Just bought a Farmall 504 gasser, know nothing about them

Shawn MacAnanny · Oct 26, 2011

Hey guys i just recently bought a farmall 504, i dont really know much about them. I currently have a to30 and wanted a tractor just a little bigger for tilling, brush clearing, mowing etc. I believe its a 1965, it has a torque amplifier, a wide front end, 12gpm auxiliary hydraulics, 4.5gpm 3 pt pump i believe. It also is a 10 speed. I have not seen it in person but it will be here this weekend everything works fine on it supposedly. What should i be looking for when going over it? I got it pretty cheap so i am not worried if i have to fix a few things but what are the problems with them? Will this tractor be much more powerful than my current to30?

It has a 10 speed but is that a 2 speed transfercase like on my to30 or is it counting the torque amplifier at the transfer gear which i understand is not really a low range. i ordered a manual for it but it wont be here for a week. Are these good tractors? I have heard the gassers are underpowered, but i think my to30 with the sherman is pretty powerful so i am hoping this will be alteast a little more powerful and have some weight to it.

tntleake · Oct 26, 2011

It is a 5 speed trans with the T/A giving you a low range in each gear.
They are nice tractors. The t/a id a shift on the fly application. The lever is forward in direct and you pull the lever back and the t/a drops inot a low side with no need to idle down or clutch. The do go out though.

mkirsch · Oct 26, 2011

If you don't abuse them IH tractors just run and run and run forever. With proper care and maintenance they even continue to look good while doing it.

The TA is the closest thing to a "weak point" on the tractor. Your tractor is 46 years old and may very well be on its original or second TA, so it should be no surprise if it needs work. However, if you get it fixed properly it will last you the rest of your life. If the TA is good now you're pretty much safe.

Even if the TA is no good you can get away with not fixing it right away. Just leave the lever in the forward position and drive it like a TA-delete model.

DO NOT descend hills with the TA lever in the back position. The tractor will run away on you and explode the TA inside the transmission.

The fact that the tractor is still operational and useful after 46 years pretty much says there are no weak points. There's nothing to look for specifically, so look EVERYTHING over.

46 years of wear and tear on a tractor with no real weak points means ANYTHING could be on the verge of wearing out.

Nebraska Cowman · Oct 26, 2011

I like my 504 I think they were rated like 45 horse
but it's a C sized engine. I like to say, "It ain't
no M"

Shawn MacAnanny · Oct 26, 2011

it has 1250hr on it. I know stuff breaks I just wanted a good platform of a tractor to work with. I've been repairing the to30 for a while but i just want one that has a little more power and weight to move things. ta does work but that's good I can bipass it if it breaks.

it does have power steering and a wide front end too.

these are only 540 pros right? my to30 has a 540 and 1000

(quoted from post at 08:30:37 10/26/11) If you don't abuse them IH tractors just run and run and run forever. With proper care and maintenance they even continue to look good while doing it.

The TA is the closest thing to a "weak point" on the tractor. Your tractor is 46 years old and may very well be on its original or second TA, so it should be no surprise if it needs work. However, if you get it fixed properly it will last you the rest of your life. If the TA is good now you're pretty much safe.

Even if the TA is no good you can get away with not fixing it right away. Just leave the lever in the forward position and drive it like a TA-delete model.

DO NOT descend hills with the TA lever in the back position. The tractor will run away on you and explode the TA inside the transmission.

The fact that the tractor is still operational and useful after 46 years pretty much says there are no weak points. There's nothing to look for specifically, so look EVERYTHING over.

46 years of wear and tear on a tractor with no real weak points means ANYTHING could be on the verge of wearing out.

Shawn MacAnanny · Oct 26, 2011

also does this tractors 3pt hitch work without the pto spinning or do I have to have the pro engaged for it to raise?

Andrew Z · Oct 26, 2011

Completely independent systems of the PTO it is not like a Ford N series or the alike to what you alude to.

Andrew

IH fan · Oct 26, 2011

(quoted from post at 12:12:49 10/26/11) also does this tractors 3pt hitch work without the pto spinning or do I have to have the pro engaged for it to raise?

It will have independent PTO and hydraulics... everything works independent of the others.... engine running, any or all should work. a BIG plus when mowing, baling or almost anything.

Shawn MacAnanny · Oct 26, 2011

Well that's good. Bushhogging is a pain when trying to back mower into heavy brush and blades are spinning when i lift it, also when i lift it after sitting over night. It used to be even more dangerous before i got the ratcheting pto because the bushhog would drive the tractor forward even with clutch in.

so the pto runs from a separate clutch? Will i need to put the main engine clutch in to engage or disengage the pto clutch or is it ok to engage while driving forward?

Do you think this tractor will handle a 5ft roto tiller? The to30 uses it but really doesnt like it.

Shawn MacAnanny · Oct 28, 2011

What type of fluid does this tractor take? traveller hytrans?

what oil? rotella?

Just bought a Farmall 504 gasser, know nothing about them

Shawn MacAnanny

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tntleake

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mkirsch

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Nebraska Cowman

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Shawn MacAnanny

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Shawn MacAnanny

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Andrew Z

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IH fan

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Shawn MacAnanny

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Shawn MacAnanny

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