David Brown 990 (A) or Ford 4600 (A)?
Which should you choose?
On performance, every comparable figure that differs favours the David Brown 990 (A): three-point lift. It is also ahead on forward gears. On features, the Ford 4600 (A) is ahead on top speed.
- The David Brown 990 (A) suits loader and hydraulic implement work better on this data: 33% (478 kg / 1,054 lb) more three-point lift.
- The Ford 4600 (A) suits road haulage better on this data: 20% (5.0 km/h / 3.1 mph) more top speed.
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 | 990 (A) | 4600 (A) | Call |
|---|---|---|---|
| Which puts more power through the PTO shaft? | 34.9 kW (46.8 hp)Traktorenlexikon, “David Brown 900 Synchromesh” | 34.8 kW (46.7 hp)Traktorenlexikon, “Ford 4600” | 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 990 (A) and the 4600 (A). |
| Which pulls harder at the drawbar? | — | — | No figureNo call on drawbar power: no figure on record for the 990 (A) and the 4600 (A). |
| Which pumps more oil for implements? | — | 32.7 L/min (8.6 gpm)Traktorenlexikon, “Ford 4600” | No figureNo call on hydraulic flow: no figure on record for the 990 (A). |
| Which lifts more on the three-point hitch? | 1,928 kg (4,251 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “David Brown 900 Synchromesh” | 1,450 kg (3,197 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “Ford 4600” | AheadThe David Brown 990 (A) has 33% more lift (478 kg / 1,054 lb) than the Ford 4600 (A) (both lift at the hitch ends, as stated by the source). |
| Which is heavier, for traction? | 2,585 kg (5,699 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “David Brown 900 Synchromesh” | 2,700 kg (5,952 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “Ford 4600” | EvenEven on weight (both unladen weight, as stated by the source): the difference is under the 10% threshold, too small to call. |
| Which may carry more ballast and load? | — | — | No figureNo call on maximum permissible mass: no figure on record for the 990 (A) and the 4600 (A). |
| Which has the wider choice of gears? | 12Traktorenlexikon, “David Brown 900 Synchromesh” | 8Traktorenlexikon, “Ford 4600” | AheadThe David Brown 990 (A) has 50% more forward gears (4 gears) than the Ford 4600 (A) (both forward gears, as stated by the source). |
| Which offers a creeper range? | — | — | No figureNo call on a creeper range: not stated for the 990 (A) and the 4600 (A). |
| Which is faster on the road? | 25 km/h (15.5 mph)Traktorenlexikon, “David Brown 900 Synchromesh” | 30 km/h (18.6 mph)Traktorenlexikon, “Ford 4600” | AheadThe Ford 4600 (A) has 20% more top speed (5.0 km/h / 3.1 mph) than the David Brown 990 (A) (both top speed forward, as stated by the source). |
| Which offers more PTO speeds? | 540 rpmTraktorenlexikon, “David Brown 900 Synchromesh” | 540 rpmTraktorenlexikon, “Ford 4600” | EvenEven on PTO speeds: the same speeds (540 rpm). |
| Which PTO runs independently of the ground drive? | independentTraktorenlexikon, “David Brown 900 Synchromesh” | — | No figureNo call on PTO independence: not stated for the 4600 (A). |
| Which drives on both axles? | 2WD / 4WDTraktorenlexikon, “David Brown 900 Synchromesh” | 2WD / 4WDTraktorenlexikon, “Ford 4600” | EvenEven on drive: every machine is available with four-wheel drive. |
| Which is newer, and what about parts? | 1971–1976 | 1975–1981 | EvenSame era: production began within 5 years of each other. We hold no parts-availability data, so there is no call on parts. |
What does this mean in plain words?
- The David Brown 990 (A) has 33% more lift (478 kg / 1,054 lb) than the Ford 4600 (A) (both lift at the hitch ends, as stated by the source).
- The David Brown 990 (A) has 50% more forward gears (4 gears) than the Ford 4600 (A) (both forward gears, as stated by the source).
- The Ford 4600 (A) has 20% more top speed (5.0 km/h / 3.1 mph) than the David Brown 990 (A) (both top speed forward, as stated by the source).
- 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 weight (both unladen weight, as stated by the source): the difference is under the 10% threshold, too small to call.
- Even on PTO speeds: the same speeds (540 rpm).
- Even on drive: every machine is available with four-wheel drive.
- Same era: production began within 5 years of each other. We hold no parts-availability data, so there is no call on parts.
- No figure on record for every machine, so no call on: fuel efficiency at the shaft, drawbar power, hydraulic flow, maximum permissible mass, a creeper range and PTO independence.
← Every figure for both machines, side by side, with sources