What should I get next?

[Daniel Bear Kelley]

Once you get one tractor...My 1951 M is a neat piece of iron, but I was looking at getting something with more grunt to it. I am considering something in the '06-'56 series, like a 656, but I'm not hard over on either the series or that particular model. I need to do more earth-moving, landscaping work, and the Farmhand F11B loader on my M just isn't beefy enough for that. By the time I add live hydraulics, 3-point and power steering to my M, I would have been able to buy another toy. I kinda want to stick with a gas engine, as diesels kinda scare me a bit for doing my own maintenance. Simple is good. I'm thinking front loader and box blade or back blade will be the main setup. I've heard of people using a disc to maintain gravel driveways. So, I may try that, just to play with my toy. I think a PTO would still be useful, and I dont really want a back-hoe. Thoughts? Comments? Which were the sweet machines and which were the dogs? Your opinions matter!

 

[Steve from MO - dangit!]

If you want more grunt, a 656 isn't enough more tractor for you. An 806 would do it, and an 856 has a lot better shifting mechanism.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Get a utility like a 504 with a loader or something like that. A utility would be far more useful for pushing dirt around and doing landscaping. A 706 would be just too big, and not terribly practical for loader work. Or if you really wanted an 06, get a 606 or a 656 utility. The problem with the bigger 6 cylinder gassers is that they wear out faster, and most need 93 gas or they wont run well or right. Plus if it really breaks, a utility is far easier to move and handle without power than a large row crop is.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Daniel, The 06 and 56 series were the best IH built, there is not a poor one. Watch for what kind of care and maintenance they have had. The bigger the tractor the quicker it will tear up a loader. Good luck, Chuck

 

[Anonymous-0]

An opinion, diesels actually require less maintenance than a gas engine, use less fuel and usually far out outlast a gas. The only time they are expensive is when overhaul time. If it is just a hobby tractor you can't put enough hours on it to put any wear on it.

 

[Daniel Bear Kelley]

I hadn't thought about the utility's! Mental block, dain bramage or something. I hadn't thought about octane on the gas either. About the diesels... I'd still feel very wary about working on it. Probably just because I've never worked on one, and they've got all these strange new parts like injectors and such. "The bigger the tractor, the faster it will tear up the loader." Interesting.
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THANK YOU all for your opinions!! You've given me much to think about. I'll do some more research, and I'll let you know how it comes out.