Tractor Sizing How big of a difference is HP in a CUT?

[Redsox19]

I'm a newbie and am trying to decide between a Mahindra 1526 HST and a New Holland Workmaster 33.
I'm a gentleman farmer with 5 acres. I'll basically only use a 5ft tiller and a 5ft bush hog and move some dirt and most likely, some snow. Is the 7HP difference a big deal and is it worth $3K more to have?
Thanks!

 

[TomSeller]

I'm a newbie and am trying to decide between a Mahindra 1526 HST and a New Holland Workmaster 33.
I'm a gentleman farmer with 5 acres. I'll basically only use a 5ft tiller and a 5ft bush hog and move some dirt and most likely, some snow. Is the 7HP difference a big deal and is it worth $3K more to have?
Thanks!

I would think 26 HP (19@ the PTO) would be marginal vs the 33 (25@ the PTO) for any serious brush hogging or tilling.

 

[hillwood]

That is about 25% more power to the PTO. I think you will notice it.
I would buy as much power as you can afford.
You won't hear people complain about too much power.
Being underpowered will just frustrate a person.

 

[nybirdman]

Power and weight are what get things done(other than lawn mowing).Roto-tilling doesn't take a lot of power but bush-hogging will.Snow and dirt moving;again weight is your friend.

 

[Tractorable]

Short answer, yes.

5ft tillers and bush hogs require minimum 25hp at the PTO to operate efficiently. Less than that and you may find your tractor struggling to perform the tasks you want it to do. Plus, it's always nice to have some reserve power available and not be pushing your machine to the max.

For snow you'll need either enough weight to push it or enough PTO power to drive a snow blower.

Don't buy too small.

 

[GManBart]

6-7hp doesn't sound like a lot, but it really is when you're talking smaller machines.

The Mahindra is listed as 18.5hp at the PTO if you go HST. The NH is 24.7hp with HST. That's an increase of 33% over the Mahindra.

You can run a 5' brush hog with 18.5hp at the PTO, but you'd be using pretty much all the tractor had and probably have to go slow at times, or make multiple passes.

I ran a 5' brush hog with a late 1947 production Ford 8N, that had under 20hp at the PTO and it worked fine for grass, weeds and light brush but I wouldn't have wanted to do any serious brush cutting with it.

The other thing is the NH is 20% heavier, and that normally means more stability and more traction. It doesn't help if you have a manicured lawn to drive over, but almost any other time it's an asset.

 

[Texasmark]

I bought a 24 engine hp, 20 pto. I have a 5' hog for it. Load depends on speed. If you go slow it's ok in normal grass......10" give or take, not solid vegetation like vines and such. I bought it for other chores which it does as expected.

The 33 will do more things for you. If a 1 tractor, spend the money and don't look back; you won't be sorry. Money spent is just that. Equipment purchased is just that.....will be with you till you die....or quit farming.

 

[bigtiller]

I agree with bart, a 33% increase in hp is enough to be missed or wished for, depending on which tractor you decide on. For pto work, go with hp. For drawbar and loader work, go with weight.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Here's another vote for the bigger HP, in this case, it WILL make a difference you will notice.

SR

 

[jeff9366]

6-7hp doesn't sound like a lot, but it really is when you're talking smaller machines.

The Mahindra is listed as 18.5hp at the PTO if you go HST. The NH is 24.7hp with HST. That's an increase of 33% over the Mahindra.

You can run a 5' brush hog with 18.5hp at the PTO, but you'd be using pretty much all the tractor had and probably have to go slow at times, or make multiple passes.

I ran a 5' brush hog with a late 1947 production Ford 8N, that had under 20hp at the PTO and it worked fine for grass, weeds and light brush but I wouldn't have wanted to do any serious brush cutting with it.

The other thing is the NH is 20% heavier, and that normally means more stability and more traction. It doesn't help if you have a manicured lawn to drive over, but almost any other time it's an asset.

I agree.

The tractor with more horsepower will cut taller grass in a full swathe.

FORWARD ROTATION PTO-powered roto-tillers do not require much horsepower or tractor weight on reasonably even ground.