David Brown 1190 or John Deere 1550 (A)?

Which should you choose?

On performance, every comparable figure that differs favours the David Brown 1190: hydraulic flow. On features, the John Deere 1550 (A) is ahead on PTO speeds and drive.

  • The John Deere 1550 (A) suits PTO-driven implements (mowers, balers, pumps) better on this data: offers 1000 rpm.
  • The David Brown 1190 suits loader and hydraulic implement work better on this data: 34% (7.4 L/min / 2.0 gpm) more hydraulic flow.
  • The John Deere 1550 (A) suits heavy draft work (ploughing, cultivating) better on this data: 18% (384 kg / 847 lb) heavier and four-wheel drive.

Generated by rule set compare@4 from the figures on the side-by-side table, allowed by route “the same stated configuration”. Measured figures are compared only with measured, claimed only with claimed, at the same test condition; differences within each figure’s tolerance are not called.

What decides it, question by question?

Buyer questions for David Brown 1190 and John Deere 1550 (A), with the call on each
Question11901550 (A)Call
Which puts more power through the PTO shaft?28.8 kW (38.6 hp)Traktorenlexikon, “David Brown 1190”28.7 kW (38.5 hp)Traktorenlexikon, “John Deere 1550”EvenEven on power at the PTO shaft (both power at the PTO, claimed): the difference is under the 10% threshold for claimed figures, too small to call.
Which turns a litre of fuel into more work at the shaft?——No figureNo call on fuel efficiency at the shaft: no figure on record for the 1190 and the 1550 (A).
Which pulls harder at the drawbar?——No figureNo call on drawbar power: no figure on record for the 1190 and the 1550 (A).
Which pumps more oil for implements?29.4 L/min (7.8 gpm)Traktorenlexikon, “David Brown 1190”22.0 L/min (5.8 gpm)Traktorenlexikon, “John Deere 1550”AheadThe David Brown 1190 has 34% more hydraulic flow (7.4 L/min / 2.0 gpm) than the John Deere 1550 (A) (both pump flow, as stated by the source).
Which lifts more on the three-point hitch?—2,400 kg (5,291 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “John Deere 1550”No figureNo call on three-point lift: no figure on record for the 1190.
Which is heavier, for traction?2,096 kg (4,621 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “David Brown 1190”2,480 kg (5,467 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “John Deere 1550”Ahead (a fact, not an advantage)The John Deere 1550 (A) is 18% heavier (384 kg / 847 lb) than the David Brown 1190 (both unladen weight, as stated by the source).
Which may carry more ballast and load?—4,000 kg (8,818 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “John Deere 1550”No figureNo call on maximum permissible mass: no figure on record for the 1190.
Which has the wider choice of gears?12Traktorenlexikon, “David Brown 1190”8 to 16Traktorenlexikon, “John Deere 1550”EvenEven on forward gears (both forward gears, as stated by the source): the figures vary by configuration and the ranges overlap.
Which offers a creeper range?——No figureNo call on a creeper range: not stated for the 1190 and the 1550 (A).
Which is faster on the road?25 km/h (15.5 mph)Traktorenlexikon, “David Brown 1190”25 km/h (15.5 mph) to 30 km/h (18.6 mph)Traktorenlexikon, “John Deere 1550”EvenEven on top speed (both top speed forward, as stated by the source): the figures vary by configuration and the ranges overlap.
Which offers more PTO speeds?540 rpmTraktorenlexikon, “David Brown 1190”540 rpm / 1000 rpmTraktorenlexikon, “John Deere 1550”AheadThe John Deere 1550 (A) offers 1000 rpm at the PTO, which the David Brown 1190 does not (as stated by the sources).
Which PTO runs independently of the ground drive?—independentTraktorenlexikon, “John Deere 1550”No figureNo call on PTO independence: not stated for the 1190.
Which drives on both axles?2WDTraktorenlexikon, “David Brown 1190”Two-wheel or four-wheel driveTraktorenlexikon, “John Deere 1550”AheadThe John Deere 1550 (A) is available with four-wheel drive; the David Brown 1190 is two-wheel drive (as stated by the sources).
Which is newer, and what about parts?1980–19841987–1994Ahead (a fact, not an advantage)The John Deere 1550 (A) is newer: production began 7 years later. We hold no parts-availability data, so there is no call on parts.

What does this mean in plain words?

  • The David Brown 1190 has 34% more hydraulic flow (7.4 L/min / 2.0 gpm) than the John Deere 1550 (A) (both pump flow, as stated by the source).
  • The John Deere 1550 (A) is 18% heavier (384 kg / 847 lb) than the David Brown 1190 (both unladen weight, as stated by the source).
  • The John Deere 1550 (A) offers 1000 rpm at the PTO, which the David Brown 1190 does not (as stated by the sources).
  • The John Deere 1550 (A) is available with four-wheel drive; the David Brown 1190 is two-wheel drive (as stated by the sources).
  • The John Deere 1550 (A) is newer: production began 7 years later. We hold no parts-availability data, so there is no call on parts.
  • Even on power at the PTO shaft (both power at the PTO, claimed): the difference is under the 10% threshold for claimed figures, too small to call.
  • Even on forward gears (both forward gears, as stated by the source): the figures vary by configuration and the ranges overlap.
  • Even on top speed (both top speed forward, as stated by the source): the figures vary by configuration and the ranges overlap.
  • No figure on record for every machine, so no call on: fuel efficiency at the shaft, drawbar power, three-point lift, maximum permissible mass, a creeper range and PTO independence.

← Every figure for both machines, side by side, with sources