Farmall 340

JoeKan

New User
I've been looking everyday on the internet for a narrow front end Super C and "think" I may have found one 6 hours from where I live. But in my search, I've seen the 340 which would work for me as well, although it's more tractor than what I need.
Are the 340 worthy tractors or should I just stay with the SC? I'm going to mow a 1 acre field with which ever one I get and a friend of mines yard.
With the 340, I'll have to get a pull behind but the SC already has a belly mower. So, even though I would have to travel further to get the SC, it will still be less expensive for me.
Thanks for any advice,
Joe
 
Joe, I have a 1953 Super C fast hitch tractor and also a Farmall 140 with a Woods L-306 belly mower (both with the C-123 engine) along with several other tractors and pull behind rotary mowers of various sizes and makes. I would highly recommend the Super C and belly mower over anything you have noted. First, the Super C's were produced in very high quantities like around 90,000 or so and parts are readily available due to those production numbers and salvage yards and tractors being parted out are numerous. The 340 (I don't have one) is somewhat a later tractor with some added features if they work and somewhat a little more powerful but were produced in far fewer numbers and parts are significantly more of a problem along with the complexity of the later emerging components like a torque amplifier. Not having a 340 I don't know and without doing some investigation if they are an IPTO tractor or not but that would most likely be the single most useable addition if they are so equipped. Mowing with a belly mower is far easier then a trailing cutter as everything is in front of you and except for the front wheel track everything is mowed before being smashed to the ground with the rear tires. A narrow front Super C is a very nimble and sharp turning tractor and if your ground is fairly level will be very safe. Mowing a one acre field is a very short timed task for a SC and belly mower even in the worst of conditions. The time and expense of the 6 hour trip is a one time issue which you will most likely feel is one of the best trips you have ever made. I'm making the assumption that both tractors you are considering are of equal condition and shape and you will have to be the sole judge on issues on either that will need to be dealt with in the short term. Hope this is somewhat beneficial to you in your decision making and wish you the best with your tractor choice, Hal.
 
Thanks Hal, You've put my mind at ease. I looking forward to making that trip with my boys.
 
The 340 does have live or independent PTO, both the FARMALL row crop and INTERNATIONAL utility tractors, so
that is a big advantage. T/A was an option, may or may not have it. Power steering was not an option. 340
has about ten more HP than the Super C, actually more than the Super H. I'd for sure take a look at the
340. Road trips are fun!
 
Hey Joe, where are you located? Around here in
MI, it seems as if you see a C or SC quite often?
We have both on the farm, Super C nf, C wf, we
used to use them for pulling hayrakes and
firewood trailers, good tractors in their day. Just
started the SC up 3 weeks ago for the first time
in 4 or 5 years, had another tractor it was
blocking in the barn. Probably had less than a
dozen starts on a rebuilt engine. Now they just
set around, not worth much around here.

Ross
 
our 340 is the handiest thing to back empty wagons into the shed to put them away. very short wheelbase and power steering really makes it good for this job. on the downside it is the most terrible tractor to get on and off of that I have ever had. a 340 is a hopped up super c engine with a 460 utility rearend.
 
I have a Farmall 340 with a loader on it and two Super Cs. As others have mentioned,
quite a bit fewer Farmall 340s were made (maybe 7,000 or so) than Super Cs (90,000 or
so). So some parts are less available for the Farmall 340. For example, when I had it overhauled almost twenty years ago, I had problems finding engine o-rings. The Farmall 340 has about a 135
cubic inch engine about in the 30-35 horsepower range. I think it is same engine block as
a Super C but just ground out more. A Super C engine is 121 cubic (or 123..I do not recall off
hand) and in the 21 to 23 horsepower range. I would think a Super C would handle a 72
inch belly mower fine, but a Farmall 340 maybe even better. My Farmall 340 has power
steering and better hydraulics than the Super Cs do. The Farmall 340 is a heavier
tractor and more challenging to transport. I use a 1946 International A with a 60"
belly mower to mow my acreage. It does not have hydraulics or live pto. The Farmall 340 has live pto, but Super Cs do not. I do have a Cub 154 with a belly mower and live PTO. Usually I do not find the lack of a live PTO a serious problem with a belly mower. It can be with a brush hog. As much as I like my
Farmall 340, I don't think you will go wrong using a Farmall Super C with a belly mower.
Both do set up somewhat tall if you are mowing under any trees. Hope this is helpful.
 

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