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First of the modern tractors? ÏThe worldÌs most powerful row-crop tractor! That was the title applied to the Farmall 560 introduced by International Harvester in July of 1958. Weighing in at about 10,000 pounds, it was presented to 12,000 IH dealers from the U.S., Canada and 25 foreign countries at a ÏNew World of Power extravaganza at Hinsdale, Illinois. The big show covered 65 acres, befitting the largest farm tractor manufacturer in the world, and highlighted the 460 and 560 models in Farmall and International versions. An answer to the race for increased horsepower that had begun in the early 1950Ìs, the 560 set standards in so many areas that one could arguably call it the first of the modern tractors. From its square agressively-styled front end to lines that made it look longer than it really was, the 560 and its companion 460 were clearly a new breed. First and foremost, of course, was power, and lots of it, coming from a 6-cylinder powerplant, the first to be introduced in a general-purpose tractor. International Harvester found the answer to its power needs in its current product line Ò both the gasoline and diesel versions of the 560 were adapted from the TD-9 crawler tractor 6-cylinder diesel engine. The diesel engine boasted a displacement of 282-ci while the gasoline and LPG versions displaced 263-ci. Nebraska Tractor Test results credited the 560 diesel with 62 belt horsepower, and the gasoline version with 65 horses. Both gasoline and diesel engines had forged camshafts supported by four replaceable bearings, and cylinders that were the replaceable dry type. Inherently balanced for vibration-free power, the smooth 6-cylinder sound and feel was an immediate indication that tractors had entered a new era. After thousands of hours spent on earlier model Farmalls, the author can still recall how dramatic the smooth response of the 560 diesel seemed in comparison. Farmers were, of course, more interested in what this new level of power translated to in terms of work done in a day. The 560 could turn over 30 acres a day with a 5-bottom plow, or cover 100 acres a day with a 6-row cultivator. Other jobs were handled with equal ease and speed. The 560 diesel version was also notable for its excellent fuel economy. With a 33-gallon fuel tank, it could easily operate for a day without requiring refueling. The diesel engine produced 14.46 horsepower-hours per gallon of fuel compared to 12.20 for the gasoline version. One farmer calculated diesel fuel costs of 19 cents per acre pulling a 6-row planter. The 560 had numerous styling and mechanical advancements from previous models to accompany its increased power. The steering shaft was moved from the position atop the engine to run along the left side of the engine, making a cleaner profile and changing the steering wheel angle to more closely resemble an automobile. Batteries were moved from beneath the driver to a location under a hood panel and the hydraulic pump was internally mounted. The diesel starting system was changed from that employed on previous models which started on gasoline then switched to true diesel operation.

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