9 material differences · fewer than 12

Tractor oneJohn Deere 11201967–1975No measured PTO figureTractor twoMassey Ferguson MF 5501976–1982No measured PTO figure

Which should you choose?

We will not advise between these two machines, because they were not built in overlapping years (1967–1975; 1976–1982). The figures below are side by side so you can judge them yourself; each says whether it was measured, claimed or declared by its source.

Field by field

9 material differences · 4 fields identical or within 5%, which is not counted as material

John Deere 1120 and Massey Ferguson MF 550, field by field
Field1120MF 550Gap
Engine
Engine power, claimed claimed48.4 hp46.4 hp—
Engine declaredJohn Deere M 4 BL 4 or 3.164 DL-04Perkins AD 3.152 Sdiffers
Displacement declared2.70 L2.50 L+8% 1120
Maximum torque declared119 lb·ft · 162 N·m130 lb·ft · 176.8 N·m+9% MF 550
Transmission
Top speed declared12.4–15.5 mph · 20–25 km/h15.5 mph · 25 km/hdiffers
Clutch declared—Pedal-operated, dry and air-cooled single-disc clutch—
Hydraulics & hitch
Hydraulic centre declaredClosed centre——
Pump flow declared6.0 gpm · 22.6 L/min——
Rear PTO speeds declared540/1000 rpm540 rpmdiffers
Weight & dimensions
Unladen weight declared5,004 lb · 2,270 kg4,982 lb · 2,260 kg—
Maximum permissible mass declared7,716 lb · 3,500 kg——
Wheelbase declared80.7 in · 2,050 mm82.0 in · 2,083 mm—
Length declared135.0 in · 3,430 mm140.0 in · 3,556 mm—
Width declared66.1–86.6 in · 1,680–2,200 mm65.0 in · 1,650 mmdiffers
Ground clearance declared20.5 in · 521 mm13.0 in · 330 mm+58% 1120
Turning radius, braked declared10.2 ft · 3.10 m11.6 ft · 3.53 m+14% MF 550
Fuel tank declared66.0 qt · 62.5 L71.1 qt · 67.3 L+8% MF 550

Height is not in this table. It is not one measurement: the sources measure it to different points — over the cab on some machines, over the steering wheel or the exhaust on others — and the same tractor measured two ways can differ by most of a metre. It appears here only when both machines' figures carry the point they were measured to and it is the same point, which is not the case for these two. Each machine's own page prints its height as its source gives it.

John Deere 1120 sources

Source
  • Source: Traktorenlexikon, “John Deere 1120”

Massey Ferguson MF 550 sources

Source
  • Source: Traktorenlexikon, “Massey Ferguson MF 550”
  • Source: Traktorenlexikon, “Massey Ferguson MF 255”