656 Hydro opinions

TimWafer · Jun 25, 2011

Got a rod knocking in my IH 574 and it’s in the shop for a while. Was looking for a little bigger tractor as a backup anyway and got a lead on an IH 656 Diesel Hydro. Haven’t seen it yet as it’s a couple hundred miles from me but have seen pictures. He claims it drives & runs well. I’m pretty leery of the hydro though. I know they can get expensive to fix and last thing I need right now is another project. Hydro would be nice snowblowing & maybe bush hogging & planting. Not too sure about tillage work though. Think I can get it fairly reasonably. Any opinions or things to look for?
Tim

VicS · Jun 25, 2011

I have two neighbors that have 656 hydros, One of
them is a big farmer and has all JD tools, He has
kept the little IHC, The other one has a loader on
his has had it for about 15 yrs. I think they are
more reliable than the TA's are. We have a 50 hp JD
with a hydro, love it. It will pull a 6 row no=till
planter fine at 5mph. Don't know why they didn't
sell more of them, I guess they were ahead of their
time. PS when you get off with it running be sure
and set the brakes and put in neutral. Vic

just another old geezer · Jun 25, 2011

To test the hydro: put it in high range, rev the tractor to the top RPMs, set the brakes, throw the hydro lever all the way forward. If the hydro is good, it will quickly drag the engine down and kill it.If it does not kill the engine, it is slipping/weak.

VicS · Jun 25, 2011

That sounds kind of extreme, Our new JD will just pull the engine down to about 1200 and make a screaming sound. That is why it has 3 gears.

Tony in Mass. · Jun 25, 2011

I had a 656 hydro. If you are used to IH engines, you will be fine. If you use live pto alot, like baling, haybining heavy stuff, chopping wet stuff- you can be fussy with speeds, find one spot and leave it there all day. You will fall in love. That said, IH hydros only give people trouble- when they have too much plow back there. I never plowed with mine, neither does the guy that owns it now, it's a '68- but there are horror stories out there. If you have another tractor to do heavy tillage, don't use the hydro, if it does need to, then keep the load light, say 3 bottom? 4 on well worked ground? sounds silly, but you don't want to break this thing. Go get it.

Tony in Mass. · Jun 25, 2011

Better check the brakes first tho eh? Or you will become a low flying statisic.

JDseller · Jun 25, 2011

Neighbor had two IH 656s, one gear drive and one hydro. The gear drive he could pull 4x16 plows well. The hydro struggled with a 3x16 plow. Plus it used more fuel too. If you are doing PTO work they are fine. If you are going to do much field work then they are not the best.

If you have to go into the hydro the gasket kit is over four hundred dollars. The rest of the parts go up form there. LOL

Local guy bought a IH 826. It had been repainted and new rubber all around, looked sharp. First good warm summer day it would not pull itself. He gave $9500 for the tractor and then spent $6500 on the hydro. I am thinking he could have bought a much newer/better tractor with the $16,000.

just another old geezer · Jun 26, 2011

MY IH 666 hydro will snuff out the engine in under 5 seconds

656 Hydro opinions

TimWafer

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VicS

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just another old geezer

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VicS

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Tony in Mass.

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Tony in Mass.

Well-known Member

JDseller

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just another old geezer

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