Is a 3hp upgrade worth it?

[SirFallalot]

@SirFallalot - Is there a particular C174 that you're considering? Could you borrow/demo/rent it for a day to try it?

Yep, I can only find 3 in the country, the closest is 1h away and the one that supposedly has the remotes, plan to view it and give it a go this weekend. Only weird thing is it looks like the tiller is counter on the lift arms the lower link, not sure if it's equipped with non standard 3pt, but I could changeover my own before I sell it. What o you think? My gran would be happy, she hates blue, wanted me to paint mine red. Maybe I should try to find a yanmar

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[paulfun9]

Nobody is going to be able to feel a 3HP change.

As long as the torque is increased along with the HP and the operator is running the same property with the same loads You definately would be able to feel, see and define a difference.

Heck test a mower with a 16 hp motor, then back to back it with a 18 hp motor with the same deck and you will both feel and see the difference.

 

[SirFallalot]

Also, does the upgrade cost much if you are able to sell the current tractor?

Unlikely, mine has documents (desirable, adds 500-1k to the value), and if I take away the things that came with it for 4.5k (1T trailer with plates, tiller which is probs too big for it, I never used it, 100l sprayer), it probably cost 3k, so I'd be able to sell it for the same if not more than that C174, plus I'd sell the tiller I have.
Not sure about lack of plates, as I do use the public road in 1-2km range and have insurance on mine, but the gendarmerie doesn't seem too bothered, maybe I'd swap the plates and stickers before selling the other one ahah!

Before this I was considering just getting a bigger tractor (they cost the same, sometimes less than these stupid compacts lol!) and keeping both, but if I can just squeeze a few extra hp out of this form factor it makes more economical sense.

 

[Beaver Cove Deere]

As long as the torque is increased along with the HP and the operator is running the same property with the same loads You definately would be able to feel, see and define a difference.

Heck test a mower with a 16 hp motor, then back to back it with a 18 hp motor with the same deck and you will both feel and see the difference.

YA. I'd like to see someone telling the difference between the two. This goes a lot deeper than horsepower as you alluded to. The losses running thru the hydro transmission are going to result in a non significant transfer of power.

In your example of a lawn mower sure because that mower has a limited purpose in life unlike a tractor that weighs more with a lot more moving mass. Same with a 5 HP X 24" snowblower.

 

[ptsg]

There is a good looking Daedong (Kioti) T2600 in Braga with only 971 hours for €3500. Doesn't have documents though, so I don't think you're interested on that one.

It's a 25 HP machine and it's a little bit bigger than yours but I'm sure it would fit right it. Can't really find much specs about it though.

The same tractor with documents/title and license plate would bump the price up to €6000 easily.

 

[paulfun9]

YA. I'd like to see someone telling the difference between the two. This goes a lot deeper than horsepower as you alluded to. The losses running thru the hydro transmission are going to result in a non significant transfer of power.

In your example of a lawn mower sure because that mower has a limited purpose in life unlike a tractor that weighs more with a lot more moving mass. Same with a 5 HP X 24" snowblower.

Honestlily if you could get 2 more ponies to the ground you would be able to find the difference when doing the more repetitive tasks with your tractor.
The question of who or how many could feel or tell the difference would depend more on the things discussed or implied.
As they call it in the racing world the Butt dyno on most is very inaccurate but there are some who can at least feel a difference and with things like stop watches, or watching close at an RPM drop can usually confirm a positive gain even when its slight.
Here is the question to ponder.
A 3 HP gain will be what at the wheels after figuring the average percentage of loss per HP going threw the gears or PTO?

Who out of how many can actually feel it without the torque having a equal or greater rise would be the most appropriate question.
I would say most wouldn’t feel it without the torque rise but there would most likely be a measurable difference that would be more in line with my mower example.

 

[the old grind]

IIRC the OP is looking at 'geared' tractors so we could skip the 2-3hp a HST pump 'loses' and add 50 lbs or more (?) with a 'different' (hp) model. Imagining my 5-speed pedal bike compared to my 12-speed there a gear for every grade and effort but more choices or fewer range/gear shift combos might make operating more convenient if not more productive.

btw, for all we know the OP doesn't need as much 'more' as we wish he had.

 

[droptop]

I think that the bigger issue is trading the devil that you know for the devil that you don't. You know the reliability of your current tractor, trading for another old tractor just to get 3 more HP seems like a big risk. Unless you KNOW that the bigger tractor is just as good as the one you have, keep what you got.

 

[the old grind]

More than one to choose from IIRC.

 

[SirFallalot]

IIRC the OP is looking at 'geared' tractors so we could skip the 2-3hp a HST pump 'loses' and add 50 lbs or more (?) with a 'different' (hp) model. Imagining my 5-speed pedal bike compared to my 12-speed there a gear for every grade and effort but more choices or fewer range/gear shift combos might make operating more convenient if not more productive.

btw, for all we know the OP doesn't need as much 'more' as we wish he had.

Yep both are geared. Discussing how much you can feel 3hp, currently, my tractor can *just about* not do some things, like keeping 3rd going uphill, 2 to 3rd is half or less the speed, sure we're not getting anywhere in a rush, but it's frustrating. E.g. in one of the 1km stretches it keep 3rd till about 1/3 of the way, then the slope increases a tiny bit for 50m (if the tractor is empty I can zig zag and it goes up eheheh, that's how close it is), then the slope normalizes, but I cannot change back to 3rd, so I have to go all the way up at snail's pace... if there were an extra 3 ponies, or the extra 3 gears, I'd be very happy.