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First let's talk sales. Almost 11,500 of all models of the 2+2 where sold ranging in power from 130 hp to 200+ hp over 7 years. That is less the half the number of 1466s sold over the course of 5 years. That is also less then 2/3s the number of 1486s sold in from 1976 to 1981. It’s a lot easier and cheaper to roll off several of the same model then it is to roll several different versions of a model. The 2+2 was a row crop tractor, and it had the same power as the 2wds that IH was manufacturing at the same time. Granted the 2+2 did have better traction and field compaction but it came at a price - normally a 40% to 50% premium in price over a 2WD tractor of similar HP, when you factor in that premium with a 20% financing rate and you’ve already lost any cost savings advantage. I don't know the "Official" numbers but it was also generally accepted that they burned more fuel per hour except when used under the heaviest load. Then there is the issue of using the tractor for other duties besides tillage. It is not at all uncommon for general farmers to use a 1486 or a 5288 for hay and feeding chores, the 2+2 was an extremely awkward animal for duties like that. Finally there is the reliability issue. Our local IH dealer never pushed the 2+2 on customers after their own experience with the three models they purchased (one in 1979, one in 1980 and one in 1981). They still had all three in inventory when Case took over. They farmed a huge amount of acreage and used it as a test ground. They had numerous problems with clutches, transmissions, and drive shafts. In addition their shop had problems correctly diagnosis issues with little factory support. Our dealer hardly wanted to sell something they knew would need service when their own service department experience was less then favorable. Then there is history. The 2+2 style was only made by IH; no other manufacturer copied the design for row crop use, but today all manufacturers offer front wheel assist. The tractor was too expensive to build and operate for the benefits it offered. The fact Case dropped the entire design within weeks of their take over gave evidence of their opinion of the tractor.
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