I have used a Massey Ferguson 1955 MH-50 31 HP gasoline tractor to pull a 5 foot heavy duty bushhog. Tractor seems under powered for the job. Would a New Holland TC30 30 HP diesel gear tractor provide more power? Is a 30 HP diesel engine more powerful than a 31 HP gsolilne engine?
Oil & Fuel Diesel horsepoweer
- Thread starter zarcan
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SteveInMD
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My TC33D has plenty of power to run my 5' BrushBull. I have a hydrostatic tranny so I think the PTO is around 27 hp. Maybe diesel's have more torque than a gasoline engine.
jinman
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Zarcan, is your governor working properly on your MH-50? Is the engine worn? ...out of tune? ...smoking? There are lots of reasons a 31 hp tractor might not perform at full potential, especially a 1955 model. If you want to compare the diesel to the gasoline engine you need to know the torques of both the engines at PTO speed. I always think of hp as the ability to reach a set rpm and torque as the ability to maintain it once you are there.
The diesel should have more torque, but the mass of the engine and flywheel may limit it's torque. Many of the old gasoline engines were pretty massive. If you can find the specs on both tractors, you can make a fair judgement. Otherwise, I think I'd ask the NH dealer for a demo. That way you would know for sure.
I used to use a gasoline Ford Jubilee (around 31 hp @2000 rpm) to pull a 5' rotary cutter. It was old and smoked under load, but it did just fine. I'd have to slow down a little in really heavy grass, but the governor worked perfectly when needed. I think your MH should handle the 5' cutter just fine.
The diesel should have more torque, but the mass of the engine and flywheel may limit it's torque. Many of the old gasoline engines were pretty massive. If you can find the specs on both tractors, you can make a fair judgement. Otherwise, I think I'd ask the NH dealer for a demo. That way you would know for sure.
I used to use a gasoline Ford Jubilee (around 31 hp @2000 rpm) to pull a 5' rotary cutter. It was old and smoked under load, but it did just fine. I'd have to slow down a little in really heavy grass, but the governor worked perfectly when needed. I think your MH should handle the 5' cutter just fine.
Kevin_in_VA
Silver Member
Typically torque is one of the advantages diesels have over gas engines. It's not that they have more torque, its just where that peak torque occurs in the power curve. In diesels torque occurs earlier in the operating range and has a broader flatter curve and is thus better for getting loads moving, responds smoother to intermittent changes in load, and allows for full engine power at lower ground speeds.
Bob_Skurka
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<font color="red"> I think your MH should handle the 5' cutter just fine. </font>
I would agree, but I would reiterate the issues about everything being in tune and in good working order. I like to play with old Oliver tractors and took one out that seemed like it ran well . . . what I found out was that it ran well as long as there was no load on the engine. After some fiddling with things (actually you might call it a year long restoration) it seemed to work great. Old iron is great if it works, and as we can't see from here if you've got good compression, good spark timing, etc etc then it is hard to judge. But in theory, I think you have the power you need.
I would agree, but I would reiterate the issues about everything being in tune and in good working order. I like to play with old Oliver tractors and took one out that seemed like it ran well . . . what I found out was that it ran well as long as there was no load on the engine. After some fiddling with things (actually you might call it a year long restoration) it seemed to work great. Old iron is great if it works, and as we can't see from here if you've got good compression, good spark timing, etc etc then it is hard to judge. But in theory, I think you have the power you need.
Soundguy
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</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I Massey Ferguson 1955 MH-50 31 HP gasoline tractor to pull a 5 foot heavy duty bushhog. Tractor seems under powered )</font>
I think your MF is worn out.. or not tuned up.
HD pretty much just means heavier. If your hyds lift the weight.. then it's down to HP for the blades and gear box.. and your 31 hp tractor should be fine for 5'. A ford N runs a 5' mower pretty decently.. and it's engine hp ranged from 26 to 27.. The NAA with the 30ishhp engine spun a 5' hog great, and ran a 6' hog about as good as an N ran a 5' hog.
Your 30hp diesel tc30 should run a 5' hog fine.
Soundguy
I think your MF is worn out.. or not tuned up.
HD pretty much just means heavier. If your hyds lift the weight.. then it's down to HP for the blades and gear box.. and your 31 hp tractor should be fine for 5'. A ford N runs a 5' mower pretty decently.. and it's engine hp ranged from 26 to 27.. The NAA with the 30ishhp engine spun a 5' hog great, and ran a 6' hog about as good as an N ran a 5' hog.
Your 30hp diesel tc30 should run a 5' hog fine.
Soundguy
