Hydros????

Anyway, we have been looking at a 656 diesel hydro. All I have heard is bad things about hydros and that you should stay as far away from them as possible because if they break - it"s expensive to fix. What do you guys think? Is there anyway to know wether or not the hydro is good - should you pulling something with it, run it so long, etc?

I really love our 706 but we do need a diesel and my finance is convinced we need a hydro for the ease of shifting. I am not convinced. We are new into the tractor experience and just don"t want to get rid of something that runs great and into something that"s going to become a money hog instead.

They worked great until they broke, then they were very expensive.

If the tranny was strong it usually worked for a long time unless abused or improper fluid was used.

Also on the hydro's, they freewheel in high range(or was it low???). Can get you into trouble going down steep hills.

If when the tractor stops, the engine load is greatly released, and moving the lever back does not cause the hydro to again overpower the brakes, then the reason the tractor stopped is the slip plates in the hydro have been forced apart and oil is bypassing. When the load is released, the plates will again be pressed together and the tractor will pull again. This happens when the plates get worn and scored. The is cure for this is to rebuld the hydro unit.

To me it's a no brainer dump the 706. Most 706's I've seen were lemons - not the best IH tractor - they had a lots of problems. Could never figure out why the 706 had so many problems compaired to to 806, 856, and 656. 706's shared engines with the 6x6 tractors and the same trans as with the 8x6 reactors. Perhaps they were simply overloaded and beat to death. I remember a lot of them in the headge rows not working and not going to be fixed. Their is a reason they sell for less than the 6x6 and 8x6's.

The desiel in the 656 sould outlast 3 or 4 gas engins in the 706. If the 656 was a gear tractor it would use half the fuel.

As long as the hydro is in good shape it will last a long time doing loader work or mowing grass. Heavy tillage is what kills a hydro.

Hydros loose 25% more of their drawbar HP throught the transmission than gear drives BUT it doesn't appear your doing any tillage work so you'll probably save a bundle in fuel costs anyway. Could pay for the upgrade in a year of less at todays prices

Diesel 656 hydro beats a 706 gear gaser in my book any day. Heavy tillage on a gaser will put you in the poor house and a 706 won't hold up. If you need a heavy tillage tractor go to a 806 diesel. You'll save the cost difference in a year from fuel alone.

That isn't how it works. Ya gotta keep the 706 and buy the little Hydro too. :>)

Allan

Allan

The other way to check it out is hook up a disc and disc a field for a hour or so - get it all warmed up. If it's not slipping, making excessive noise, and holds a constant speed at a specific shift position it's probably ok. Hydros are sometimes fine cold but problems show up when their warm.