Thinking of buying a Farmall 504 Gas

Like the title says I am thinking of buying one. Is there anything I should know about this tractor? I have a Farmall H and don't need a "big" tractor but I was thinking the TA, live PTO and live hydraulics would be nice. Tractor data puts it at 46PTO HP and 40 Drawbar.

Let me know what you think guys. Hold nothing back good or bad on these tractors.

You say that you do not need a big tractor then the question is what will the 504 do that the ole h that you already own will not satisfactorily do?

Sure the 504 has more hp but it has to rev to make it. The ole h likely has more torque although less hp.

The 504 will freewheel in low side torque like all Farmall's do older and smaller than a 706 which can be a bad thing if you have lots of hills. Other than that I have never really heard anything bad about the 504's other than they are not really quite as powerful as the hp ratings would lead you to believe they are. The 504 would have live hydraulics and live PTO which is a bonus over the h.

My dad bought one new(196?). We had used it for almost everything(till a rod went through block: oops!)I'd like to get it fixed but haven't tried to find a new engine yet. It is the row crop type with a loader and wide front. Can't remember how good it was at pulling(like disking), but it did the job(better than the 2440 JD we replaced it with anyway) In all just a good general tractor.

I don't think it will do much more than the H really I was just thinking of the options on it like the live pto and live hydraulics being a plus when on a sickle mower, brushhog, or anything like that. I will do a little plowing and disking with it but not a bunch of land.

Like you said, it has the live hydraulics, ipto, maybe even a three point hitch and TA. Engine is almost identical for cubic inches but runs at a much higher rpm for full rated HP. No sleeves in gasoline engine. Will definitely out perform an H.
Of course with all the extra goodies you get all the extra pains that come with goodies.

Have one, many years. Also have several other tractors smaller and larger. If I had to keep just one the 504 would win. For me it sure fits the (Farm all). Easy on gas, good brakes, dual remotes. Even pull my 5X4 baler sometimes. One thing I don't like is the power steering, just not enough boost when still, fine on the move.

The Army bought 3 or 4 of these tractors for mowing off a firing range. They all had wide rotary mowers. Prior to mowing demolition teams searched for duds and destroyed them.

When the tractors started using a lot of oil the repair shop tore down the engines and found all the blocks needed to be bored oversize. The government decided it was too costly and sent them to the property disposal yard where they were sold at a spot bid auction. They bought
big Ford tractors to replace the 504's. Hal

(quoted from post at 01:08:03 12/30/14)
I don't think it will do much more than the H really I was just thinking of the options on it like the live pto and live hydraulics being a plus when on a sickle mower, brushhog, or anything like that. I will do a little plowing and disking with it but not a bunch of land.

Click to expand...

Sickle Mowing: Live PTO is not needed with sickle mowing. Typically you need to stay moving with a sickle anyway to clear the bar so live PTO is not really an advantage IMOP. Live hydraulics not needed here either.

bushhogging: I will give you Live PTO is nicer but not mandatory. A ($45 -$65) add on overrunning clutch is mandatory on the h though with the bushog.

Plowing: Well if you talking mounted plow then yes advantage to 504. Tow plow - even toss up.

discing? Mounted disc advantage 504, but most people other than gardeners prefer a tow disc. Tow disc even toss up.

Do not let me talk you out of buying the 504. Heck I am living proof that one can never have too many tractors. If you found one for a nice price snatch it up. Just do not think your ole h is not up to some of the tasks you mentioned. Ole h's get little to no respect but they are quite capable and quite the fuel misers to boot.

Now if you want to add snowblowing, pulling a corn picker, pulling a baler, pulling a tow type combine, pulling a corn chopper and maybe even a 3 point rototiller then I would easily say the 504 has the clear advantage over your ole h. Although the h can still can still do some of these tasks it is way way more handicapped. 504 would do better with things like a 3 point angle blade or box blade even if your h has 3 point but an h can do those too if it has a 3 point added.

Don't mistake what I am saying, I think the H is a heck of a tractor and always will. I know I can do most of the things with my H especially since it has 3 point hitch but I feel that the live PTO and Hydraulics are easier on equipment.

I thought I found one in OK shape for about $1700, thats the main reason I asked about the 504.

Thanks everyone!

If you can afford it just buy it.

The only downside to a 504 is the hydraulics and TA make it much more complicated to do major work on than an H.

(quoted from post at 22:39:49 12/30/14)
Don't mistake what I am saying, I think the H is a heck of a tractor and always will. I know I can do most of the things with my H especially since it has 3 point hitch but I feel that the live PTO and Hydraulics are easier on equipment.

I thought I found one in OK shape for about $1700, thats the main reason I asked about the 504.

Thanks everyone!

Click to expand...

Price sounds good, certainly buy it if you want it. I probably would buy it if it is as good of shape as you indicated. (as I said before one can never have too many tractors).

That said do not buy it because you think live PTO or live hydraulics is easier on equipment. That is not the case at all. Not more gentle to the tractor either. Equipment powered by either suffers the same wear and tear.

Those creature comforts make it easier on you the operator alone and they allow you do some things that dead PTO is not well suited for (but none of those extra things were on your list of uses anyhow). At minimum those nicer creature comforts of the 504 allow you to do some things without thinking at all where you may have to think just a bit otherwise to accomplish it with the h.

I have a H and a 504. The H don't get used much.My 504 has a shuttle shift that i like. The price is good buy it.

504 is a step up from an H for sure! Live hydraulics, IPTO, TA, factory 3 point with draft control. For my uses, an H or M would only be for antique tractor pulls. Which I am shopping around for.

I have a Farmall 504 diesel that I put a Koyker 220 loader on in 2008. I am the 3rd generation owner. It has done almost everything that I ever threw at it. Sometimes I felt it was a little gutless, but its over 50 years old and needs an inframe OH and inj pump work. I have maintained 50 acres with it for the past 8-9 years.

It will pull a 10' disc, it will run a 6' rotary cutter, it will run a 88" flail mower, it will run a 66" drum mower, it will run a Vermeer 504C round baler, and the list continues. It will out work a H and is about the same size and weight.

The only downfall is the C153 gas engine. I don't think its a sleeved engine and if it needs rebuilt, it will require machine work. This is what El Toro was in reference to. Personally I would not ever entertain the idea of a gas tractor if I was going to actually work it. Gassers have at least 2:1 fuel consumption over a diesel.

The D188 is sleeved. The D188 is a tough little diesel! Keep it at 1800-2200 and it will work as long as you can stay on it and use less than 2 gallons/hr.

I do not believe that the 504 is "more complicated" to work on. It just has more parts because it is more of a true row crop tractor. Hence TA and draft. Not saying the letter series are inferior, in any way. All I'm saying is the 04/06 series have more features that make working a tractor more efficient than the letter series. Which is true for most makes when the next generation of tractor went into production.

CT

Like the Texas farmer was quoted during the field research of the Regular; " Homely as the devil, but if you don't want to buy one you had better stay out of the seat."

504's are a good looking tractor when fixed up, stay off it if you decide you may not want to buy it, these little tractors will surprise you.
If you like it, take it for a short spin...if it passes all the normal tests & the price seems right, take it straight to the truck to fetch your checkbook. Now it's on !!