The Versatile 555 was a great sized tractor for guys here in Alberta who had small farms but needed a 4WD for their operation. The downfall of the 555 was their Cummins V8 engines. The disadvantage of a V8 diesel design is that you have one crankshaft bearing on either side of each cylinder pair, instead of on either side of every cylinder, as in an inline design. The engines in the 555's were notoriously weak, relative to the inline Cummins diesels in other Versatile models, which were comparatively bulletproof. The 80's were an extremely difficult decade for agricultural manufacturers and farmers alike, and many manufacturers tried innumerable ways to produce unit's on the cheap, compared to now.
Yes the 80s were a disaterous time for agriculture, no question. You make a good point about the support bearing arrangement in a V8 versus an inline 6 engine. Whilst V8s look and sound good, their downfall is the fact that due to the inherent design, where crankshaft throw is concerned, they generally have to be revved pretty hard to get any sort of decent performance out of them - their low end torque is quite weak. Their heavy fuel useage is another black mark against them, not only are you feeding 2 additional cylinders versus a straight 6, but the fact that they have to be revved hard means that you're using more fuel per hour too. The general trend has been toward large capacity inline 6s in large articulated tractors, for the most part, but there are still a few outliers who continue to use V8s in their machines.
Hey Jason...thanks for another great video....my father-in-law had a 935 Versatile with a 903 Cummins.....he bought it new and kept it til he retired... that tractor was bulletproof.
gone rydin no. There was a 650/50 with a 12v92, a 400/30 with an 8v92 and several series 4s with 8v92s, and one solitary 500 that originally had a Deutz V12
My favourite didn’t make the list but was the first North American row crop tractor with a V8, the Massey Ferguson 1150 it came with a Perkins 510 cu in engine. Although you did include the 1155 which was built a bit later. Great video. Merry Christmas from Ontario Canada.
i know Im asking randomly but does anybody know a method to log back into an instagram account..? I was stupid lost the login password. I love any tricks you can offer me.
@Izaiah Mathew i really appreciate your reply. I found the site thru google and Im in the hacking process atm. Looks like it's gonna take quite some time so I will reply here later with my results.
I was lucky to operate brand new 4840 and 4880 here in the UK,mainly with a 6 meter Ripper and a 8 meter power harrow,very fine tractors in their time👍
IH DV-550 in the 1468/1568. Never actually seen or run one in person, but always been a favorite of mine. Followed very closely by the Cat powered Olivers.
Like both of your V8 powered tractor's. I really like that tillage tool that the 8850 was pulling. Looks like a chisel plow and field cultivator combo. Perfect
@@bigtractorpower That would make a great video. I have been in the plant that made the VT-903 many years ago in Indiana. I used to work at a tool and die company that did contract work for Cummins.
Excellent collection of vids capturing the V8 powered classic iron. I really like the Cat powered 2255 Oliver, the Steiger Tiger I & the 900 Versatile. Hard to beat the throaty V8 growl. Merry Christmas BTP!! Cheers
I saw one once with the twin stacks. Someone said it was a carnival pulling tractor. Couldn’t understand why you would make a toy out of such a beautiful machine
I bought my JD8850 in 2010 with less than 5000 hrs on the counter for Can$ 20'000. It was a blast to drive, had plenty of traction (triples front and back) but was a terrible dieselholic. The sound alone, comparable to a WW2 Lancaster Bomber, was worth the cost on the fuel. But than in 2013 I replaced my IH Magnum by a Fendt 828 and found out that the heavy pull on my farm could also be done with said Fendt using half the fuel for the same job. I than sold the 8850 to a farmer for $ 16'000. He restored it to like new shape and is very happy with it. MS
My dad used to work for MF and there was time here in South Africa when he worked a lot on 1100 serries, mainly 1105's. He was one of fiew people who understood its hydraulics. Up in the South African Highfeld the naturally aspirated V8 of the 1155 would push out less power than the turbo charged 6cyl of the 1105 due to altitude. Thats why u did not see a lot of 1155 in our area.My favourite sound in this video is MF 4880, witch was also rather rare in South Africa.
