David Brown 900 or Nuffield 3/42 (342)?
Which should you choose?
The data can’t decide this. Power at the PTO shaft cannot be compared: the 900 has only engine power (gross or net not stated), claimed — a different quantity from power at the shaft; the 3/42 (342) has only engine power (gross or net not stated), claimed — a different quantity from power at the shaft.
- The David Brown 900 suits road haulage better on this data: 25% (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 | 900 | 3/42 (342) | Call |
|---|---|---|---|
| Which puts more power through the PTO shaft? | 29.9 kW (40.1 hp)Traktorenlexikon, “David Brown 900” | 29.7 kW (39.8 hp)Traktorenlexikon, “Nuffield 3/42 (1961-1963)” | Not comparableNot comparable on power at the PTO shaft: the 900 has only engine power (gross or net not stated), claimed — a different quantity from power at the shaft; the 3/42 (342) has only engine power (gross or net not stated), claimed — a different quantity from power at the shaft. |
| 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 900 and the 3/42 (342). |
| Which pulls harder at the drawbar? | — | — | No figureNo call on drawbar power: no figure on record for the 900 and the 3/42 (342). |
| Which pumps more oil for implements? | 40.5 L/min (10.7 gpm)Traktorenlexikon, “David Brown 900” | 27.3 L/min (7.2 gpm)Traktorenlexikon, “Nuffield 3/42 (1961-1963)” | AheadThe David Brown 900 has 48% more hydraulic flow (13.2 L/min / 3.5 gpm) than the Nuffield 3/42 (342) (both pump flow, as stated by the source). |
| Which lifts more on the three-point hitch? | 816 kg (1,799 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “David Brown 900” | 1,284 kg (2,831 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “Nuffield 3/42 (1961-1963)” | AheadThe Nuffield 3/42 (342) has 57% more lift (468 kg / 1,032 lb) than the David Brown 900 (both lift at the hitch ends, as stated by the source). |
| Which is heavier, for traction? | 1,814 kg (3,999 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “David Brown 900” | 1,964 kg (4,330 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “Nuffield 3/42 (1961-1963)” | 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 900 and the 3/42 (342). |
| Which has the wider choice of gears? | 6Traktorenlexikon, “David Brown 900” | 5Traktorenlexikon, “Nuffield 3/42 (1961-1963)” | EvenEven on forward gears (both forward gears, as stated by the source): the difference is under the 25% threshold, too small to call. |
| Which offers a creeper range? | — | — | No figureNo call on a creeper range: not stated for the 900 and the 3/42 (342). |
| Which is faster on the road? | 25 km/h (15.5 mph)Traktorenlexikon, “David Brown 900” | 20 km/h (12.4 mph)Traktorenlexikon, “Nuffield 3/42 (1961-1963)” | AheadThe David Brown 900 has 25% more top speed (5.0 km/h / 3.1 mph) than the Nuffield 3/42 (342) (both top speed forward, as stated by the source). |
| Which offers more PTO speeds? | 540 rpmTraktorenlexikon, “David Brown 900” | 540 rpmTraktorenlexikon, “Nuffield 3/42 (1961-1963)” | EvenEven on PTO speeds: the same speeds (540 rpm). |
| Which PTO runs independently of the ground drive? | — | — | No figureNo call on PTO independence: not stated for the 900 and the 3/42 (342). |
| Which drives on both axles? | 2WDTraktorenlexikon, “David Brown 900” | 2WDTraktorenlexikon, “Nuffield 3/42 (1961-1963)” | EvenEven on drive: all two-wheel drive. |
| Which is newer, and what about parts? | 1957–1958 | 1961–1964 | 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 900 has 48% more hydraulic flow (13.2 L/min / 3.5 gpm) than the Nuffield 3/42 (342) (both pump flow, as stated by the source).
- The Nuffield 3/42 (342) has 57% more lift (468 kg / 1,032 lb) than the David Brown 900 (both lift at the hitch ends, as stated by the source).
- The David Brown 900 has 25% more top speed (5.0 km/h / 3.1 mph) than the Nuffield 3/42 (342) (both top speed forward, as stated by the source).
- Even on weight (both unladen weight, as stated by the source): the difference is under the 10% threshold, too small to call.
- Even on forward gears (both forward gears, as stated by the source): the difference is under the 25% threshold, too small to call.
- Even on PTO speeds: the same speeds (540 rpm).
- Even on drive: all two-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.
- Not comparable on power at the PTO shaft: the 900 has only engine power (gross or net not stated), claimed — a different quantity from power at the shaft; the 3/42 (342) has only engine power (gross or net not stated), claimed — a different quantity from power at the shaft.
- 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 independence.
← Every figure for both machines, side by side, with sources