What makes a great auger tractor? Max Armstrong’s Tractor Shed selections this week might help pin that answer down.
“Auger tractors are again [highlighted] this weekend from Missouri to North Carolina, performing the task out there elevating that grain,” Armstrong says. John Deere’s reliable 2950 is among those highlighted. With production spanning five years beginning in 1983, its 5.9-liter, six-cylinder diesel engine produced about 85 hp — more than enough for auger duty.
“Kevin Johnson in Johnston County, N.C., owns this tractor. He confirmed for me that it was made in Germany,” Armstrong says.
The three red machines that round out Armstrong’s highlights provide an interesting glimpse into American tractor history. The drivetrain for International Harvester’s Farmall 560 wasn’t strong enough to handle its powerful engine when it launched in 1958.
So, the brand completely overhauled the machine’s rear end in its second production year, with a comprehensive replacement program offered for those already working farm fields. Bob Zarsi, an International Harvester collector from Reynolds, Ind., owns one of those updated versions, which continued production until 1963.
While long retired from field duty, the 560’s big engine still turns over just fine and plays an important role in Zarsi’s operation.
Two years after the 560 ended production, International Harvester launched its Farmall 656 (and similar International Harvester version) as an attempt to claw back the market share it had lost to John Deere due to mechanical failures of previous iterations, including the 560.
The 656 was well-received. While its hydrostatic drive required persnickety upkeep, maintenance paid dividends. And over decades, the 656 proved its worth as a reliable workhorse. Case in point: Farmer Raleigh Moore’s old Farmall 656 is still elevating grain a half century later in Ida, Ill.
Launched at the tail end of the 656-era, International Harvester found an instant classic with its new 1066. As a version of the 966’s 414-cubic-inch diesel engine, the 1066 produced plenty of power for its aggressive frame. The 1066 continued production until 1976, with more than 50,000 rolling off the line in Rock Island, Ill.
Its reliability and iconic look contributed to long-term staying power — as a showroom centerpiece and antique workhorse.
“This is Gavin Spores’ IH1066. He’s a first-generation popcorn farmer,” Armstrong says. “It’s hooked up to an auger in Martinsburg, Mo.”
So, what makes a great auger tractor? The answer can be found beneath the hoods of all this week’s Tractor Shed selections: Reliable engines.
