns.

So far I got 3 with the old bird seed in the live trap trick this year.

Ray

[Tubacase47]

Ralph, I'm pretty sure the steam engine in your picture is a Case but I don't know what size. The tipoff is the decal on the left bunker. I'm sure Gary will be able to enlighten us a bit more.

[Loadstar]

Ralph, I'm pretty sure the steam engine in your picture is a Case but I don't know what size. The tipoff is the decal on the left bunker. I'm sure Gary will be able to enlighten us a bit more.

Chub, I noticed there was some type of i.d. plate on the steamer but could not recognize it. Ray, plenty for snowmobiling here, unfortunately mine won't start. Sorry to send the blizzard your way but I can't take all the blame. Weather guys say it came up from Montana.

Mdiesel, its me in the pic. My face doesn't stand the cold like it used to.

Come along for a walk in a Sask. blizzard here...

Well, time to grab the snow shovel.

[664 CDN]

Chub, I noticed there was some type of i.d. plate on the steamer but could not recognize it. Ray, plenty for snowmobiling here, unfortunately mine won't start. Sorry to send the blizzard your way but I can't take all the blame. Weather guys say it came up from Montana.

Mdiesel, its me in the pic. My face doesn't stand the cold like it used to.

Come along for a walk in a Sask. blizzard here...

Well, time to grab the snow shovel.

When we get a lake effect blizzard you wouldn,t be able to see the shed or the bins.

Supposed to get blowing snow tomorrow here.

Just like Gary to send us more snow from Montana farm.

It,s to go down to -15c on Wed. night so the snow will protect the winter wheat.

Ray

[M Diesel]

Mdiesel, its me in the pic. My face doesn't stand the cold like it used to.

Well, time to grab the snow shovel.

Well we knew that. You're just not supposed to fess up in case there is a Quicky Mart wanted photo lurking around somewhere, making us all accomplices to the crime.

BTW, it was 82 here a week ago then topped at 58 Sunday so a serious chilling affect is in place. Had to wear a jacket.

At first I thought the Japan problem was bringing in smoke because the mountains got all hazy like when a wild fire goes off in California, but it was just a big cloud blowing in from the ocean. Seemed really smoky gray though.

[Old Binder Guy]

Ralph,

That engine is a 60hp Case and it has extension rims mounted! I've not seen many on 60s. I THINK the thresher is a Case also? Sure a nice picture though! Thanks for posting the photo; beside that masked man - stalking your farm.

I know my photo has nothing to do with IH Tractors on a Montana Farm, but there may have been IH Skidders used to remove the trees, as this old IH S-9 Skidder I used to run about 25 years ago. That's probably why the trees here are all gone.

This is the result of those trees being all gone. Gary

[MB. Cat]

Gooday all;

Here's a pic of a Loadstar on a Manitoba farm, and Ralph it wasn't taken today.

John

[IH Steve]

MB.Cat, what kind of mileage would you get with that setup? I guess Manitoba is pretty flat, I can imagine going up a long hill would require an IV of gasoline for the Loadstar!

[Old Binder Guy]

Gooday all;

Here's a pic of a Loadstar on a Manitoba farm, and Ralph it wasn't taken today.

John

John,

Those are two super photos with your Loadstar. Thanks for sending them for our enjoyment. I, for one, was just guessing they weren't taken in the past week. I'm just posting an IH Tractor on a Montana Farm, not trying to outdo you John. I have to post one once in a while or I catch heck.

Gary

[Loadstar]

MB.Cat, what kind of mileage would you get with that setup? I guess Manitoba is pretty flat, I can imagine going up a long hill would require an IV of gasoline for the Loadstar!

Those are some great views of John's Loadstar at work. I don't know what engine he has but mine is the 304 . Hauling grain (350 bushels) I used to average 8 mpg , (12 miles to town loaded, 12 miles home empty.) With a small engine like that, momentum and gravity are your friend, headwinds and hills are your enemy. I was lucky with a mostly downhill run to the elevator . The odd time I had to bring a load home uphill I could notice the difference. Strong headwinds were a killer on a vehicle with all the aerodynamics of a flying barn door.

With today's low volaitiliy gas I doubt I am getting as good mileage and power.

