656 diesel--an ok tractor?

littlefarmer · Feb 21, 2009

I farm 160 acres and am looking at getting a 656 diesel. I would like to ask other forum users their opinion of this tractor. Is it a good tractor without problems? Should I consider a gas version? What should a person look for when buying one? What would be a fair price? Thanks for any info! It is appreciated!

eric in wi · Feb 22, 2009

the 656 is a good tractor the diesel version will be cheaper to run than the gas i have a 656 gas and it takes 7 gallons when u are working it. the only problems we had is the power sterring pump and hydrolic pump but thats because it sat out side all the time but it has been a good tractor

Nebraska Cowman · Feb 22, 2009

The diesel is a glow plug engine but it's bullet proof and will run forever. I love mine.

Steven f/AZ · Feb 22, 2009

The 656 is a good tractor. We had a hydro and used it for loader work. We also have a 544 which is about the same in a 4-cylinder model.

Keep the clutch and TA adjusted properly, and don't let it free-wheel in low range.

The diesel engine is a glow plug start, same engine as the 560, 660, and early 706 diesels. Let it warm up, let it cool down and you won't have any trouble. People that treated them like gas engines cracked heads, no warm and no cool down.

Hugh MacKay · Feb 22, 2009

Little farmer: Of 16 Farmalls my dad and I bought new or nearly new, 656 gear drive diesel was the most economical horsepower I ever farmed with. That started with a W4 in 1942 and ended with a 1066 in 1975, and there was at least one tractor from every series in between.

In the first 10,000 hours the repair bills were less than $1,000., and that included a set of tires. It burnt roughly one Imp gallon of fuel per hour the whole time I owned it.

If your farming 160 acres don't even consider a gasser. 656 diesel one of the finest IH ever built, and the gasser one of the poorest. IH did not put much R & D into 6 cylinder gassers, they were only converted truck engines. By 1960s, IH figured the day of the 50+ hp gasser was over. I believed that as well, having used a 300 on a 9' haybine using 3 gallons per hour, then turn around to use that same haybine behind 560D and 656D and only use one GPH. When I came to YT in 1999, I could not believe the numbers of 6 cylinder gassers across the USA. I had only ever seen one IH 6 cylinder gasser lifetime, however here in Canada we always paid 30% more for fuel than in US.

littlefarmer · Feb 22, 2009

Just want to thank everyone for the excellent advice!

Roger46 · Feb 22, 2009

Back in the mid 60's I went off the college and my dad decided that we were spending too much tractor time farming 400+ acres with a Farmall H and Super H. He bought a 656 diesel. We thought we had died and gone to heaven. That was such a fine tractor. He farmed with it until 1979 when he retired. I don't think it ever was in the shop for any repair. I really enjoyed driving that tractor whenever I was home to help. Roger

656 diesel--an ok tractor?

littlefarmer

Member

eric in wi

Member

Nebraska Cowman

Well-known Member

Steven f/AZ

Well-known Member

Hugh MacKay

Well-known Member

littlefarmer

Member

Roger46

Member

Similar threads