Farmall 560D Thoughts??

Hi everyone,

Have been reading posts and archives (a tremendous amount of information ... Thanks)... and wanted to ask opinions...

I started out looking for a Farmall letter series to have as a project... generally thinking an H or an M. Project being basic cleanup / restore / show / parade type tractor.

Ran across a 560D (by serial number it's a 1959) that someone traded into their local mechanic for various work.

He's looking to get his $2000 out of it.

I haven't gotten a chance to see it run yet (it's close to the girl friend's house... which is roughly 100 miles from me at home so I'm only there on the weekends). Was raining when I stopped to look at it yesterday so I didn't get a look at the tach to see what the hours are (assuming it works) and forgot to look closely at the serial plate to see if it's got the Delta stamp for having the rear-end recall/upgrade.

So... $2000 gets a reportedly good running 560D NF, FH w/3pt adapter with a 6 foot heavy duty bush hog. I know rears are about 30% tread. Fronts are a little worse off. Says he's got all the sheet metal stored inside.. tractor's outside with stack capped and battery compartment hood off. Looks like it will need a wiring harness soon (too many wires look loose/sloppy wthout some of the braided cable around them).

Am I nuts for even thinking about it? It's diesel which to my way of thinking adds some complexities to my ability to work on it. And way bigger than what I was planning on dealing with....

Will try to stop in and get pictures today and post later as I know pictures on here are worth more than I can type.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts.
Randy

The price is ok -- but a letter series will be MUCH easier to restore than a 460 or 560, particularly if the letter series is gas. I like to totally disassemble, and replace parts as needed, remove all old grease and paint, etc, and paint the reconditioned parts separately. The fast hitch, if it has seen a lot of use, in particular if trailing implements were pulled from it, is going to be very sloppy and will need to be disassembled and new bushings put it. The 60 series-up will prove to be much more complicated, time consuming, and expensive. I know that because I am still working on a 460 Hi Utility -- will finish someday. You can cover up a lot of things with shiny sheet metal and paint, but it won't be "restored". But, if you want to do a LOT of work, go for it.

If you have some acreage and need to mow it, the 560 D with a 6 footer will make short work of it. You seem to know quite a bit about the 560 by refering to the "Delta" stamping. You have done your home work, its your project. The only reason The 560 may be more expensive if you got crazy replacing parts (like me and my 504 D), is that a 60, 06 series is larger than a letter series. $2000 sounds more than fair for a 560 D, running, if complete (all sheet metal, major parts there).

Good luck guy,

Charles

Check to see if the TA is working, & see what the oil pressure is like after it warms up. Good oil pressure at idle when warmed up [hot] indicates a tight lower end in the engine.
Check the clutch by holding the brakes & letting the clutch out while tractor is in 5th gear.
listen for smooth engine performance on start-up & after running. It will take a little time when cold to start firing evenly.

Wow, if you know what you're looking at and it sure sounds like
it, go for it. You'll have twice the tractor as an M and around
here Ms sell for that same $2000 or more if someone slops paint
on them. Tires might cost another $1000, but a 560 painted up
was one of the prettiest tractors ever made.

Hi Guys,

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Thanks for all the feedback. I still haven't gotten to see it run yet with all the holiday hustle & bustle.

Did get to check it out a little more without rain over the holidays...

Tach is busted so no idea on hours, suspect ran hard as clutch pedal has a lot of play left to right.

Wiring harness is definitely shot.

Front tires are mismatched (6.5x16 decent, 6.0x16 in bad shape).

Thanks for the thoughts on things to check out when I get to see it running.

Randy