John Deere 3120 (A) or Volvo T 800 (Volvo)?
Which should you choose?
On performance, every comparable figure that differs favours the John Deere 3120 (A): hydraulic flow. It is also ahead on forward gears, PTO speeds and drive. On features, the Volvo T 800 is ahead on top speed.
- The John Deere 3120 (A) suits PTO-driven implements (mowers, balers, pumps) better on this data: offers 1000 rpm.
- The John Deere 3120 (A) suits loader and hydraulic implement work better on this data: 42% (13.9 L/min / 3.7 gpm) more hydraulic flow.
- The Volvo T 800 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 | 3120 (A) | T 800 | Call |
|---|---|---|---|
| Which puts more power through the PTO shaft? | 55.2 kW (74.0 hp)Traktorenlexikon, “John Deere 3120” | 56.4 kW (75.7 hp)Traktorenlexikon, “Volvo T 800 Bison” | 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 3120 (A) and the T 800. |
| Which pulls harder at the drawbar? | — | — | No figureNo call on drawbar power: no figure on record for the 3120 (A) and the T 800. |
| Which pumps more oil for implements? | 46.9 L/min (12.4 gpm)Traktorenlexikon, “John Deere 3120” | 33.0 L/min (8.7 gpm)Traktorenlexikon, “Volvo T 800 Bison” | AheadThe John Deere 3120 (A) has 42% more hydraulic flow (13.9 L/min / 3.7 gpm) than the Volvo T 800 (both pump flow, as stated by the source). |
| Which lifts more on the three-point hitch? | 2,480 kg (5,467 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “John Deere 3120” | — | No figureNo call on three-point lift: no figure on record for the T 800. |
| Which is heavier, for traction? | 3,807 kg (8,393 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “John Deere 3120” | 4,260 kg (9,392 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “Volvo T 800 Bison” | Ahead (a fact, not an advantage)The Volvo T 800 is 12% heavier (453 kg / 999 lb) than the John Deere 3120 (A) (both unladen weight, as stated by the source). |
| Which may carry more ballast and load? | 4,500 kg (9,921 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “John Deere 3120” | — | No figureNo call on maximum permissible mass: no figure on record for the T 800. |
| Which has the wider choice of gears? | 12Traktorenlexikon, “John Deere 3120” | 8Traktorenlexikon, “Volvo T 800 Bison” | AheadThe John Deere 3120 (A) has 50% more forward gears (4 gears) than the Volvo T 800 (both forward gears, as stated by the source). |
| Which offers a creeper range? | — | — | No figureNo call on a creeper range: not stated for the 3120 (A) and the T 800. |
| Which is faster on the road? | 25 km/h (15.5 mph)Traktorenlexikon, “John Deere 3120” | 30 km/h (18.6 mph)Traktorenlexikon, “Volvo T 800 Bison” | AheadThe Volvo T 800 has 20% more top speed (5.0 km/h / 3.1 mph) than the John Deere 3120 (A) (both top speed forward, as stated by the source). |
| Which offers more PTO speeds? | 540/1000 rpmTraktorenlexikon, “John Deere 3120” | 540 rpmTraktorenlexikon, “Volvo T 800 Bison” | AheadThe John Deere 3120 (A) offers 1000 rpm at the PTO, which the Volvo T 800 does not (as stated by the sources). |
| Which PTO runs independently of the ground drive? | independentTraktorenlexikon, “John Deere 3120” | — | No figureNo call on PTO independence: not stated for the T 800. |
| Which drives on both axles? | Two-wheel or four-wheel driveTraktorenlexikon, “John Deere 3120” | 2WDTraktorenlexikon, “Volvo T 800 Bison” | AheadThe John Deere 3120 (A) is available with four-wheel drive; the Volvo T 800 is two-wheel drive (as stated by the sources). |
| Which is newer, and what about parts? | 1969–1972 | 1966–1978 | 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 3120 (A) has 42% more hydraulic flow (13.9 L/min / 3.7 gpm) than the Volvo T 800 (both pump flow, as stated by the source).
- The Volvo T 800 is 12% heavier (453 kg / 999 lb) than the John Deere 3120 (A) (both unladen weight, as stated by the source).
- The John Deere 3120 (A) has 50% more forward gears (4 gears) than the Volvo T 800 (both forward gears, as stated by the source).
- The Volvo T 800 has 20% more top speed (5.0 km/h / 3.1 mph) than the John Deere 3120 (A) (both top speed forward, as stated by the source).
- The John Deere 3120 (A) offers 1000 rpm at the PTO, which the Volvo T 800 does not (as stated by the sources).
- The John Deere 3120 (A) is available with four-wheel drive; the Volvo T 800 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.
- 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, three-point lift, maximum permissible mass, a creeper range and PTO independence.
← Every figure for both machines, side by side, with sources