Just bought a 856

[bigcreek]

Ive lurked the forum for quite awhile but finally signed up. So I bought another tractor recently much to my wifes chagrin. Perhaps that isn't quite the word for it but you get my drift. So there was a local estate auction where the old man died and his kids sold off all the farm assets and the land was being sold to developers. Those are the kind of auctions I like to buy at because at other auctions you cant help but wonder if there is something wrong with it and that's why it got taken to auction. Anyway I bought a International 856 with duals and a GB900 loader. Got it for $4200. It runs great. I talked to the son and he said in the many years they have owned it they never had any problems with it and was a great tractor so hopefully it stays that way for me. I am replacing the hydraulic hoses on the loader as they are in pretty crappy shape but everything works good. I used to plow and disc with this same tractor 25 years ago in high school and liked it then so I am happy to get one like it now. I figured I couldn't go too wrong for $4200 what do you folks think who know values better than I, did I do ok with this deal?

 

[WayneLee]

Congrats on owning the best tractor ever made.
You bought it at a good price. We need pics. I
owned a 856 806. Before i retired. Enjoy tour
tractor

 

[WayneLee]

Is it a gas burner or Diesel

 

[ND856]

(quoted from post at 03:38:58 07/08/19) Congrats on owning the best tractor ever made.
You bought it at a good price. We need pics. I
owned a 856 806. Before i retired. Enjoy tour
tractor

I agree, best tractor ever made!
PICS!

 

[bigcreek]

Here are some pics of the tractor. The loader is now on it but I don't have a pic of the loader attached. It is a diesel. Everything works great but I am replacing the hydraulic hoses on the loader.

 

[WayneLee]

Thats a nice tractor. Any idea of how many hours on her?

 

[bigcreek]

Yes it shows just over 4000 hours on it.

 

[Old Farmall Fan]

From the looks of it you got a heck of a deal on that 856. Congratulations!

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

Keep an eye over your shoulder for flashing red and blue lights... You STOLE that tractor.

 

[Weldon K]

You got that one for a very low price. I see that it is the 856 Custom model which means that it had a few less options of the more common Farmall 856, the main one being that the fuel tank is 33 gallons ( I believe is correct, same as 706 and 756)) as compared to the 41 gallon on the Farmall 856. Also factory equipped with one light in fenders, mounting step left side only, air filter different than Farmall 856, one aux. hyd, valve with couplers rear only , and if 38 inch rear wheel centers they are eight lug instead of twelve on Farmall. Those eight lug centers were common on the prior 706 series. There are also a few more minor items that are different from the fully equipped Farmall 856. IH built the Customs and sold them at lesser price than fully equipped Farmalls to boost number of tractor sales . My 856 and 756 are both Custom models.

 

[bigcreek]

Hmm interesting. This one does have the steps on both sides but it is indeed the custom model. It does have two remotes on the back, is that what you were talking about with the hydraulics? If those differences you mentioned are the only changes between models Im not sure how that would decrease the price that much but who knows maybe it is..

 

[Weldon K]

The Customs were factory equipped with mounting steps and grab handles left side only . Customers added them to the right side later if they wanted them. Customs had one auxiliary hyd valve with a single control lever beside the seat. The valve under the seat had steel lines going to the rear where there were two simple female couplers. Another aux. hyd. valve/lever and couplers could be added by the owner at a later date if they were desired. If yours has the two long hyd. control levers beside the seat, you have two valves and there will be two sets ( four female couplers)on the back. Picture below.

My 756 had the second valve installed by the previous owner when a loader was installed on it. We added right step and grab handle. When I got the 856 it was just as it came from factory. I added second valve , built a right side step, and made a right grab handle. Also installed the second headlight in each fender and rear work lights on both fenders on both tractors.

You bought it at auction, right? As to the price you got it for, I suspect that it just happened that there was not much interest by other buyers that day. Lucky for you.