International Harvester BMD
Built: 1952–1953 · Series: Other models
More machines from model year 1952
International Harvester – other models: the collective page of tractors outside the named ranges, from the 10-20 and 15-30 of the 1920s through the 404, 606 and 706 to the 1066 Hydro, 1456, 4186 and 7488, 11 to 235 kW
This page gathers the International Harvester tractors the register could not assign to a named range – the Chicago brand that emerged in 1902 from McCormick and Deering, invented the row-crop tractor with the Farmall in 1924 and was the world's largest tractor maker into the 1960s before being absorbed into Case IH in 1985. The type logic changed over six decades: the early 10-20 and 15-30 types give drawbar and belt power in hp; the 04 series of the 1960s (404, 504, 606, 706, 806, 1206) orders the size in the first digit and carries with the 1206 the brand's first turbodiesel; the 56 (656, 856, 1056, 1256, 1456), 66 (1066, 1466) and 86 series of the 1970s follow the same logic with Hydro as stepless hydrostatic transmission; the articulated 4100 to 4186 and 7288 to 7488 (2+2) are the big tractors; the industrial versions carry the suffix Industrial. The engines come from IH's own plants in Chicago (Melrose Park), Neuss and Doncaster, as petrol, LPG and diesel versions; Nissan and Mitsubishi engines sit in the Japanese compact tractors of the 1980s.
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The register lists here 179 versions with 11 to 235 kW from one- to eight-cylinders of 2,209 to 13,387 cm³, PTO outputs from 15 to 95 hp on the recorded models, unladen weights from 1,308 to 27,600 kg, lengths from 2,388 to 6,528 mm, widths from 1,310 to 2,832 mm and heights from 1,397 to 3,550 mm.
IH tractors are North America's most-collected after John Deere; the 06, 56 and 66 series are regarded as the tractors that motorised American arable farming of the 1960s and 1970s.
On used tractors, originality, engine condition (petrol with carburettor, diesel with injection pump), Torque Amplifier and transmission, the hydrostatic drive on the Hydro, hydraulics and cab count; parts run through Case IH and specialists in North America.
Sources: SpecCodex register, model data: International Harvester (weitere Modelle), International Harvester (Wikipedia)
Technical data
Engine
| Fuel | dieselcorrect |
|---|---|
| Power | 40.5 hp (29.8 kW)correct |
| Rated speed | 1,450 rpmcorrect |
| Cylinders | 4correct |
| Displacement | 4,326 cm³correct |
| Bore | 101.6 mmcorrect |
| Stroke | 133.35 mmcorrect |
| Compression ratio | 16.8correct |
| Cooling | water-cooledcorrect |
Dimensions and weights
| Length | 3,226 mmcorrect |
|---|---|
| Width | 2,159 mmcorrect |
| Height | 1,989 mmcorrect |
| Wheelbase | 2,390 mmcorrect |
| Ground clearance | 521 mmcorrect |
| Unladen weight | 2,386 kgcorrect |
Drivetrain and chassis
| Drive | rear-wheel drivecorrect |
|---|---|
| Gearbox | 5 V/1 Rcorrect |
| Front tyres | 6.50-16correct |
| Rear tyres | 12-38correct |
| Top speed | 26 km/hcorrect |
Origin and approval
| Construction | semi-frame constructioncorrect |
|---|---|
| Units built | 927correct |
Where this model stands
Power-to-weight ratio: 12.5 kW/t (30 kW / 2.4 t)
Power class: Universal (40–100 hp)
Stronger than 26% 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 BMD have?
The International Harvester BMD delivers 40.5 hp.
How much does the International Harvester BMD weigh?
The unladen weight is 2,386 kg.
What engine does the International Harvester BMD have?
4 cylinders, 4,326 cm³ displacement, Diesel.
How fast does the International Harvester BMD go?
Top speed is 26 km/h.
What are the dimensions of the International Harvester BMD?
3,226 mm × 2,159 mm × 1,989 mm.
When was the International Harvester BMD built?
Production years: 1952–1953.
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.
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This page carries 23 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.
