Fiat Winner F series vs Ford/NH 40 series

Jimbo789

I was looking for a simple reliable tractor in good condition, around 110-120 hp for max €15,000.

It would be used on part time farm and wouldn’t be doing high hours but some of the more demanding tasks it would be doing would be pulling 2000 gallons slurry tank, 10 tonne grain trailer, 1.5 tonne fertiliser spreader and possibly sometime in future a 10 foot mounted conditioner mower.

I was considering either Fiat F115 or New Holland 8240. So far I have no practical experience of using either tractor.

I have done some online research. Both have 6 cylinders non turbo engines.
The F115 was mk2 of the series sold from 1993-1996 and was supposed to have less problems than the mk1.

NH 8240 was sold from 1996-1998 and as last of the series was supposed to be the most trouble free.

The F115 would be slightly bigger and power probably would be more similar to an 8340.

The SLE in the 40 series would seem more driver friendly than the more basic transmission in the F115, but maybe less electronics is better in such old tractors.

Probably the best of both worlds would be a TS115 but not sure that it would be worth paying €8,000-10,000 extra for.

Range command in an 8260 could be an option but think might be too big for what I need and think could be harder to find one that hasn’t very high hours.

What would be the advantages/disadvantages of a F115 over an 8240/8340?

Would there be any issues with parts for F115 becoming scarce?

mengele

F115 would be the better tractor there of the 2.

https://www.donedeal.ie/tractors-for-sale/1996-fiat-f115-mint/24039271

They can always be turboed if u need that bit more powee.

Jimbo789

Think a non turbo would be sufficient for me and possibly might be indicate it wasn’t worked as hard or at least something else less on it to go wrong.

I noticed that some of the F series have a digital display and some have the analogue Veglia Borletti display.

Is there different levels of specs and would the type of display give any indication of the level of specs in rest of tractor?

newholland mad

mengele wrote: »

F115 would be the better tractor there of the 2.

https://www.donedeal.ie/tractors-for-sale/1996-fiat-f115-mint/24039271

They can always be turboed if u need that bit more powee.

Very nice well speced tractor. The only fault I see is the axla hitch. Had 1 on a fiat and nothing only trouble. If everything else was good however I wouldn't let that put you off. I changed mine for a dromone and never looked back.

hopeso

The electrics in the F series Fiats weren’t great. Electronic lift controls never worked in the few I had experience of, and there was always a number of warning lights it up on the dash at all times. Probably better going manual if you can find one. But, they were a good capable tractor in their day. The 115 might feel a little underpowered in a tractor that size, but as said, the option to turbo it is there if you discover you need it. Like any tractor of that age, if you find one that has survived in good condition, it must have been a good one that was looked after.

hopeso

mengele wrote: »

F115 would be the better tractor there of the 2.

https://www.donedeal.ie/tractors-for-sale/1996-fiat-f115-mint/24039271

They can always be turboed if u need that bit more powee.

That’s a good looking example alright!

Jimbo789

hopeso wrote: »

The electrics in the F series Fiats weren’t great. Electronic lift controls never worked in the few I had experience of, and there was always a number of warning lights it up on the dash at all times. Probably better going manual if you can find one. But, they were a good capable tractor in their day. The 115 might feel a little underpowered in a tractor that size, but as said, the option to turbo it is there if you discover you need it. Like any tractor of that age, if you find one that has survived in good condition, it must have been a good one that was looked after.

Do you think the 115 would feel more underpowered than the likes of an 8260 or tm 120 which would bit stronger but heavier?

hopeso

Jimbo789 wrote: »

Do you think the 115 would feel more underpowered than the likes of an 8260 or tm 120 which would bit stronger but heavier?

I don’t know, because I have no experience of a F115, but there is no reason why it should. If any, newer tractors should feel more underpowered at that hp because modern power shift gearboxes absorb more power. When the winner series first came out, the bottom of the range started at 100 hp, and that model was noted for being underpowered. But the 15 extra hp probably addressed that on the later models. Besides, if the tractor is for your own work, you can afford to work it at a pace it’s comfortable with if the going gets tough.

jaymla627

Jimbo789 wrote: »

Do you think the 115 would feel more underpowered than the likes of an 8260 or tm 120 which would bit stronger but heavier?

Tm 120 classic is basically a f series, without the splitter, and better hydraulics and minimal electrics, you wont get a clean one for less then 25k though

Gawddawggonnit

jaymla627 wrote: »

Tm 120 classic is basically a f series, without the splitter, and better hydraulics and minimal electrics, you wont get a clean one for less then 25k though

Sent a TM 140 to Kilkenny last month for €17k. New Tyres, front links, 4800hrs.

jaymla627

Gawddawggonnit wrote: »

Sent a TM 140 to Kilkenny last month for €17k. New Tyres, front links, 4800hrs.

