TRACTOR PARTS Allis Chalmers Case & David Brown Farmall & International Ferguson Ford & New Holland John Deere Massey Ferguson Massey Harris Minneapolis Moline Oliver & Cockshutt Kubota / Yanmar

TRACTOR MANUALS

Allis Chalmers	Case	Farmall IH	Ford 8N,9N,2N	Ford
Ferguson	John Deere	Massey Ferguson	Minn. Moline	Oliver

Farmall & IHC Tractors Discussion Forum

544 or 656

Welcome Guest, Log in or Register

Author

plowboy 14505

12-27-2007 17:42:09

Report to Moderator

well we have sort of outgrown our old farmalls in our little hay operation i was wondering how a 544 or a 656 row crop would behave especially the gas ones yah i know diesel would be better but we dont go thru a lot of gas with th 45 acres we farm now thanks for any input

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

georgeky

12-28-2007 20:00:39

Report to Moderator

Re: 544 or 656 in reply to plowboy 14505, 12-27-2007 17:42:09

Nice 666 gas with cab in the photo ads for 5500.

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

Steven f/AZ

12-28-2007 11:07:04

Report to Moderator

Re: 544 or 656 in reply to Bill46, 12-27-2007 17:42:09

Andrew Z said: (quoted from post at 08:48:20 12/28/07) I was thinking of something else... sorry about that it was late.

Andrew

No hard feelings, sorry I probably snapped back a little bit... was just confused as to what was different... and actually I've run a 504 for a couple hundred hours or so. I'd take the 504 over our 544, the one I was running had a heavy duty Schwartz front end and a newer seat on it, so it was pretty comfy to run all day.

If it was an equal price for each, I'd probably take the 544 just for the fuel economy. Like I said before, heavy tillage will favor the extra horses of the 656.

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

Dave from MN

12-28-2007 06:11:19

Report to Moderator

Re: 544 or 656 in reply to plowboy 14505, 12-27-2007 17:42:09

I have a 544 Diesel Hydro. I am very happy with the tractor. I will say it does like the fuel alot more than a gear drive. I would not part with it, but I think the 656 with 10+(?) more Hp and a gear trannie would be nice as well if you will be doing any tillage. I will say upgrading the 544 from 15.5 tires to 14.9's does make her grunt a bit more when having to pull hard, but I hated them 15.5's!

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

Steven f/AZ

12-28-2007 04:52:14

Report to Moderator

Re: 544 or 656 in reply to Danto, 12-27-2007 17:42:09

Andrew Z said: (quoted from post at 19:11:44 12/27/07)The 656 will have more operator comforts then the 544 but both are good machines in thre own right.

Andrew

Tell me what a 656 has that a 544 doesn't as far as "creature comforts"...

They were built around the same time, we have had both at the same time on our farm and I would say a 544 is a handier and more efficient machine. Yes, the bored engine is more expensive to rebuild due to the machine work, but that's about it. Our 544 has a shuttle shift transmission, which makes it extremely handy with a loader on it.

I wouldn't expect more than 45 horses from a 544 on a steady pull. It works great for mowing, raking, and a square baler, along with some light tillage work - I pull a 12' chisel plow with 12" sweeps on it for working trees, and I have also used it to pull our IH 400 cyclo planter which is a 6-row.

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

Andrew Z

12-28-2007 07:48:20

Report to Moderator

Re: 544 or 656 in reply to Steven f/AZ, 12-28-2007 04:52:14

I was thinking of something else... sorry about that it was late. And now that i think about to there is little diffrence beteeen the two tractors. I just have a lot more experece with the 544 hydro Diesel (actually had to split the 544 apart to have the hydro sent out to rebuilt, wayyy to big of an undertaking for me)

Andrew

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

Dave from MN

12-28-2007 10:00:49

Report to Moderator

Re: 544 or 656 in reply to Andrew Z, 12-28-2007 07:48:20

So what did THAT end up costing??? Hope I never have to have it done.

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

Hugh MacKay

12-28-2007 06:44:23

Report to Moderator

Re: 544 or 656 in reply to Steven f/AZ, 12-28-2007 04:52:14

Steven: Been years since I looked, but near as I could tell 544 and 656 are the same tractor from the clutch housing back. He must have been thinking 504.

