Compact Tractor Horsepower Comparisons

   / Compact Tractor Horsepower Comparisons #41  
My 2 cents. I reckon having same size of piston displacement, same rpm and whatever the pto is turning (in case of Transmission driven) or 540 (in case of independent) should yield HP number for any given brand in that class. Obviously this number is the least important when you compare to the quality, design, material and host of other important indicators.
 
   / Compact Tractor Horsepower Comparisons #42  
It would be nice if the dealers were more willing to let you test drive their products for a day or two to make a better decision-maybe like vehicle dealers. Maybe then we wounldn't have to rely on just the numbers. Personally, I try to get the most for my money. I know some people that only run deeres or kubotas because in their minds their brands are the best. I my location, both brands are about the same price. I have had the chance to run both brands(not at dealerships) and this is what I've seen. A 3430 kubota with a 723 loader (80 hours on it) will not move as much rocky fill dirt as a 4310 with a 430 loader (60 hours on it). Both tractors had a 72" bucket, they were working the same pile and loading in the same truck. We switched operators and the outcome was the same. The weight of the tractors is different but, the best performing tractor was the JD. The kubota is rated at 3 more HP but it needed more to keep up with the JD. Four months later this same 3430 was running a mx6 cutter along side a 4410 with the same mx6. the 4410 had loaded tires so I believe the weights were the same or the JD was heavier. These two tractors were on the same hilly field running the same cutters and guess what?--the JD was nearly twice as fast. The kubota was in A range at 2 mph and the JD was in b range at about 4 mph. The tractors are rated the same HP but one out performs the other. If the Kubota would of outperformed the JD, thats what I would now own. I was lucky to see a real world comparison and make a choice that I feel comfortable with. I think kubota makes a good machine with some great features. Also I thank kubota for keeping CUT prices competitive. Now for some complaining--Any company selling 10 to 50,000 dollar goods should have the price of that equipment listed. I should not have to go to a dealer to get a MSRP of a tractor. Kubota should have their 40+ Hp tractors tested at the Nebraska tractor test lab to verify their claims. When I compared their claims(my real world test), their claims were false. Also, I don't want to hear how great Kubota's new 40 series direct injection engine and electronically controlled HST transmission is. Every time there was a comparison of JD and Kubota, the point of indirect/direct injection was brought up (most kubota users stated indirect was better), and alot of kubota owners thought a elec. controlled HST is just trouble waiting to happen. Ok, I'm just joking about the 40 series stuff!! Seriously though, I have checked Hp and rpm ratings and compared and when you get above 40 hp, the JD(lower rated speed), will have alot more torque than the kubota. Maybe this is the reason kubota is going to direct injection? I'm not trying to irritate anybody, just stating my observations from the past 15 years of operating CUTs and other equipment(L-35,JD650,JD670,pc45,d-21,t300 and more)
 
   / Compact Tractor Horsepower Comparisons #43  
I think what we're seeing here is the difference between a turbocharged engine, the JD4520, and a normally aspirated engine, the L5030.

A normally aspirated engine is at the mercy of ambient atmospheric conditions. High elevation, high temperature, high humidity and even a low barometric pressure will detract from the density of the air-fuel mixture drawn into each cylinder. Hp will decrease accordingly. Sarasota is near sea-level, but the climate there is rather warm and humid.

The boost on a turbocharged engine can be easily set to counteract these factors. The turbocharger will pack just as much air-fuel mixture into an engine in hot/high/humid conditions as it will in cool/dry conditions at sea level. That also explains why the JD HP output stayed relatively constant from day to day while the 5030's varied.

Obviously, a turbocharger has advantages in terms of delivering all the HP paid for all the time. On the other hand, it is an added item of expense; both at initial purchase and in terms of maintenance over the tractor's lifetime.
FWIW
Bob
 
   / Compact Tractor Horsepower Comparisons #44  
AndyMA said:
JD Compacts have come around, but the earlies JD Compacts were no comparison to the Kubotas and Fords. JD had Yanmar who made decent compacts, build tractors to JD specs which were substandard.

Andy


Define John Deere specs!!!

Mr. Yanmar, paint it green and yellow and put these decals on it and it is JD specs!! ;)
 
   / Compact Tractor Horsepower Comparisons #45  
It does seem that the evidence points to Kubota being underpowered.
 
   / Compact Tractor Horsepower Comparisons #46  
eaglemrpaul said:
Kick,
I understand your point, however in this instance we are talking about PTO horsepower at the manufacturers rated PTO engine RPM. 540 RPM is a constant standard of measurement which the printed PTO horsepower statistic represents. Even if different engines require different RPM to achieve it, we use 540 PTO horsepower as a comparative standard / measurement. As you read several of the messages throughout this site HP and or PTO horsepower seams to be a value point among both owners and buyers.
.

I didn't see that 540 rpm qualifier in the original post. for that I am sorry.

if both brands are advertised as having a certain hp at a certain pto speed, then your claim holds water.
 
   / Compact Tractor Horsepower Comparisons #47  
KICK said:
I didn't see that 540 rpm qualifier in the original post. for that I am sorry.

if both brands are advertised as having a certain hp at a certain pto speed, then your claim holds water.


Yes, but they don't claim the same PTO HP. The JD model claims 45 and the Kubota claims 42.5. I'm with the previous poster in that a non-turbo engine will vary with atmospheric conditions.
 
