What tractor?

8N Tim

Member
Hi everyone i need a new tractor and i have 3 options. All are gas. 1st there is a 400 wide front that runs and is in okay condition that just needs maintenance and rear tires. Second is a 340 in good condition but hasn't ran in a couple years and needs the steering box repaired. Third is a 504 that is in okay condition but the 3 point does not lift on i'm guessing its the pump and it has not ran in a couple years. All are around $2000, not bad in my area. What might be the best tractor?
 
The 400 is really the ticket. It is a solid tractor with respectable HP and torque. It is bigger and stronger than the others, as well as having a more basic design. It has the IPTO and live Hydraulics and the TA of the others. It is only a little less handy because of its size. My pick is the 400 by a factor of 3 over the 504, and a factor of 3 on the 340. It runs, the others may not and are a pig in the poke. The 504 is a sleeveless engine of similar physical size to the 340. The 340 is a small engined 350. Jim
 
There was a thread I believe yesterday about 504's. After reading the input a 504 doesn't belong in the same field as a 400.
 
I strongly recommend the 400! I have a 400 and also have a 340. The 340 is a great little tractor but it has a couple design flaws. It is over powered for its length making the front end very light. The brakes require maintenance on a regular basis. It is a frameless design so if it has been abused could cause issues. The 504 I really know nothing about. However, I truly love my 400. It has power to spare plowing in clay with a 3-16 semi mount fast hitch plow. pulls a 14' disk when dueled up and in general is a wonderful all around tractor. The gas model is a little thirsty under a hard load but fairly reasonable for light work. The 400 is easily 2 or 3 times the tractor of the 340. JMHO
 
$2000 for a non running 340 or 504 is way too much. I've missed two running 504's, one with a definitely working 3pt, for $1500 each recently.

By far the 504 will be the most modern tractor with the 3pt hitch and live PTO.

In that vein, what are you planning to do with the tractor? If you've got a bunch of 3pt hitch work and the 400 doesn't at least have a fast hitch, it won't do you any good.
 
400 wide front all the way........I grew up on a 400 LPG row crop narrow front - torquey engine for sure and lugs way better than my 560 6cyl diesel although the 560 has more HP. I have my 560 turned up a tad but still love the torquey feel of the old 400.

Never had any real issues with the 400 over the years other than the LP was hard starting in cold. We had a Koyker K5 loader on it and used the tractor for many things. I enjoyed it - no complaints whatsoever.

I have used a 504 and a the 300 utility series as well as the 400 utility series, while they are fine I still liked the 400 - some people purchased the 400s with live power - ours was not but it was an option.

WE also had an aftermarket charlin power steering unit on ours and it worked great just leaked some with the loader on it - never leaked w/out it on there, it leaked out of the power steering motor in the steering shaft around the seals, just too much pressure from the loader I guess. Incidently there were also two different versions of the 2 point fast hitch on the 400, ours was the earlier one with the additional cylinder under the belly, I liked it over the one I have on my 560 now. I unhooked the stupid automatic depth thing its stupid and wanders all over the place and drives me nuts when trying to keep something where I want it
 
How are planning on using the tractor? Do you need a 3 point hitch or will a fast hitch work or maybe you only need a standard draw bar hitch. Since you said the 340 need steering gear box repairs it is most likely an International 340 rather than a Farmall 340. The other two also could be either International of Farmall models.
 

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