8000 Series ? for Mark 427435

Mark since you were in on the development of the 8000 series i was wondering why they decided to put a right hand door on the cab. We have two 8000 series and i never use that door. One of the reasons i dont use it cuz it is hard to get in and out on that side with the console.  Also the 7000 series did not have a door on that side. I was just curious i like your insight on this since you were part of developing it. Thanks again

Right or wrong, I drove that.  While getting in or out is not easy for a big man, it is certainly possible.  It wasn't hard for me to get in or out on the right side back then (5' 11" and 175 lbs).  Also, if you had been working on the right side of an implement (or needed to), you didn't have to walk around the tractor.   The other reason was to provide access to stuff (tools?) on the floor of the cab and to the console.  It also matched the IH cab of the day and gave an advantage when selling against the Deere cab.

The real cost wasn't great, either.  A couple of hinges, a latch, a little weather stripping, and a little extra steel for the frame.  The biggest expense was the extra steps.


Edited by 427435 - 18 Apr 2012 at 2:29pm

Now that were tapping into a person that can give us a "reason why", here's another that you perhaps can answer. Hope you don't mind.

I really appreciate you asking that. I would like to do it on all of mine (I actually have 3- one good running so far, one with a rod thru the block but I have found a running take-out 731 to replace it and an early 77 model that needs tranny work)-basically saved the last 2 from the scrapper (i have 3 times the purchase price of each of the last 2 in trucking costs). By the way, with the 731 take-out-any ideas what should I look for before I re-install, in addition to the pump issue.

Dale, I would also change-out the engine valve rotators, (A-C called them roto coils). CAT has one that is of better design and costs less $. A-C stlye was known to fail and the little pieces of broken spring would get in the oil pump and cause failures. There were many 8550,4W-305's around here 20 years ago and all got changed to the CAT rotators. I have the part number at the shop if u want it. hth, Mike

I liked the two doors for one reason only, cleaning. I do NOT like to ride around all day in a dirty cab. The 7000 series were a pain to clean out. It is always windy in southern Saskatchewan, open both 8030 doors, head in for lunch, come back, CLEAN CAB. Loved that...Also liked the 7580 door better than the 2 wheel drive, I`m 6`2 and 230 to 260 depending on how much cake I eat, handier for in and out. Trev.

Though I don't have an 8000 series tractor I use the right hand door all the time on my tractor to operate hydraulics/PTO, store tools, keep an extra bag of seed when planting and shut the tractor off from the ground after I've let it idle and cool down for awhile.   

I like the way my 8050 is set up, I have the throttle in the side console, you guys did good on the 8000's they were ahead of the curve.  It was  10 more years before JD copied that setup. 

427435, I wouldn't say you blew it on the hand throttle location. My 8050 had the hand throttle on the side of the steering wheel console, and my 8070 has it beside the seat, and I kind of liked it better up front. When you needed to grab the throttle quickly, well you had a 100% chance of getting the right lever. On the side console (maybe I'm just not used to it yet), but i always have to look to make sure I'm getting the right lever. Also, when it comes to cable that are controlling stuff such as throttles, shorter is better. The up front throttle had a very short cable. I noticed on my 8070, the throttle cable goes  all of the way out the back of the cab, makes a sharp bend, and then heads up to the pump. Lots of un-neccessary length there. Just my opinion, though. I do love the side console position of the throttle on my one-ninety's, though,but they just seem a little different than the 8070's. Darrel

427435, were you involved in the development of the 6000 series? If so would love to hear some stories. Maybe I should start a new post for that.

Where did the factory cabs come from for the 6000's. Were they made in West Allis or contracted thru another source? They are still a nice cab even by todays standards (lots of glass, modern looking)