Versatile Farm Tractors

Update: several videos of modern Versatile tractors pulling big tillage equipment are in Modern Primary and Secondary Field Tillage. At least some of them use Cummins Diesel engines.

There is a Versatile Facebook group. My Facebook posting of a Ford version.

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When I visited a AGCO/New Holland dealer in Poseyville, IN, I saw a used Versatile tractor next to an old Massey-Fergusun tractor. This caught me by surprise because I had never heard of that manufacture even though they obviously made some impressive tractors.

 

And then when I visited the CaseIH dealer in the same town, I noticed that they were also a Versatile dealer.

On a lot with 10 articulated tractors, 2 of them were Versatile 535s. (Of note is that two of them were John Deere. They must have been trade ins even though the one in these pictures, 9410R, looked pretty new.)

After Peter Pakosh quit Massey-Harris because they did not let him join a product design department, he founded a company with his brother-in-law Roy Robinson in 1946 in Winnipeg, Canada. They started with grain augers, sprayers, and swathers. But in 1964 they entered the articulated 4wd tractor market.  In 1987, Ford New Holland bought the company. So that is why we saw the old Versatile 875 tractor on the New Holland dealer's lot. The 875 was one of 4 models of the Constant power series (835, 855, 875, and 935) that was introduced in 1977 and ranged between 230 and 330 hp. When New Holland merged with CaseIH in 2000, Versatile was sold to resolve regulatory concerns. So that is why new Versatile tractors are no longer being sold by the New Holland dealer. (tractors.wikia)

According to their web site,  the 535 model uses a 15-liter Cummins QSX15 engine and is rated at 535 horsepower. In fact, all four models in their HHT series, 435, 485, 535, and 575, use that engine. How do you get significantly different horsepower ratings with the same engine? I learned from a video that the engine is "interim Tier 4" compliant. The transmission is made by Cat, and the tractor can achieve 25 mph road speed. (Most tractors in the 1960s would top out at 15 mph, and that would seem fast because you had no suspension nor cab.) The maximum articulating angle is 42 degrees, which supports a turn-around radius of less than 16 feet.

At the 2016 Will County Threshermen's Show I caught a couple of Versatiles leaving their display line:

Brent Ginther posted

For the Love of Tractors posted

Some old school Versy power.

[I've noticed a problem with some specialization groups is that they seem to expect all of the readers to know all of the details. Like what is the year and horsepower of a 900l. Fortunately, Google makes it easy to be an expert. It was built 1972-77 and has a Cummins 14.8L 8-cyl diesel. But I had to go to another page to find the horsepower of 295/220.]

Versatile-Ag posted
Take a trip down memory lane with us! The D100 and G100 were the first mass-produced and marketed articulated four-wheel drive tractors. These machines changed the industry and helped shape the future of modern farming as we know it. Each unit sold for less than $10,000 after the initial release in 1966.

 

Dalten Stegner commented on the above post
I saw this one last weekend the first G100 I'v seen

 

Versatile Tractors History posted

Screenshot
Fall Plowing with a Versatile 340 Tractor and Oliver 6-bottom plow
[My first thought was that 6 bottoms is old and small for such a big tractor. Then I saw how fast it was pulling the plow. The dirt was rather literally flying off the moldboards. I've never seen dirt thrown that far before from a plow. This video also shows that when they get to the end of the field, they have to deadhead over to the other side of the plowed ground to resume plowing.]

Machinery Pete posted
Ever seen one of these....Versatile 420 Combine. Last 20 years I've compiled 19,437 auction prices on Combines....zero Versatile 420's. This one spotted in Cuba, KS by Facebook follower Russell P.
Laine Tonne I have seen one with a cab. My dad used to run a 42 pull type it is still parked here on the farm I plan to restore it someday
Bradley Moorehead Yes we owned a 420 with cab and 3 -42 pull type
[A comment indicates the factory was located in Winnipeg.]

Combines Harvesters Threshers added a new photo

Tim Butcher shared
Versatile's Big Roy 1080 tractor will be the feature machine at the 2017 Half Century of Progress in Rantoul, IL. This is an amazing show to attend and it will be exciting to see another Prairie Monster headline this huge farming event. This years Half Century of Progress Show is August 24-27 in Rantoul, IL 61866.

Matthew Backer posted
Look what we just got in!

George Serven posted two photos with the comment: "The 876 coming towards the 976/then away."

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Lee Finke posted
From another page, old Versatile helping out. Absolutely amazing.
Mark Davis I believe this is near Colby, KS. Largest barn ever moved in one piece.
[I agree with the comments, why is he pulling so far off-center? A video of the move. Did they take down electric poles along the road? The farms probably already got rid of their fences.]

In 2017 they have come out with a new color scheme that recalls their 1975 style.

Chase Hollingworth posted two photos with the comment: "The new color scheme on the 2017 Versatile 4WD Tractors kind of reminds me of the 1975 Versatile body style."

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2, a 400 at a dealer in Abilene, TX

Screenshot from a PR video by Versatile
[This had better have one or more rear-facing cameras. The advantage of the IH 2+2 was that the driver had a good view of the implement he was pulling. But since Case already owned Steiger when they bought IH, they kept the Steiger design and killed the 2+2. This four axle tractor makes the driver's view of what he or she is pulling even worse.]

A video of the 550 with the new color scheme.



Video reviewing Versatile 2360 and 2375. These models were built 2000-2008. 2360 has Cummins 855 at 360hp. I didn't catch what the engine was in the 2375. I believe Elm Custom Farming is "The Farmer" in "The Farming Life", one of two farming channels I follow.