Merry Christmas. Thanks for the V-8's. Don't have a number one favorite but I prefer when there is dual stacks for better motor sound quality. I do like the #10 Versatile 900 in this video but tend to lean towards the traditional tractor over the big articulated body styles. IH 1256 Kinze repower v-8 or the JD 5020 or JD6030. Big engine and even bigger tires, big and tall.
I had a good friend and neighbor who had a JD 8850. It was a beast but he used to joke that it was an answer to prayer when it made it to the other end of the field because he was never sure the engine wouldn't blow up before it got there. Sadly he only used it a couple of years before he was killed in a car accident.
New tractors are nice but there is just something about old iron chugging across the field. Kind of like me old and rough but still getting it done.great video.
Merry Christmas sir and hope you have a wonderful new year too. Please keep them videos coming love them big time. My favorite is one you showed Ford fw 60.
Awesome!.....my grandfather (mom's dad) in Montana sold MM then MF as his main brand but also dealt White, Case and my favorite Steiger...with an odd Knudson thrown in now and again! It was crazy 'back in the day', in a small town of around 1000-1200 there was the MF (grandpa's), JD, Ford and International Implement dealers....of course there were 6 bars and 5 churches too! 😀 Looking back it was a great time to work at his shop with my cousins in the summers but did not get the chance to work the farm with them before it all went belly up....the 80's + over stretching financials...but did run Versatile 750 (I think) and JD to summer follow a few summers in the early 80's for a neighbor.
Rural life is great. It was simpler back then. It’s interesting how many brands and dealers a town might have had back then and there was enough business to keep them all going. Today there is little surprise at dealers. There is a limited customer base and it’s basically order in rather than stocking units.
Mr big tractor you are our entertainment after many hours of work but also in our holidays merry Christmas from a small goat farm on a small greek island thank you for all the interesting information
Drove a 8850 for many years, factory tect come and open that engine up to put an extra 100 horse power on PTO, very big improvement burnt away less fuel and for seeding and applying fertilizer especially NH3 alot more accurate
I have not had a chance to film a 1468 or 1568 by itself in a field yet. I do have a 1468 filmed a plowing demonstration. Hopefully in 2021 a 68 series turns up to film.
Mike you might have an attraction to the V8 powered tractors but they were not the most dependable engines could not with stand the lugging which is expected of a farm tractor. But they do sound nice
Cool seeing the oldies. I ran a Versatile 700 and 145. Funny how I never see the 145 in videos. The Cummings 470 V8 in the 145 was often replaced with the Cummings 505. Gained about an extra 20 horse with the swap.
I have run a 8850 John Deere tractor alot pulling a 28 foot finishing disc and a 50 field cultivator it's a nice tractor to drive until you need to fill the fuel tank it likes lots of fuel I would say well over 20 gallons of fuel per hour but it gets some serious tillage done
Merry Christmas Jason and to all your family. The mighty VT 903 is an engine that you either love or hate. Very much the same characteristics as the 2 stroke Jimmies, ya gotta keep em revin above 1800 or they get very sluggish. The VT Cummins would rev happily to 2800 and be reliable, any more than that they have a tendency to throw a leg outta bed. Iv got a VT 903 in my coe Kenworth and its brilliant on fuel and pullls hard if ya keep it revin. See a hill comin up and start splitting gears to keep her revin. Nowhere near the torque of an inline six. My VT has a turbo off an N 14 Cummins and that has made her a lot more lively. Play with the pump and give em more air and more fuel and i reckon ya lookin more at 400 hp. The sound is magical, but the na 903 with no turbo sounds nicer and beefier, specially thru straight twin pipes. As for my fav tractor in this vid, i love em all but the big red articulated IHC is second to none by a mile. If only they had the sound proofing and padding everywhere like the big Fords,n Johnies did. I own a few old Inters, 1530, W30, McCormick Deerings, AW6, AW7 x2, 554, Chamberlain Countryman, Chamberlain C6100, Chamberlain loader, and our main tillage tractor is a 2290 Case with the beautiful 504 Case motor. Gotta be one of the best motors ever made. Smooth as silk and pull like a frieght train. And two Cat dozers, 1954 D4 and a 1960 17a D7. Id swap emm all for one of those big articulated IHCs. Like the Fraud tractors too. Merry Christmas all and happy New Year
The Versatile 555 was a great sized tractor for guys here in Alberta who had small farms but needed a 4WD for their operation. The downfall of the 555 was their Cummins V8 engines. The disadvantage of a V8 diesel design is that you have one crankshaft bearing on either side of each cylinder pair, instead of on either side of every cylinder, as in an inline design. The engines in the 555's were notoriously weak, relative to the inline Cummins diesels in other Versatile models, which were comparatively bulletproof. The 80's were an extremely difficult decade for agricultural manufacturers and farmers alike, and many manufacturers tried innumerable ways to produce unit's on the cheap, compared to now.
