656: Gas vs. Diesel; TA vs. Hydro? vs. 706? vs. 8

Well, when looking for one, it seems the gassers all have lower hours, seem to be in much better shape, and are cheaper. I guess that is because they have always been more expensive to run than the diesels. If I was going to be running one 500 or 1,000 hours a year on a full time basis, this would make a big difference, but I will be using it 100 hours a year max. Primary duties are mowing, grading, and I would like to find a quick dettach loader for it, and get into discing and planting sometime down the road and haven't ruled out haying with it. I only have 42 acres and 18 of those are in CRP so I'm not going to be using it a whole lot no matter what I end up doing.

At $2.50/gal with the gasser eating 3 gallons per hour and the diesel eating 2 gallons per hour that would be $750 per year for the gasser and $500 per year for the diesel. That would e a $250/year savings in fuel at 100 hours of useage. Does that sound about right? Does anyone have any real numbers on fuel useage on these?

How much more expensive is the diesel going to be to maintain? What problems am I going to be looking at getting a diesel with 8,000 hours on it vs. a gasser with 3,000 hours on it?

Also, I've seen a few diesels with hydros that seem to be in good shape. What is the bad thing about hydros again, just not as much drawbar power for heavy plowing?

Finally, what are the drawacks to a 706 or 806 vs. the 656? They seem to be a little cheaper but not much, and if the 656 is a better tractor then I think I'll just keep looking for a 656.

Thanks in advance for any input.

Nathan

A nice 806, go for it.

Model ----- 100% ----- - 50% -- gallons of fuel used per hour

Gas Gear ----- 5.2 ----- - 3.7
Gas Hydro --- 6.3 ----- - 5.2
Dsl Gear ----- 4.2 ----- - 2.6
Dsl Hydro --- 5.4 ----- - 3.9

MrIH mentioned that the Hydros were set at 2,300 rpm vs. 1,800 rpm for the gear drive so that explains part of the extra consumption for the Hydro. Looks like the Gas uses about 1 gallon per hour more than the Diesel and everyone was right on the Gas Hydro, it eats the fuel like nobodys buisness but the Diesel Hydro is close behind and actually uses more than the Gas Gear drive!!

The difference between the gas and diesel seems to stay the same at the reduced power. Using the unrounded numbers the Gas uses 1.009 gph more at 100% and 1.129 gph more at 50% - The diesel gets a little more efficient at the lighter load but not alot more than the gas.

At $2.50 per gallon the gas gear drive version will cost about $275 more to run per year per every 100 hours of operation on fuel costs. At 50 hours which is really the most that I would be using it that would only be less than $150 a year difference in fuel. I think I am going to keep looking but stick with the gear drives and not be too picky about whether it is a gas or diesel if the gas has a lot less hours and is in better shaper.

Thanks! Nathan

The 6 cylinder gas in the 656 is more efficient the 4 cylinder in the M, especially under light load. With the small acreage you are looking at I would concentrate on finding the one in the best possible condition. Your possible future repair bills are of much more concern then the differance in fuel costs.

I believe I would look for a 656 or 706 gas or deisel. 806 might be too big altho one feller told me you can never have too big of a tractor.

Good luck
steveormary