Will 10 Horsepower actually matter on the same size tractor?

[VoyagernOK]

I have two tractors, so have a choice each time I go to do something. I will admit I love running our little JD 4210 (28hp). But EVERY time I go to do something serious, I climb on my 75hp Mahindra. When I have a choice, moving sand, gravel, or dirt with a little bucket on a lower hp tractor gets aggravating. I scoop up 3-4 times as much with each pass with the 75hp and I've never had a load in the bucket it wouldn't lift at full speed.
Yes, the little tractor is so much more convenient, even fun, to play with... but when I need to work, I get on the larger one.

If the choice is the same size tractor with 10hp difference, there is no choice in my mind... if you can afford it. (that is the ultimately the bottom line)
And the wider tires are telling you something also, besides that you will have more traction with more land contact; the narrower tires would likely be slipping frequently with the more powerful tractor... the manufacturer sizes those for max efficiency. The wide tires would lug the weaker tractor down and the narrower would slip/spin frequently with the more powerful machine.

 

[plumbyII]

I have 80 hp and wish it was say a turbocharged 4wd 50. With tractors there is a given hp to weight ratio as they used to pull plows. Plows are mostly a thing of the past. More horses means more tractor weight which means more soil compaction or turf damage concerns. The Amish use one or two horses to pull self powered (gas engine) implements. They have no compaction concerns. Also, a 50 horse unit will weigh around 5000 pounds - relatively easy to trailer. But my 80 is nearly 7000 pounds and needs a bobcat trailer/rig to go on the highway.

 

[axeman79]

The difference is significant. I have a 4WD 100HP tractor and most of my uses are far below the power I have. That would not be the case for a mid-size tractor. Remember that your tractor HP and PTO HP are different things. If you have a 45 HP tractor, your PTO may be 35-37 HP, which is a considerable drop. Now, think about reducing your PTO HP by another 10 HP. If your tractor is pulling a plow, you need 15-20 HP per bottom. You need similar HP for a box blade. You buy equipment, driven by the PTO, based on the minimum and maximum PTO HP. Size your tractor and its PTO based on the equipment you will be using. Finally, most measurements are for nominal conditions. If you are cutting hilly ground, you need more HP, if you are plowing clay or wet soil, you need more HP. I would highly recommend you err on the side of too much rather than too little. Most people who buy their first tractor will trade it in in a few years for a larger tractor. You never have enough power.

 

[DSteiner]

Hi all, I wont lie, I am totally new to the tractor world. Very familiar with cars and trucks, not so much on tractors. But, I have been reading articles, posts, and watching videos like crazy for the past 2 months learning what I can as we shop tractors.

Lets take the Kioti NX4510 and NX5510 for example. Both HST. Same basic tractor, 10 more HP. Otherwise between the 2, its larger (wider) tires, and a better 3 pt hitch, thats it I think.

So does 10 Hp matter, say your using a decent sized PTO Snowblower in what the town plows leave behind after a 12" snow fall, is that 10 Hp noticeable?

What about if your just pushing snow around with a pusher box, will the extra HP and TQ help?

Is there other benefits of more HP other than running the PTO?

Have you ever in your 35 or 40 Hp tractor, wished you had 45 or 50 Hp?

Curious to hear everyone's opinions, thank you!

25% increase in power? Yes! Farm tractors for years have been 10-15hp between different models. Ex: 32, 38, 45, 55, 67, 83, 110, 125hp in one popular brand from a few years back and there was definitely a difference in performance

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I have two tractors that are the same brand, same model, except one is rated 42 at the pto, the other is rated 51 at the pto.

I was told over and over it was just a "pump setting" that made the difference, although the higher hp tractor does have one size bigger tires.

Putting those tractors on the same 6' rotary cutter in tough conditions, the difference is dramatic! I mean really noticeable in how hard the engine has to work, where the 42 would be right against the governor, the 51 easily powers right through.

Lots of guys here are saying, exact same tractor, only difference is the hp... BUT, since owning my two "same tractors", I see there ARE some different internal differences too, like the 51 has a bigger clutch plate.

I also want to add, both of these tractors "feel" like their hp is more than their rating too, so this is not a case of one tractor just being weak either...

