Got the 656 home PIC

PICTURE: My wife on the 656 at a Cracker Barrel in Kenosha, WI.

We got the Farmall 656 home last week. It wasn't the easiest thing in the world. I borrowed a trailer that is wider than mine from a buddy, and the thing was still 4 inches too narrow. After driving 450 miles, the tractor wouldn't go past the fenders. I had to load it backwards to make the trailer ride correctly. So I had to go to a local lumberyard and build a set of "fender ramps" to get it on there. It took a while to put them together, but a guy at the True Value is Peshwego SP? WI let me use their cut off saw, and gave me a bunch of wood that was no good for selling, but worked fine for a ramp. Ended up only costing me 2 hours and about $40 to build. Thanks to Wade at Meteer Manufacturing www.meteer.com for the idea. If you need a corn reel, or folding or stacking toolbars, these are the guys to talk to.

Unfortunately, it's still sitting on the trailer on the driveway. I have to take it over to Meteers so they can help me mount the loader, but they were too busy this week. Oh well, I have waited 33 years to have a tractor... what's another few days.

Does anyone have a serial number guide on these tractors? I am trying to figure out what engine this has, and I am also curious what else the serial will tell me. Serial is 2450126u043737*

Thanks!

Darren

Darren

according to the serial number it's a 1970. as others have pointed out, by the pictures it looks like the 282 diesel. the only other engine option was a 263 gas. good luck and have fun with it.

casey in SD

Where are you at in Illinois? I'm in Pesotum, just South of Champaign on I57.

Darren

I'm just a wee bit jealous! Of the tractor, the rig and the wife.

Boy! Did you ever make a buy on that one. Congrats! You're gonna love that tractor!

Allan

Thanks! I'm pretty happy with the truck, the tractor, and the wife. All the important things in life right there in one picture :) . I just wish there was some way I could do some real tractor work with it sometime. I have been envious of your posts about your adventures in the field. We have a few acres, and the tractor will have pleanty to do, but I would love to buy another 5-10 or so. I just don't know if there is any way we will ever have the opportunity.

Darren

I'm sure I'm the only person on earth who hadn't thought of this before, but just in case.. here is a picture of the fender clearance ramps I built. I used 2x10s and just gradually stepped them back on each side to form the ramp. I then nailed them all together and nailed them to the deck of the trailer so they wouldn't slide. Then just backed the tractor up the trailer ramps, and up and over the fender ramps. Hydro made going slow easy... and I can't complain about the power steering either. The F350 pulled that sucker along without a problem also. This was the heaviest load I had hauled. Chained it down at 6 points with 5 chains and then wired the chain binders so they couldn't pop open. The only thing that stunk was that the trailer lost a grease cap and got rocks and crud in the grease, so I had to clean and repack it.

Hahaha that's pretty good. Actually she is very cool with the whole tractor thing... now I am trying to convince her that she needs a nice little Cub to drive around I would prefer to get her an H but we will have to see if I can get her comfortable with the 656 first :)

Darren

I love the idea of the ramps. Simplicity is always the best...and that's a great idea.

How do you like the F350--is it a diesel?

Congrats on everything going well for you..hope you enjoy....
And if you really want to buy more acreage in the future....don't give up. Be ready for the right opportunity. Things will eventually work out.
Keep in mind that sometimes you don't even have to own land. If you have friends that have land...or make friends who have land, lots of times they would be happy to let you lend a hand or even just play on it a little.

So far the tractor seems to be just as advertised. The people in Wisconsin were very nice, and the guy I bought it from was a good guy. I haven't had the opportunity to drive it much as it is waiting on the trailer to go get the loader installed. I have sat on it an listened to it run a few times though.. and it sounds pretty good :)