International Harvester 240 UTILITY
Built: 1958–1961 · Series: UTILITY-Serie
More machines from model year 1958
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International Harvester 240 UTILITY (UTILITY Line) – four-cylinder tractor with petrol or distillate engine, 23.5 kW and 137 Nm torque, built from 1958 to 1961.
The UTILITY line with the 240 UTILITY was the smallest model within International Harvester's model overhaul of the late 1950s and was built from 1958 to 1961. As its name suggests, it was designed for light yard and field work rather than heavy drawbar work.
Read on 3 more paragraphs
The 240 UTILITY has a four-cylinder engine of 2,011 cm3 displacement, running on petrol or distillate and producing 23.5 kW (32 hp) and 137 Nm of torque at 2,000 rpm. At 1,650 kg, 2,946 mm long and 1,600 mm wide on a 1,905 mm wheelbase, it is the most compact tractor in its line. Overall height is 1,473 mm, top speed 23 km/h.
Distillate as a fuel meant, in the 1950s United States, a simply refined, cheaper petroleum product between petrol and kerosene, requiring a specially adapted carburettor and usually a petrol cold start. At 23 km/h and under 24 kW, the 240 UTILITY is a light yard machine, staying well below driving licence class L, capped at 40 km/h.
When buying a used 240 UTILITY, it is worth checking whether the carburettor is still set up for the original fuel or has already been converted to petrol only, since either affects its condition differently. Compression, ignition, and the condition of the small front axle typical of this line all belong on the inspection, along with rust on the wings and the state of the wiring, which on machines this age is often original and brittle.
Sources: SpecCodex-Register: Kennwerte des Modells International Harvester 240 UTILITY
Technical data
Engine
| Fuel | Benzin/Destillatcorrect |
|---|---|
| Power | 32 hp (23.5 kW)correct |
| Rated speed | 2,000 rpmcorrect |
| Torque | 137 Nmcorrect |
| Speed at max. torque | 1,200 rpmcorrect |
| Cylinders | 4correct |
| Displacement | 2,011 cm³correct |
| Bore | 79.38 mmcorrect |
| Stroke | 101.6 mmcorrect |
| Compression ratio | 6.94correct |
| Cooling | water-cooledcorrect |
Dimensions and weights
| Length | 2,946 mmcorrect |
|---|---|
| Width | 1,600 mmcorrect |
| Height | 1,473 mmcorrect |
| Wheelbase | 1,905 mmcorrect |
| Ground clearance | 432 mmcorrect |
| Unladen weight | 1,650 kgcorrect |
Drivetrain and chassis
| Drive | rear-wheel drivecorrect |
|---|---|
| Gearbox | 4 V/1 Rcorrect |
| Front tyres | 5.50-16correct |
| Rear tyres | 12-24correct |
| Top speed | 23 km/hcorrect |
Origin and approval
| Construction | frame constructioncorrect |
|---|---|
| Units built | 10,329correct |
Where this model stands
Power-to-weight ratio: 14.2 kW/t (24 kW / 1.6 t)
Power class: Compact (< 40 hp)
Stronger than 19% 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 240 UTILITY have?
The International Harvester 240 UTILITY delivers 32 hp.
How much does the International Harvester 240 UTILITY weigh?
The unladen weight is 1,650 kg.
What engine does the International Harvester 240 UTILITY have?
4 cylinders, 2,011 cm³ displacement, Benzin/Destillat.
How fast does the International Harvester 240 UTILITY go?
Top speed is 23 km/h.
What are the dimensions of the International Harvester 240 UTILITY?
2,946 mm × 1,600 mm × 1,473 mm.
When was the International Harvester 240 UTILITY built?
Production years: 1958–1961.
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 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.
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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.
