 I recently purchased a 1966 656 Gas Gear (exactly as old as me). It is in overall good condition and I was made aware it had loader and steering issues before I purchased it. #1) When I first started it for the trailer ride home it had a howl from beneath the operator platform, the loader was inoperable and the power steering barely worked. I think the steering was operating in the manual mode? #2) After unloading the power steering worked marginally and I was able to back the tractor in a semi-circle and parked it. #3) Checked fluid level, it is below the add 1 gallon line so I added two gallons Hy/Trans. Stick still says to add fluid but I did not because I was going to change the filter and fluid anyway. Howling noise got better and then disappeared. Steering started to work, engaged the remote valve and the loader started to work very well. Went all the way up, quickly and smoothly. I go to bed that night thinking I'm a genius for the simple act of adding fluid. I'm getting excited about how well it will all work with clean fluid and filter. #4 Yesterday and Today. Pulled filter, housing was nice and clean (I did not cut filter open.) Drained Hy/Trans from 3 plugs on the bottom. I did not check the dipstick right before I drained fluid but I only got out about 7-8 gallons? Owners manual had me expecting 16 gallons. New filter went in fine, and initially I only added 10 gallons of fluid based on the amount I drained. I started it up and tried to purge the air. Now absolutely nothing hydraulic works, no 3 point, steering wheel very hard to turn and there is no movement at front wheels, and no loader. I add a couple more gallons and try stuff again. First the rear remotes start to work. Steering wheel still turning very hard but starting to get response in wheels. Added 15 gallons total and dipstick reads 1/4" over full. When the remote valve is activated I can hear engine lugging and I can feel vibration beneath my feet. Loader starts to operate but very grudgingly. Steering starting to respond better and loader high enough off the ground to take her for the first spin since I got her. 656G is a little hot rod, steers like a Cadillac and I'm having a blast. I use the 656 to move the grain drill to equipment row but the loader is still not healthy so I park her for a few minutes to think. #5) Start her up...steering wheel is now very difficult to turn with almost no response at wheels. I engage the rear remote and it causes the engine to lug and I can feel a vibration in my feet, loader still sick, will only go up about 3 feet. Dip stick still showing slightly over full with loader partly raised. The 3 point appears to be working fine since fluid change although I have not had a load on it. Why does the power steering not resume function after restarting the tractor? Why does the loader not work as well now with clean and full fluid as it did when I got it to first work? (I have the IT shop manual and I confess I have not tried to diagnose it with the IT manual.)
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