Case IH 385 (DT)
Built: 1985–1990 · Series: 85 er-Baureihe
More machines from model year 1985
Not the right version? The data comes from vehicle registers holding many near-identical versions side by side. Photograph the data plate — we read make and type from it. Open the scanner e-mail address required
Case IH 385 (DT): compact four-wheel-drive tractor with a water-cooled 2,525cc three-cylinder diesel, 33.8 kW and 135 Nm of torque
Case IH was formed in 1985 from the merger of J.I. Case and International Harvester's agricultural equipment division. The 85 series covered the manufacturer's lower to mid power range through the 1980s, with compact three-cylinder engines for smaller and medium farms.
Read on 3 more paragraphs
The 385 (DT) carries a water-cooled three-cylinder diesel engine with 2,525 cc of displacement, producing 33.8 kW (46 hp) at 2,200 rpm and delivering 135 Nm of torque. At 3,535 mm long, 1,840 mm wide and with a 2,007 mm wheelbase, the machine weighs 2,582 kg; overall height is 2,380 mm and top speed is 30 km/h.
The DT designation stands for doppia trazione, meaning four-wheel drive. With three cylinders, just over 2.5 litres of displacement and a weight under 2.6 tonnes, the 385 belongs to the class of compact four-wheel-drive tractors used for grassland, yard work and lighter field tasks on smaller farms, where manoeuvrability matters more than high pulling force.
When buying a used 385 (DT), the condition of the front axle and transfer gearbox matters, since both carry heavier loads in the four-wheel-drive version than in a two-wheel-drive model. Also worth checking are the clutch, the tightness of the three-cylinder engine's cooling system, and corrosion on the frame and mudguards, which is common on machines of this build year.
Sources: SpecCodex-Register: Kennwerte des Modells Case IH 385 (DT), Case IH (manufacturer)
Technical data
Engine
| Fuel | dieselcorrect |
|---|---|
| Power | 46 hp (33.8 kW)correct |
| Rated speed | 2,200 rpmcorrect |
| Torque | 135 Nmcorrect |
| Speed at max. torque | 1,400 rpmcorrect |
| Cylinders | 3correct |
| Displacement | 2,525 cm³correct |
| Bore | 98.4 mmcorrect |
| Stroke | 111.1 mmcorrect |
| Compression ratio | 16correct |
| Injection pressure | 225 barcorrect |
| Cooling | water-cooledcorrect |
Dimensions and weights
| Length | 3,535 mmcorrect |
|---|---|
| Width | 1,840 mmcorrect |
| Height | 2,380 mmcorrect |
| Wheelbase | 2,007 mmcorrect |
| Ground clearance | 215 mmcorrect |
| Unladen weight | 2,582 kgcorrect |
Drivetrain and chassis
| Drive | rear- or four-wheel drivecorrect |
|---|---|
| Gearbox | 8 V/4 R, 16 V/8 R and 8 V/8 Rcorrect |
| Front tyres | 6.00-16 ASF (DT: 8.3 R 24 AS)correct |
| Rear tyres | 12.4 R 32 (DT: 14.9 R 28 AS)correct |
| Top speed | 30 km/hcorrect |
Origin and approval
| Construction | unit construction (no separate frame)correct |
|---|
Where this model stands
Power-to-weight ratio: 13.1 kW/t (34 kW / 2.6 t)
Power class: Universal (40–100 hp)
Stronger than 30% of the tractors in the register — out of 15,663 models with a stated power figure.
Calculated from the documented figures above — not a rating.
Frequently asked questions
How much power does the Case IH 385 (DT) have?
The Case IH 385 (DT) delivers 46 hp.
How much does the Case IH 385 (DT) weigh?
The unladen weight is 2,582 kg.
What engine does the Case IH 385 (DT) have?
3 cylinders, 2,525 cm³ displacement, Diesel.
How fast does the Case IH 385 (DT) go?
Top speed is 30 km/h.
What are the dimensions of the Case IH 385 (DT)?
3,535 mm × 1,840 mm × 2,380 mm.
When was the Case IH 385 (DT) built?
Production years: 1985–1990.
What to check before buying
- Check the hour meter against the service records — a replaced instrument is the most common gap.
- Compare the data plate and chassis number with the papers.
- Check the weights in the papers against the figures here — attachments change them.
- Check front and rear tyre sizes: mismatched pairs strain the drivetrain.
- Shift the gearbox cold and warm — jumps only show up at temperature.
- Load the hydraulics and watch for sag.
- Ask about parts availability for this build year — the running costs hang on it.
A general list for this type of machine — no substitute for an inspection or an appraiser.
We do not sell machines. We ask the dealers who carry this model and come back with price and lead time.
Request a quote →
We ask the suppliers and come back with price and lead time.
Request spare parts →
This page carries 25 individual figures for this model. They come from 1 recorded source; every figure can be traced there. What we cannot document is not here — we leave gaps open rather than estimate them.
Missing a figure you were looking for? Report it →
Know this machine better? Have a photo, a manual, or know that a figure is wrong? Add it to the register →
Sources: [1]
Tractor in 3D section
Turn the model, look inside and click an assembly — each one is explained.