Yes the 80s were a disaterous time for agriculture, no question.
You make a good point about the support bearing arrangement in a V8 versus an inline 6 engine.
Whilst V8s look and sound good, their downfall is the fact that due to the inherent design, where crankshaft throw is concerned, they generally have to be revved pretty hard to get any sort of decent performance out of them - their low end torque is quite weak.
Their heavy fuel useage is another black mark against them, not only are you feeding 2 additional cylinders versus a straight 6, but the fact that they have to be revved hard means that you're using more fuel per hour too.
The general trend has been toward large capacity inline 6s in large articulated tractors, for the most part, but there are still a few outliers who continue to use V8s in their machines.
They look pretty cool, too, with the valve covers sticking out the side of the engine bay.
Hey Jason...thanks for another great video....my father-in-law had a 935 Versatile with a 903 Cummins.....he bought it new and kept it til he retired... that tractor was bulletproof.
I'd say the mf 4880 sounds the best on the list
That old Massey rocking that 903 and 10 bottom plow is about the epitome of old muscle tractors ! Sounds perfect !!!!
😁👍👍
V8 that’s cute
Big Bud: V16
Detroit power 💪
All but one Big Bud tractor had inline 6 cylinder engines.
gone rydin no. There was a 650/50 with a 12v92, a 400/30 with an 8v92 and several series 4s with 8v92s, and one solitary 500 that originally had a Deutz V12
I'm a Deere guy through and through but man did that old 4880 Massey ever sound GOOD!
My favourite didn’t make the list but was the first North American row crop tractor with a V8, the Massey Ferguson 1150 it came with a Perkins 510 cu in engine. Although you did include the 1155 which was built a bit later. Great video. Merry Christmas from Ontario Canada.
Is it a rare tractor to find? Because that might be the reason as to why it didn't make it onto the list.
i know Im asking randomly but does anybody know a method to log back into an instagram account..?
I was stupid lost the login password. I love any tricks you can offer me.
@Kyree Zayd Instablaster ;)
@Izaiah Mathew i really appreciate your reply. I found the site thru google and Im in the hacking process atm.
Looks like it's gonna take quite some time so I will reply here later with my results.
@Izaiah Mathew It did the trick and I actually got access to my account again. I am so happy!
Thanks so much, you saved my ass :D
Christmas Eve is the day for V8 tractor engines huh? OK, why not, they "sound" good to me. Merry Christmas everyone!
I was lucky to operate brand new 4840 and 4880 here in the UK,mainly with a 6 meter Ripper and a 8 meter power harrow,very fine tractors in their time👍
Can't beat an 8850 deere. That's why we have 2
IH DV-550 in the 1468/1568. Never actually seen or run one in person, but always been a favorite of mine. Followed very closely by the Cat powered Olivers.
😁👍👍. I filmed at 2255 this spring.
Like both of your V8 powered tractor's. I really like that tillage tool that the 8850 was pulling. Looks like a chisel plow and field cultivator combo. Perfect
we had a 935 versitile with a 903 loved it!
6:20 the old White/Oliver whine. Oh how I miss it
👍👍
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and your Family. Be safe and God bless !!!!!!.
