Fahr D 540 or John Deere 2020 (A)?
Which should you choose?
The data can’t decide this. Power at the PTO shaft cannot be compared: the D 540 has only engine power (gross or net not stated), claimed — a different quantity from power at the shaft; the 2020 (A) has only engine power (gross or net not stated), claimed — a different quantity from power at the shaft.
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 | D 540 | 2020 (A) | Call |
|---|---|---|---|
| Which puts more power through the PTO shaft? | 43.9 kW (58.9 hp)Traktorenlexikon, “Fahr D 540” | 44.2 kW (59.3 hp)Traktorenlexikon, “John Deere 2020” | Not comparableNot comparable on power at the PTO shaft: the D 540 has only engine power (gross or net not stated), claimed — a different quantity from power at the shaft; the 2020 (A) 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 D 540 and the 2020 (A). |
| Which pulls harder at the drawbar? | — | — | No figureNo call on drawbar power: no figure on record for the D 540 and the 2020 (A). |
| Which pumps more oil for implements? | 18.5 L/min (4.9 gpm)Traktorenlexikon, “Fahr D 540” | — | No figureNo call on hydraulic flow: no figure on record for the 2020 (A). |
| Which lifts more on the three-point hitch? | — | 1,850 kg (4,079 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “John Deere 2020” | No figureNo call on three-point lift: no figure on record for the D 540. |
| Which is heavier, for traction? | 3,330 kg (7,341 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “Fahr D 540” | 2,440 kg (5,379 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “John Deere 2020” | Ahead (a fact, not an advantage)The Fahr D 540 is 36% heavier (890 kg / 1,962 lb) than the John Deere 2020 (A) (both unladen weight, as stated by the source). |
| Which may carry more ballast and load? | 4,100 kg (9,039 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “Fahr D 540” | 4,000 kg (8,818 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “John Deere 2020” | EvenEven on maximum permissible mass (both maximum permissible mass, as stated by the source): the difference is under the 10% threshold, too small to call. |
| Which has the wider choice of gears? | 5 to 7Traktorenlexikon, “Fahr D 540” | 8 to 16Traktorenlexikon, “John Deere 2020” | 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 D 540 and the 2020 (A). |
| Which is faster on the road? | 32 km/h (19.9 mph)Traktorenlexikon, “Fahr D 540” | 20 km/h (12.4 mph) to 30 km/h (18.6 mph)Traktorenlexikon, “John Deere 2020” | EvenEven on top speed (both top speed forward, as stated by the source): the difference is under the 10% threshold, too small to call. |
| Which offers more PTO speeds? | 540 rpmTraktorenlexikon, “Fahr D 540” | 540 rpm / 1000 rpmTraktorenlexikon, “John Deere 2020” | AheadThe John Deere 2020 (A) offers 1000 rpm at the PTO, which the Fahr D 540 does not (as stated by the sources). |
| Which PTO runs independently of the ground drive? | dependent (stops with the clutch)Traktorenlexikon, “Fahr D 540” | independentTraktorenlexikon, “John Deere 2020” | AheadThe John Deere 2020 (A) has an independent PTO; the Fahr D 540’s is dependent (stops with the clutch). |
| Which drives on both axles? | 2WDTraktorenlexikon, “Fahr D 540” | Two-wheel or four-wheel driveTraktorenlexikon, “John Deere 2020” | AheadThe John Deere 2020 (A) is available with four-wheel drive; the Fahr D 540 is two-wheel drive (as stated by the sources). |
| Which is newer, and what about parts? | 1955–1958 | 1967–1972 | Ahead (a fact, not an advantage)The John Deere 2020 (A) is newer: production began 12 years later. We hold no parts-availability data, so there is no call on parts. |
What does this mean in plain words?
- The Fahr D 540 is 36% heavier (890 kg / 1,962 lb) than the John Deere 2020 (A) (both unladen weight, as stated by the source).
- The John Deere 2020 (A) offers 1000 rpm at the PTO, which the Fahr D 540 does not (as stated by the sources).
- The John Deere 2020 (A) has an independent PTO; the Fahr D 540’s is dependent (stops with the clutch).
- The John Deere 2020 (A) is available with four-wheel drive; the Fahr D 540 is two-wheel drive (as stated by the sources).
- The John Deere 2020 (A) is newer: production began 12 years later. We hold no parts-availability data, so there is no call on parts.
- Even on maximum permissible mass (both maximum permissible mass, 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 top speed (both top speed forward, as stated by the source): the difference is under the 10% threshold, too small to call.
- Not comparable on power at the PTO shaft: the D 540 has only engine power (gross or net not stated), claimed — a different quantity from power at the shaft; the 2020 (A) 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, hydraulic flow, three-point lift and a creeper range.
← Every figure for both machines, side by side, with sources