July /August 2014IssuE 034

1 July /August 2014IssuE 034

2

Once again, Mr. Richard Walker

of Charlottesville, IN shares

with us another of his IH muscle

tractors. This time it is an IH 4100 4WD. The

4100 4WD was the first in a long line of rigid

frame IH 4WD tractors that spanned over 20

years of production.

4100

IH’s first 4WD farm tractor of the muscle tractor era was the behemoth 4300. This tractor was too big for most farms and very few were made. The 4100 was a smaller, more nimble tractor that was introduced by IH in 1965.

Under its hood is an IH built DT-429 6-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine. This dry sleeve engine is similar in outward appearance to the IH DT407 found in the 1026 Hydro, 1256 and 1456 IH tractors. Both use the same cartridge-style engine oil filters and replaceable spin-on style fuel filters. The engine oil pump and oil cooler have similar mounting and piping. The crankshaft of the DT-429 is Elotherm hardened by IH. This process gives the crankshaft up to 100% greater endurance strength without adding more weight by using deeper, wider hardening of the crankshaft journal and filet areas. This feature leads to longer engine life and less down time.

The fuel injection system looked identical to the DT-407, however, the turbocharger was

different. The DT-429 engine in the IH 4100 has an IH/Solar built turbocharger. This turbo has an exclusive rotor brake that holds the turbocharger’s turbine wheel from spinning until oil pressure is up and stop the turbine wheel if oil pressure falls. This protects the turbo bearings during engine warm up. A five-gallon engine oil capacity keeps the DT-429 well supplied with lubricating oil.

The 4100’s cooling system holds over nine gallons of coolant that is circulated thru the engine by the belt driven water pump.

A massive twelve-inch diameter dry-type 2-stage air filter that is 99.9% efficient collects even the tiniest dirt particles. This gives the engine only clean air to run on. Clean air is needed for any turbocharged muscle tractor to live and breathe.

Bolted behind the engine was an IH built transmission with 8 speeds forward, 4-reverse. This was generically a 1206 speed transmission that was T/A deleted.

by Kenneth Updike4WD

INTERNATIONALA 16.5 gpm hydraulic pump was

used to power the tractor’s hydraulic and power steering systems. If you needed more hydraulic power, a 30 gpm hydraulic pump ($73) was optional. A single hydraulic remote valve was standard equipment; an optional 2nd valve ($112) could be added.

To steer the 4100, IH offered a choice of two or four wheel steering. The front axle steering was fully hydrostatic; the rear was hydraulic power assist. To change from two to four wheel steer, simply move a control lever on the RH console. The rear wheels center themselves to track straight. With the tractor in four-wheel steer it has a 13 ½ foot turning radius. That is less than the length of the tractor!! With front-wheel steer only, this is only 22 feet. One steering wheel controls both front and rear steering. With the 4100 you can change from two to four-wheel steering and back on the go!