666 656 or 706

Need Advise. Looking to buy a loader tractor for light loader work. Feeding horses, moving snow when needed, helping move hay bales and rake hay, maybe even square bale.
I have $8000 burning a hole in my pocket.
What type of tractor should i look for.
Found a 656 with a 2050 loader wide front average shape. Just had a couple of used gears put into it due to it being locked in gear. Repair shop bill was 5000 bucks. i could buy tractor for 8000. Is that too much for that tractor. Paint is faded and tin ok. tires not great.

Been interested in a 666 diesel. Got a nice Gas 666 close to here i could buy. Seen a few diesels out there too.

Or should i stay cheaper and find a really nice 560 diesel with a 282??

is the direct start pump worth it on the 666?

All opinions welcome. thanks

I have a nice 666 gas for sale. This is from my ih collection. The engine was rebuilt in 2010. I have put less than 100 hours on it since the rebuild. It has really nice original paint. Last summer I bought a quick tach ih 2250 loader for it that is also for sale

im located in nebraska

I have a 656 and really like the tractor but don't use it as a loader tractor and think it would work fine. The 706 is built on a larger and heavier frame so you would have to decide if a larger tractor is really required for your use. I have a couple of diesels already and didn't feel I had enough "real snot work" for another diesel so I am happy with my gas and I use the 93 octane fuel which is recommended. It is great in the hay fields and other general duties around this 400 acre farm when a larger and heavier tractor is desired. The shift issue I experienced once as it seemed to be locked in two gears at the same time while baling hay. I have an old time IH mechanic as a neighbor who came over and used a long stout screwdriver to free up the linkage and we were good to go. He told me when shifting between gears to always go through neutral when leaving one gear and going to another. By that he meant go up or down to neutral and move the shifter lever fully to the left and right before going to another gear as it positions everything in the correct order for changing gears. There was a kit of parts produced by IH to rectify the problem and maybe that is what the shop expense was for but sounds rather high for only that. My tractor is a 1967 Farmall wide front model and I don't believe it had been retrofitted with the updated shift kit. Have never experienced the shift problem again with the left - right movement in neutral when shifting between gears, Hal.

Send me an email.

Allan

I have more comments - please send an email as my email is open, Hal.

my IH 706 is for sale its a rougher tractor, runs nice, has gb haymaster 900 loader, If i saw $6000 befor spring for it I would be happy, I have used it to rake bale ect. I just like green paint better, That is where prices are at around here. Bolt a set of bale spears to about anything and it would sell for 6-900.00 more

Just get what you like,but stay away from any one that has a D282 in it. They are a pain to start messing with glow plugs all the time.

I had a 656 gas row crop with a GB quick tach loader before I retired. It was the best loader tractor I ever had as far as a general use loader tractor. It was well balanced and had fluid in tires. It would do about anything you would ask. The only thing was the spindles weren't strong enough for the loader. I broke both and replaced with the heavier spindles and was fine. I can't remember for sure, but I think they were either 706 or 806 used spindles. Anyway the heavier spindles still fit the 656 axle.

Oh Oh. Looks like that H with loader is an unwanted stepchild. LOL
Will the Super M follow in the near future?
inquiring minds want to know.

what does that mean??? this mind wants to know???

If the 656 is gas they are about $3000 high.

I'm a fan of the 84 series tractors, especially the later ones with the H shift pattern. A 684 like mine is a nible tractor with plenty of power for what you mention and same goes for a 784 or 884. Good hydraulics, easy on fuel, available parts supply and they should be in your price range. I know that some people don't care for a utility model but its always nice to have options.