Happy Holidays to you too bud! Thanks!
I run a MF 4880 vt903 as my main tractor 38 years still going strong
Very cool.
Massey 4840 is one of my favorites. Also the Oliver 2255, we have a front wheel assist model.
The Ford, Massey Ferguson and the Versatile look and sound badass
The FW60 is my favourite but the 4880 running a very close second. Thanks for sharing and happy New Year. 🇬🇧
I've ran the Versatile 900. That was a great tractor. It is interesting how many different tractors used the Cummins VT-903 engine.
The 903 powered allot of tractors. I could probably do a top 10 903 powered tractor video 😁
@@bigtractorpower
That would make a great video. I have been in the plant that made the VT-903 many years ago in Indiana. I used to work at a tool and die company that did contract work for Cummins.
I like the Massey Ferguson 4880.
Hard to beat the sound of the ol 903 Cummins !
👍👍
Nossa que maravilha de trator ainda mais V8
Massey Ferguson,White,Oliver & Internatonal Harvester all had 2 wheel drive V-8 row crop tractors
I still use my 1975 900 versatile with the non turboed 903 cummins
The best looking one is the Ford FW60. What was the reason for V8’s in the 70’s and 80’s?
The Massey grey cabs are pretty iconic
well the are very cool in my defense
The reason was for more power output. V8s of the time could generate more BTUs than inline engines.
Missed International 1468 Best looking V8 tractor.
Thanks for all the videos this year, Merry Christmas
😁👍. Merry Christmas.
Excellent collection of vids capturing the V8 powered classic iron. I really like the Cat powered 2255 Oliver, the Steiger Tiger I & the 900 Versatile. Hard to beat the throaty V8 growl. Merry Christmas BTP!! Cheers
Merry Christmas everyone ✌️
Figured the 14/1568 would make an appearance! Good show of big classic V8s!
I saw one once with the twin stacks. Someone said it was a carnival pulling tractor. Couldn’t understand why you would make a toy out of such a beautiful machine
You should get one of each in your collection. My favorite is the FW 60. My next favorites are IH 1468 & 1568
Great video Jason. The Cummins Vt 903 in the 4880 just sounds awesome! Merry Christmas mate.
The 903 Cummins was a great engine.
Massey was the best because of the 3 speed auxiliary transmission, bulletproof
I bought my JD8850 in 2010 with less than 5000 hrs on the counter for Can$ 20'000. It was a blast to drive, had plenty of traction (triples front and back) but was a terrible dieselholic. The sound alone, comparable to a WW2 Lancaster Bomber, was worth the cost on the fuel. But than in 2013 I replaced my IH Magnum by a Fendt 828 and found out that the heavy pull on my farm could also be done with said Fendt using half the fuel for the same job. I than sold the 8850 to a farmer for $ 16'000. He restored it to like new shape and is very happy with it. MS
My dad used to work for MF and there was time here in South Africa when he worked a lot on 1100 serries, mainly 1105's. He was one of fiew people who understood its hydraulics. Up in the South African Highfeld the naturally aspirated V8 of the 1155 would push out less power than the turbo charged 6cyl of the 1105 due to altitude. Thats why u did not see a lot of 1155 in our area.My favourite sound in this video is MF 4880, witch was also rather rare in South Africa.
We have a 1974 2255 Oliver very dependable and smooth running tractor.
Very cool tractor to have.
I’m in love with that 225. Those red stripes are sharp tractors. Need to find you a 2-180 to film so you have the big brother of that 2255.
Merry Christmas. Thanks for the V-8's. Don't have a number one favorite but I prefer when there is dual stacks for better motor sound quality. I do like the #10 Versatile 900 in this video but tend to lean towards the traditional tractor over the big articulated body styles. IH 1256 Kinze repower v-8 or the JD 5020 or JD6030. Big engine and even bigger tires, big and tall.
The re power models do stand out. Hopefully I can find some more V8 tractors in 2021 to film.