   / Compact Tractor Horsepower Comparisons #48  
N80 said:
I have heard of automakers underrating the hp in a lower line car compared to a higher line model with the same engine. Rumor has it that they both have the same hp but the lower model is underrated to ake the higher model seem like a better buy. True? I have no idea. Possible? Sure. Possible in the tractor biz? Probably.

If I understand what you are talking about here it sounds like the problem GM had a few decades ( god i feel old saying that) ago with buick or maybe it was oldsmobile engines versus chevrolet engines. GM was saying that the same size Buick or oldsmobile engine was putting out more horsepower than the chevrolet engine and chargeing more for the buick or oldsmobile engine. The reality was that it was the same engine. If my memory serves me right GM had to fork out an apology that involved paying out money.
 
   / Compact Tractor Horsepower Comparisons #49  
Bob_Young said:
I think what we're seeing here is the difference between a turbocharged engine, the JD4520, and a normally aspirated engine, the L5030.

A normally aspirated engine is at the mercy of ambient atmospheric conditions. High elevation, high temperature, high humidity and even a low barometric pressure will detract from the density of the air-fuel mixture drawn into each cylinder. Hp will decrease accordingly. Sarasota is near sea-level, but the climate there is rather warm and humid.

The boost on a turbocharged engine can be easily set to counteract these factors. The turbocharger will pack just as much air-fuel mixture into an engine in hot/high/humid conditions as it will in cool/dry conditions at sea level. That also explains why the JD HP output stayed relatively constant from day to day while the 5030's varied.

Obviously, a turbocharger has advantages in terms of delivering all the HP paid for all the time. On the other hand, it is an added item of expense; both at initial purchase and in terms of maintenance over the tractor's lifetime.
FWIW
Bob

Exactly - and that may be all Deere was demonstrating for the sales people - the advantage of the Deere turbo charged tractor against competitor's normally aspirated unit. Again - I'm not naive, I just don't buy into the cynicism constantly shown about something as simple as a tractor demonstration.

Which, by the way, was reported from the perspective of a SINGLE person. His reaction to it cannot be extrapolated to the other people attending the meeting.

If it was a REAL conspiracy, at the very least, I'd expect to hear that Halliburton, a 3-letter government agency, extra terrestrials, or UFO's were involved in some way.

Let me give you an example, and please bear with me.

About 25 years ago I was employed by a company that ran a test range in central Nevada for the US Government. I was asked to design an "overt warning system" for a site at the test range. I flew to Las Vegas, and the next day took the early morning charter commuter flight to the site.

I arrived at the site, met my contact and went out to look at the area. It was a double row of aircraft hangars lined up in a north - south direction. They were oriented so they were facing each other and seperated by a wide taxi lane area.

As all the hangars were the same, I only needed to see the interior and exterior of one hangar. We went into the first hangar. Inside were two F117 stealth aircraft. I found out that the system I had to design was to warn the pilots and crew not to take the aircraft out of the hangar; or if they had the aircraft outside the hangar to get them back inside.

I went back to my office, designed the system and sent the plans to our Las Vegas office. About 6 months later, I got a call from my site contact who asked that I come back and inspect the installation and "tweak it."

I flew out on a Sunday with my test equipment to start work early Monday morning. I worked from 7:00am to after 4:00pm for three days. On Thursday, about 11:15am I took a lunch break and went to see my contact. I told him I only had the final two hangars at the south end and the system should be ready for testing on Friday morning.

He then said, "Have you done the other hangar yet?" I replied, "The..'other'...hangar?"

With a flat, low voice he said, "I'll show you after lunch."

As we walked down the row of hangars after lunch to retrieve my test equipment - I was dreading having to spend another day at the Nevada-hot facility because of "the other hangar." The hangar that was NOT shown on any of the site drawings I was given, was not part of my test plan, and now appeared seemingly out of nowhere to ruin my weekend.

We rounded the corner of the last hangar at the southwest end of the row, and set back from the taxiway was a huge hangar, at least four times the size of the the other hangars. Terrific, I'd probably be there working over the weekend and at least Monday and Tuesday of the next week.

We stepped through the personnel entry in the hangar door, and in front of me, at least 60-feet in height, was a silver grey aircraft...blimp... I couldn't really tell.

It had curved surfaces in every direction that met in a horizontal edge running around the middle of the aircraft. There were no obvious windows, hatches, or doors.

We walked around the edge of the aircraft following it's contour, and it became evident that the craft was shaped something like a stingray. Wide at the front and tapered toward the back. As we approached the rear of the aircraft I could see writing or a graphic of some kind about half-way down the side.

When I was close enough to see what was on the side of the craft, the hair on the back of my neck stood on end. There on the side of this....whatever...was a yellow rectangle with slightly bowed sides. In the middle of the rectangle was a yellow leaping deer....

Now, that's a conspiracy....
 
   / Compact Tractor Horsepower Comparisons #50  
swines said:
When I was close enough to see what was on the side of the craft, the hair on the back of my neck stood on end. There on the side of this....whatever...was a yellow rectangle with slightly bowed sides. In the middle of the rectangle was a yellow leaping deer....

Now, that's a conspiracy....

Unbelievable !;) :) :D
 

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