IH 706 Gas - Reputation

I"m thinking about an IH 706 gas for snowblowing & moving snow. So a gas motor is what I"m thinking for better starting. How good were these tractors? Were they basically a 560 in newer clothes? Same motor as the 560 but I"ve never owned one. How were the trannys & hydraulics. Were they all syncro"s? The one I"m interested in has an all hydraulic loader. I better inquire about 3pt for a snowblower. Oh, and what"s it mean when they say it"s been converted to 66 style shifters? Thanks

Ok. A 706 only shares engines with a 560. Probably nothing else. 706's have a very heavy built rear end. It's hard to mess one up. They are not a synchro transmission like deere. NO SHIFTING! (Except T.A.) For Loader work, they are a hard to use tractor, only because they are hard to shift the range Trans. (High, low, reverse.) If the linkage and top cover for the range trans. have been rebuilt, and Clutch and TA dump valve are adjusted properly, they shift reasonably well. (Read: not great) The hydraulics work just fine, and are plenty adequate for that size tractor.

The Gas Motor will start well in the cold, and once warmed up, make decent power. They get thirsty, like 3-4 gallons an hour plowing snow, Misc. loader work, etc. (light to moderate load) I have a 263 in a 656, and other than it's thirst, I like how it'll start at 0* without an argument. Otherwise my experience comes from my 806D. I've driven a 756 gas, wonderful tractor if you like the gas motor. When they say updated to a 56 or 66 shifters, the Range Transmission pattern is an H rather than the inline H-L-N-R of an 06 tractor, and they're considerably easier to shift.

For the right deal, yeah, I'd own a 706 gas. I'd rather have the 310 diesel, though. Hope this helps a little. -Andy

I have the German diesel we bought new. Put on a block heater. Just plug it in and it's good to go.


My shifter is worn plumb out. So yeah, that is a weak point.

My uncles had an 806 gas and man could it drink gas.

Gene

TractorVet is the 706 gas authority.TV has owned several and still farms with a 706gas. He can tell you what you need to know.A 560 and 706 are two completely different tractors.A 560 is basicly an 'M' on steroids.A 706 is a completely new tractor design.560 is rated around 60hp,706 is rated 70hp.706 are still good tractors(I've owned a diesel 706 for 30 years,my favorite).They have a completely different transmission.The TA is a new improved hydralic unit as opposed to the old mechanical TA used on the 560(same TA as MTA thru the 560).Transmission gears(range and speed) are not 'syncronized'.56 shifters is just that.Someone removed the old shifter handles and linkages and replaced them with ones from a 56/66 series tractor(my '7' has been converted).Vastly superior system(tractor vet would disagree).706 has supior hydralics.You will need to run premium gas in it.Hope this helps....

So the German diesels start good in winter if plugged in? Thanks for all the replies gentlemen. I appreciate this. I may consider a diesel if I come across one.

Yea a 706 is a great tractor . Gas or diesel , the C263 is ok but the later ones had the C291 Oh yea that really makes a good engine and really perks them up when tuned wright . The big thing with the gassers is Fuel and Oil , ya play the game and they will run a long time . Shift linkage , yea the OEM shifter is not the best designed and depending on what your doing can be a pain in the drain that i will not disagree on . But if you keep the clutch , transmission brake and dump valve in adjustment they shift good. IF you are doing a lot of forward and backwards then the 56-66 shifter is better . The diesel engines are ok the D282 is not tops on my list but when in good condition will get the job done . The D310 is great in good condition , but when they start to go down yor in for big expense , injection pump parts are getting really hard to find and they do not service the thermostat anymore and i do not know if someone has come up with something that will fit . Yes we run two 706 gassers one is a 64 and the other is a 67 . The 64 model has been changed to a C291 with the updated sleeves and piston's along with shell we say a few other upgrades . How does it run , you would have to set your donkey in the seat and drive it to see . I do believe you would be vary impressed . As for the amount of fuel it burns i do not think it is unreasonable as i can mow rake and rake a second time and move bales off 28 acres on one fill up on some pretty nasty hilly ground that on first cutting works the snot out of the 706 on the hay bine . Unless we are doing tillage or chopping or in good weather the go to tractor is the 706 , not the 806 or the 1066 . First think anybody says is get the 706 .

"Converted to 66 style shifters" is a GOOD thing.

That means the "hard to shift" complaint has been taken care of, at least for your lifetime and probably your grandkids' too.

IH tried to be clever with the range shifter on the 06 series, and keep all the selections in a straight line. (Hi-Lo-N-R)

It worked fine when new, but if they got even slightly worn or out of adjustment, they became difficult to shift.

Starting with the 56 series, they changed the range shifter to an h-pattern, with Hi-N-L together, and R off on its own linkage to the right. It is much more tolerant of wear, and being out of adjustment.

You should not have to JAM the gearshift to get it to shift, period. That indicates at least an adjustment issue, if not other problems. It should shift smooth, though you might have to partially let up on the clutch pedal to release the trans brake so it will shift.

The germans start well in cold temps.Best starting(diesel) tractor on the place.Hasn't had even a 'whiff' of either in YEARS.They are also an extremely long life engine.Mine has over 11,000 hrs and shows no signs of 'slowing down'.It will probably outlast me!

You say you want something to move snow.A gas tractor would would be supior to a diesel for that porpose.IMHO The fuel copnsumption thing is a nonissue.

If you have to dance with the clutch pedal then you are out of adjustment on the clutch set up Adjustments . None of or 06 series shift hard , just push the clutch pedal down and two fingers will get the job done , no jerking tugging cussing swearing they just slide to what ever gear you want . It is when they get out of adjustment is when you start making things wear out . And i do not need that socalled expensive kit to make them shift smooth.

I agree with you 'vet, but "dancing with the clutch pedal" is a trick I learned over the years to get an out-of-adjustment tractor to shift smoothly. No jerking on the shift levers. I just want to punch idiots when I catch them jerking on the shift levers at auctions.

The name of the game is get the crop out of the field today, fix the minor problems later when you have the time.

Oh, and don't make anything worse than it already is.

Takes less then ten min. to do .

Don't know where you are located but a Farmall 706 was placed in the photo ads this morning somewhere in Michigan for $4500. From the photo and description appears to be a worthy tractor to at least give a look. I have no interest or any knowledge of the seller or the tractor but just pointing it out as I saw it when looking at the ads as I have been following this thread.
I have a 1967 gas Farmall 656 wide front that I truly enjoy for the jobs I utilize it for as being a nice solid tractor. I believe they are somewhat on a smaller chassis then the 706 and I use the 93 octane gasoline and low ash CaseIH oil that is recommended for the 6 cylinder IH gas engines in the owner's manual and highly emphasized by the Tractor Vet on this forum, Hal.