No hassle getting 30k for that tractor out of a dealership here with a bit of warranty, youd be plagued with calls for it

DBK1

Jimbo789 wrote: »

Think a non turbo would be sufficient for me and possibly might be indicate it wasn’t worked as hard or at least something else less on it to go wrong.

I noticed that some of the F series have a digital display and some have the analogue Veglia Borletti display.

Is there different levels of specs and would the type of display give any indication of the level of specs in rest of tractor?

I’ve an F115 and couldn’t praise them highly enough. They are a great tractor for the type of money you can buy them for. I do between 500 and 600 hours a year on mine and most of that is done pulling either a welger baler or a JD1365 mower. Now admittedly mine has a turbo fitted and a 14 inch flywheel and clutch so it is the equivalent of an F130 but it’s well capable of doing the work I’m doing and I can’t see a standard F115 not being able to do it. I also regularly pull a 2250 gallon abbey tank, a 12 ton KTwo spreader, 14 ton NC dump trailer and on the odd occasion a 3000 gallon twin axle HiSpec tank. I’ve no issue pulling any of that equipment, you just have to take your time with the 3,000 gallon!

The iveco engine is a super unit and virtually bomb proof. The back ends don’t give any common trouble either and they were the back end that was carried on into the first of the New Holland’s. They are very comfortable for a tractor of their age and are still a nice place to be for a days work even 30 years later! They were way ahead of their time with the cabs. I’ve the electric lift and they don’t give any bother at all really and are a lovely setup to use when you know how to set the dials properly. It was all the same setup that was carried through all the way to the TM’s as well.

The only slight flaws are the gearboxes can be a bit “soft” but when you get used to them you know how to guide them and if yours is going to be owner driven you won’t have problems either. The F115’s are a mark 2 and took over from the mark 1 F110. They have a sliding switch for the dual power instead of moving the gearstick left and right and there is a much more driver friendly layout of the gears. The electric dash can give a bit of bother and aren’t simple to fix so if you could at all try get an analogue dash. And then like any Fiat if your doing heavy work you’ll have to do the clutch every few years but they aren’t hard changed either. Changing from the 13 inch to the 14 inch would greatly increase your clutch life.

All in all they are a super machine and while I don’t have much experience of the 8240’s you’d have to be offering me 2 of them for me to even consider swapping for the 115!! They’re also in a price range now where so long as you mind it it will still be worth the same (or possible even more) in 5 or 10 years time than they are today so if you have the funds and you see a good one buy away, you’re not goin to lose money anyway!

If you are thinking of going to see the one on the done deal add further up PM me, I happened to see it during the week so I can give you a run down on it if you like.

mengele

DBK1 wrote: »

I’ve an F115 and couldn’t praise them highly enough. They are a great tractor for the type of money you can buy them for. I do between 500 and 600 hours a year on mine and most of that is done pulling either a welger baler or a JD1365 mower. Now admittedly mine has a turbo fitted and a 14 inch flywheel and clutch so it is the equivalent of an F130 but it’s well capable of doing the work I’m doing and I can’t see a standard F115 not being able to do it. I also regularly pull a 2250 gallon abbey tank, a 12 ton KTwo spreader, 14 ton NC dump trailer and on the odd occasion a 3000 gallon twin axle HiSpec tank. I’ve no issue pulling any of that equipment, you just have to take your time with the 3,000 gallon!

The iveco engine is a super unit and virtually bomb proof. The back ends don’t give any common trouble either and they were the back end that was carried on into the first of the New Holland’s. They are very comfortable for a tractor of their age and are still a nice place to be for a days work even 30 years later! They were way ahead of their time with the cabs. I’ve the electric lift and they don’t give any bother at all really and are a lovely setup to use when you know how to set the dials properly. It was all the same setup that was carried through all the way to the TM’s as well.

The only slight flaws are the gearboxes can be a bit “soft” but when you get used to them you know how to guide them and if yours is going to be owner driven you won’t have problems either. The F115’s are a mark 2 and took over from the mark 1 F110. They have a sliding switch for the dual power instead of moving the gearstick left and right and there is a much more driver friendly layout of the gears. The electric dash can give a bit of bother and aren’t simple to fix so if you could at all try get an analogue dash. And then like any Fiat if your doing heavy work you’ll have to do the clutch every few years but they aren’t hard changed either. Changing from the 13 inch to the 14 inch would greatly increase your clutch life.

