Is PTO power the same as Tractor HP?

[Farmwithjunk]

I'm probably wrong, and I'm more than certain someone will explain to me WHY I'm wrong (using the official party line...) but I've often thought manufacturers started using ENGINE HP figures as the primary stat because it's a higher number than PTO HP and so, it LOOKS better (bigger). Back in the day, farmers (who bought almost all the tractors) used PTO HP (or BELT HP prior to that) AND "plow rating" (# of plow bottoms a tractor would handle) Engine HP wasn't hardly even mentioned. The only thing farmers cared about was how much power they had available at the "business end" of the tractor. I don't recall much ever being said about engine HP until the mid to late '80's.

Image is everything....

Bill, who still miss's the old days when life was simple.

 

[Soundguy]

almost got it right.

Most hydrostatic TRANSMISSION tractors (if not all) use a direct connection to the engine for the PTO (via clutch). the reason the PTO speed goes up and down based on engine RPM. therefore the HP diff between PTO and engine numbers is the same for both a gear and hydro (or shuttle shift, automatic, power trans etc) transmission tractors

what your thinking of (in the 20% loss) is when it comes to putting HP to the ground via the transmission. the hydro has a greater loss in converting the mechanical engine rotation to hydraulic fluid back to mechanical motion. with the trade off of infinite ground speed control and shock protection.

I agree with 638 and messick... with parasytic losses from the HST.. pto HP will be less than a gear tractor.

soundguy

 

[MtnViewRanch]

This is correct, whoever said PTO HP between gear and hydro is the same is wrong.

Thank you.