Maxxum vs MF 3120 vs NH 40 series

[bert]

We have a highish housed 3120, they pull like a train with a bombproof engine, a very well balanced tractor that used to run a 5furrow plough and press and a 3m combi, very good on draft work, now semi retired to spraying and row crop work. Dynashift is excellent, go steady with the long gear sticks and it shouldn't give much bother in that department loads of gears and 40k. There getting on in age and could be a few electric gremlins in the computer packs that works the hydraulics, ours seems to drink wd40 but seems to cure it after a good spray. It hasn't been without its problems it is on its 4th backend oil pump, think its had the brakes pushed through it early in its life by enthusiastic potato leaders which has done it no favours.

Just my experiences of them, not sure on the other tractors you've mentioned as I don't really take an interest in them

 

[multi power]

@Joe S I had a 40 series ford, it was nice to drive (when it worked) it was very stressful and expensive, cost me a fortune

Then I got a tractor of a different color, it's reliable, cheap to run and a pleasure to use , my bank balance and blood pressure is much better now

 

[Alistair Nelson]

Maxxum is favourite just now! followed my a 3120 with a 40 series coming last
what one would you get and why?

bet your getting fed up with me!

Haven't ready thread at all but avoid 3120 if it has been split they snap like carrots and in same way if you want to use for loader or front linkage work forget it.

 

[The Badger]

odd, i recall you starting a thread on this very issue to gauge opinion......and there was quite a few people who came out and said they had had issues with them

for the OP....ring Mr McMurray up from Ireland, he will soon educate you as to how much a powerstar costs when it goes bang, he usually does at least one cylinder head a week.

Probably much older and with higher hours on too................

after all....your comparing engines built from 1970s technology and materials, with those built from late 1990s technology and materials....

with all those advances, they shouldnt drop valves at all.....you would think

So now every NH owner will be watching the hour clock and shitting themselves when it gets to 9999

Ive just had a look on his facebook....plenty of TM cylinder heads being done....even got a 7810 whats smashed its pistons up....nice

You don't half rave one amount of utter dung

 

[Wellytrack]

You don't half rave one amount of utter dung

Ahh, the internets.

If the internets existed like it does now in 1988 the whole world would think DB's were the worst tractors ever to be inflicted upon humanity.
Literally thousands of them would still been in regular service, and literally hundreds of those would regularly be broken down, or having warranty claims or repairs, that's just how it is, and how it was, same goes for IH's Fords and MF's.

 

[fermerboy]

Well I've read all these threads about which "classic" to buy and I'd have a 956 or 1056xl if it was purely a plaything.
Always wanted one back in the day, my life would have been complete in 1992 if I could have had a "K" reg 1056xl 4wd, 40k, with a TB turbo kit on it. And whats worse I would still like one now, though I think it would be one of the last white roofs with sensodraulic lift.

Maxums always felt claustrophobic in them, The Fergy just dosen't light my fire, though I did take a real liking to a 6290 I once had an afternoon on.
I was/am a fairly confirmed IH man but due to the Maxum and a tosser of a manager at the local dealer I ended up with blue ones.
It took about 18months but the Ford converted me. We have two 7840s, with nearly 28000hrs between them and I have to admit they are hardy buggers of tractors. Yes they have had some bother but for the work, and I mean hard work they have done, they have done well. The bits to repair them are not crazy money either which is a big help

I have 3 tractors and a digger with the Powerstar engine, between them they have just over 45000hrs, and I only have had one engine problem and that was one of the 7840s picked up a big end shell(pictures on here somewhere). All this rubbish about dropped valves, not a common problem, if it does happen its usually a TM thats had a severe 10mm spanner remap,(not unheard of to find a 8360 or TM140/155 pushing over 200hp and the guy wonders why a valve has had enough!) or a 7840/Ts115 thats been turboed up to silly money as well.

So to answer the original question, if the tractor is to do much work I'd have a 40series New Holland.
A late blue roof 8340, with front links, decent size tyres is a thing of beauty. Failing that a similar 7840 would do.

 

[oil barron]

Well I've read all these threads about which "classic" to buy and I'd have a 956 or 1056xl if it was purely a plaything.
Always wanted one back in the day, my life would have been complete in 1992 if I could have had a "K" reg 1056xl 4wd, 40k, with a TB turbo kit on it. And whats worse I would still like one now, though I think it would be one of the last white roofs with sensodraulic lift.

