IMT 549 (DV-E) or John Deere 1550 (A)?
Which should you choose?
On performance, every comparable figure that differs favours the John Deere 1550 (A): hydraulic flow and three-point lift. It is also ahead on PTO speeds and drive.
- The John Deere 1550 (A) suits PTO-driven implements (mowers, balers, pumps) better on this data: offers 1000 rpm.
- The John Deere 1550 (A) suits loader and hydraulic implement work better on this data: 41% (6.4 L/min / 1.7 gpm) more hydraulic flow and 69% (983 kg / 2,167 lb) more three-point lift.
- The John Deere 1550 (A) suits heavy draft work (ploughing, cultivating) better on this data: 19% (390 kg / 860 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 | 549 (DV-E) | 1550 (A) | Call |
|---|---|---|---|
| Which puts more power through the PTO shaft? | 28.8 kW (38.7 hp)Traktorenlexikon, “IMT 549” | 28.7 kW (38.5 hp)Traktorenlexikon, “John Deere 1550” | 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 549 (DV-E) and the 1550 (A). |
| Which pulls harder at the drawbar? | — | — | No figureNo call on drawbar power: no figure on record for the 549 (DV-E) and the 1550 (A). |
| Which pumps more oil for implements? | 15.6 L/min (4.1 gpm)Traktorenlexikon, “IMT 549” | 22.0 L/min (5.8 gpm)Traktorenlexikon, “John Deere 1550” | AheadThe John Deere 1550 (A) has 41% more hydraulic flow (6.4 L/min / 1.7 gpm) than the IMT 549 (DV-E) (both pump flow, as stated by the source). |
| Which lifts more on the three-point hitch? | 1,417 kg (3,124 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “IMT 549” | 2,400 kg (5,291 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “John Deere 1550” | AheadThe John Deere 1550 (A) has 69% more lift (983 kg / 2,167 lb) than the IMT 549 (DV-E) (both lift at the hitch ends, as stated by the source). |
| Which is heavier, for traction? | 2,090 kg (4,608 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “IMT 549” | 2,480 kg (5,467 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “John Deere 1550” | Ahead (a fact, not an advantage)The John Deere 1550 (A) is 19% heavier (390 kg / 860 lb) than the IMT 549 (DV-E) (both unladen weight, as stated by the source). |
| Which may carry more ballast and load? | — | 4,000 kg (8,818 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “John Deere 1550” | No figureNo call on maximum permissible mass: no figure on record for the 549 (DV-E). |
| Which has the wider choice of gears? | 10Traktorenlexikon, “IMT 549” | 8 to 16Traktorenlexikon, “John Deere 1550” | 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 549 (DV-E) and the 1550 (A). |
| Which is faster on the road? | 30 km/h (18.6 mph)Traktorenlexikon, “IMT 549” | 25 km/h (15.5 mph) to 30 km/h (18.6 mph)Traktorenlexikon, “John Deere 1550” | 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, “IMT 549” | 540 rpm / 1000 rpmTraktorenlexikon, “John Deere 1550” | AheadThe John Deere 1550 (A) offers 1000 rpm at the PTO, which the IMT 549 (DV-E) does not (as stated by the sources). |
| Which PTO runs independently of the ground drive? | — | independentTraktorenlexikon, “John Deere 1550” | No figureNo call on PTO independence: not stated for the 549 (DV-E). |
| Which drives on both axles? | 2WDTraktorenlexikon, “IMT 549” | Two-wheel or four-wheel driveTraktorenlexikon, “John Deere 1550” | AheadThe John Deere 1550 (A) is available with four-wheel drive; the IMT 549 (DV-E) is two-wheel drive (as stated by the sources). |
| Which is newer, and what about parts? | 1986–1996 | 1987–1994 | EvenSame era: production began within 5 years of each other. We hold no parts-availability data, so there is no call on parts. |
What does this mean in plain words?
- The John Deere 1550 (A) has 41% more hydraulic flow (6.4 L/min / 1.7 gpm) than the IMT 549 (DV-E) (both pump flow, as stated by the source).
- The John Deere 1550 (A) has 69% more lift (983 kg / 2,167 lb) than the IMT 549 (DV-E) (both lift at the hitch ends, as stated by the source).
- The John Deere 1550 (A) is 19% heavier (390 kg / 860 lb) than the IMT 549 (DV-E) (both unladen weight, as stated by the source).
- The John Deere 1550 (A) offers 1000 rpm at the PTO, which the IMT 549 (DV-E) does not (as stated by the sources).
- The John Deere 1550 (A) is available with four-wheel drive; the IMT 549 (DV-E) is two-wheel drive (as stated by the sources).
- 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 figures vary by configuration and the ranges overlap.
- Even on top speed (both top speed forward, as stated by the source): the figures vary by configuration and the ranges overlap.
- Same era: production began within 5 years of each other. We hold no parts-availability data, so there is no call on parts.
- 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