Bought 504 Now Tell Me

[Kelly in tx]

Now, please tell me the good, bad and the ugly of the Farmall 504. Mine is a row crop with the narrow (two wheel) front end. I wanted: 1) power steering; 2) live pto; 3) torque amplifier. By the specs the Farmall 504 had about 40 hp and I'm wondering how that compares with an M? I want the 504 for baling with my old John Deere 214 wire tie hay baler; raking with a single side-delivery rake, harrowing with a four section harrow, and maybe using on the 9 foot cutter conditioner. I thought the 504 might be just like an H on steroids.

 

[Bkpigs]

(quoted from post at 19:34:17 10/08/21) Now, please tell me the good, bad and the ugly of the Farmall 504. Mine is a row crop with the narrow (two wheel) front end. I wanted: 1) power steering; 2) live pto; 3) torque amplifier. By the specs the Farmall 504 had about 40 hp and I'm wondering how that compares with an M? I want the 504 for baling with my old John Deere 214 wire tie hay baler; raking with a single side-delivery rake, harrowing with a four section harrow, and maybe using on the 9 foot cutter conditioner. I thought the 504 might be just like an H on steroids.

It should suite you fine, it just won't like to be lugged down.

 

[steve_in_mo]

The 504 is an updated Super C. No relation to an H and not as heavy.
That's not a heavy enough tractor to take the baler and a loaded wagon into hill country.
On flat ground you'll be fine.

 

[AlinMO]

(quoted from post at 13:00:59 10/08/21) The 504 is an updated Super C. No relation to an H and not as heavy.
According to tractor data, the 504 is based on the H, 300 size. It weighs over 5500 lbs. Not a C derivative except maybe engine.

https://www.tractordata.com/farm-tractors/004/6/6/4664-farmall-504.html

 

[farmallboy15]

I had one for a while. Really nice little tractor. My only complaint was the lack of power steering on the one I had. It was HARD to steer even moving. Itll be fine on the baler and haybine, just weight it properly. The front end was real light on mine even with a wide front. 400lb of suitcase weights did the trick. The engine is a bored out and revved up C block. Transmission was similar to a H with the nice 5 speed. Still has plenty of power for most hay operations. The diesel version is supposed to be a lot peppier than the gas one.

 

[D Slater]

Center section and rear end are in the 300, 350, 460 ETC line but stronger. Engine is based off the small tractor family like a 123 engine but has no sleeves and is a 153. It has higher RPM and the ring and pinion along with transmission gears in some giving a lower gear reduction to help pulling power. Think all the row crop 504 used 2-3/4 diameter rear axles. Even all the 460 didn't have the big axle. Engine is on the weak side when it takes guts.

 

[used red MN]

In my opinion a 504 is a big enough tractor for a small square baler and a hay rack. I am from NE KS where the terrain is fairly rolling and our land had terraces and the backs of some of them were fairly steep. We mostly used a Farmall 300 and 350 to pull our baler and we had no trouble. However, the terraces were not nearly as steep as those I have seen in Iowa that require the steep backside to be seeded to grass.

 

[caterpillar guy]

Is not the 504 somewhat hard to find parts for? Just asking because it seemed there were a few guys fixing them up and had some trouble finding some parts for them.

 

[gmcdeadhead]

i guess its just a matter of what parts your looking for, i have a IH504 and i dont seem to think parts are hard to find,

 

[steve_in_mo]

I've been wrong before. Good catch!

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

Around here the 504 had a reputation as "gutless." On paper it supposedly was more powerful than an M but reportedly in the same field with the same implements, the M would literally work circles around a 504. So much so that farmers would demand their M's back when the 504 failed to perform.

If you're not trying to work it like an M, there is nothing wrong with the tractor. If you're trying to replace an M, then you will be disappointed unless the M is really tired.