Todays Engine HP / PTO HP.Deceiving to me

Larry B 1486 · Mar 5, 2011

Today all tractors advertise HP ratings but it is engine hp when they say this tractor is a 200 hp tractor. When you read on at the specs. and 200 engine hp is down to 165 pto 150 drawbar. Wonder what my 856 would read today, 140 hp tractor? Seems like they are trying to make it sound like you have more tractor than you really have. I know my brother inlaws new tractor says 225 hp but it will not pull a 25ft disc any better than the older 165 hp tractor. When I looked up the specs on it, it was down to 170 pto and 155 drawbar. I guess my old 1486 should say 190 hp.

rustyfarmall · Mar 5, 2011

(quoted from post at 14:03:32 03/05/11) Today all tractors advertise HP ratings but it is engine hp when they say this tractor is a 200 hp tractor. When you read on at the specs. and 200 engine hp is down to 165 pto 150 drawbar. Wonder what my 856 would read today, 140 hp tractor? Seems like they are trying to make it sound like you have more tractor than you really have. I know my brother inlaws new tractor says 225 hp but it will not pull a 25ft disc any better than the older 165 hp tractor. When I looked up the specs on it, it was down to 170 pto and 155 drawbar. I guess my old 1486 should say 190 hp.

The older tractors all had the horsepower measured at the PTO and the drawbar. PTO horsepower was always greater than at the drawbar, but those figures gave a very REAL representation of the tractors capabilities.

Todays tractors have the horsepower measured at the flywheel which is much more impressive, but not very realistic because of the losses encountered while transferring that power through the transmission, hydraulic system, and other parasitic losses. I'm not sure what the percentage is, but I'll guess that any of todays 150 horsepower rated tractors actually lose somewhere around 30% to 40% of the engine power before it can be put to the ground and actually put to work.

Harold H · Mar 5, 2011

Tractors are rated by Engine HP, PTO HP, and DB HP. Advertising departments often use the Engine HP because it sounds the most impressive. Always check the PTO HP and the DB HP on any tractor before purchasing it That is what does the work.

Harold H

Nebraska Cowman · Mar 6, 2011

if you want an un-biased report you want to check out <a href="http://tractortestlab.unl.edu/">The Nebraska Tractor Test</a> It is the officially recognized independent test in this country. The old saying is "figures don't lie" but the truth is "liars can figure"

IH fan · Mar 6, 2011

I have not looked at most of the new ratings, but external_link generally shows PTO and DB and sometimes also has engine. Sometimes they also show what the company claims and the actual Nebraska Test results. Just need to do the research.

John M · Mar 6, 2011

200hp looks more appealing than 160hp. Happens all the time.

scotc · Mar 6, 2011

Remember, today's tractors are also turning more hydraulic pumps for the powershift, bigger pumps for the hydraulics, with more parasitic losses at the motor end for AC and the alternator due to higher electrical loads. The new MX Magnums are actually comparable to the 89 series Magnums they replaced, but you can't really compare the drivetrain power losses in them to the older tractors because of the powershift vs gear transmissions, and the hydraulic capacities and such.

I have no idea what the flywheel power on something like an SM or 1066 would be. Did they even bother to advertise that back in the day?

Tom Fleming · Mar 7, 2011

It would seem to me that the belt HP would be very close to the flywheel HP for older tractors. since it is taken right off the front of the tranny for H/M, F series, it would seem to me to be close. Not much loss through 1 set of gears........

IMHO.

mkirsch · Mar 7, 2011

The old saying is "figures don't lie" but the truth is "liars can figure"

Calling it a lie is a little extreme. If they say a tractor has 200 engine HP, it will have 200 engine HP within a certain tolerance.

You just have to know which figure is being advertised. Buyer beware, that's all.

But, since ALL the tractors these days are advertised by ENGINE HP, it's a perfectly fair comparison.

Todays Engine HP / PTO HP.Deceiving to me

Larry B 1486

Member

rustyfarmall

Well-known Member

Harold H

Well-known Member

Nebraska Cowman

Well-known Member

IH fan

Well-known Member

John M

Well-known Member

scotc

Well-known Member

Tom Fleming

Well-known Member

mkirsch

Well-known Member

Similar threads