Will My Tractor Handle This Implement? (10 Factors That Dictate the Answer)
42,383
Published 2019-12-05
#1 What sized tractor is the implement designed for? Many implements list a minimum horsepower that is required to operate them. If you're buying new, you can go to the manufacturer's website, or look in the brochure, and it will tell you what size tractor you need to run it. Beware though, if it's a power take off-powered implement, look at the PTO hp of your tractor...not the engine horsepower. There's parasitic horsepower loss between the engine and the power take off so the PTO horsepower will always be lower than engine horsepower so that's the number you want to look at. Even if the manufacturer's recommended horsepower is within the capabilities of your tractor, there are other considerations. That's where it gets complicated...
#2 What am I cutting/plowing/tilling, etc? You need a heavier cutter to cut trees than you do small sprouts and grass, and every brush cutter has a maximum diameter that it is rated to cut. If you're only clipping pasture, you can get a lighter and wider brush hog than if you're clearing land and need to cut 3" trees. In other words, it's important to match the implement to the job.
#3 Will I be on slopes? If the cutter you're looking at requires 30 hp to operate, that's probably on level ground. You might need an extra 2-7 hp to pull the same cutter up and down hills, depending on the grade.
#4 Where will I go with it/how level is the ground? If you have uneven ground, or need to go in tight places, don't get a wide cutter. I live in a rough area and it's hard to pull a wider cutter over uneven ground, due to scalping, and really hard to get a larger cutter back in the woods to cut wildlife trails.
#5 How fast do I want to get done? If you've found a bargain 7' cutter on Craigslist and it's at the capacity that your tractor is rated for, you might still be able to pull it. Just don't cut as wide a swath. There's nothing keeping you from having one side run over an area that's already cut, and that will use a lot less horsepower.
#6 What's the lift capacity of the tractor? An 1800 lb flail mower pulled by a tractor with 1800 lbs of lift capacity is a recipe for disaster.
#7 How old is my tractor and how is it equipped? Tractors lose horsepower as they are used. So your 1981 tractor that's rated at 40 horsepower may only be putting out 25. Also, it's important to know that hydrostatic transmissions don't like heat, and jobs like brush hogging up steep grades and plowing are really hard on them.
#8 How good am I at maintenance? If you religiously follow the operator's manual and do all your maintenance at recommended intervals, your equipment will survive tough use. A lack of maintenance and running at the performance limits can bring early failures.
#9 Am I willing to pay for repairs? There ain't no Santa Claus...pulling an implement that's at the top end of your tractor's capabilities is going to accelerate wear. If you accept that fact as a fair exchange for convenience and productivity, then you'll be okay.
#10 What kind of operator am I? This is probably the most important factor in predicting if a tractor will handle equipment that's near it's capacity. Most folks that watch my channel take meticulous care of their equipment and have a really low chance of catastrophic failure by maxing out their tractor's capabilities. If you're careful, perform regular maintenance and don't push your equipment to its out limits, you're probably fine.
The bottom line is, most people who ask if they're going to hurt anything by running attachments that are on the top end of what their tractor is rated for have virtually nothing to worry about. It's the folks who don't ask and mistreat their equipment that are going to get the bulk of the repair bills.
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All Comments (21)
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One more variable. Body size and weight in relation to horsepower is quite significant. Ford 3000 compared to a compact tractor with the same horsepower. They both will not do the same thing equally well. Mass is very significant in the consideration of equipment.
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All great points. Bigger is not always better 👍
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Hey Mike I still love your videos every time I watch I learn something new so a million thanks
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Great tutorial, people that use their tractor like a rental unit should read/watch this and take notes, thanks.
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How you ballast the tractor has a huge effect on how much it can lift with the loader or the 3 point. Some can lift more with the 3 point than with the loader. ... If properly ballasted. The rear axle is generally stronger.
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. #11 - If you are on the bubble of tractor capacity for a particular implement that you want to buy for several thousand dollars, and are going to only use it a couple times a year, consider renting a piece of equipment that has the power, or even excess power, to easily do the job. You save most of your money/capital, and the outfit that rents out the equipment deals with maintenance, repairs, and depreciation.
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Once again, some very solid advice on abilities of a tractor. Stay safe.
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Best tractor advice on the web
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Interesting discussion Mike. My problem is that I often find that my tractor is too big for many implements. I had a difficult time finding a box blade that I could use on my 97HP JD 2955 (85 HP PTO). Apparently, a box blade can be over powered.
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Another good and informative video Mike, thanks.
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Consideration for rear implements. When is two sets of rear hydralic ports needed for rear implements?? One set being standard.
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Regarding the bale spike; some tool rental places rent bale spikes. Wildcat rental in Rogersville Mo. rents them.
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I got a 42hp engine Massey Ferguson, 3 point rated 24xxlbs and have a bush hog 296 which has a stump jumper and a 135hp rated great box calls for 45hp at 1100lbs, what I'm kind of worried about is just the initial start up of PTO, have an electronic push and turn dial to turn on PTO which has at idol starts about 200rpm....lot of mass to start moving that quick
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Yep a small tractor will do a lot they must be ballasted properly have the proper tires wheel spacing for the particular job they're doing and properly sized equipment and the biggest thing is a operator that cares about the Machine
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Excellent as always Mike!
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Coming back to watch this again. I haven't heard anyone talk about a tractor that is OVER the recommended HP for an implement. I see implements that are rated for "up to 35hp". My tractor (Workmaster 75) is well over that. What is the danger of using an implement that is over rated for the implement?
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Brother you'll ground in Southeast Missouri is level compared to Eastern Kentucky everybody says our cows are born with two legs on one side shorter than the other so they can pick grass on the Steep mountains that we have
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I own a Flail mower and you can over grease them where the drive belts bearings. I didn't realize the grease came out and during use it flung on the drive belts and caused them to slip alot.
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thanks mike,,,
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I bought a New Holland TC29DA which is a 29 horsepower diesel. It came with a 6 foot loader. I thought that a 6 foot finish mower would be a thing, since it's back tires extend 6 feet wide. Well 99 percent of the time mowing grass, I have no issues, but if the grass is really high ( a foot or more ) the engine struggles and I have to mow slower.
