Deutz-Fahr DX 4.50 A or Massey Ferguson MF 178 (A)?
Which should you choose?
On performance, every comparable figure that differs favours the Deutz-Fahr DX 4.50 A: hydraulic flow and three-point lift. It is also ahead on PTO speeds and drive.
- The Deutz-Fahr DX 4.50 A suits PTO-driven implements (mowers, balers, pumps) better on this data: offers 1000 rpm.
- The Deutz-Fahr DX 4.50 A suits loader and hydraulic implement work better on this data: 187% (30.6 L/min / 8.1 gpm) more hydraulic flow and 105% (1,840 kg / 4,057 lb) more three-point lift.
- The Deutz-Fahr DX 4.50 A suits heavy draft work (ploughing, cultivating) better on this data: 32% (880 kg / 1,940 lb) heavier and four-wheel drive.
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 | DX 4.50 A | MF 178 (A) | Call |
|---|---|---|---|
| Which puts more power through the PTO shaft? | 53.7 kW (72.0 hp)Traktorenlexikon, “Deutz-Fahr DX 4.50” | 53.2 kW (71.3 hp)Traktorenlexikon, “Massey Ferguson MF 178” | 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 DX 4.50 A and the MF 178 (A). |
| Which pulls harder at the drawbar? | — | — | No figureNo call on drawbar power: no figure on record for the DX 4.50 A and the MF 178 (A). |
| Which pumps more oil for implements? | 47.0 L/min (12.4 gpm)Traktorenlexikon, “Deutz-Fahr DX 4.50” | 16.4 L/min (4.3 gpm)Traktorenlexikon, “Massey Ferguson MF 178” | AheadThe Deutz-Fahr DX 4.50 A has 187% more hydraulic flow (30.6 L/min / 8.1 gpm) than the Massey Ferguson MF 178 (A) (both pump flow, as stated by the source). |
| Which lifts more on the three-point hitch? | 3,600 kg (7,937 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “Deutz-Fahr DX 4.50” | 1,760 kg (3,880 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “Massey Ferguson MF 178” | AheadThe Deutz-Fahr DX 4.50 A has 105% more lift (1,840 kg / 4,057 lb) than the Massey Ferguson MF 178 (A) (both lift at the hitch ends, as stated by the source). |
| Which is heavier, for traction? | 3,660 kg (8,069 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “Deutz-Fahr DX 4.50” | 2,780 kg (6,129 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “Massey Ferguson MF 178” | Ahead (a fact, not an advantage)The Deutz-Fahr DX 4.50 A is 32% heavier (880 kg / 1,940 lb) than the Massey Ferguson MF 178 (A) (both unladen weight, as stated by the source). |
| Which may carry more ballast and load? | 5,500 kg (12,125 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “Deutz-Fahr DX 4.50” | — | No figureNo call on maximum permissible mass: no figure on record for the MF 178 (A). |
| Which has the wider choice of gears? | 15 to 18Traktorenlexikon, “Deutz-Fahr DX 4.50” | 8 to 12Traktorenlexikon, “Massey Ferguson MF 178” | 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 DX 4.50 A and the MF 178 (A). |
| Which is faster on the road? | 30 km/h (18.6 mph) to 40 km/h (24.9 mph)Traktorenlexikon, “Deutz-Fahr DX 4.50” | 30 km/h (18.6 mph)Traktorenlexikon, “Massey Ferguson MF 178” | EvenEven on top speed (both top speed forward, as stated by the source): the figures vary by configuration and the ranges overlap. |
| Which offers more PTO speeds? | 540/1000 rpmTraktorenlexikon, “Deutz-Fahr DX 4.50” | 540 rpmTraktorenlexikon, “Massey Ferguson MF 178” | AheadThe Deutz-Fahr DX 4.50 A offers 1000 rpm at the PTO, which the Massey Ferguson MF 178 (A) does not (as stated by the sources). |
| Which PTO runs independently of the ground drive? | — | — | No figureNo call on PTO independence: not stated for the DX 4.50 A and the MF 178 (A). |
| Which drives on both axles? | 2WD / 4WDTraktorenlexikon, “Deutz-Fahr DX 4.50” | 2WDTraktorenlexikon, “Massey Ferguson MF 178” | AheadThe Deutz-Fahr DX 4.50 A is available with four-wheel drive; the Massey Ferguson MF 178 (A) is two-wheel drive (as stated by the sources). |
| Which is newer, and what about parts? | 1983–1989 | 1968–1971 | Ahead (a fact, not an advantage)The Deutz-Fahr DX 4.50 A is newer: production began 15 years later. We hold no parts-availability data, so there is no call on parts. |
What does this mean in plain words?
- The Deutz-Fahr DX 4.50 A has 187% more hydraulic flow (30.6 L/min / 8.1 gpm) than the Massey Ferguson MF 178 (A) (both pump flow, as stated by the source).
- The Deutz-Fahr DX 4.50 A has 105% more lift (1,840 kg / 4,057 lb) than the Massey Ferguson MF 178 (A) (both lift at the hitch ends, as stated by the source).
- The Deutz-Fahr DX 4.50 A is 32% heavier (880 kg / 1,940 lb) than the Massey Ferguson MF 178 (A) (both unladen weight, as stated by the source).
- The Deutz-Fahr DX 4.50 A offers 1000 rpm at the PTO, which the Massey Ferguson MF 178 (A) does not (as stated by the sources).
- The Deutz-Fahr DX 4.50 A is available with four-wheel drive; the Massey Ferguson MF 178 (A) is two-wheel drive (as stated by the sources).
- The Deutz-Fahr DX 4.50 A is newer: production began 15 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 difference is under the 25% threshold, too small to call.
- Even on top speed (both top speed forward, as stated by the source): the figures vary by configuration and the ranges overlap.
- 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