International Harvester 686 or Steyr 870 (a)?
Which should you choose?
On performance, every comparable figure that differs favours the International Harvester 686: hydraulic flow. On features, the Steyr 870 (a) is ahead on PTO speeds and drive.
- The Steyr 870 (a) suits PTO-driven implements (mowers, balers, pumps) better on this data: offers 1000 rpm.
- The International Harvester 686 suits loader and hydraulic implement work better on this data: 23% (8.5 L/min / 2.2 gpm) more hydraulic flow.
Generated by rule set compare@4 from the figures on the side-by-side table, allowed by route “the same stated configuration”. Measured figures are compared only with measured, claimed only with claimed, at the same test condition; differences within each figure’s tolerance are not called.
What decides it, question by question?
| Question | 686 | 870 (a) | Call |
|---|---|---|---|
| Which puts more power through the PTO shaft? | 49.4 kW (66.3 hp)Traktorenlexikon, “IHC 686” | 49.3 kW (66.1 hp)Traktorenlexikon, “Steyr 870” | EvenEven on power at the PTO shaft (both power at the PTO, claimed): the difference is under the 10% threshold for claimed figures, too small to call. |
| Which turns a litre of fuel into more work at the shaft? | — | — | No figureNo call on fuel efficiency at the shaft: no figure on record for the 686 and the 870 (a). |
| Which pulls harder at the drawbar? | — | — | No figureNo call on drawbar power: no figure on record for the 686 and the 870 (a). |
| Which pumps more oil for implements? | 45.5 L/min (12.0 gpm)Traktorenlexikon, “IHC 686” | 37.0 L/min (9.8 gpm)Traktorenlexikon, “Steyr 870” | AheadThe International Harvester 686 has 23% more hydraulic flow (8.5 L/min / 2.2 gpm) than the Steyr 870 (a) (both pump flow, as stated by the source). |
| Which lifts more on the three-point hitch? | — | 2,900 kg (6,393 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “Steyr 870” | No figureNo call on three-point lift: no figure on record for the 686. |
| Which is heavier, for traction? | 3,719 kg (8,199 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “IHC 686” | 2,930 kg (6,460 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “Steyr 870” | Ahead (a fact, not an advantage)The International Harvester 686 is 27% heavier (789 kg / 1,739 lb) than the Steyr 870 (a) (both unladen weight, as stated by the source). |
| Which may carry more ballast and load? | — | — | No figureNo call on maximum permissible mass: no figure on record for the 686 and the 870 (a). |
| Which has the wider choice of gears? | 5 to 10Traktorenlexikon, “IHC 686” | 12 to 16Traktorenlexikon, “Steyr 870” | EvenEven on forward gears (both forward gears, as stated by the source): the difference is under the 25% threshold, too small to call. |
| Which offers a creeper range? | — | — | No figureNo call on a creeper range: not stated for the 686 and the 870 (a). |
| Which is faster on the road? | 30 km/h (18.6 mph)Traktorenlexikon, “IHC 686” | 25 km/h (15.5 mph) to 30 km/h (18.6 mph)Traktorenlexikon, “Steyr 870” | EvenEven on top speed (both top speed forward, as stated by the source): the figures vary by configuration and the ranges overlap. |
| Which offers more PTO speeds? | 540 rpmTraktorenlexikon, “IHC 686” | 540/1000 rpmTraktorenlexikon, “Steyr 870” | AheadThe Steyr 870 (a) offers 1000 rpm at the PTO, which the International Harvester 686 does not (as stated by the sources). |
| Which PTO runs independently of the ground drive? | — | liveTraktorenlexikon, “Steyr 870” | No figureNo call on PTO independence: not stated for the 686. |
| Which drives on both axles? | 2WDTraktorenlexikon, “IHC 686” | Two-wheel or four-wheel driveTraktorenlexikon, “Steyr 870” | AheadThe Steyr 870 (a) is available with four-wheel drive; the International Harvester 686 is two-wheel drive (as stated by the sources). |
| Which is newer, and what about parts? | 1976–1980 | 1971–1975 | Ahead (a fact, not an advantage)The International Harvester 686 is newer: production began 5 years later. We hold no parts-availability data, so there is no call on parts. |
What does this mean in plain words?
- The International Harvester 686 has 23% more hydraulic flow (8.5 L/min / 2.2 gpm) than the Steyr 870 (a) (both pump flow, as stated by the source).
- The International Harvester 686 is 27% heavier (789 kg / 1,739 lb) than the Steyr 870 (a) (both unladen weight, as stated by the source).
- The Steyr 870 (a) offers 1000 rpm at the PTO, which the International Harvester 686 does not (as stated by the sources).
- The Steyr 870 (a) is available with four-wheel drive; the International Harvester 686 is two-wheel drive (as stated by the sources).
- The International Harvester 686 is newer: production began 5 years later. We hold no parts-availability data, so there is no call on parts.
- Even on power at the PTO shaft (both power at the PTO, claimed): the difference is under the 10% threshold for claimed figures, too small to call.
- Even on forward gears (both forward gears, as stated by the source): the difference is under the 25% threshold, too small to call.
- Even on top speed (both top speed forward, as stated by the source): the figures vary by configuration and the ranges overlap.
- No figure on record for every machine, so no call on: fuel efficiency at the shaft, drawbar power, three-point lift, maximum permissible mass, a creeper range and PTO independence.
← Every figure for both machines, side by side, with sources