A picture from this morning including a red tractor working to clean up the aftermath of yesterday's blizzard. Those are 13x38 rear tires and the snow is pretty well the depth of the wheels and more in places

Stay tuned, video to follow..

[664 CDN]

Ralph, I'm pretty sure the steam engine in your picture is a Case but I don't know what size. The tipoff is the decal on the left bunker. I'm sure Gary will be able to enlighten us a bit more.

. Ray, plenty for snowmobiling here, unfortunately mine won't start. Sorry to send the blizzard your way but I can't take all the blame. Weather guys say it came up from Montana.

Well, time to grab the snow shovel.

Well we just got a dusting , most of the snow went south of us.

east wind here, we don,t get too much snow from that direction just enough to get the Skidoo out again for the trip to Steve,s barn.

Ray

[664 CDN]

Ralph, I'm pretty sure the steam engine in your picture is a Case but I don't know what size. The tipoff is the decal on the left bunker. I'm sure Gary will be able to enlighten us a bit more.

. Ray, plenty for snowmobiling here, unfortunately mine won't start. Sorry to send the blizzard your way but I can't take all the blame. Weather guys say it came up from Montana.

Well, time to grab the snow shovel.

Well we just got a dusting , most of the snow went south of us.

east wind here, we don,t get too much snow from that direction just enough to get the Skidoo out again for the trip to Steve,s barn.

Ray

[farmerboy3]

we have a 1974 IH loadstar it's a champ we blew the motor out of it due to my brother overloading it and shift all wrong and it was hard to find a 345 motor and we got one out of a scout but it won't haul the loads it used to since the scout motor is lighter used as a water truck now for spraying but when i take over i'll put the back pieces back in and use it for hauling grain again

Loadstar we have the exhact same muffer set up on our but the mufflers are rusted out

[Loadstar]

we have a 1974 IH loadstar it's a champ we blew the motor out of it due to my brother overloading it and shift all wrong and it was hard to find a 345 motor and we got one out of a scout but it won't haul the loads it used to since the scout motor is lighter used as a water truck now for spraying but when i take over i'll put the back pieces back in and use it for hauling grain again

Loadstar we have the exhact same muffer set up on our but the mufflers are rusted out

Farmerboy, these must have been some superior glass packs. I think they were installed in the late 80s. Still no sign of rust on them.

I have to question your statement on the Scout motor being lighter duty than the Loadstar. IH used to advertise that the Scout had the same engine as used in the medium duty trucks. I don't know if there were different cams, or something. Pretty sure my Scout II had the same 180 hp rating as my Loadstar's 304.

[M Diesel]

I'd sure be surprised if they were different.

Ralph, do you have any literature showing torque curves for a 304 or 345?

[chub]

Had a 1600 bought in 1966. Not off the floor, but ordered one reason being I wanted a yellow cab and I loved the color. Had a 13'bed and hoist installed and loved that truck. Truck was slow coming due to IH building for the military. The 1600 was kind of a "disease" in the neighborhood as it seemed there was one on every other farm. A few 1700's too. I pulled a 200 bushel flare box to town with 300 in the box commonly with that 304 engine. Had a 4 and 2 tranny. Some time later I found out the neighbors all had a differnt shift patter, hence a different brand of tranny..probably what they were using on the militarys at the time. Loved that truck. Long gone from the farm, yellow cab and all. One neighbor asked why the yellow truck and smarty here replied that anyone could buy a red truck!!! Heard afterwords that one kind of got around, chub

[MB. Cat]

On the 1600 Loadstar , don't know what the milage is, I only go on short trips 100 to 150 miles from home.

If your gonna go you gotta put in the gas it needs, it has two 25 gal saddle tanks as well as the standard tank.

I would think my milage would be around 5 mpg. and thats loaded both ways.

As far as power is concerned it has a 345 with a 5x2 trans, it keeps it busy to get up to 50 mph. I live in the Assiniboine valley and have to pull out of it each trip, it's a 200 ft elevation rise and fairly steep, I usually only have one gear left by the time I get to the top. I have a 392 engine in my 1/2 ton should swap it into the Loadstar. The Loadstar only has 40,000 miles on it so the motor is just nicely broke in.

John