Compact Tractors – Horsepower – When is enough, enough?

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We all understand the basic principles of horsepower right? So… the more horsepower the better?  I mean we all understand that a 820 bhp Ferrari 812 Super car produces more power than a 69 bhp Vauxhall Corsa. It’s also considerably faster and more expensive too! However….. probably a lot more fun?

What is horsepower?

Simply put. It’s the metric used to indicate the maximum power produced by a vehicle’s engine.

Are all horses equal?

Err nope… For example a Shire horse is a lot more powerful that a Shetland pony, some Shetland pony owners might argue this however, (speaking as someone who has been dragged around a muddy field by one of these tiny, Scottish equines, I can confirm that they are surprisingly strong considering their miniature stature! but I digress.)

So it all depends on how the horsepower is measured?

There are a variety of ways to measure horsepower and generally speaking, most tractor manufacturers use the old standard measurement for gross horsepower known as DIN 70020.

Basically, this is the maximum horsepower an engine can produce, measured at the flywheel, under factory testing. The engine block is tested on a rig without the air conditioning and hydraulic pump attached and the maximum power output is measured in horsepower.

John Deere take a different, more modern stance. By using the OECD Code 2 measurement standard, they provide a more accurate ‘working’ horsepower rating. OECD Code 2 is the measurement of the power output, taken directly from the PTO shaft with the A/C, hydraulic pump running. This gives a much more realistic horsepower rating and a clearer indication of what the machine is capable of lifting, powering and pulling.

What does this mean for the buyer?

In essence, if you are comparing other manufacturer’s horsepower ratings on paper, you could accidently end up buying a Shetland pony, instead of the Shire horse you need! An important point to consider before buying and yet another reason to buy a Deere!

As for torque and what you need, you’ll have to wait for next time…