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Farmall & IHC Tractors Discussion Forum
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656 or 856

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Hayfarmer

09-03-2007 20:56:39




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Looked at 2 tractors today. IH 656 and 856. Both have new rear tires, 856 has new front tires too. Both missing a few pieces of sheet metal guy wants $4000 for either tractor. Both run good, no smoke or blow by. Don't know history on either as guy hasn't had them that long. 856 shows 9500 hours on tach and it works,not sure on 656 as tach wasn't working. 856 reved up to pto rpm and above, 656 didn't sound quite right at high RPM. Not really a miss but not real smooth. Guy said he hadn't run it that fast and had been using it mostly on a rake so not working it. No smoke at higher RPM. 656 started with about a 30 second glow plug heat which is better than I have seen some other 656s do. TA good in both and no front end wobble or shake. Both tractors have 3 point and 2 remotes, 856 had both ptos but pto brake didn't seem to work. Both missing a couple pieces of sheet metal but mostly all there. Both are gear transmission, the 656 shifter seemed to work well, not sloppy like some I have seen. So which to choose or neither? I really like the 656 for fuel economy, is the 856 similar in this respect? Not sure of the HP on the 856, is it about 90? Anyway looking for opinions. Have had no experience with an 856 and a little with 656. Both row crops, wide front and power steering. 856 has more gears as it had the hi, lo neutral and 4 speed shifter. Could use the extra hp of the 856 on my swather but wondering if they were as reliable as a 656. Also can someone tell me the weight and HP of the 856, also weight of 656. Sorry for the long post. Needing some help.

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karl f

09-04-2007 14:02:19




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 Re: 656 or 856 in reply to Hayfarmer, 09-03-2007 20:56:39  
656 is more maneuverable in the yard or small spaces. what type of use do you intend? on our operation, the 656 is much better in our small fields under 40 acres (some as small as 6-8) even though the bigger tractors do amazing work in the larger fields where you aren't turning as often.
also consider your soil conditions. the 656 is the biggest tractor we want in the wet areas or the cow yard in spring time. have had the bigger one stuck with only an empty balefork attatched in the cow yard. bigger tractor also compacts the hay meadows worse.
considering a tractor can be complicated!
karl f

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Lee in Iowa

09-04-2007 12:18:08




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 Re: 656 or 856 in reply to Hayfarmer, 09-03-2007 20:56:39  
I have 2 856's one with 12000 hours the other with a lot more by the looks of it. Both have been excellent tractors. As far as a 656 I have never owned one but been around 2, one of them I talked about in my post about the beefed up 656, it broke in half twice when used with a loader and weighted rear end. I don't know exact specs, but the bellhousing and transmission area in a 656 look similar to a 460 and smaller than an M. I know you were'nt supposed to mount a cornpicker on a 460 unless it had some optional heavier axles or axle housings. Both of the 656's I have been around have had shift linkage problems. As far as power goes its always better to have a little too much than not enough. So if I could only buy one I would pick the 856. Lee

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MN Rick

09-04-2007 10:17:33




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 Re: 656 or 856 in reply to Hayfarmer, 09-03-2007 20:56:39  
If you can live with either amount of hp, then it all comes down to condition. Personally, I'm with Hugh and believe that these were built at IH's finest hour. In most cases, overall outward condition and appearance is a good indicator of the operating condition as well. If condition seems to end up a wash, then it boils down to the one that gives you a better feel.



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BOBM25

09-04-2007 09:12:05




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 Re: 656 or 856 in reply to Hayfarmer, 09-03-2007 20:56:39  
At the consignment sale saturday a very clean 856 went for 8100. It had a year around cab and I think 5000 some hrs. A super clean 666 diesel on the same sale with 5800 hrs brought 8500. I'd say buy them both if you can. If you can't, go with the 856. I agree with Hugh, those both are one of the best IH tractors made, but I think you'll like the heavier more powerful 856. I don't know if you'll do any loader work or not, but I've seen a few 656's ruined by a heavy loader.

