Hi, I'm new on here. I recently bought a white top Ford 8340 SLE which is capable of 50k at 2300 revs. I have checked this by following it with a car - it does do 30 Mph! Is this normal, I thought they were all 40k on the 40 series, or has someone had a play? in which case ... what have they done to it? I cant see how you could do it without changing the gear ratios. Cheers Jon

I've got a white top 8340 too, it does about 28mph (using GPS and those speed sensor displays they put up in a couple of villages). Cars notoriously over estimate their speed, so we could be doing the same. I'm told they were all a bit quicker than 40km/h, but bigger tyres (even just new ones with lots of tread) and a bit of over revving will up the speed. In top gear every extra 100rpm increases speed by more than 1mph.

Yeah, mine did about 45 at full throttle, and my neighbours old 82 did 49 on the flat, and it felt like it too.  Like Bovril says, and inch or two on the tyres gives a lot more speed, it's surprising how little you need to make a big difference.

Thanks for the replies, it seems to make sense. I've been talking to a mechanic and it seems that the computer may have been set for the size of tyres which would explain why the speedo is still correct with oversize tyres on it. not used to these new fangled contraptions, our previous newest tractor was a Leyland 272

Had one of the very first 8340's out of Basildon, a NON turbo one that eventually had the updated engine fitted, this arrived and was reading an incorrect 40MPH, when calibrated correctly this was corrected to around 27mph on oversized tyres (18.4/R38's if i remember).@2200rpm

We also Had a white roof 7840 SLE that had had a minor tweek on the revs and did 29.5 mph

 

I had blue and white roof 7840 SLE turbo's both of which did 28mph

I drove one of those on my first summer break from college, best years of my life! This one was a test tractor from Basildon that was thrown in cheap with a couple of production 8340. This had no turbo against the other turbo'ed production models. The production machines were good gutsy tractors that did 43k on the flat but that non turbo tractor was something else! It would pull 49k on the flat (and hold onto a descent amount of that on a bit of a bank) never known a tractor as light with so much poke. Was put on a dyno and was putting out 140hp at which point it was descided that it needed driving sensibly before a; somebody blew it up, or b; had a major accident! A new 15t rolland trailer with descent running gear was put on it to help keep it on the straight and narrrow and save the brakes.

Thats the only thing i would say about it, great engines but treat the brakes and back end with respect, they aint that strong!!!

  Flat out!!!

Whilst we're on the subject of speed, the following site is worth checking out

http://speedcameracheck.com/ 

Ha very funny made me laugh for a while run a check on my car,heart started to beat like hell when it said i had been caught doing 91mph and they had a photo as well,well done very funny

 Apparently, I was clocked at 66mph on the m40.  In my 6465 with 40k box.  Photo is an uncanny likeness though.

 Having looked at this again, 66 is under the speed limit

NeilHatch2:

non turbo tractor was something else! It would pull 49k on the flat (and hold onto a descent amount of that on a bit of a bank) never known a tractor as light with so much poke. Was put on a dyno and was putting out 140hp

Ive been doing a bit of reading and come across a conversion by County in their death throws, apparently they produced a conversion kit that would make an 8340 do 30mph and 140hp - I believe the model was a HSH140. Anyone heard of one - or got pictures?

The Original JB:

NeilHatch2:

non turbo tractor was something else! It would pull 49k on the flat (and hold onto a descent amount of that on a bit of a bank) never known a tractor as light with so much poke. Was put on a dyno and was putting out 140hp

Ive been doing a bit of reading and come across a conversion by County in their death throws, apparently they produced a conversion kit that would make an 8340 do 30mph and 140hp - I believe the model was a HSH140. Anyone heard of one - or got pictures?

I seem to remember that it was something to do with SEM (South Essex Motors) at Basildon in Essex. County did make 2 equal wheeled tractors based on the 40 series Ford that were shipped to the Falkland Islands. Only 1 now survives and is back in the UK with a collector

i used to have an early 8340 j reg white roof no turbo 18.4x38 half worn tyres 44km/h according to the display on the dash, i aslo knew of a 7840 blue roof that was faster, bigger wheels but not sure how big