Fendt 516

[Dalers]

Thinking of changing a 6 cyl tractor been quoted for a Case cvx 165 with 3 yrs servicing and warranty we already have a cvx 160 and very happy with it great dealer too. But is a 516 worth all the "IT'S A FENDT" hype I know it is a very good tractor but it's more money for less power and lift and seems overly complicated but will it be worth much more in 8/10 years.
I'm not looking for a slanging re makes just first hand experience of a 516 doing arable jobs as went away from 4 cyls to 6cyls and worry it might be a bit light on 5 f auto reset plough 3 m Auto reset Mconnnel Discerator ( bit like a Sumo) 3m lemkin combi with ton of seed 4 m Carrier with levelling paddles etc got plenty of hills so power and stability are important.
Both are comfortable,

 

[farmerbill]

The jobs you mention sound more suited to a 720 than a 516. I think it would be very much on (or above) it’s limit

 

[Riley]

Have a 6480 and that can pull a 5furrow no problem but struggles with a discerator on anything but light land. Have a fendt 818 that handle both jobs better. But I am thinking of a 516 whan changing the 818 but might have to go for a bigger tractor. Like the idea for a 516. Sorry not a massive amount of help.

 

[Dalers]

It's a 6480 we might trade in, been a good tractor, I was thinking 516 might be on its limit sooner have a machine with a bit of spare capacity rather than be struggling as I plan to keep it for a bit, but 720 etc is way to much ££ for me

 

[Riley]

I would think a 516 and 6480 would be about the same think the lift capacity is more on the 516. Think there was a lad that changed a 6480 to a 516 can’t remember is name maybe rob? I would change my 6480 for a 516 with out considering it.

 

[RmfJ]

@Rob Graham

 

[Yale]

Hmm,514/516.

@danpwll has a 514 and as he will admit it has been the most unreliable tractor that they have had on the farm,even worse than crappy fergusons.

Most issues are adblue related and now the engine has eaten itself with the timing fooked.

4cyl Deutz engine and Fendt adblue system seem to be giving the problems.

 

[icanshootwell]

Thinking of changing a 6 cyl tractor been quoted for a Case cvx 165 with 3 yrs servicing and warranty we already have a cvx 160 and very happy with it great dealer too. But is a 516 worth all the "IT'S A FENDT" hype I know it is a very good tractor but it's more money for less power and lift and seems overly complicated but will it be worth much more in 8/10 years.
I'm not looking for a slanging re makes just first hand experience of a 516 doing arable jobs as went away from 4 cyls to 6cyls and worry it might be a bit light on 5 f auto reset plough 3 m Auto reset Mconnnel Discerator ( bit like a Sumo) 3m lemkin combi with ton of seed 4 m Carrier with levelling paddles etc got plenty of hills so power and stability are important.
Both are comfortable,

Have run one here for 2 years now, best tractor i have owned so far, no ad blue issues at all, i suggest you demo one and you will see how capable it is.

 

[buakaw cvx]

I think you should be looking at the 720 really , though the 516 would manage i can’t see it performing as well as the puma

 

[mo!]

We demoed a 516 when swapping out a 6475(chipped to the same as 6480). We bought a T7.210 A.C. for 20k less. The 516 was a nice tractor but struggled with our 3m Shakaerator and couldn't get above 45k with anything on the back. There are a few nice touches and I would have bought a 718 but daft money for similar spec. T7/CVX160 can also fit bigger tyres.

 

[warksfarmer]

Thinking of changing a 6 cyl tractor been quoted for a Case cvx 165 with 3 yrs servicing and warranty we already have a cvx 160 and very happy with it great dealer too. But is a 516 worth all the "IT'S A FENDT" hype I know it is a very good tractor but it's more money for less power and lift and seems overly complicated but will it be worth much more in 8/10 years.
I'm not looking for a slanging re makes just first hand experience of a 516 doing arable jobs as went away from 4 cyls to 6cyls and worry it might be a bit light on 5 f auto reset plough 3 m Auto reset Mconnnel Discerator ( bit like a Sumo) 3m lemkin combi with ton of seed 4 m Carrier with levelling paddles etc got plenty of hills so power and stability are important.
Both are comfortable,

3m Shakerator can kill our 724 so I very much doubt a 516 will cope with the even heavier discerator unless it’s run very shallow.

