Ford 640 or John Deere 820?
Which should you choose?
The data can’t decide this. Power at the PTO shaft cannot be compared: the 640 has only engine power (gross or net not stated), claimed — a different quantity from power at the shaft; the 820 has only engine power (gross or net not stated), claimed — a different quantity from power at the shaft.
- The John Deere 820 suits loader and hydraulic implement work better on this data: 15% (3.3 L/min / 0.9 gpm) more hydraulic flow and 120% (678 kg / 1,495 lb) more three-point lift.
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 | 640 | 820 | Call |
|---|---|---|---|
| Which puts more power through the PTO shaft? | 23.8 kW (31.9 hp)Traktorenlexikon, “Ford 600” | 23.5 kW (31.5 hp)Traktorenlexikon, “John Deere 820” | Not comparableNot comparable on power at the PTO shaft: the 640 has only engine power (gross or net not stated), claimed — a different quantity from power at the shaft; the 820 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 640 and the 820. |
| Which pulls harder at the drawbar? | — | — | No figureNo call on drawbar power: no figure on record for the 640 and the 820. |
| Which pumps more oil for implements? | 10.2 L/min (2.7 gpm) to 22.7 L/min (6.0 gpm)Traktorenlexikon, “Ford 600” | 26.0 L/min (6.9 gpm)Traktorenlexikon, “John Deere 820” | AheadThe John Deere 820 has 15% more hydraulic flow (3.3 L/min / 0.9 gpm) than the Ford 640 (also listed as 600) (both pump flow, as stated by the source). |
| Which lifts more on the three-point hitch? | 567 kg (1,250 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “Ford 600” | 1,245 kg (2,745 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “John Deere 820” | AheadThe John Deere 820 has 120% more lift (678 kg / 1,495 lb) than the Ford 640 (also listed as 600) (both lift at the hitch ends, as stated by the source). |
| Which is heavier, for traction? | 1,369 kg (3,018 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “Ford 600” | 2,150 kg (4,740 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “John Deere 820” | Ahead (a fact, not an advantage)The John Deere 820 is 57% heavier (781 kg / 1,722 lb) than the Ford 640 (also listed as 600) (both unladen weight, as stated by the source). |
| Which may carry more ballast and load? | — | 3,500 kg (7,716 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “John Deere 820” | No figureNo call on maximum permissible mass: no figure on record for the 640. |
| Which has the wider choice of gears? | 4 to 5Traktorenlexikon, “Ford 600” | 7Traktorenlexikon, “John Deere 820” | AheadThe John Deere 820 has 40% more forward gears (2 gears) than the Ford 640 (also listed as 600) (both forward gears, as stated by the source). |
| Which offers a creeper range? | — | — | No figureNo call on a creeper range: not stated for the 640 and the 820. |
| Which is faster on the road? | 20 km/h (12.4 mph)Traktorenlexikon, “Ford 600” | 20 km/h (12.4 mph) to 25 km/h (15.5 mph)Traktorenlexikon, “John Deere 820” | 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 rpmTraktorenlexikon, “Ford 600” | 540/1000 rpmTraktorenlexikon, “John Deere 820” | AheadThe John Deere 820 offers 1000 rpm at the PTO, which the Ford 640 (also listed as 600) does not (as stated by the sources). |
| Which PTO runs independently of the ground drive? | — | independentTraktorenlexikon, “John Deere 820” | No figureNo call on PTO independence: not stated for the 640. |
| Which drives on both axles? | 2WDTraktorenlexikon, “Ford 600” | 2WDTraktorenlexikon, “John Deere 820” | EvenEven on drive: all two-wheel drive. |
| Which is newer, and what about parts? | 1954–1957 | 1967–1975 | Ahead (a fact, not an advantage)The John Deere 820 is newer: production began 13 years later. We hold no parts-availability data, so there is no call on parts. |
What does this mean in plain words?
- The John Deere 820 has 15% more hydraulic flow (3.3 L/min / 0.9 gpm) than the Ford 640 (also listed as 600) (both pump flow, as stated by the source).
- The John Deere 820 has 120% more lift (678 kg / 1,495 lb) than the Ford 640 (also listed as 600) (both lift at the hitch ends, as stated by the source).
- The John Deere 820 is 57% heavier (781 kg / 1,722 lb) than the Ford 640 (also listed as 600) (both unladen weight, as stated by the source).
- The John Deere 820 has 40% more forward gears (2 gears) than the Ford 640 (also listed as 600) (both forward gears, as stated by the source).
- The John Deere 820 offers 1000 rpm at the PTO, which the Ford 640 (also listed as 600) does not (as stated by the sources).
- The John Deere 820 is newer: production began 13 years later. We hold no parts-availability data, so there is no call on parts.
- Even on top speed (both top speed forward, as stated by the source): the figures vary by configuration and the ranges overlap.
- Even on drive: all two-wheel drive.
- Not comparable on power at the PTO shaft: the 640 has only engine power (gross or net not stated), claimed — a different quantity from power at the shaft; the 820 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