3588 or 6588

[dundeej]

ok I got a chance to buy a 3588 or a 6588 I know they are the same size I have had a 1086 and a 1486 but I have never been in a 88 tractor so I dont know about the gearing. both have about the same hours so what I want to know what one would be better?

 

[Allan in NE]

I have never heard a good word from anyone who actually uses these tractors for farming.

Allan

 

[pete 23]

It's a love hate deal. I know a guy we sold a 3788 new and last time I talked to him, about a year ago he still had it . Said he would never sell that rig.
The 35&6588 are power and geared pretty much identical. Difference lie in the shifting mechanism. The 35 is same as 86 series tractors.
The 65 had shift lever on right side. Park is separate lever so reverse is not encumbered with the park mechanism of tracks and detents in the console. I believe cab on 65 is a few inches longer like the 50 series, for leg room and seat doesn't hit rear upholstery and tear it all apart. There are some other differences but nothing to write home about. You need to drive them a while to tell if you like them or not. They are different animals but have their place.

 

[agonair]

I spent many hours in the field in a 3588 and 6588. Good runners. We used them for everything. They were never intended to be a big 4wd, but rather was something similar to today"s FWA tractors.
The 6588 is a good tractor and while it still has the TA it is engaged electronically rather than mechanical as in the 3588. I would choose the 6588 over the 35.

 

[mkirsch]

The 3588 and 6588 are not "88-series" tractors like the 5088-5288-5488.

They are basically the same inside the cab as an 86 series tractor. They use the same 2-range, 4-gear, TA transmission design as the 1086 and 1486.

Like others have said, you either love 'em or you hate 'em. I've got a friend that has one, and he thinks it's an awesome tractor. We borrowed one from the dealer while the 1066 was down many years ago, and HATED it.

I couldn't even drive it. Of course I was about 10 at the time. Kept trying to hit the brake pedals to steer in the soft dirt while disking. Couldn't get past the whole nose of the tractor moving when I turned the steering wheel...

 

[D1206]

Years ago our 1066 was down at seeding time so dad rented a 3788.I pretty well seeded everything that year with it,pulled 24' of IH 620 press drills no problem.Was a lot quieter than our 1066 hydro.The next year we rented a 3588 on the drills,nice tractor to run also.When I worked at the IH,then caseIH dealer it was like Pete said,guys had a love / hate relationship with them.
I ran the neighbors 3588 on a 914 pto combine one year a bit,that took a while to get used to turning,but it was a nice quiet tractor to run.

 

[Larry B. 1486]

When driving on of those 2 + 2 tractors on the road, do not sight see while driving taking your eyes off the road. I loved it out in the field. We pulled a 24 ft JD disc with our 3588. It had the same hp as our 1586 but a lot better traction. Had duals on back and single on front and no fluid in tires.

 

[T in NE]

If you've never run an articulated tractor, a little advice, NEVER turn the wheel to full lock and hold it there. Especially with duals. Because the wheels swing back when you straighten out, if you get hooked, or close to hooking, something on the tire, you have no way to back out of it.

They are nice to run in summer without AC. Forward air flow and the engine way out front, with a fuel tank in between, makes for a quieter and cooler ride.

33/63 and 35/65 had the same 4-speed as the 7-1466/86's, 37/67 had the 3 speed out of the 15's.

Only complaint about the 3788 we had (that I don't have about all articulated tractors), was it had too much traction for chopping on hills. TA was out and sometimes with a full dump wagon I'd have to downshift to get up a big hill