International Harvester 553
Built: 4/1972–4/1974 · Series: Formel-S-Serie
More machines from model year 1972
International Harvester 553 (Formel-S Line) – three-cylinder diesel rated at 38.1 kW, 2,615 kg weight and a 28 km/h top speed, built from 1972 to 1974.
International Harvester, formed in 1902 in Chicago from the merger of McCormick and Deering, built its own model lines for the European market alongside its North American programme. The Formel-S line with the 553 was, in the early 1970s, among the more compact standard tractors of that European programme and was built only briefly, from 1972 to 1974.
Read on 3 more paragraphs
The 553 has a water-cooled three-cylinder diesel engine of 2,934 cm3 displacement, producing 38.1 kW (52 hp) at 2,180 rpm. At 2,615 kg unladen weight, 3,430 mm long and 1,788 mm wide, it counts among the lighter general-purpose tractors of its day. The short 2,000 mm wheelbase and 2,419 mm overall height make it manoeuvrable for work on smaller and medium-sized plots. Top speed is 28 km/h.
A three-cylinder engine of just under three litres and under 40 kW is a typical example of the general-purpose tractors that motorised medium-sized family farms in the 1970s: light enough for grassland work, strong enough for a plough and a trailer. At 28 km/h the 553 falls, in Germany, into driving licence class L, capped at 40 km/h. The power take-off and three-point linkage of such tractors followed the standard figures of 540 or 1,000 rpm and ISO 730.
On a used three-cylinder of these model years, it is worth checking the injection pump and the compression of each cylinder, since uneven wear shows up more often on three-cylinder engines than on larger units. Steering knuckles and the steering box should be checked for play, along with the condition of the brake drums. Body panels and wings tend to rust first at the mounting points.
Sources: SpecCodex-Register: Kennwerte des Modells International Harvester 553
Technical data
Engine
| Fuel | dieselcorrect |
|---|---|
| Power | 52 hp (38.1 kW)correct |
| Rated speed | 2,180 rpmcorrect |
| Cylinders | 3correct |
| Displacement | 2,934 cm³correct |
| Bore | 98.4 mmcorrect |
| Stroke | 128.5 mmcorrect |
| Cooling | water-cooledcorrect |
Dimensions and weights
| Length | 3,430 mmcorrect |
|---|---|
| Width | 1,788 mmcorrect |
| Height | 2,419 mmcorrect |
| Wheelbase | 2,000 mmcorrect |
| Ground clearance | 445 mmcorrect |
| Unladen weight | 2,615 kgcorrect |
Drivetrain and chassis
| Drive | rear- or four-wheel drivecorrect |
|---|---|
| Gearbox | 8/4-Synchrongetriebecorrect |
| Front tyres | 7.5 R-16correct |
| Rear tyres | 13 R-30correct |
| Top speed | 28 km/hcorrect |
Origin and approval
| Units built | 2,648correct |
|---|
Where this model stands
Power-to-weight ratio: 14.6 kW/t (38 kW / 2.6 t)
Power class: Universal (40–100 hp)
Stronger than 36% 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 553 have?
The International Harvester 553 delivers 52 hp.
How much does the International Harvester 553 weigh?
The unladen weight is 2,615 kg.
What engine does the International Harvester 553 have?
3 cylinders, 2,934 cm³ displacement, Diesel.
How fast does the International Harvester 553 go?
Top speed is 28 km/h.
What are the dimensions of the International Harvester 553?
3,430 mm × 1,788 mm × 2,419 mm.
When was the International Harvester 553 built?
Production years: 4/1972–4/1974.
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 21 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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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.
