rrlund (Fiat Oliver 1365 to JD 1020 comparison?)

rankrank1

Well-known Member
rrlund,

Maybe you have already posted on this and I missed it. Anyway now that you have used that Fiat Oliver for few weeks as your new feeder loader tractor; can you offer up a head to head comparison on how it compares to the JD 1020 that you used for 30 years for the same tasks? (list both the good and bad points of each model if you are willing).

Thanks
 
Kinda like apples and oranges. I knew that 1365 felt big when I got on it,was concerned that it would be real unhandy in tight feedlots. It doesn't turn near as short and steers harder with the bucket full when I'm trying to turn around in a tight spot. All that said,the bucket is bigger,so I don't have to turn around as often,so it's still faster to load with than the 1020 was.
It's geared alright in the forward gears,8 speeds forward,but it only has 2 reverse,one super slow,one awful fast where the Deere had 8 forward and 4 reverse. Just have to do a little more shifting. It's easier now that I've gotten used to it and can load a little faster. I run it in high range more now and use first gear high and high reverse. I'm amazed at how well it starts in cold weather. The manifold heater does a good job. It's been right down around zero a few mornings and it started right up.

As far as the 1020,hard to find too much fault with something that lasted that long. I got it out the other day and moved it. It felt like a toy compared to the size of the 1365. Of course if you've ever had a 2 wheel drive truck and compared it to a 4 wheel drive,you know there's no comparison. So in that aspect,the 1365 wins hands down going away.
 
Nice write-up - thanks for sharing.

I can sorta relate to the too slow reverse and then too fast reverse. I also have 8F 2R tractor that is like that. I have always admired Deere's 8F 4R tranny's or even their 9F 3R tranny's for eliminating those large jumps on Reverse speeds.
 
Ya,this one wouldn't be quite so bad if it had something similar to the hydrapower so I could slow down that high reverse gear like I can on the 1600 when I'm loading with that.
 
Neither. That one's 40 years old and was made in Italy.
One of the only Fiat builts that was actually good for a working tractor not just a collector.
 

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