Farmall 340

[JD630-2520]

I am going to an auction on Saturday that has a 340 with loader for sale. What are the pros and cons of this tractor? I will use it as a Tedder/rake, move 450 lb round bales and general odd jobs. Repairs are not a problem as we have a lot of mechanics in the area if I can't fix it.

 

[dewy]

its like a jd 2510............dewy

 

[JD630-2520]

i wish, I don't think I could pull a no till drill or a silage wagon on the hills! 😃

 

[kub6040]

is it a rowcrop or utility, these are 2 completely different animals. the row crop tractors are like dewy said, front and rear of different tractors to make one , the 300-350 rearend was used with a ------ off super c engine . so in a since like the 2510 john deere which is a 3020 rear with a 2020 engine. I have both and can say the 340 is smaller but will surprise you short coupled so it turns easy but strong enough to pull 3x14 plows in clay at 6-8 inches deep. the 2510 will handle 3x16 plow in the same dirt.

 

[kub6040]

I have sat and pondered for a time and am very confused as to why a JD man would look at a farmall/IH tractor ? Myself I like All tractors and like comparing each manufactures tractors for my own comparisons, for example farmall Super C with fast hitch and JD 40t with 3 point, and maybe allis CA with snap coupler. all made an the same years and similar power ratings.

 

[Gene F]

I have had two International (utility) 340. Sold the first and then bought another a few years later, which I now have. Good tractor and does a good job pulling a (2) point, two bottom. I have had issues and lost the hydraulics in the past when going up hills. Now I overfill the hydraulic/transmission reservoir (a little check plug on the side of transmission plug), which seems to eliminate the problem.

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

Yes, 340 is an IH 460 rear end mated to a bored-out Super C engine.

The Utility models are a little more robust, but the Farmall models are kind of spindly up front for heavy loader work. Neither tractor has a frame and the Super C style block isn't the strongest thing to hold the front and rear of a tractor together.

Moving 450lb round bales through foot-deep mud to get to the feeders is not something you'd want to be doing with either tractor IMHO. The Utility model will get beached due to lack of clearance, and the Farmall model will leave it's front end somewhere in the mud. If it never gets muddy around your feeders then that's kind of a moot point.

 

[JD630-2520]

Our main loader tractor is across the mountain 30 miles away at the summer pasture. I don't like putting the loader on the 2520 during hay season and I am the only one who knows how to mount the loader. I have driven all kinds of tractors and although I prefer JD nothing is off the table. The 340 is at an auction that is in a bad area to get to (kiss your you know what turns on the mountain). After my FIL watched a decent 504 sell for $1,600 and a 784 with loader in ok condition for $2,600 I thought this may be a good deal for me. I just want something to stack bales, tedd and rake hay.

 

[JD630-2520]

Thanks for the info. The general rule for us is no tractors to feed in mud as we feed with a 4 wheeler which is why we use small bales. This
tractor is a row crop and the heaviest bales weigh 450 most weigh 400. In a perfect world I would put a loader on our MF 1233 and all would
be great but I can sell it and be way far ahead

 

[kub6040]

i have sent you an email.

 

[daveking95]

I have a 1960 International 340 Utility, and I was told the same thing- if I'd ever be interested in putting a loader on it, I should find one that connects to the front end and the bell housing- so as to add a "frame member" down the sides of the engine to overcome the weak nature of the block. My source is an 80-yr old former mechanic for the local IH dealership. He stated he's seen plenty of them busted in the middle, and at that point you haul it to the junkyard and start over... his words. Mine is still going strong, and I hope to keep her going for several more years too!