Why was the 504 Farmall ever made???

mike1972chev · Mar 16, 2012

Hey,

My mind is wandering again as usual! LOL Seeing a few post over on RPM about the 504 Farmalls. I was thinking to myself why did they go back to build a 4 cylinder tractor ???? Isnt this tractor just kind of like an M that just has some fancy sheet metal added to it?????

I dont know ANYTHING about the 504s at all!!!!

Badger bob · Mar 16, 2012

I think that they were made to replace the 140 240 and 340. i may be wrong. Bob

mkirsch · Mar 16, 2012

The 504 has nothing in common with an M, other than HP rating.

It is actually the next evolution of the 340. Basically, a 460 rear end married to a modified, overbored Super C block, with a C front end, and frame rails

Farmers have always needed "M-sized" tractors since the M was invented. In the beginning they were the main power for "big" farms, and eventually tractors that size became invaluable chore tractors on larger farms.

Steve Lambert · Mar 16, 2012

The reply by mkirsch is another reason this site is so valuable. I don"t need to know about the 504 but I am glad I know the information he posted. To that end thank you mkirsch.

CNKS · Mar 16, 2012

IH attempted to fill all the gaps in HP, sometimes succesfully, sometimes not. The 504 did not need a 6 cylinder engine. Bear in mind that there are many smaller tractors of any make with 4 cylinders -- only difference between now and the late 50's and 60's is they are all diesels. Other than a similar drive train, the 504 is not related to an M, and although I have never compared them the M thru 450 will likely walk or run away from a 504.

Anonymous-0 · Mar 16, 2012

Everyone should remember that about the time this tractor was built the horsepower and size was going up. The smaller farmers did not need a 806 size. This was true in all makes of tractors that we had back in the early 1960s. Your 504s, Oliver 660s, etc. were there for a reason. The question to asked if anyone can remember when farming was not a corportion?

wisbaker · Mar 16, 2012

Also about this time farmers still used different sized tractors for different chores, the 504 was an attempt to produce a new smaller tractor with newer features for smaller farmers wanting to trade up from their older tractors as well as an option for the 3rd or 4th tractor in larger operations that would use it for planting, mowing (sycle bar mower), raking, towing wagons and trailers, feeding, loader tractor, scrapping lots, hauling manure and firewood. The smaller tractor should use less fuel and some farmers had bad experiences with early diesels starting in cold weather so they preferred gas tractors for chores.

Why was the 504 Farmall ever made???

mike1972chev

Well-known Member

Badger bob

Member

mkirsch

Well-known Member

Steve Lambert

Member

CNKS

Well-known Member

Anonymous-0

Well-known Member

wisbaker

Well-known Member

Similar threads