656 vs 706

[ih656]

I have a 1968 farmall 656 hydro with a little over 8400 hours on it, runs good many new parts. New hydraulic pumps, seat, rops etc.... tires about 50% . Hydro is strong. But I was looking at a 706 with a little over 4500 hours with fairly new tires has a 282 in it. Needs some work like grill is missing along with the fenders and a few small pieces of sheet metal. Don't know how well it runs but was told it runs good. Don't know if the torque amplifier works or not. So my question is should I keep the 656 and try and buy the 706 or should I trade? I like the 656 but just not what to do and want some opinions first.

 

[ih656]

And was told there was a small hydraulic leak in the front of the 706. Not sure what that could be?

 

[David G]

My general opinion is that internal care usually matches external care.

 

[WayneLee]

I wouldn't trade a good 656 hydro for that 706.

 

[ih656]

That's what I'm thinking

 

[504]

Oil cooler, would be a guess.

 

[Janicholson]

Your tractor is far more handy than the 706 With a loader, it will be 3 times the tractor. If you need the increase in power and general usefulness of the 706, and have need for two, buy the tractor and keep your handy hydro. Jim

 

[2002sliverado]

I tend to agree with the rest of the comments. I am more of a green tractor guy, but I do have a couple Farmalls. One is a 86 Hydro and the other is a Super M. I had a 656 gear drive. I have also operated a 706, 1066, 5288, 3788, and a 6788. Your 656 Hydro is a very handy, useful, and nimble tractor for most applications. You could not get a better tractor than a Hydro of that size for a 7 foot snowblower or a front end loader. That size tractor is a really nice yard tractor, too. I operated that 706 on a front end loader and it was not a great tractor for that type of use. Shifting gears, particularly from forward to reverse left a lot to be desired for loader use. My opinion is that a 706 was made to work, as it is a bigger and heavier built tractor compared to your 656. I liked the 706 where I placed it into gear and used it in that gear, or used the T/A. I used it a lot for mowing, spraying, baling, etc. It was clumsy when used for scraping and loading lots of manure into a manure spreader. Frequent shifting in a 706 is not a strength.............in my opinion.

 

[ih656]

Ok I only would be pulling a 6 row planter and disking with it. And how bad is it to replace a oil cooler?

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

Not bad, but it may not be the oil cooler. Remember there's a power steering system in the front too. Could be that, and if it's internal to the bolster you will have to tear the entire front off the tractor to fix it.

One major issue with trading is you are trading something you know for something you don't know. You know if there are any major problems with your tractor. The one you are looking at, good luck... TA could be 5 minutes from going out, engine could be on the verge of grenading... You just never know, and if it goes kaplooey, you then have no tractor at all, and/or a $10,000 repair bill.

 

[notjustair]

I've made that mistake. I get a new tractor a little larger than the old for the same jobs. Then I go running back to the dealer to buy back my old tractor too and find that it sold before I even got home the first time. I'm not doing that again. You can never have too much equipment as long as it all works. You are talking to someone who has four old straight grain trucks on the farm and uses semis to truck grain. I couldn't be without any of those four for even a day. There are tractors here that are only used for one implement. I wouldn't sell them for the world. Keep the 56 and buy the 07 if the leak isn't critical. Drive by slow. If you like what you see but it's not all painted up that's a good sign. I got some ugly stuff that I'd drive cross country.

 

[Bill in IL]

I would not give up the hydro.

Then there are jobs better suited using a gear drive machine so I would just ADD it to my collection of machines.

I have a 656 hydro and a 560 farmall both are similar in HP as they have the same block they both get used equally but on different jobs.

 

[the tractor vet]

Well the only real thing you would gain here is a heavier framed tractor and better suited for heavier field work like tillage and pulling . So it would complement the 656 and reduce the strain on the hydro . Then comes the fact that owning a A tractor is like tryen to eat just one potato chip .

 

[ss55]

I suspect your 656 hydro in good condition is worth 50 percent more than most 706's. A 706 would compliment your 656 hydro more than be a replacement. A 706 would pull more and be best suited for heavy pulling and PTO work. Hydro's are inefficient at heavy drawbar pulling and that type of work is also hard on hydro's. I would not trade unless the 656 is totally unsuitable for your needs. Adding a second tractor for heavy tillage could be a good idea, so long as the extra tractor does not need a lot of repairs.

Don't trust that the hour meter on a 50+ year old tractor is always accurate, many hour meters have broken and been replaced or have been reset at a major overhaul. Look at the tractors condition and wear on: shifters, pedals, drawbar, 3 point hitch, wide front end, condition of hydraulic oil, leaks, etc. 706 shifters were not the best when they were new, some have been upgraded to 756 shifters. Missing parts can be a sign of neglected maintenance.

 

[Dave O'Brien]

I'd keep the 656 and consider buying the 706 after a more thorough evaluation of it. I certainly wouldn't trade.

 

[kcm.MN]

Add one more vote for keeping the 656 Hydro. I've never owned one, but one day I will!!