Maxums always felt claustrophobic in them, The Fergy just dosen't light my fire, though I did take a real liking to a 6290 I once had an afternoon on.
I was/am a fairly confirmed IH man but due to the Maxum and a tosser of a manager at the local dealer I ended up with blue ones.
It took about 18months but the Ford converted me. We have two 7840s, with nearly 28000hrs between them and I have to admit they are hardy buggers of tractors. Yes they have had some bother but for the work, and I mean hard work they have done, they have done well. The bits to repair them are not crazy money either which is a big help

I have 3 tractors and a digger with the Powerstar engine, between them they have just over 45000hrs, and I only have had one engine problem and that was one of the 7840s picked up a big end shell(pictures on here somewhere). All this rubbish about dropped valves, not a common problem, if it does happen its usually a TM thats had a severe 10mm spanner remap,(not unheard of to find a 8360 or TM140/155 pushing over 200hp and the guy wonders why a valve has had enough!) or a 7840/Ts115 thats been turboed up to silly money as well.

So to answer the original question, if the tractor is to do much work I'd have a 40series New Holland.
A late blue roof 8340, with front links, decent size tyres is a thing of beauty. Failing that a similar 7840 would do.

Power star in a digger?

 

[phil t]

Father in laws 7840sldp has 18000 hours on and local contractor has a 8340 with 29000 on it also a 7810 silver jubilee with 35000 on it must add that all have just been used for hedge cutting so not had hardest of lifes

 

[fermerboy]

Power star in a digger?

New Holland 95 which has more or less a TS110 engine in it

 

[Joe S]

Right so after speaking to someone last night when at a dance I have decided blue sounds like the best tractor[emoji15][emoji15]now to sway dad[emoji23]

 

[Joe S]

Are the only gearbox options sl and sle?

 

[Thomas5060]

In a 7840 you get SL, SLDP and SLE
SL is 1234, with High Medium and Low box with F/R Shuttle so 12x12
SLDP is the same as above only with a splitter in each gear so 24x24
SLE is 16x16. High and Low box with 8 gears in each

 

[Thomas5060]

In the 82/8340 you only get SLE

 

[Thomas5060]

My choice would be a 7840 with dual power, less likely to be abused as a contractors tractor

 

[Joe S]

In a 7840 you get SL, SLDP and SLE
SL is 1234, with High Medium and Low box with F/R Shuttle so 12x12
SLDP is the same as above only with a splitter in each gear so 24x24
SLE is 16x16. High and Low box with 8 gears in each

What the sldp like? Sl doesn't sound great a splitter makes a big difference
I'm guessing the sldp and sle will be worth more?

 

[Thomas5060]

A 7840 SL is kinda rare, like you can get a 2wd 6640 SL in average condition for around 5/6k. SLDP is a real good gearbox, plenty of gears, easy to drive, more of a farmers machine. Most contractors had SLE which got abused by 16 year olds carting grass just sitting pressing buttons. Should get a decent 7840 turbo dual power for around 8 or 9 I would imagine

 

[fermerboy]

What the sldp like? Sl doesn't sound great a splitter makes a big difference
I'm guessing the sldp and sle will be worth more?

SL were the earlier ones and had a old fashioned dry clutch
The SLDP has a dual power pack which was used as the main clutch as well. Everything is in the box among oil so it lasts much better. I did one of mine at 12500hrs in the summer, and it has had a loader on it for the last 4 years. The early white roof SLDP were famed for being very jerky on the clutch to the point of being dangerous when cold. Most were modified at the dealers and while better aren't perfect. The later blue roofs are much improved and no bother.
The other thing is that the SLDP generally have the older style lift with top link sensing and no electronics. I would say that's a down side of an SLDP.
There are a few that have the electronic lift but they are very rare, I've never seen one, only a pic.

 

[Thomas5060]

Maybe @fermerboy or @cfr1964 could post pics of inside the cab and view out of front and back window to let you see what they're like

 

[SilliamWhale]

Have had two 7740s. Been good. Engines are not a problem. 9k hours each

 

[blue power]

a few more pictures