Farmall 656--first year model--ok to buy?

zooeyhall · Apr 26, 2014

I am looking at a nice Farmall 656 gas with Schwartz wide front. It seems very clean and in good shape. However the serial number is from the first year of manufacture (1965). They made these tractors until 1973. Is it ok to buy the first year of any model? Don't they often make improvements in the later years of a model? Are there any important differences between the first 656's that IH made, and the ones they made later? Thanks for any advice.

zooeyhall · Apr 26, 2014

P.S.---want to add that it's a gear tractor and not a hydro.

DeltaRed · Apr 26, 2014

If it's still in as good shape as you say,you dont have a THING to worry about.After all,it,s almost 40 years old.any problems would have been fixed by now.AFIK,the 'changes' were a bigger engine on the diesel and maybe some tinwork.They are pretty good tractors with a good reputation.The "first year" thing is a 'wives tale'.

Farmallhal · Apr 26, 2014

I have a 1967 Farmall 656 gas with a wide front end and it has quickly became one of my favorite "go to" tractors. It's prior life was as a soybean cultivator tractor in Indiana with three pairs of hydraulic outlets. My tractor just has a drawbar hitch so it is missing a fast hitch or 3 point which is somewhat of an issue but I have other tractors for those needs. Being a 6 cylinder IH engine it is recommended here on the forum and elsewhere including by IH to use their Low Ash engine oil and 93 octane fuel which I do. That 6 cylinder certainly has a sweet smooth sound and love the sound when the governor kicks the power output up. I think the later ones had a different front grill but I haven't researched anything for other production changes but I have been very happy with mine, Hal.

Larry B. 1486 · Apr 26, 2014

Hey DeltaRed. 50 years old. The first ones came out 50 years ago. My how time flies.

mazemeister · Apr 26, 2014

On the 656 I think it was the c263 and d282 all the way through. 666 and 686 had the 310 and 312

RLS-ia · Apr 26, 2014

Dad bought one new in 1967, which I still have. The clevis bolt? that goes from the brake pedal into the brake isn't big enough and break once in a while, that and when the shifter linkage get some wear you want to take your time shifting, no speed shifting or it will be in 2 gears. Other than that is has been a great tractor, wouldn't be afraid to buy another.

Farmallhal · Apr 27, 2014

Just an additional comment relative to the noted shifting issue. On my 656 a neighbor who was helping in the hay last summer was driving the tractor and he made a direct shift from one gear to another and got the transmission locked into what seemed like two gears. I had another neighbor (who has worked on IH tractors his entire life) come over to see what was wrong. He told me when the transmission shifting linkage gets a little wear they are prong to that problem. He got it unstuck with a long screwdriver used as a pry bar on the linkage above and in front of the battery. He told me when changing gears to always move the lever up or down to the neutral position and move it back and forth (left to right) the full travel once or twice before going to the next gear. He said that will align everything in proper position before going to the next gear. Hope this helps but that was a one-time issue for me, Hal.

Jim CIn. · Apr 27, 2014

I own a 1967 Farmall 656 and it is a sweet runner and a good tractor, owned it for over 30 years.

Farmall 656--first year model--ok to buy?

zooeyhall

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zooeyhall

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DeltaRed

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Farmallhal

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Larry B. 1486

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mazemeister

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RLS-ia

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Farmallhal

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Jim CIn.

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