Ford 4100 (A) or Massey Ferguson MF 254 S (A)?
Which should you choose?
On performance, every comparable figure that differs favours the Ford 4100 (A): hydraulic flow and three-point lift. It is also ahead on top speed. On features, the Massey Ferguson MF 254 S (A) is ahead on forward gears and PTO speeds.
- The Massey Ferguson MF 254 S (A) suits PTO-driven implements (mowers, balers, pumps) better on this data: offers 1000 rpm.
- The Ford 4100 (A) suits loader and hydraulic implement work better on this data: 15% (4.3 L/min / 1.1 gpm) more hydraulic flow and 20% (328 kg / 723 lb) more three-point lift.
- The Ford 4100 (A) suits road haulage better on this data: 20% (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 | 4100 (A) | MF 254 S (A) | Call |
|---|---|---|---|
| Which puts more power through the PTO shaft? | 30.5 kW (40.9 hp)Traktorenlexikon, “Ford 4100” | 30.4 kW (40.7 hp)Traktorenlexikon, “Massey Ferguson MF 254 (S)” | 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 4100 (A) and the MF 254 S (A). |
| Which pulls harder at the drawbar? | — | — | No figureNo call on drawbar power: no figure on record for the 4100 (A) and the MF 254 S (A). |
| Which pumps more oil for implements? | 32.3 L/min (8.5 gpm)Traktorenlexikon, “Ford 4100” | 28.0 L/min (7.4 gpm)Traktorenlexikon, “Massey Ferguson MF 254 (S)” | AheadThe Ford 4100 (A) has 15% more hydraulic flow (4.3 L/min / 1.1 gpm) than the Massey Ferguson MF 254 S (A) (both pump flow, as stated by the source). |
| Which lifts more on the three-point hitch? | 1,990 kg (4,387 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “Ford 4100” | 1,662 kg (3,664 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “Massey Ferguson MF 254 (S)” | AheadThe Ford 4100 (A) has 20% more lift (328 kg / 723 lb) than the Massey Ferguson MF 254 S (A) (both lift at the hitch ends, as stated by the source). |
| Which is heavier, for traction? | 2,370 kg (5,225 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “Ford 4100” | 2,620 kg (5,776 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “Massey Ferguson MF 254 (S)” | Ahead (a fact, not an advantage)The Massey Ferguson MF 254 S (A) is 11% heavier (250 kg / 551 lb) than the Ford 4100 (A) (both unladen weight, as stated by the source). |
| Which may carry more ballast and load? | — | — | No figureNo call on maximum permissible mass: no figure on record for the 4100 (A) and the MF 254 S (A). |
| Which has the wider choice of gears? | 8Traktorenlexikon, “Ford 4100” | 12Traktorenlexikon, “Massey Ferguson MF 254 (S)” | AheadThe Massey Ferguson MF 254 S (A) has 50% more forward gears (4 gears) than the Ford 4100 (A) (both forward gears, as stated by the source). |
| Which offers a creeper range? | — | — | No figureNo call on a creeper range: not stated for the 4100 (A) and the MF 254 S (A). |
| Which is faster on the road? | 30 km/h (18.6 mph)Traktorenlexikon, “Ford 4100” | 25 km/h (15.5 mph)Traktorenlexikon, “Massey Ferguson MF 254 (S)” | AheadThe Ford 4100 (A) has 20% more top speed (5.0 km/h / 3.1 mph) than the Massey Ferguson MF 254 S (A) (both top speed forward, as stated by the source). |
| Which offers more PTO speeds? | 540 rpmTraktorenlexikon, “Ford 4100” | 540/1000 rpmTraktorenlexikon, “Massey Ferguson MF 254 (S)” | AheadThe Massey Ferguson MF 254 S (A) offers 1000 rpm at the PTO, which the Ford 4100 (A) does not (as stated by the sources). |
| Which PTO runs independently of the ground drive? | independentTraktorenlexikon, “Ford 4100” | — | No figureNo call on PTO independence: not stated for the MF 254 S (A). |
| Which drives on both axles? | 2WD / 4WDTraktorenlexikon, “Ford 4100” | 2WD / 4WDTraktorenlexikon, “Massey Ferguson MF 254 (S)” | EvenEven on drive: every machine is available with four-wheel drive. |
| Which is newer, and what about parts? | 1975–1981 | 1982–1987 | Ahead (a fact, not an advantage)The Massey Ferguson MF 254 S (A) 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 Ford 4100 (A) has 15% more hydraulic flow (4.3 L/min / 1.1 gpm) than the Massey Ferguson MF 254 S (A) (both pump flow, as stated by the source).
- The Ford 4100 (A) has 20% more lift (328 kg / 723 lb) than the Massey Ferguson MF 254 S (A) (both lift at the hitch ends, as stated by the source).
- The Massey Ferguson MF 254 S (A) is 11% heavier (250 kg / 551 lb) than the Ford 4100 (A) (both unladen weight, as stated by the source).
- The Massey Ferguson MF 254 S (A) has 50% more forward gears (4 gears) than the Ford 4100 (A) (both forward gears, as stated by the source).
- The Ford 4100 (A) has 20% more top speed (5.0 km/h / 3.1 mph) than the Massey Ferguson MF 254 S (A) (both top speed forward, as stated by the source).
- The Massey Ferguson MF 254 S (A) offers 1000 rpm at the PTO, which the Ford 4100 (A) does not (as stated by the sources).
- The Massey Ferguson MF 254 S (A) 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 drive: every machine is available with four-wheel drive.
- 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