186 Hydrostatic Drive IH Tractor
From the March/April 2026 Issue
By Kenneth Updike
“Power Never Came with so much Comfort”..That was the selling theme IH used to promote its new series of farm tractors that were introduced in 1976. IH has long been known for its high torque rise diesel engines in its tractors, but was lagging behind the competition in the “creature comfort” area. The 86 series not only caught IH up to the competition, but passed a few competitors along the way too!
The new “Pro Ag” line of 86 series tractors (as IH called them) were announced to dealers in the early fall of 1976 in Chicago IL. Here, at this same dealer meeting, the 5 millionth IH built tractor (a 1066) was sold at auction to a group of IH dealers from Montana. The 86 series actually started production in the summer of 1976 at Farmall, allowing IH to build a ”pool” of inventory units so every dealer could get some 86 series tractors on their lot for the fall farm season.