Merry Christmas 🎅
Thank you for the videos. Wishing you a prosperous 2021!
I'm kinda partial to the John Deere 8850😊. Thanks Jason for the footage. Two thumbs up 👍👍
To me the Ford is the best looking
International, Massey & White. My Top 3.
Thank you for the video it’s great hearing them working hard
I had a good friend and neighbor who had a JD 8850. It was a beast but he used to joke that it was an answer to prayer when it made it to the other end of the field because he was never sure the engine wouldn't blow up before it got there. Sadly he only used it a couple of years before he was killed in a car accident.
That’s awesome, back in my era.
Thank you. I love the sound of these engines working hard. My favorites are the two wheel drives, but the Versatile sounded great.
Very cool segment, can't beat a turbo diesel straight piped V8 for sound.
😁👍👍
That v8 cummins sounds good!!
International for me. All the best for Christmas Jason
We run Oliver 2255 with 3150cat pulling Krause disk and 4-150 white with 3208 pulling 13 shank chisel plow and 5 shank v ripper
I like the Allis 440 . I have one it still runs good.
These are very cool tractors and harvesters
Merry Christmas 🎅 🎄
That was awesome seeing all those tractors thanks for all your hard work and merry Christmas Jason
New tractors are nice but there is just something about old iron chugging across the field. Kind of like me old and rough but still getting it done.great video.
Another video featuring your own tractor. I would be proud to own that one too. Merry Christmas!🎄
Tractors* he has 2 now
#3 my favorite , merry Christmas from Goderich Ontario Canada
Merry Christmas sir and hope you have a wonderful new year too. Please keep them videos coming love them big time. My favorite is one you showed Ford fw 60.
We’ve got a Steiger bearcat 1 that we have taken care of. We don’t really use it anymore but it’s a cool tractor.
Thank you for the great video and sounds
That my 1155 was workin hard!
cody J you can have it 🤮
I like them all ! Merry Christmas Jason .
Awesome!.....my grandfather (mom's dad) in Montana sold MM then MF as his main brand but also dealt White, Case and my favorite Steiger...with an odd Knudson thrown in now and again! It was crazy 'back in the day', in a small town of around 1000-1200 there was the MF (grandpa's), JD, Ford and International Implement dealers....of course there were 6 bars and 5 churches too! 😀
Looking back it was a great time to work at his shop with my cousins in the summers but did not get the chance to work the farm with them before it all went belly up....the 80's + over stretching financials...but did run Versatile 750 (I think) and JD to summer follow a few summers in the early 80's for a neighbor.
Rural life is great. It was simpler back then. It’s interesting how many brands and dealers a town might have had back then and there was enough business to keep them all going. Today there is little surprise at dealers. There is a limited customer base and it’s basically order in rather than stocking units.
Mr big tractor you are our entertainment after many hours of work but also in our holidays merry Christmas from a small goat farm on a small greek island thank you for all the interesting information
We had an 1135 then a 1155. The 1155 made a whistle noise that you couldn't hear up close but neighbors miles away could.
Always have liked the FW60. Just something about that Steiger in Ford blue that I like.
I agree. They stand out. Cool tractors.
Drove a 8850 for many years, factory tect come and open that engine up to put an extra 100 horse power on PTO, very big improvement burnt away less fuel and for seeding and applying fertilizer especially NH3 alot more accurate
Drove a 4586 and 4786 for a farmer I worked for as a hired man, sounded nice, just not inside the cab for 12 hrs a day lol
The FW 60 looks nice😁👍 but all V8's are great👍😉
thank you
Thank you for watching.
Great Christmas gift. Merry Christmas BTP.
We run a Ford FW40 with a 7 shank 730B and a 38’ CiH digger in the spring. Also have a. Versatile 900 repowered with a 855 Cummins. Great video!
Wow two very very cool tractors. The FW40 is a rare one. I hope to film one someday. Where do you farm?
@@bigtractorpower central Mn
Yeah, I know you've heard it many times; Awesome!!!
8850's are awesome wish we had one
The 8850 is a stand out for sure.
