International Harvester 5488 or John Deere 4840?
Which should you choose?
On performance, no comparable figure differs by more than its threshold: on this data the machines are level.
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 | 5488 | 4840 | Call |
|---|---|---|---|
| Which puts more power through the PTO shaft? | 139.6 kW (187.2 hp)Traktorenlexikon, “IHC 5488” | 134.7 kW (180.6 hp)Traktorenlexikon, “John Deere 4840” | 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 5488 and the 4840. |
| Which pulls harder at the drawbar? | — | — | No figureNo call on drawbar power: no figure on record for the 5488 and the 4840. |
| Which pumps more oil for implements? | — | 87.1 L/min (23.0 gpm)Traktorenlexikon, “John Deere 4840” | No figureNo call on hydraulic flow: no figure on record for the 5488. |
| Which lifts more on the three-point hitch? | — | 3,762 kg (8,294 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “John Deere 4840” | No figureNo call on three-point lift: no figure on record for the 5488. |
| Which is heavier, for traction? | 7,820 kg (17,240 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “IHC 5488” | 6,758 kg (14,899 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “John Deere 4840” | Ahead (a fact, not an advantage)The International Harvester 5488 is 16% heavier (1,062 kg / 2,341 lb) than the John Deere 4840 (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 5488 and the 4840. |
| Which has the wider choice of gears? | 18Traktorenlexikon, “IHC 5488” | 8 to 16Traktorenlexikon, “John Deere 4840” | 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 5488 and the 4840. |
| Which is faster on the road? | 30 km/h (18.6 mph)Traktorenlexikon, “IHC 5488” | 30 km/h (18.6 mph)Traktorenlexikon, “John Deere 4840” | 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? | 1000 rpmTraktorenlexikon, “IHC 5488” | 1000 rpmTraktorenlexikon, “John Deere 4840” | EvenEven on PTO speeds: the same speeds (1000 rpm). |
| Which PTO runs independently of the ground drive? | — | independentTraktorenlexikon, “John Deere 4840” | No figureNo call on PTO independence: not stated for the 5488. |
| Which drives on both axles? | Two-wheel or four-wheel driveTraktorenlexikon, “IHC 5488” | Two-wheel or four-wheel driveTraktorenlexikon, “John Deere 4840” | EvenEven on drive: every machine is available with four-wheel drive. |
| Which is newer, and what about parts? | 1981–1985 | 1978–1982 | 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 International Harvester 5488 is 16% heavier (1,062 kg / 2,341 lb) than the John Deere 4840 (both unladen weight, as stated by the source).
- 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 difference is under the 10% threshold, too small to call.
- Even on PTO speeds: the same speeds (1000 rpm).
- Even on drive: every machine is available with four-wheel drive.
- 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, hydraulic flow, three-point lift, maximum permissible mass, a creeper range and PTO independence.
← Every figure for both machines, side by side, with sources