David Brown 3800 Selectmatic or John Deere 930?
Which should you choose?
On performance, every comparable figure that differs favours the David Brown 3800 Selectmatic: hydraulic flow.
- The David Brown 3800 Selectmatic suits loader and hydraulic implement work better on this data: 26% (6.6 L/min / 1.7 gpm) more hydraulic flow.
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?
| Question | 3800 Selectmatic | 930 | Call |
|---|---|---|---|
| Which puts more power through the PTO shaft? | 26.2 kW (35.1 hp)Traktorenlexikon, “David Brown 3800” | 26.8 kW (35.9 hp)Traktorenlexikon, “John Deere 930” | 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 3800 Selectmatic and the 930. |
| Which pulls harder at the drawbar? | — | — | No figureNo call on drawbar power: no figure on record for the 3800 Selectmatic and the 930. |
| Which pumps more oil for implements? | 32.0 L/min (8.5 gpm)Traktorenlexikon, “David Brown 3800” | 25.4 L/min (6.7 gpm)Traktorenlexikon, “John Deere 930” | AheadThe David Brown 3800 Selectmatic has 26% more hydraulic flow (6.6 L/min / 1.7 gpm) than the John Deere 930 (both pump flow, as stated by the source). |
| Which lifts more on the three-point hitch? | 725 kg (1,598 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “David Brown 3800” | 1,583 kg (3,490 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “John Deere 930” | Not comparableNot comparable on three-point lift: the 3800 Selectmatic: lift through the full range at the hitch ends, as stated by the source (Traktorenlexikon, “David Brown 3800”); the 930: lift at the hitch ends, as stated by the source (Traktorenlexikon, “John Deere 930”) — not the same quantity, basis and condition. |
| Which is heavier, for traction? | 1,520 kg (3,351 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “David Brown 3800” | 2,185 kg (4,817 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “John Deere 930” | Ahead (a fact, not an advantage)The John Deere 930 is 44% heavier (665 kg / 1,466 lb) than the David Brown 3800 Selectmatic (both unladen weight, as stated by the source). |
| Which may carry more ballast and load? | — | 3,200 kg (7,055 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “John Deere 930” | No figureNo call on maximum permissible mass: no figure on record for the 3800 Selectmatic. |
| Which has the wider choice of gears? | 6 to 12Traktorenlexikon, “David Brown 3800” | 8Traktorenlexikon, “John Deere 930” | 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 3800 Selectmatic and the 930. |
| Which is faster on the road? | 25 km/h (15.5 mph)Traktorenlexikon, “David Brown 3800” | 27 km/h (16.8 mph) to 30 km/h (18.6 mph)Traktorenlexikon, “John Deere 930” | EvenEven on top speed (both top speed forward, as stated by the source): the difference is under the 10% threshold, too small to call. |
| Which offers more PTO speeds? | 540/1000 rpmTraktorenlexikon, “David Brown 3800” | — | No figureNo call on PTO speeds: no standard PTO speed stated for the 930. |
| Which PTO runs independently of the ground drive? | independentTraktorenlexikon, “David Brown 3800” | independentTraktorenlexikon, “John Deere 930” | EvenEven on PTO independence: every PTO is independent. |
| Which drives on both axles? | 2WDTraktorenlexikon, “David Brown 3800” | 2WDTraktorenlexikon, “John Deere 930” | EvenEven on drive: all two-wheel drive. |
| Which is newer, and what about parts? | 1968–1971 | 1974–1977 | Ahead (a fact, not an advantage)The John Deere 930 is newer: production began 6 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 3800 Selectmatic has 26% more hydraulic flow (6.6 L/min / 1.7 gpm) than the John Deere 930 (both pump flow, as stated by the source).
- The John Deere 930 is 44% heavier (665 kg / 1,466 lb) than the David Brown 3800 Selectmatic (both unladen weight, as stated by the source).
- The John Deere 930 is newer: production began 6 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 difference is under the 10% threshold, too small to call.
- Even on PTO independence: every PTO is independent.
- Even on drive: all two-wheel drive.
- Not comparable on three-point lift: the 3800 Selectmatic: lift through the full range at the hitch ends, as stated by the source (Traktorenlexikon, “David Brown 3800”); the 930: lift at the hitch ends, as stated by the source (Traktorenlexikon, “John Deere 930”) — not the same quantity, basis and condition.
- No figure on record for every machine, so no call on: fuel efficiency at the shaft, drawbar power, maximum permissible mass, a creeper range and PTO speeds.
← Every figure for both machines, side by side, with sources