Are the Ford 8340 sle tractors, that have "blue roof and plastic outer mudguards", a reliable tractor. What are the main problems that you had in your experiences with the model of tractor in question.Yet another tractor that I have thought might be ok for pulling my forwarding trailer.
Ford 8340 Sle with blue roof ?'s
- Thread starter Pilatus
- Start date
You will get all types of answers here on that model! If the tractor is 'right' they are a nice old tractor to drive by many standards. Get the thing warm and have a good drive and shunt about checking the electric shift is positive and smooth (the shift between 2-3 and 6-7 will be slightly more harsh). Run it in and out of 4wd and see what sort of clunk/bang you get on disengagement. Check the warning lights work and go out (you might get a flash on the transmission light on changing gear or dipping the electric clutch. There might be simple easily sorted reasons for any faults such a calibration or accumulator faulty. Equally there could be wear that would be best sorted by the vendor. You could run the basic transmission calibration which can give (I believe) an indication of clutch pack wear. You could do with testing the hydraulics somehow. Has the vendor got a large trailer you could tip? The general consensus is the Powerstar engine was good and if looked after will do many hours.
Our old Ford has got rather a lot of heath robinson looking wire harness under the cab controlling various transmission functions and I wonder how well protected that would be on a forestry machine?
Our old Ford has got rather a lot of heath robinson looking wire harness under the cab controlling various transmission functions and I wonder how well protected that would be on a forestry machine?
Nearly
Member
- Location
- North of York
late 8340....turbo....All!
Only the very first white roof models weren't turboed. If you're going for a look,just check that the turbo isn't plastered in oil. If the hours are genuine and it hasn't been abused--how do you know?-- the gearbox should be fit for plenty more hours. Engines are fit for 12-14k hours without much spannering but like any engine,depends on servicing and abuse.Pick up hitches are very prone to wear,being the swing back type and aren't cheap to overhaul. As essexpete has said,if you're going foresting,I would think a bit of protection would be needed underneath as there is a multitude of wires, 3 filters and a plastic fuel tank underneath and depending on spec,a radar.
Would say the late blue roofs are probably the best of the series but are very hard to find with genuine low hours and not tweaked too much on the inj pump. That one is coming up on 20 yrs old so it'll hardly be perfect but depending on how much 'timbering' you're going to be doing,it'll suffer a bit anyway!!
Would say the late blue roofs are probably the best of the series but are very hard to find with genuine low hours and not tweaked too much on the inj pump. That one is coming up on 20 yrs old so it'll hardly be perfect but depending on how much 'timbering' you're going to be doing,it'll suffer a bit anyway!!
- Location
- Hockley Essex
From what I remember a non turbo 8340 would be a very rare beast indeed, many including the one we had were turbo'd under a recall
I take on board what you say. I use my MF 390 for winching and forwarding in the woods as very manoeverable. Need the larger tractor for hauling trailer fully loaded back to yard no more than 6/8miles. I also do forestry/
logs in a small way so would not be putting many hrs on tractor,especially as I am the theoretical retiring age in December.
Nearly
Member
- Location
- North of York
I like my 40 series, but I can't help but recommend a 8210 if it has to be blue.
We had an 8210, great pulling tractor albeit a bit thirsty .
That one was jakto's ,as in the muck shifter,so probably spent half its life airborne with a 3000 gallon tanker on,suppressing dust,it's tidy though for an ex plant hire machine
multi power
Member
- Location
- pembrokeshire
I used to have a 8340 FANTASTIC engine. Nice cab and great to drive but far too complicated a backend and too complicated and expensive to repair.
Anything the 8340 could do the 398 will still do. Yes sure I have to press the clutch and actually move a gear lever and go up hills a bit slower.
Anything the 8340 could do the 398 will still do. Yes sure I have to press the clutch and actually move a gear lever and go up hills a bit slower.
Was looking at an 8340 with 23000 hours on yesterday Was very clean and as not done much draught work but most of its life on heavy pto work and it's still used in anger and does it's share of hard work. Suppose it's how they have been looked after
White roof ?
Blue roof. And ford on bonnet
I think you are right there Sept 1993.