 

[James]

Know a man who uses a 415 with a 5 fur auto reset although mostly with a 4. I looked at a 516 when I was changing a 6480 and although it was good on the plough I didn't get to use anything pto powered. Overall it was a bit of a disappointment. Imo the op needs to either stay with the 6cyl case's or head towards a 720 no smaller!

 

[Spencer]

The jobs you mention sound more suited to a 720 than a 516. I think it would be very much on (or above) it’s limit

Why a 720?

As has been stated a 516 would be up to all that is asked by the OP, but if he wanted to have a bit of comfort then a longer wheelbase machine would do just that. So a 716 would be the natural next step, smaller Vario and axles than a 720 so considerably cheaper but more weight and wheelbase than the 516, so would be on top of the job.

 

[Wreckit Ralf]

We demoed a 516 when swapping out a 6475(chipped to the same as 6480). We bought a T7.210 A.C. for 20k less. The 516 was a nice tractor but struggled with our 3m Shakaerator and couldn't get above 45k with anything on the back. There are a few nice touches and I would have bought a 718 but daft money for similar spec. T7/CVX160 can also fit bigger tyres.

Do I dare ask how much extra the 718 was? £20K more for a 4 pot tractor over a 6 is crazy enough, but I very much doubt the 516 will be worth £20K more than a T7.210 in 5 years time.

 

[mo!]

Do I dare ask how much extra the 718 was? £20K more for a 4 pot tractor over a 6 is crazy enough, but I very much doubt the 516 will be worth £20K more than a T7.210 in 5 years time.

I never found out as it clearly wasn't going to happen.

 

[Ormond]

In 2008 we demo'd a 415 we ended up buying a 718, had the front and back mowers on the 415 at the time and if you turned a little sharp at the end on a slight bank it would pop up a back wheel. That was with a smallish pottinger rear mower. Would have been too light for a lot of our jobs. Personally if you're doing a fair bit of road work at 55 k....6 cylinder is the way to go. Wonder too how much extra the 716 would be. A lot depends if you're farming in a relatively flat area or have a lot of banks and hills

 

[Rob Graham]

Sorry guys...haven't been active in a while following a family illness and bereavement. Now then...the 516 was superb, a very impressive tool. Ran rings round a 6480 for ploughing or anything that knocked the boost off the 6480. Very well balanced, light yet stable and easily weighted up. Easily the comfiest tractor I have ever driven...cannot be matched! Now here's the catch...we changed it for a 718. The brakes on the 516 just didn't fill us with confidence and we had our fair share of problems with them on the 6480. 718 has air assisted brakes and they will put you through the windscreen if need be. It's not as comfortable, but the Vario is a little smoother and a little quicker to react which I assume is down to the characteristics of the 6 cylinder. It's physically bigger but still far more manoeuvrable than a 6480. Any questions please fire away...but I recommend you demo and price a 718 Power.

 

[brentnz]

What size 6 cylinder tractor do you think the 516 would be equivalent to in terms of drawbar horsepower? A 140 hp 6 cylinder?

 

[DrDunc]

What size 6 cylinder tractor do you think the 516 would be equivalent to in terms of drawbar horsepower? A 140 hp 6 cylinder?

160hp 6 cylinder

Drawbar power depends upon the gearbox losses and weight which you can add to a four, but not take off a six.

Modern 4 cylinder engines have torque outputs very similar to 6 cylinder. It's only if you're needing to run the engine below 1300 revs or do that you'll notice a difference as the torque from the 4 cylinder will be less.

(With the caveat that Deere still have awful low rev torque on their 6 cylinders, so a good 4 will run runs around them).

 

[Rob Graham]

I would love to see the MF 6718S Sisu engine in a 516...MF is good but Fendt Ergonomics are better...I'd imagine it won't be too long before we see a 200hp 4pot Nature Green around