10 hp is a lot in a tractor, you will notice the difference...

SR

 

[DerpDerp]

Once again, thanks to all for all the great insight here!

In reply to some of the posts and to clarify the differences between these 2 models

The NX5510 has over the NX4510, 10 more HP, Wider rear tires (R4's are 14.9-24 vs. 17.5-24), Cat 1 vs. Cat 1&2 3 pt hitch, weighs 210 lbs more, 2 mph higher top speed. From what I have researched, thats everything.

I do like the idea of having that extra power there if needed, wider rear tires, more weight, and since we are filling the rear tires too that will only mean more ballast weight for when we use the loader also...

It does bother me a bit that the engine HP increase probably is just a "tune" and bumps up the boost...but it may be other things we are not aware of like injectors or something.

So, I think we are going to go with the NX5510. Its at the top of what we figured we would have to spend, and it may be more tractor than what we need. But as said above, I think there is great advice to the "cry once buy once" saying. I would hate to not get it, and then down the line, need it and then start tractor shopping again or be unhappy with our decision.

Thanks again everybody, it is greatly appreciated

 

[CoyPatton]

Thanks everyone for the replies! Some great insight here.

Being our first tractor, its tough to see or say what we'll be using it for in the future. But for right now its main use will be moving snow (and we get alot of it here) and loader work.

Its over a 5k price difference between the NX4510 and NX5510. It is in our budget, but we just dont know if its worth it.

Since you are new to tractors, I suggest you shop from a somewhat different perspective.
While none of us can very accurately predict the future, list out what your plans are at present. Yes you did that somewhat above, but really focus on those things you wish to do.
To try to help:
-what size blower do you plan to use?
-what types of loader work are you planning?
- how much weight will you be lifting?
-are there other implements you plan to use?

PTO implements may be your biggest determiner on HP. When you have a list of what you want, you can then match the tractor to the implements. It would saddening to have in mind a 84” (7’) blower and learn that the 40 HP tractor you decided on is rated for a 72” max.
Personally I live in an area that typically sees only 2-3 snow falls per year and rarely over that same depth 2-3”. No one in my area does blowers, few tractor owners bother with a plow blade, using the bucket only.
One last question/comment: is there a weight difference between the 2 tractors. Weight has as much to do with function of a tractor as does HP.

 

[CobyRupert]

As others have noted, more power just buys you more speed. Hp gets you either a faster ground speed, or you can run a bigger attachment (mower, tiller, etc..) and do task in less time. Same difference. Horsepower is speed.
Weight buys you traction. With traction and hydrostatic transmission you can slow a tractor to operate at its maximum horsepower / speed. It just won’t do job as fast as a bigger HP, but can do job as long as there’s traction. Don’t throttle down to go slower, gear down.

With that said, it’s sometimes better to run a bigger attachment on a smaller tractor, because the speed/ productivity is at 100% of tractor. With a smaller attachment, the speed / productivity can be determined by your ground speed and how fast you’re willing to drive. That is, ground speed can limit productivity with a smaller attachment before horsepower does.

 

[acrozier]

Like most everyone else here has stated, it really depends on your use or how fast you want to do the work. For instance, I have had a 35hp and a 40hp. The 35hp ran my 5' brush hog efficiently, but it would bog down in deep grass, so I would have to go slower. Amazingly, my 40hp will run a 6' brush hog more efficiently than my old tractor ran the 5'. Why, because there was an even greater difference than the 5 hp when it came to PTO horsepower. So, a lot of it comes down to how fast you want to do the work you need to do as well. The lower HP tractor can likely do the work, but it may take a smaller implement and slower speeds thereby making the time to do the work longer.

 

[ascurtis]

In 2006 I purchased a JD 4320. The 4520 would have given me more HP, but that wouldn’t have mattered for my purposes: the 3-pt hitch on both models (same) was too weak to handle the RATED FOR MY TRACTOR Bushbull 720 rotary mower I owned. Kept breaking…wasn’t until the dealer upgraded my 3-pt to the that from the next series tractor JD5000 that I could actually pull and lift my bush hog. Don’t discount the 3-pt setup! It’s strength may affect the utility of your new tractor.