Got the 8850 workin hard. Awsome video Jason. Merry Christmas and God Bless ya'll
Merry Christmas to all you prairie monster drivers out there 👍😁
Versatile nice looking tractor
The 900 is a stand out for sure.
900 or 950 versatile👍
The FW60 is awesome, but like them all
I want to find more FWs to film. They are neat tractors.
One of the biggest was a Rome 475C Caterpillar 3408 1,099 cubes. Ran one.
Good job
😁👍
WHITE 4-270 is one of my favorite v8 tractors
The 4-270 was powered by a inline 6 cil. Cat. Not a V8 Cat like the 4-225, 4-210, 4-180, 4-150.
I thought all the WHITE 4wd tractors were a V8
Learn something new every day
where are the 1468 a d 1568 tractors, those were great looking with all the chrome
I have not had a chance to film a 1468 or 1568 by itself in a field yet. I do have a 1468 filmed a plowing demonstration. Hopefully in 2021 a 68 series turns up to film.
Yeah, where are they?
fun fact: Caterpillar engines are also fairly popular for marine applications as well
Double fun fact - so are John Deere marine engines, Yanmar marine engines, Cummins marine engines, Volvo Penta and a few other manufacturers...
Merry Christmas 🎄🎄🎄
Mike you might have an attraction to the V8 powered tractors but they were not the most dependable engines could not with stand the lugging which is expected of a farm tractor. But they do sound nice
Love your videos. Could you feature Oliver some time?
Cool seeing the oldies. I ran a Versatile 700 and 145. Funny how I never see the 145 in videos. The Cummings 470 V8 in the 145 was often replaced with the Cummings 505. Gained about an extra 20 horse with the swap.
I always enjoy your videos. Merry Christmas and a prosperous new year for you and your family
Great video Jason.
Here's wishing you a Merry Christmas and a prosperous and Happy new year.
Keep up with the great videos.
Thank you. Merry Christmas.
Pretty. Cool
Thank you for watching.
I have run a 8850 John Deere tractor alot pulling a 28 foot finishing disc and a 50 field cultivator it's a nice tractor to drive until you need to fill the fuel tank it likes lots of fuel I would say well over 20 gallons of fuel per hour but it gets some serious tillage done
Merry Christmas!
Hoped to see something with a v8 detroit or scania, like a 3300 steiger or maybe a 4994 case. Sure are lots of 903 cummins, 3208 and 555 cummins
Merry Christmas Jason and to all your family. The mighty VT 903 is an engine that you either love or hate. Very much the same characteristics as the 2 stroke Jimmies, ya gotta keep em revin above 1800 or they get very sluggish. The VT Cummins would rev happily to 2800 and be reliable, any more than that they have a tendency to throw a leg outta bed. Iv got a VT 903 in my coe Kenworth and its brilliant on fuel and pullls hard if ya keep it revin. See a hill comin up and start splitting gears to keep her revin. Nowhere near the torque of an inline six. My VT has a turbo off an N 14 Cummins and that has made her a lot more lively. Play with the pump and give em more air and more fuel and i reckon ya lookin more at 400 hp. The sound is magical, but the na 903 with no turbo sounds nicer and beefier, specially thru straight twin pipes. As for my fav tractor in this vid, i love em all but the big red articulated IHC is second to none by a mile. If only they had the sound proofing and padding everywhere like the big Fords,n Johnies did. I own a few old Inters, 1530, W30, McCormick Deerings, AW6, AW7 x2, 554, Chamberlain Countryman, Chamberlain C6100, Chamberlain loader, and our main tillage tractor is a 2290 Case with the beautiful 504 Case motor. Gotta be one of the best motors ever made. Smooth as silk and pull like a frieght train. And two Cat dozers, 1954 D4 and a 1960 17a D7. Id swap emm all for one of those big articulated IHCs. Like the Fraud tractors too. Merry Christmas all and happy New Year
We had a White 2-180 back in the day.
Where is the International 1468? The coolest looking V-8!
Merry Christmas love the stream
Thank you for watching. Merry Christmas.