Ground speed difference with more hp

[Everything Orange]

Hi. Im looking at a new 25-35hp tractor and wondering how much of a difference hp makes. Both tractors are available with the identical snowblower, so if the pto speed and impeller size are identical, how much difference is that extra hp going to make? I doubt 40% more power is 40% faster. So is it worth the extra cost?

 

[Fuddy1952]

My 2c is you can't have enough power, but certainly too little. When I got my 3038 it was $2K more than the 3025. To me it was worth it.

 

[jeff9366]

With a gear transmission tractor you will likely notice a difference. With an HST transmission tractor you may NOT notice a difference.

HST offers max pulling power at low speed, lower torque at higher tractor speed.

The top speed you wish will be the major factor affecting the difference.

Greater power to the PTO will certainly allow you to throw snow farther.

 

[Everything Orange]

Pto hp on both being Hydro is 21.5 vs 29.7. That actually makes it sound like even more difference

 

[WM75Guy]

Go with the larger HP, it makes a difference when you put a load on the engine. When I had my Boomer 8N is was 50HP/40HP PTO. The TC40DA is 40 HP/33HP PTO. I could feel a big difference mowing or tilling. Mine was a 20% increase in HP. Yours is a 28% increase in PTO HP. With a smaller tractor that is a big difference.

 

[PEJ5]

Hi. Im looking at a new 25-35hp tractor and wondering how much of a difference hp makes. Both tractors are available with the identical snowblower, so if the pto speed and impeller size are identical, how much difference is that extra hp going to make? I doubt 40% more power is 40% faster. So is it worth the extra cost?

The question is, will the 25HP tractor be able to maintain 540 RPM at the PTO at a reasonable speed (intake of snow). With fresh light snow on a crisp morning, likely yes; with the heavy wet mess we can get and with what the plow pushes in at the end of your driveway, maybe not. I cannot say for sure because I have only had one tractor and can apply up to 45HP to the PTO to a blower rated for 35HP. I typically run 2000 to 2200 rpm when blowing.
If you are like me and only plan to buy one tractor in your life, get more HP and be more confident in your ability to do all the jobs you want to throw at it. That said, at least you are looking at a good frame size in the CK2610 and CK3510 with equal hydraulic lift capacity.

 

[Fallon]

For most consumer grade tractors you are going to be HP limited running the tractor at max speed on the road or when using the PTO. More HP means being able to do more work before the engine starts lugging. For mowing you can put it in X gear and go a certain speed mowing just ine. But up shift & you'll bog and or stall the tractor. If you had a higher HP machine you could upshift & mow faster.

It can be annoying to find the limits of you engine on a geared machine, especially with a geared machine. You need to stop & shift (or shift on the fly with a power shift transmission or synchronized gearbox). With a HST, you just let off the go pedal a hair as you hear the engine bog a little. When mowing with my L4060HSTC & big mower I can keep the engine loaded to the max trivially even as I go through varying amounts of brush or grass. I'd have to just run slower in a lower gear constantly or shift a lit to do that on a geared machine.

HSTs eat up about 15% of your HP compared to a geared machine. Personally I find that worth it for the ease of use.

More HP means increased fuel usage. More cost for the machine & in some cases more complexity as they have to add a turbo to the engine for the extra HP.

If you are in a hurry, get more HP. If you are a penny pincher or move slower, get more HP.

Most OEMs have the same machine with only different levels of HP or maybe very minor changes to separate them.

 

[oosik]

I have a mile long gravel driveway. Mostly flat. I've had two tractors - Ford 4WD 1700 for 27 years and, now - 2009 Kubota 4WD M6040 for eleven years. With the FEL/bucket and rear blade the Ford probably weighed 3500#. The Kubota with FEL, grapple, loaded rear tires & Rhino rear blade weighs 10,100#.

I use a rear blade to clear snow off the driveway and all other areas.

The Kubota clears the driveway much quicker than the Ford ever could. It's not all because of the added horsepower. It's that the Kubota weighs 3X more than the Ford. In heavy, wet snow the Ford could not hold a straight path. The snow against the rear blade would push the rear of the tractor sideways. This does not happen with the Kubota.

I would strongly recommend you get the bigger, heavier tractor. As time passes you will always find projects where the bigger tractor will do it better, easier and faster.

That's the reason - after 27 years - I went to the Kubota.

 

[Everything Orange]

The question is, will the 25HP tractor be able to maintain 540 RPM at the PTO at a reasonable speed (intake of snow). With fresh light snow on a crisp morning, likely yes; with the heavy wet mess we can get and with what the plow pushes in at the end of your driveway, maybe not. I cannot say for sure because I have only had one tractor and can apply up to 45HP to the PTO to a blower rated for 35HP. I typically run 2000 to 2200 rpm when blowing.
If you are like me and only plan to buy one tractor in your life, get more HP and be more confident in your ability to do all the jobs you want to throw at it. That said, at least you are looking at a good frame size in the CK2610 and CK3510 with equal hydraulic lift capacity.

Good advice again Peter. I keep wanting to be cheap and get the smaller one, but like you said this is hopefully a one time purchase and should spend the extra. Guess it's time for me to stop asking this question in different areas of the site and bite the bullet on the 35hp lol

 

[kthompson]

Good advice again Peter. I keep wanting to be cheap and get the smaller one, but like you said this is hopefully a one time purchase and should spend the extra. Guess it's time for me to stop asking this question in different areas of the site and bite the bullet on the 35hp lol

We don't have snow here often at all but get the more hp. When you need to handle mass it will pay off. Mass of mowing, dirt, snow anything you are pushing, pulling or towing.