Case-IH 685?

[avant 1735]

I'm working on what I think is a Case-IH 685, but I'm not sure. There is a spot on the engine block where an identification plate was attached, but this tractor has lived in the south Texas brush and the plate is gone, or the id plated located somewhere else. Is there a way I can know for sure? The original owner is deceased, and the current owner is not sure of the model number. Sheet metal is faded or scratched, so nothing there to look at. Any help will be appreciated. Thanks in advance

 

[caterpillar guy]

I believe there is a tag near the back end of your left foot on the side of the transmission case.

 

[used red MN]

I'm working on what I think is a Case-IH 685, but I'm not sure. There is a spot on the engine block where an identification plate was attached, but this tractor has lived in the south Texas brush and the plate is gone, or the id plated located somewhere else. Is there a way I can know for sure? The original owner is deceased, and the current owner is not sure of the model number. Sheet metal is faded or scratched, so nothing there to look at. Any help will be appreciated. Thanks in advance

Anything on the axle support as shown? Or maybe it’s “hot” tractor, as in not meaning the powerful way.

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

These tractors only have the one identification plate. Not on the engine, on the front end casting as shown above. If you found evidence of a tag on the engine block itself, that is probably from an engine rebuilder like SRC. They liked to rivet a tag to the engine to identify their work.

If the tractor is as rough as you describe, odds are the tag would be unreadable anyway.

The only thing unique to the 685 from other 85 series is the engine. It is a D-239. This information should be stamped INTO the engine block on a flat spot somewhere near the seam between the block and the head. It's not something that can be worn/torn off by straining the tractor through brush repeatedly.

Just a comment here, but I can't fathom how someone could tear off all the tags and completely obliterate the identifying decals, without the operator getting badly injured or killed multiple times. You gotta wonder how many people died to get that tractor to that condition...