International Harvester 685
Built: 1981–1990 · Series: 85 er-Baureihe
More machines from model year 1981
International Harvester 85 Series (385 to 885) - utility tractors with an ascending power class: three- and four-cylinder engines of 2.5 to 4.4 litres, 33 to 59 kW, the A suffix for the upgraded second series
The 85 series was International Harvester's range of light and medium utility tractors, from the smallest, the 385, to the largest, the 885. The type logic is straightforward: the first digit orders the ascending power class, the fixed 85 suffix marks the shared series generation, and the A suffix on the 785 and 885 denotes the second series, upgraded in power and equipment. The smaller models ran three-cylinder engines, the larger ones four-cylinder units from IH's own engine production.
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The register lists 6 versions with 33.1 to 58.8 kW from three- and four-cylinder engines of 2,536 to 4,398 cm³, torque of 150 to 272 Nm at 2,180 to 2,400 rpm, kerb weights of 2,235 to 3,340 kg, lengths of 3,550 to 3,740 mm, widths of 1,850 to 1,920 mm and heights of 1,540 to 2,640 mm; every model runs on diesel.
As utility tractors, the 85 series covered the bulk of mixed farms that needed neither the size of a standard tractor nor the narrowness of a specialist one - grassland, mid-class arable work and transport duties. It competed directly with the equivalent ranges from Ford, Massey Ferguson and Deutz-Fahr.
On a used example of these IH diesels, check the injection pump and compression, the clutch and power-shift stages (on the A models), front-axle bearings, the hydraulic pump and brakes, and corrosion on the wings and bonnet; engine and driveline parts are available through IH specialists and the independent parts trade.
Sources: SpecCodex register, model data: International Harvester 85er-Baureihe
Technical data
Engine
| Fuel | dieselcorrect |
|---|---|
| Power | 69 hp (50.7 kW)correct |
| Rated speed | 2,300 rpmcorrect |
| Torque | 245 Nmcorrect |
| Speed at max. torque | 1,404 rpmcorrect |
| Cylinders | 4correct |
| Displacement | 3,912 cm³correct |
| Bore | 98.43 mmcorrect |
| Stroke | 128.52 mmcorrect |
| Compression ratio | 16correct |
| Cooling | water-cooledcorrect |
Dimensions and weights
| Length | 3,740 mmcorrect |
|---|---|
| Width | 1,920 mmcorrect |
| Height | 2,620 mmcorrect |
| Wheelbase | 2,240 mmcorrect |
| Ground clearance | 370 mmcorrect |
| Unladen weight | 3,040 kgcorrect |
Drivetrain and chassis
| Drive | rear- or four-wheel drivecorrect |
|---|---|
| Gearbox | 8 V/4 R or 16 V/8 Rcorrect |
| Front tyres | 10.00-16 (A: 12.4-24)correct |
| Rear tyres | 16.9-34correct |
| Top speed | 25 km/hcorrect |
Origin and approval
| Construction | unit construction (no separate frame)correct |
|---|
Where this model stands
Power-to-weight ratio: 16.7 kW/t (51 kW / 3 t)
Power class: Universal (40–100 hp)
Stronger than 47% 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 International Harvester 685 have?
The International Harvester 685 delivers 69 hp.
How much does the International Harvester 685 weigh?
The unladen weight is 3,040 kg.
What engine does the International Harvester 685 have?
4 cylinders, 3,912 cm³ displacement, Diesel.
How fast does the International Harvester 685 go?
Top speed is 25 km/h.
What are the dimensions of the International Harvester 685?
3,740 mm × 1,920 mm × 2,620 mm.
When was the International Harvester 685 built?
Production years: 1981–1990.
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.
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This page carries 24 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.
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Other models in this series
Sources: Wikibooks Traktorenlexikon (CC BY-SA 4.0) (retrieved August 2026) · How we check the data
Tractor in 3D section
Turn the model, look inside and click an assembly — each one is explained.