IH Power units

I have a cub power unit and am looking to restore a U2, U4 and a U6 Or UD6, Maybe even a UD9, the question is, what machinery is it possible to find these engines on. They are not likely to be used for power much anymore, but may still be in the fence row. Thanks in advance...Darald

These power units were used for everything you can think of that needed a motor. Lots were used on balers and combines. But there were many that were free standing, used to drive water pumps, generators, carnival rides and the like. I think the free standing ones are the best for display. Some were direct drive with a clutch while others had right angle drives with gear reducers usually with a belt drive of some kind. I looked for a long time before I found my U-2. They are not easy to find and certain areas of the country seem to have more of them. At RPRU in Minnesota this year I talked to several folks that said there were a lot of them around there, because there were (or are) many dairy farms and nearly every dairy farm had one for use as back up power. It's a long way from you, but I know where there is a U-7 for sale here in East Tennessee that was on a saw mill. It's not running, but I don't think it would take that much to get it going. It's not stuck, but has no compression, likely a valve problem. The price is $500 and is firm. The U-7 is a bit rare as it was only made a couple of years. The engine is the same as in the F-20 tractor and it weighs in at almost 1600 lbs.

Around here U series power units were found on everything from power shovels to sawmills to ski lifts. But by the mid-60's most had been retired or replaced by electric motors. So it's unlikely there's much equipment still left out there with "U" still on it.

However a friend picked up a nice UD18 + generator (BIG!) at a hospital equipment auction. And another scored a decent running UD14 out of an Adams Grader that was being scrapped.

Incidentally I still occasionally spot a Cub or U2 power unit running ferris wheels, etc. at itinerant summer carnivals.

Ranch I worked on in the summer of '64 on the WY/SD border had a U4 on a portable irrigation pump.

I don't know about AZ where you live, but some cotton gins used to be powered by UD24's in the Mississippi Delta, but they are long gone now. If there are any old abandonded gins around you in AZ you might find a UD18 or UD24. Lots of sawmills used UD9's or some UD14's.

Harold H

About 30 years ago our main air compressor at the plant failed and we ran for a couple of weeks 24-7 on a portable truck mounted compressor that was powered by a UD-14. Sure was a life saver at the time, but was probably scrapped years ago. Just another place to look.