Ken B 3,189 #1 Posted March 1, 2014 (edited) I picked this 657 up this past fall on a whim. It was listed on Craigs List for what seemed like months for 75 bucks. I contacted the seller to arrange a look see. The engine was a Techy off a snow blower, strike one. The rear diff and the shifter were both locked solid, strike two. To make a long story short I couldn't find anything else to convince me to close my eyes and walk away so we settled on 50 bucks and I loaded it up, I got it home and dragged it in my shop. Within ten minutes the shifter was freed up. I pulled the plug on the diff and the water came out first and the sludge tried to come out. I then filled the rear diff up with kerosene and let it sit for an hour while I went inside and ate some dinner. I made my way back into the garage and what do ya know, she now rolls. Pulled the plug again and all the nasty sludge made its way out. Filled it with Kero again. I then monkey'd around with the Techy enough to get it too run. It ran ok but just like any Techy snow blower engine, kinda dizzy and kinda crappy. I ran it around for ten minutes and flushed the diff a few more times and then filled it with oil. All is well there now. The next day I tore the Techy off and put on a K141 that I had "In Stock" I wanted this tractor because I wanted a pull start tractor, a tractor I could leave outside in the coldest weather without having to worry about a battery going dead. Not too mention if I had to buy ANOTHER new battery it certainly wasn't going to go in this tractor! This old war horse starts within two pulls every single time, even if there is a foot of snow covering it. She has hauled firewood from the wood pile out back to the house all winter without a single problem. I've thought a few times about doing a total restoration on it as a reward for good behavior but there isn't really room inside to store it with all the other Horse's taking up my space. I think the only thing I'm going to do is add the proper style seat and call it done. At least that is the plan for now, when warm weather finally gets here and if I'm feelin it ya just never know.... Edited March 1, 2014 by Ken B 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HorseWhisperer 243 #2 Posted March 1, 2014 Gotta love it! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jake Kuhn 1,579 #3 Posted March 1, 2014 Looks good Ken! Those little short frames are fun tractors. Kinda miss my 657 now...mine looked just like yours, but had a decent running techie. Sold it for 250 bucks....probably all it was worth so I let it go. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sparky-(Admin) 23,122 #4 Posted March 1, 2014 Gotta love simplicity! I have a 656 with a 5hp Honda yank start that fires up with ease anytime I need it. I just took it on a 1 mile ride thru the woods this afternoon, the Honda is so quiet I could almost hold a cell phone conversation while driving it. Mike............ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JERSEYHAWG / Glenn 4,498 #5 Posted March 2, 2014 Good story Ken. the ol work horse doing what it does best. Glenn Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wheel-N-It 2,976 #6 Posted March 2, 2014 Way to go Ken!!! Very cool you got a running/working horse and only have about what, maybe $!00 in it??? Good story Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KC9KAS 4,744 #7 Posted March 2, 2014 Sounds like you have a fine machine there! Thanks for the photos. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 43,721 #8 Posted March 2, 2014 If you restore it, see if you can beat your 1 day record! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Terry M-(Moderator) 2,226 #9 Posted March 2, 2014 Nice worker Ken! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AMC RULES 37,196 #10 Posted March 2, 2014 Ken, if you restore it... then you'll need another wood tractor. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
leeave96 490 #11 Posted March 2, 2014 Sometimes the rattiest tractor in the fleet turns out over the years to be the worker that, while might look not so pretty, is the most reliable of the bunch! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ken B 3,189 #12 Posted March 2, 2014 Way to go Ken!!! Very cool you got a running/working horse and only have about what, maybe $!00 in it??? Good story I have 75 bucks into it. I bought the engine for 25 bucks from a hoarder. The K141 came off a snow blower.It took me almost a half hr. to get the guy to sell it to me..He told me it had no spark. This engine has the impossible too find and expensive coil under the flywheel. I made a coil off an old outboard work. I sold a snow blower to a guy a few weeks ago and when he saw the 657 he had to have it. He told me he'd give me 250 bucks for it. I told him the ag tires are off my sons 854 and that I had no other tires and rims to put on it. (tiny white lie) He said that is okay he'd still give me 250 for it! Call me nuts but I declined! I use it at least a few times a week. Next yr. I'll put a snow blade on it, she'll be the happiest Horse I have gettin all the attention. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
neil 2,410 #13 Posted March 2, 2014 Good story Ken , good that you didnt sell it Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
