David Brown 990 Selectmatic or Massey Ferguson MF 158?
Which should you choose?
On performance, every comparable figure that differs favours the David Brown 990 Selectmatic: hydraulic flow. It is also ahead on top speed.
- The David Brown 990 Selectmatic suits loader and hydraulic implement work better on this data: 82% (12.4 L/min / 3.3 gpm) more hydraulic flow.
- The David Brown 990 Selectmatic 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 “similar machines”. 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 Selectmatic | MF 158 | Call |
|---|---|---|---|
| Which puts more power through the PTO shaft? | 34.3 kW (46.0 hp)Traktorenlexikon, “David Brown 990” | 34.5 kW (46.3 hp)Traktorenlexikon, “Massey Ferguson MF 158” | 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 Selectmatic and the MF 158. |
| Which pulls harder at the drawbar? | — | — | No figureNo call on drawbar power: no figure on record for the 990 Selectmatic and the MF 158. |
| Which pumps more oil for implements? | 27.5 L/min (7.3 gpm)Traktorenlexikon, “David Brown 990” | 15.1 L/min (4.0 gpm)Traktorenlexikon, “Massey Ferguson MF 158 S” | AheadThe David Brown 990 Selectmatic has 82% more hydraulic flow (12.4 L/min / 3.3 gpm) than the Massey Ferguson 158 (both pump flow, as stated by the source). |
| Which lifts more on the three-point hitch? | 907 kg (2,000 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “David Brown 990” | 1,825 kg (4,023 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “Massey Ferguson MF 158” | Not comparableNot comparable on three-point lift: the 990 Selectmatic: lift through the full range at the hitch ends, as stated by the source (Traktorenlexikon, “David Brown 990”); the MF 158: lift at the hitch ends, as stated by the source (Traktorenlexikon, “Massey Ferguson MF 158”) — not the same quantity, basis and condition. |
| Which is heavier, for traction? | 2,580 kg (5,688 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “David Brown 990” | 2,460 kg (5,423 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “Massey Ferguson MF 158” | 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? | — | 3,800 kg (8,378 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “Massey Ferguson MF 158” | No figureNo call on maximum permissible mass: no figure on record for the 990 Selectmatic. |
| Which has the wider choice of gears? | 6 to 12Traktorenlexikon, “David Brown 990” | 8 to 12Traktorenlexikon, “Massey Ferguson MF 158” | 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 990 Selectmatic and the MF 158. |
| Which is faster on the road? | 25 km/h (15.5 mph)Traktorenlexikon, “David Brown 990” | 20 km/h (12.4 mph)Traktorenlexikon, “Massey Ferguson MF 158” | AheadThe David Brown 990 Selectmatic has 25% more top speed (5.0 km/h / 3.1 mph) than the Massey Ferguson 158 (both top speed forward, as stated by the source). |
| Which offers more PTO speeds? | 540 rpmTraktorenlexikon, “David Brown 990” | 1146Traktorenlexikon, “Massey Ferguson MF 158” | No figureNo call on PTO speeds: no standard PTO speed stated for the MF 158. |
| Which PTO runs independently of the ground drive? | — | — | No figureNo call on PTO independence: not stated for the 990 Selectmatic and the MF 158. |
| Which drives on both axles? | 2WDTraktorenlexikon, “David Brown 990” | 2WDTraktorenlexikon, “Massey Ferguson MF 158”; Traktorenlexikon, “Massey Ferguson MF 158 S” | EvenEven on drive: all two-wheel drive. |
| Which is newer, and what about parts? | 1965–1979 | 1972–1976 | Ahead (a fact, not an advantage)The Massey Ferguson 158 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 990 Selectmatic has 82% more hydraulic flow (12.4 L/min / 3.3 gpm) than the Massey Ferguson 158 (both pump flow, as stated by the source).
- The David Brown 990 Selectmatic has 25% more top speed (5.0 km/h / 3.1 mph) than the Massey Ferguson 158 (both top speed forward, as stated by the source).
- The Massey Ferguson 158 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 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 figures vary by configuration and the ranges overlap.
- Even on drive: all two-wheel drive.
- Not comparable on three-point lift: the 990 Selectmatic: lift through the full range at the hitch ends, as stated by the source (Traktorenlexikon, “David Brown 990”); the MF 158: lift at the hitch ends, as stated by the source (Traktorenlexikon, “Massey Ferguson MF 158”) — 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, PTO speeds and PTO independence.
← Every figure for both machines, side by side, with sources