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Mike Johnson

09-04-2007 12:03:48




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 Re: 656 or 856 in reply to BOBM25, 09-04-2007 09:12:05  
Dear Sir. You mentioned these tractor sold at a consignment action. I was wondering where the sale was located at? I just bought a 666 desiel from a individual that was sending it to a consightment sale and I thought it would go cheaper there than from buying it from the individual. After looking at those prices I'm glad I bought it from him. Thanks for your time. Mike



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BOBM25

09-05-2007 08:56:05




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 Re: 656 or 856 in reply to Mike Johnson, 09-04-2007 12:03:48  
Sale was in NW Ohio. The auctioneer is known for getting very good money for stuff



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Hayfarmer

09-04-2007 07:14:31




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 Re: 656 or 856 in reply to Hayfarmer, 09-03-2007 20:56:39  
Thanks guys, the price seemed pretty reasonable for either. I appreciate the input. I ran a neighbor's 656 quite a bit and really liked it but it was utility model and had not been taken care of. Both of these have only a few small leaks. On the 856 is the pto brake in the rear box? How hard to fix? Thanks again.



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Allan In NE

09-04-2007 06:55:25




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 Re: 656 or 856 in reply to Hayfarmer, 09-03-2007 20:56:39  
You'd better buy both.

At those prices, you can fiip your money in an eyeblink.

Allan



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vernMN

09-04-2007 06:07:31




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 Re: 656 or 856 in reply to Hayfarmer, 09-03-2007 20:56:39  
As said before, buy both. Use them and get rid of the one you find you do not need, or costs more to fix or keep working. You might like the 856 for the extra HP.



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Nebraska Cowman

09-04-2007 04:22:19




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 Re: 656 or 856 in reply to Hayfarmer, 09-03-2007 20:56:39  
I'm with Hugh, Buy both. You can always let one go later.



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Brownie450

09-04-2007 03:55:07




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 Re: 656 or 856 in reply to Hayfarmer, 09-03-2007 20:56:39  
Our 856 used a quart of oil a day regardless of what you were doing with it. However, if you ran it at the add level, it wouldn't use any oil. Talked to the guy who bought it after we traded it, & he said it hadn't changed any. It has over 10,000 hrs on it with no overhaul. Our 806 & 1066 never used any oil between changes.



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Hugh MacKay

09-04-2007 02:52:28




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 Re: 656 or 856 in reply to Hayfarmer, 09-03-2007 20:56:39  
HayFarmer: If they are both diesel, gear drive, possitively the two best tractors ever built by IH. Fuel efficient and trouble free for roughly the first 10,000 hours. They will turn out more hp hours per gallon of fuel than just about any tractor ever built, right up to 2007. A few 856 have made the 20,000 hour mark before needing an engine rebuild.

I had a 656, probably my favourite of all tractors I owned. Never had an 856, however there are 3 of them almost in sight on me, all owned by the original owners, and in all cases the 66 and 86 series tractors they farmed with have been replaced by something else. That tells one a lot.

Didn't help you much, however you should buy both, at that money.

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steveormary

09-03-2007 22:25:47




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 Re: 656 or 856 in reply to Hayfarmer, 09-03-2007 20:56:39  
Hayfarmer

IH 656 dsl pto hp-61.5 db-hp 54 wt.7230#'s 281ci 1800rpm

IH 856 dsl.: pto hp-100.5 db-hp 90 wt 10290#'s 409 ci 2400 rpm.

I had a 656 gas for a short time. Found some major problems with it and sold it. I know,I should have rebuilt it( engine clutch and TA). I also had a 706 ger deisel that was a good tractor for me.

Which tractor? The 856 may be overkill and the 656 may be short on hp at times. Go with the one you think will need the least amount of work in the next ten years.

steeormary

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