Hi all. We have a 550 on our farm and also a 135. Neither get much use but it is becoming apparent that the 550 is relatively weak compared when towing trailers on the road. It's like 8th is too high with a tonne on the back yet in the 135 6th is just fine with the dame trailer on the same road. I would have thought that being a more powerful unit the 550 should be able to be in top gear too especially with such a modest load on the back. Don't get me wrong I know it is having to work but its not like its got a 20 foot grass box on the back. Am I using it wrong or is it not working properly?
perception of power
- Thread starter coverdale
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shona13
Gold Member
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- May 5, 2012
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- Tractor
- Massey Ferguson 148 .Chamberlain Super 70. Caterpillar D4. Chamberlain 354 FEL.Toro 268 rideon kubota L2002fel
G,Day coverdale.
The 550 is the same tractor mechanically ,the very first ones had the same injector pump as the 135 that is it did not have the automatic advance unit on it and yes according to the dyno figures it was unofficially 2.1 pto horsepower less than the 135 ,after about one year they were fitted with the same pump as the 148 the pump that was fitted with the automatic advance unit.
The tractors would come from england in boxes preassembled and were assembled in the Maylands assembly plant in Western Australia ,I used to dynotest and predeliver the tractors before taking them to the new owners and completing what was called a customer installation and field test ,so yes they were a wee bit less hp.
Regards
Hutch.
The 550 is the same tractor mechanically ,the very first ones had the same injector pump as the 135 that is it did not have the automatic advance unit on it and yes according to the dyno figures it was unofficially 2.1 pto horsepower less than the 135 ,after about one year they were fitted with the same pump as the 148 the pump that was fitted with the automatic advance unit.
The tractors would come from england in boxes preassembled and were assembled in the Maylands assembly plant in Western Australia ,I used to dynotest and predeliver the tractors before taking them to the new owners and completing what was called a customer installation and field test ,so yes they were a wee bit less hp.
Regards
Hutch.
LD1
Epic Contributor
With the 550 being 8-speeds, does it have a higher top-speed???
The 135 was avaliable with a 6 or 8 speed. The 6 was 15mph and the 8 was closer to 20mph. If the 550 is similar (closer to 20mph top speed), with the gearing differences, you are delivering about 33% less torque to the rear wheels in road gear to gain the 33% top speed.
Not sure if that is the case or not. But if the 550 is "faster", then it will seem less powerful in road gear.
The 135 was avaliable with a 6 or 8 speed. The 6 was 15mph and the 8 was closer to 20mph. If the 550 is similar (closer to 20mph top speed), with the gearing differences, you are delivering about 33% less torque to the rear wheels in road gear to gain the 33% top speed.
Not sure if that is the case or not. But if the 550 is "faster", then it will seem less powerful in road gear.