Technical register for agricultural, construction and commercial machinery · sourced data

International Harvester 685

Built: 1981–1990 · Series: 85 er-Baureihe

More machines from model year 1981

With the 685, International Harvester offers a model from the 85er series. Production: 1981–1990. The engine delivers 69 hp (50.7 kW), has 4 cylinders, with a displacement of 3,912 cm³. Torque is 245 Nm. Rated speed is 2,300 rpm. The machine is 3,740 mm long, 1,920 mm wide and 2,620 mm high. The unladen weight is 3,040 kg. The wheelbase measures 2,240 mm. Ground clearance is 370 mm. Top speed is 25 km/h. Transmission: 8 V/4 R or 16 V/8 R. The engine is water-cooled. Tyres: front 10.00-16 (A: 12.4-24), rear 16.9-34. The fuel is diesel. The bore measures 98.43 mm. The stroke is 128.52 mm. The compression ratio is 16:1. Maximum torque is reached at 1,404 rpm. Construction: unit construction (no separate frame). The 85 er-Baureihe series covers 6 models. Rated output within it ranges from 45 to 80 hp; the 685 sits in the upper part of that range with 69 hp. Its immediate neighbours are the 585 below it with 59 hp and the 785 (A) above it with 77 hp. Unladen weight within it ranges from 2,235 to 3,340 kg; here the 685 sits in the upper part of that range with 3,040 kg. 391 International Harvester models across 45 series are on record.

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.

Read on 3 more paragraphs

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

Fueldieselcorrect
Power69 hp (50.7 kW)correct
Rated speed2,300 rpmcorrect
Torque245 Nmcorrect
Speed at max. torque1,404 rpmcorrect
Cylinders4correct
Displacement3,912 cm³correct
Bore98.43 mmcorrect
Stroke128.52 mmcorrect
Compression ratio16correct
Coolingwater-cooledcorrect

Dimensions and weights

Length3,740 mmcorrect
Width1,920 mmcorrect
Height2,620 mmcorrect
Wheelbase2,240 mmcorrect
Ground clearance370 mmcorrect
Unladen weight3,040 kgcorrect

Drivetrain and chassis

Driverear- or four-wheel drivecorrect
Gearbox8 V/4 R or 16 V/8 Rcorrect
Front tyres10.00-16 (A: 12.4-24)correct
Rear tyres16.9-34correct
Top speed25 km/hcorrect

Origin and approval

Constructionunit 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

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