All in all they are a super machine and while I don’t have much experience of the 8240’s you’d have to be offering me 2 of them for me to even consider swapping for the 115!! They’re also in a price range now where so long as you mind it it will still be worth the same (or possible even more) in 5 or 10 years time than they are today so if you have the funds and you see a good one buy away, you’re not goin to lose money anyway!

If you are thinking of going to see the one on the done deal add further up PM me, I happened to see it during the week so I can give you a run down on it if you like.

Since you saw thecf115 in the ad what price is it?

Gawddawggonnit

A neighbor has a NH 7840, 1996, 10250hrs for sale.
Asking €5250.
Owner is retired.
Any use to you?

He also has an old Fiat 666 4wd. (€1250?)

+ a NH TSA100, 2004 with 7600hrs. (€16k?).

+ TD585, 2014/15, 4K hours. No cab!

blue5000

Ball park what does it cost to ship a tractor from France to Rosslare?

Gawddawggonnit

blue5000 wrote: »

Ball park what does it cost to ship a tractor from France to Rosslare?

Ballpark, from where I’m at, about €1k to Cherbourg, Le Havre or Roscoff.
Then about €180-250 to drive on/off the ferry. So, total €1250 landed in Ireland.

* Tractors here never have PUH fitted, so more €uros!

hopeso

DBK1 wrote: »

I’ve an F115 and couldn’t praise them highly enough. They are a great tractor for the type of money you can buy them for. I do between 500 and 600 hours a year on mine and most of that is done pulling either a welger baler or a JD1365 mower. Now admittedly mine has a turbo fitted and a 14 inch flywheel and clutch so it is the equivalent of an F130 but it’s well capable of doing the work I’m doing and I can’t see a standard F115 not being able to do it. I also regularly pull a 2250 gallon abbey tank, a 12 ton KTwo spreader, 14 ton NC dump trailer and on the odd occasion a 3000 gallon twin axle HiSpec tank. I’ve no issue pulling any of that equipment, you just have to take your time with the 3,000 gallon!

The iveco engine is a super unit and virtually bomb proof. The back ends don’t give any common trouble either and they were the back end that was carried on into the first of the New Holland’s. They are very comfortable for a tractor of their age and are still a nice place to be for a days work even 30 years later! They were way ahead of their time with the cabs. I’ve the electric lift and they don’t give any bother at all really and are a lovely setup to use when you know how to set the dials properly. It was all the same setup that was carried through all the way to the TM’s as well.

The only slight flaws are the gearboxes can be a bit “soft” but when you get used to them you know how to guide them and if yours is going to be owner driven you won’t have problems either. The F115’s are a mark 2 and took over from the mark 1 F110. They have a sliding switch for the dual power instead of moving the gearstick left and right and there is a much more driver friendly layout of the gears. The electric dash can give a bit of bother and aren’t simple to fix so if you could at all try get an analogue dash. And then like any Fiat if your doing heavy work you’ll have to do the clutch every few years but they aren’t hard changed either. Changing from the 13 inch to the 14 inch would greatly increase your clutch life.

All in all they are a super machine and while I don’t have much experience of the 8240’s you’d have to be offering me 2 of them for me to even consider swapping for the 115!! They’re also in a price range now where so long as you mind it it will still be worth the same (or possible even more) in 5 or 10 years time than they are today so if you have the funds and you see a good one buy away, you’re not goin to lose money anyway!

If you are thinking of going to see the one on the done deal add further up PM me, I happened to see it during the week so I can give you a run down on it if you like.

Great review! Do you think the electronic lift in yours might have been upgraded with better components at some point? There were a number of them around here when they were new, and the lift controls packed up very soon. The only way to lift or lower the arms was from outside using the two buttons above the back axle, under the cab.
Is that one on DoneDeal as good as it looks?

DBK1

mengele wrote: »

Since you saw thecf115 in the ad what price is it?

I was there on a different mission so I didn’t even ask the price to be honest.

DBK1

hopeso wrote: »

Great review! Do you think the electronic lift in yours might have been upgraded with better components at some point? There were a number of them around here when they were new, and the lift controls packed up very soon. The only way to lift or lower the arms was from outside using the two buttons above the back axle, under the cab.
Is that one on DoneDeal as good as it looks?

I don’t know if they were upgraded or not but I have it 4 years and never gave me an ounce of trouble on the lift. The buttons on the outside are disconnected so they don’t work at all. There are 4 or 5 F series within about 5 miles of me, there’s 3 that I know for sure have electric lifts and all are working perfect.

The 1 on done deal is a clean tractor cosmetically but if you’re thinking of going to look at it make sure you have a good look around it.