David Brown 990 (A) or Porsche-Diesel Master 418?
Which should you choose?
On performance, no comparable figure differs by more than its threshold: on this data the machines are level. On features, the David Brown 990 (A) is ahead on forward gears, top speed and drive.
- The David Brown 990 (A) suits heavy draft work (ploughing, cultivating) better on this data: 23% (485 kg / 1,069 lb) heavier and four-wheel drive.
- The David Brown 990 (A) suits road haulage better on this data: 29% (5.6 km/h / 3.5 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) | Master 418 | Call |
|---|---|---|---|
| Which puts more power through the PTO shaft? | 34.9 kW (46.8 hp)Traktorenlexikon, “David Brown 900 Synchromesh” | 34.4 kW (46.2 hp)Traktorenlexikon, “Porsche-Diesel Master N418” | 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 Master 418. |
| Which pulls harder at the drawbar? | — | — | No figureNo call on drawbar power: no figure on record for the 990 (A) and the Master 418. |
| Which pumps more oil for implements? | — | 25 L/min (6.6 gpm)Traktorenlexikon, “Porsche-Diesel Master N418” | 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” | — | No figureNo call on three-point lift: no figure on record for the Master 418. |
| Which is heavier, for traction? | 2,585 kg (5,699 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “David Brown 900 Synchromesh” | 2,100 kg (4,630 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “Porsche-Diesel Master N418” | Ahead (a fact, not an advantage)The David Brown 990 (A) is 23% heavier (485 kg / 1,069 lb) than the Porsche-Diesel Master 418 (both unladen weight, as stated by the source). |
| Which may carry more ballast and load? | — | 3,850 kg (8,488 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “Porsche-Diesel Master N418” | No figureNo call on maximum permissible mass: no figure on record for the 990 (A). |
| Which has the wider choice of gears? | 12Traktorenlexikon, “David Brown 900 Synchromesh” | 8Traktorenlexikon, “Porsche-Diesel Master N418” | AheadThe David Brown 990 (A) has 50% more forward gears (4 gears) than the Porsche-Diesel Master 418 (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 Master 418. |
| Which is faster on the road? | 25 km/h (15.5 mph)Traktorenlexikon, “David Brown 900 Synchromesh” | 19.4 km/h (12.1 mph)Traktorenlexikon, “Porsche-Diesel Master N418” | AheadThe David Brown 990 (A) has 29% more top speed (5.6 km/h / 3.5 mph) than the Porsche-Diesel Master 418 (both top speed forward, as stated by the source). |
| Which offers more PTO speeds? | 540 rpmTraktorenlexikon, “David Brown 900 Synchromesh” | 579/1135 rpmTraktorenlexikon, “Porsche-Diesel Master N418” | No figureNo call on PTO speeds: no standard PTO speed stated for the Master 418. |
| Which PTO runs independently of the ground drive? | independentTraktorenlexikon, “David Brown 900 Synchromesh” | — | No figureNo call on PTO independence: not stated for the Master 418. |
| Which drives on both axles? | 2WD / 4WDTraktorenlexikon, “David Brown 900 Synchromesh” | 2WDTraktorenlexikon, “Porsche-Diesel Master N418” | AheadThe David Brown 990 (A) is available with four-wheel drive; the Porsche-Diesel Master 418 is two-wheel drive (as stated by the sources). |
| Which is newer, and what about parts? | 1971–1976 | 1960 | Ahead (a fact, not an advantage)The David Brown 990 (A) is newer: production began 11 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 990 (A) is 23% heavier (485 kg / 1,069 lb) than the Porsche-Diesel Master 418 (both unladen weight, as stated by the source).
- The David Brown 990 (A) has 50% more forward gears (4 gears) than the Porsche-Diesel Master 418 (both forward gears, as stated by the source).
- The David Brown 990 (A) has 29% more top speed (5.6 km/h / 3.5 mph) than the Porsche-Diesel Master 418 (both top speed forward, as stated by the source).
- The David Brown 990 (A) is available with four-wheel drive; the Porsche-Diesel Master 418 is two-wheel drive (as stated by the sources).
- The David Brown 990 (A) is newer: production began 11 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.
- No figure on record for every machine, so no call on: fuel efficiency at the shaft, drawbar power, hydraulic flow, three-point lift, maximum permissible mass, a creeper range, PTO speeds and PTO independence.
← Every figure for both machines, side by side, with sources