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The 5.9-liter Cummins 6BT is a legendary engine. Pickup fans know it as the diesel powerplant of 1989-2007 Ram trucks. But what you might not know is that you can find the same engine in a used tractor built by White, Case, or Case/International Harvester.

Which White tractors came with a Cummins 5.9?

The White 100 came with a non-turbocharger version of the Cummins 5.9L. The White 120 and 125 came with the turbo version. White upgraded to the intercooled engine for its 140 and 145 as well as the 6125 and 6145 “powershifts.”

One red tractor driving through a cornfield.
CaseIH tractor | Scott Olson/Getty Images

White Motor Company has been around since 1900. It first got into tractors when it bought Oliver back in 1960. Today, White Tractors is owned by AGCO and is still going strong.

Cummins originally engineered the Cummins 5.9L 6BT for agricultural and industrial use. Therefore, it’s not surprising that White offered the 6BT before Ram trucks did. According to the Tractor Data website, White debuted an early, non-turbocharged 94 horsepower version of the 5.9L in its 1987-89 White 100.

At the same time 87-89), you could order the White 120 featuring the turbocharged 5.9L 6BT. It was the same size and weight but made 119 horsepower. These tractors both featured an 18-speed transmission.

From 1990-92, White offered the Cummins 6BT in its Workhorse 125. The turbocharged engine still made 119 horsepower, though the new heavy-duty tractor around it weighed 2,000 pounds more.

White also offered the Cummins engine in its 1993-97 Powershift 6100, its 1994-97 Powershift 6144, and its 1993-97 Powershift 6145. For the Powershift 6175 and larger tractors, White used a larger Cummins engine.

Which Case tractors had a Cummins 5.9?

Case offered tractors with 5.9L Cummins engines starting in 1985. You can find this Cummins engine in both the 1896 and 2096 models through the year 1989, when they were replaced by the Cummins-powered Maxxum series.

Parade of tractors driving along the highway.
Tractor parade | Archive Photos/Getty Images

Case introduced its 1896 for the 1985 model year as a traditional Case tractor painted “Case white.” It was one of the first 5.9L Cummins tractors and made 95 horsepower at the PTO.

Case also introduced the 2096 for the 1985 model year. This tractor featured a turbocharged 5.9L Cummins. It made 116 horsepower. These Case tractors only had a 12-speed transmission.

By the 1986 model year, Case had merged with International Harvestor. It continued selling both of its 5.9L tractors until 1989, but badged as the CaseIH 1896 and CaseIH 2096. You can tell CaseIH tractors because they are painted “International Harvester red.”

Which Case / International Harvester tractors had the Cummins 5.9?

You can find a Cummins engine in many CaseIH Maxxum series tractors. The smaller Maxxum tractors only had the 4BT, while the largest Maxxums had a larger Cummins. But until 2002, many mid-size Maxxums had the Cummins 5.9L.

Rows of tractors parked together.
Parked tractors | INA FASSBENDER/AFP via Getty Images

The first 5.9L Cummins-powered tractor Case and International Harvester jointly developed was its Maxxum series. This series used the 5.9L Cummins until 2002.

The 5120 Maxxum debuted in 1990 with Cummins’ 4-cylinder 3.9-liter, the 4BT. Also in 1990-91, the CaseIH 5130 Maxxum featured the non-turbo, 99 horsepower 5.9L Cummins 6BT. The 1990-91 CaseIH 5140 Maxxum shared the turbocharged version of the engine with Ram trucks. It claimed 108 horsepower.

From 1992-97, CaseIH shifted the Maxxum series numerals up to 5230, 5240, 5250, etc. The 5230 continued to run a non-turbo 5.9L Cummins. The 5230 and 5250 featured the turbocharged version. CaseIH offered all variants until 1997.

Then for the 1997-2002 Maxxums, CaseIH changed up its model names again. But it still offered the turbocharged 5.9L Cummins in the MX110, MX120, MX135, MX150, and MX170. CaseIH also offered a non-turbo 5.9L in the MX100 Maxxum until it discontinued this model in 1999.

Cummins-powered tractors

So there you have it: You can buy Cummins-powered used tractors. If you’re a fan of Cummins’ 5.9-liter engines and in the market for a used tractor, consider a White or a Case from the 1980s, 90s, or early 2000s.

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