656 Hydro Diesel

Hello, I am contemplating buying a 656 diesel hydro. I am going to look at it this weekend and had a few questions. He says the hydro will work fine for 1 1/2 hours before it will start slipping in high. He said he can shift to low and it will work fine and not slip. The tractor has just over 3000 hours and he is the 2nd owner. Factory wide front and 3 pt fast hitch. He is asking $4000 and in the photos the tractor looks to be in very good shape. Anyone have any good checks that I could do to see if the hydro problem is minor or major while I am checking it over? It sounds like it may be an easy fix. I am not going to be using the tractor very hard maybe an hour at a time to mow with a brush cutter and move round bales very seldom. Any help would be appreciated.

Sounds like the hydro is worn out,could cost over $5000 to repair it.for the light work ypu could plobably get by for a long time.When you are useing it,put in LOW not high!only use high when 'roading'.lots of owners only use high for everything,that is hard on them(kinda like leaving your car in high gear for citydriveing)Quick testut in high range,full throttle,step on brakesHARD,push SR lever all the way forward.you should be able to stall the angine.Dont be scared,hydros are great tractors,Ilove mine.(826H,1026,hydro100)Goodluck and 'happy hydroing' Steve

So you think for the price it wouldn't be too bad if the hydro will almost kill the motor in low w/ the brakes on? If it won't then probably stay clear? I'm sorry to ask so many questions, but I grew up on a farm where we had lots of red, but no hydros other than axial flow combines. Our tractor line was M's up through 2+2's. My dad is an IH mechanic by trade and he told me to stay clear if the hydro slips, but who ever listens to their father right?

We have had one of these since new and love it. Yes we have had the hydro rebuilt at around 8000 hours. Many times they are just out of adjustment and people don't take the time to do proper maintenance such as changing fluids and filters.

Dad a IH mechanic? You best listen to dad. There is more than buying a tractor on the line here. Go for one that does not have this problem.

I bought a 656 gas hydro last year from a guy who said the hydro was weak but worked fine for a loader tractor. He told me he had not changed the tranny fluid in the twenty years he owned it because "it still looks good". The first thing I did was take it to the shop and have the pump tested. It tested 1300# in forward and 2500# in reverse. They then changed the oil and filter and replaced a twisted metal line from one of the valves. Pressures went up to 2800# in forward and the full 5000# in reverse. It still slips in high range when hot but we just went through one of the worst winters on record up here in North Dakota and I pushed and piled snow for hours with it and I must say it was like running in a dream compared to my old 560. It scratches like a cat and even with the weak hydro it is more than adequate for mowing, baling and loader work. It is especially nice hooked to my NH 315 baler because I can match the ground speed perfectly to the windrow, something I always had to ride the clutch on the 560 to do. I also paid $4000 for mine but other than the weak hydro the tractor is practically cherry. I suspect your oil and filter are most of the problem but of course there my be more major things to consider. Just giving you my experience for what it's worth.

Thanks for all of the comments fellas. It was in better shape than it looked in the photos. I did the brake test on the hydro, but it wasn't really warmed up yet. It had been running maybe 5-10 minutes before I tried it. I did it in high and low both and it would slow the engine down, but it wouldn't kill it. The brakes sure work good. I have been puttering around the place with it blading the driveway and pulling cut down trees to the burn pile. I just hope no harder than I will be using the tractor that the hydro will make it a couple years before I have to do anything major to it. I will be changing the engine and hydraulic oil in the next week. Anything that I should be aware of while changing the hyrdro oil and filter?