68' 656 hydro

[Randy2]

What do you guys think about the 656 hydro? I have heard bad things about the hydros trannys. I found one with a narrow front end for 6000 and i need a tractor to keep me going when one of my others are broke down. What should i look for when i go to look at this thing? I have experiance buying intrnationals but never a hydro.

 

[erik dekeyser]

I just bought an 86 hydro last winter and i was lucky it turned out good. When you go back and want to try the hydro here is what i would do. Let it warm up a little and then start to drive it rev it up and push the hydro lever all the way up and then put your foot on the brake pedals and see if you can lug the engine down if it slows down and the engine doesnt the hydro is slipping and that can be expensive to repair . You should try that in low and high. Good luck, Erik..

 

[PDRuff]

My brother in law had one when he started farming 30+ years ago, was his loader tractor, he loved it but with farming and needing a tractor several times for heavy tillage he traded for a geared tractor, couple years ago he bought another IH hydro for silage blower/raking/generator work, Farmall 1026. He loves the hydro if not used for heavy tillage work.

 

[formerly ny bill]

Checking hydro

With the tractor in low range, step on the foot-n-inch pedal (where the clutch would be if it was a gear drive), move the hydro lever into the blue area of quadrant, half throttle or so, hold the brakes, and let out the f-n-I pedal. A good hydro will overpower the brakes. In high range, same procedure, it should stall the engine. If the hydro starts whining instead of moving, the hydro has a problem

i have 4 656 gas hydros for loading and feeding. hydros work great for baling too.

$6k sounds high. maybe it has new tires, low hours, diesel, etc.

 

[theponyroper]

I bought a 656 Hydro with a weak pump last year and it still makes a super loader tractor for feeding hay and pushing snow but as soon as the oil heats up it starts slipping. Not a problem in the winter as the oil stays cooler but mowing hay in the heat yesterday it was really noticable. Top end in low range was about 4 mph and you can't use hi range at all. Annoying but still usable. I plan to use it this way until it stops moving and then decide whether to repair it. You can buy 656 Hydros around here for about $4,000 which is what I paid for mine and most of the sellers claim the hydros are good so maybe what I'll do is buy another one with a good hydro and strip my for parts or vice-versa. I know a dealer who has one for sale right now for $4,199 and he claims the hydro was replaced and is as good as new. I almost bought it for parts because mine is too nice to junk out.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I bought my first ih 656 hydro about a year ago. Gave $6500 from the local ih dealer and was able to get it on a 3year note with no interest because it was traded in on an ih. The tractor has a cab and loader and has worked very well. The hydro was rebuilt by Herrs machine in washington county in kansas. I heard they specialize in hydros. I pull a big baler and do pull a small disk with the tractor and have not had any problems. Just keep the rpms up and dont lug the tractor and you will not have any problems.