By Larry Gay
In the fall of 1976 International Harvester introduced 12 new models of tractors, 11 of the new 86 series and a small 84 series utility tractor. Three were four-wheel-drive tractors ranging from the 4586 with 300 engine horsepower to the 4186 with 175 engine horsepower. Six were Pro-Ag models of row-crop tractors with the new Control Center cab as standard equipment. These models ranged from the 1586 with an initial rating of 160 PTO horsepower to the 886 with 85 PTO horsepower. The other two new 86 series models were the 686 with 66 PTO horsepower and the Hydro 86 with 69 PTO horsepower. These two were not Pro-Ag tractors as they were only equipped with a two-post ROPS.
The small International 284 utility tractor was almost lost in the new product introduction with the emphasis on the Harvester-produced Comfort Center cab with its isolation mounts, a built-in ROPS, a suspension deluxe seat, an adjustable steering wheel, control consoles on both sides of the seat, and a door on each side of the cab. The International 284 was an open-station utility tractor with a four-cylinder gasoline engine producing an estimated 28 engine horsepower and 24 PTO horsepower. The eight speed transmission produced speeds ranging from 1.0 to 9.3 mph. A transmission-driven PTO with 540 and 1,000 rpm and a Category 1 size of three-point hitch were standard equipment. A two-post ROPS and canopy were optional.
So what made the International 284 tractor unique? It was the last tractor with a gasoline engine to be tested at the Nebraska Tractor Test Lab. All the tractors tested after the 284 were powered by diesel engines. Test Number 1277 of May 1978 stated the 284 produced 25.7 PTO horsepower at the rated engine speed of 2,600 rpm and 24.3 PTO horsepower at the 1,000-rpm PTO speed. The power plant was a Mazda four-cylinder engine with a displacement of 71.3 cubic inches. The bore and stroke were 2.75 x 2.99 inches. The 284 was built by Kimco in Japan, the joint venture company of Harvester and Komatsu.
A three-cylinder, 99-cubic-inch Nissan diesel engine was made available for the 284 for the 1981 model year and the diesel engine version was tested at Nebraska in May 1981 where it produced 27.4 PTO horsepower at the rated engine speed of 2,600 rpm and 23.9 PTO horsepower at the 540-rpm PTO speed. Both engine versions were available for 1981 and 1982. Only the diesel engine was available in 1983 and 1984 for the International 284 and in 1985 and 1986 for the Case International 284.
Larry Gay is the author of four tractor books published by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, including Farm Tractors 1975-1995 and Farm Tractors 1995-2005. The four books may be obtained from ASABE by calling 800-695-2723.