Having said that, I must confess, I always found my 656 more comfortable on a long day than 1066. I think it was position of steering wheel in relation to the seat. I do remember making 8" extensions for 1066 hydraulic levers, 656 suited just fine from factory.

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

Allan In NE

12-28-2007 04:59:21

Report to Moderator

Re: 544 or 656 in reply to Steven f/AZ, 12-28-2007 04:52:14

Yep,

Pretty much the same darned tractor; different engine.

Allan

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

Hugh MacKay

12-28-2007 03:31:34

Report to Moderator

Re: 544 or 656 in reply to plowboy 14505, 12-27-2007 17:42:09

Plowboy: I only have one bit of advice, if you have been using pre 1958 gas Farmalls, don't ever think post 58 gassers will be the same. In 1958, IH dropped all their proven gas engines, over 35 hp, in favour of a new line, that were little more than truck engines.

If it's post 1958 and over 35 hp, I'd go diesel all the way. These guys can talk hydro all they want, however a diesel engine up front of a mower conditioner or baler will be far more beneficial.

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

edward_m

12-27-2007 21:27:27

Report to Moderator

Re: 544 or 656 in reply to plowboy 14505, 12-27-2007 17:42:09

I've used a 656 gas for several years, loader as well as hay work, and love it. No problems with power, fuel consumption is good, T/A is really handy, and it has a really comfortable ride.

Used to use a Farmall 400, which did the job, but I'd really hate to go back after using the 656.

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

Jimmy King

12-27-2007 20:29:24

Report to Moderator

Re: 544 or 656 in reply to plowboy 14505, 12-27-2007 17:42:09

Remember a 544 Gas is a bored not a sleeved engine. A 544 D has the german engine same as the 310 minis 2 cylinders.

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

plowboy 14505

12-28-2007 15:37:56

Report to Moderator

Re: 544 or 656 in reply to Jimmy King, 12-27-2007 20:29:24

yikes that turns me off right there maybe the 656 or a706 might be the better choice

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

Hugh MacKay

12-28-2007 21:44:56

Report to Moderator

Re: 544 or 656 in reply to plowboy 14505, 12-28-2007 15:37:56

plowboy: Which turns you off, non sleeved gasser or the German diesel?

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

georgeky

12-27-2007 18:50:54

Report to Moderator

Re: 544 or 656 in reply to plowboy 14505, 12-27-2007 17:42:09

Don't have either, but I do have a 666 which is about the same as 656. They are great for hay tractors. A good SA will handle 45 acres af hay quite easily. I mow and rake more than 400 acres a year with SC's. Use to pull the baler with them, but need a bigger one for the roller. I use the 666 for that. The 656 gas likes it quite well compared to diesel. The 666 also starts a lot easier than 656. I would like to have a 544 myself one day.

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

Andrew Z

12-27-2007 18:11:44

Report to Moderator

Re: 544 or 656 in reply to plowboy 14505, 12-27-2007 17:42:09

Dont have to much seat time on 656 but have some on a 544. This one was a Hydro, I enjoyed in for bailing beacuse with the hydro you can speed up or slow down with just pulling on the speed lever. but the size of the 544 is a good size for haying. My cousin uses a 656 and he likes it too does really do much with it now manily a loader tractor. but his wifes father used it for years for haying and he said that he enjoyed it. The 656 will have more operator comforts then the 544 but both are good machines in thre own right. Others will have a more expert view on these machines i just have a hobby guys veiw.

Andrew

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

TractormanNC

12-27-2007 18:07:31

Report to Moderator

Re: 544 or 656 in reply to plowboy 14505, 12-27-2007 17:42:09

Have used a 656 to pull a MOCO and square baler for about 30 years. Wonderful tractor for that. Make sure it has a TA. Tricycle front is handy for dodging bales if you drop them on the ground.
Leonard

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

plowboy 14505

12-27-2007 18:21:42

Report to Moderator

Re: 544 or 656 in reply to TractormanNC, 12-27-2007 18:07:31

i also heard that c200 motor in the 544 had alot of problems

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

[Options] [Printer Friendly] [Posting Help] [Return to Forum] [Log in to Reply]

TRACTOR PARTS	TRACTOR MANUALS

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]

Home | Forums

Copyright © 1997-2023 Yesterday's Tractor Co.
All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy

TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters

Website Accessibility Policy