656 Hydro dying

Anonymous-0 · Apr 27, 2013

Hey guys, I'm looking for some suggestions of what to do with my 656 hydro. The tranny has been weak since I bought it years ago but it worked fine for a loader tractor stacking bales and pushing snow but now it's to the point it's slipping even when I push snow in low range. Other than the tranny the tractor is in excellent condtion with a good gas engine with low hours and like new tires. I know it will cost more than the tractor is worth to replace the tranny but I hate to junk it anyway. What do you guys think? Any suggestions on where to get a good rebuilt hydro and the cost? I live in North Dakota. Thanks.

pete 23 · Apr 27, 2013

What have you tried checking out so far on it. May be as simple as a broken spring in the foot-n-inch valve or maybe pedal contacting platform which is must not. I would recommend capping the two small steel lines,(putting caps on fittings on transmission, not in the line) and try it that way. That will isolate internal problems from any and all external problems. Caution if you do that as the only control you will have is the SR lever as foot n inch valve will be bypassed. I don't know where you are located but Glenwood , Minnesota has a very good hydrostatic repair facility and they can give you a quote .

504-1 · Apr 27, 2013

My dealer bought a reman Hydro for a 656 and it was bad from the start. Yes the parts were under warranty but they ate a lot of labor. The Boss told me the next one would be done in house. I hope I never find out, because I won t pay for a reman, I ll have to do it myself.

Anonymous-0 · Apr 27, 2013

Thanks for the suggestions Pete but I went through all that when I bought the tractor 5 years ago. I had it checked out by a local International dealer at that time. The hydro is definitely bad. I live about 320 miles from Glenwood so hauling the tractor that far is out of the question and I don't have the tools or the skills to do the work myself. The local International dealer has quoted me about $6,000 to do the work. $4,500 for the hydro and $1,500 for the labor. They said that was a rough estimate, more or less, about 3 years ago. I don't suspect that it has gotten any cheaper since then. The only reason I'm considering the repair is that you don't get much of a tractor up here anymore for $6,000.

caseyc · Apr 27, 2013

If you like the tractor and have no plans on getting rid of it then I would fix it. Yes a hydro is expensive but as long as you maintain the new one it'll last a long time. Mine got a new hydro 3 years ago. The dealer put a reman in and the tractor never left the shop. They ate the labor and installed a new one. Been fine ever since. Bill was $7500. I didn't own the tractor yet. That deal put a bad taste in the owners mouth and I bought the tractor from him for that amount. That 656 is one of the best tractors on my farm. Used daily. Good luck with what ever you choose.

Casey in SD

656 Hydro dying

Anonymous-0

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pete 23

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504-1

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Anonymous-0

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caseyc

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