656 pro con

Anonymous-0 · Dec 28, 2009

looking at a gear drive 656 what should I look for never saw a shifter like that before. Jt

Warren Bult · Dec 28, 2009

My dad has a 656 gas, and now my brother farms with that same tractor. Very good tractor, never had any major problems with it, and it was the workhorse of the tractors we had.

NY 986 · Dec 28, 2009

The shifter should be a straight motion without slop. In my mind no worse than other column shifters in that day. Neighbor had one with the D282 diesel. Generally a very reliable tractor. Used to be lots around years ago. Keep in mind the 706 usually is around for similar money and you gain hydraulic brakes, hydraulic TA, 540/1000 PTO, and 16 speed (W/ TA) transmission.

soybeanjoe · Dec 28, 2009

We bought a new '67 656 gas. I never was satisified with the tractor. From day one we had problems with it hanging up between gears. Dealer worked on it several times but never could get the problem solved.

We had a 450 g at the same time that had oversized pistons in it. It would pull rings around the 656. The 4 cylinder engine seemed to have a lot more low end toque than the 656's 6 cylinder.

In '71 I traded the 450 for an 806D to use as our main horse. My wife would lots rather run the 806 than the 656, even in cold weather even though the 656 had an IH ice cream cab & the 806 was open station.

Traded the 656 for a new 1066 in '75. Mention the 656 today & my wife will make some comment about that "POS" tractor. I despised it & she hated it worse than I did.

I bought a 756 gas about 4 years ago to use an auger tractor & to mount the CIH #1300 sickle bar mower on. If I was looking for a tractor in that size I would look at a 765. More hp, & a lot better shifting arrangement,heavier rear end componeents, plus you have 16 gears forward & 8 reverse compared to 10 forward & 2 reverse with the 656.

JMHO

erik dekeyser · Dec 28, 2009

JT i have a 656 and a 686 and i have used them for years. They are a great tractor for the 66 hp that they have . Things to watch for are the TA and the steering pump does it make noise when you first start the engine? The TA should work smooth in and out. Let the tractor warm up and then try the ta under load if you cant hook anything on the tractor put it in a high gear and use the brakes to lug down the engine and then try the TA. That tractor used to be very popular and there are lots of them still working every day. Erik..

CNKS · Dec 28, 2009

I have never been around one, but 656's probably have the least complaints of any IH tractor.

cd1 · Dec 28, 2009

I like my diesel 656, about the only two complaints I have is the constant glow plug use and the mechanical t/a. but the t/a is a minor thing for me and the engine is not such a big deal for what I own the tractor for. I really like mine, its soo nimble feeling compared to my 460 which is basically the same chassis, just 656 has a better seating position.

Lee in Iowa · Dec 28, 2009

I've never owned one, but the two guys I know that have them say the the same thing you do, and every time I drove I had trouble with the shifter.

pobo6 · Dec 29, 2009

We had a 656 diesel, good workhorse along with the 560, was more operator-friendly than the 560. I knew another fella who also had a 656D, but he always complained he never could find 2nd & 3rd gears on the shifter, more so when he imbibed a bit too much...... All in all, it"s hard to beat the 656 in the mid 60"s hp range.

ejr-IA. · Dec 29, 2009

My experience with a 656 diesel was good.Ran mine to 5500hr.Brakes were my worst problem and on the shifter just keep all the linkage and quadrent lubed.

656 pro con

Anonymous-0

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Warren Bult

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NY 986

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soybeanjoe

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erik dekeyser

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CNKS

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cd1

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Lee in Iowa

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pobo6

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ejr-IA.

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