John Deere 4020 or Steyr 8120 (a)?
Which should you choose?
The data can’t decide this. Power at the PTO shaft cannot be compared: the 4020 has only engine power (gross or net not stated), claimed — a different quantity from power at the shaft; the 8120 (a) has only engine power (gross or net not stated), claimed — a different quantity from power at the shaft.
- The Steyr 8120 (a) suits heavy draft work (ploughing, cultivating) better on this data: 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 | 4020 | 8120 (a) | Call |
|---|---|---|---|
| Which puts more power through the PTO shaft? | 73.6 kW (98.7 hp)Traktorenlexikon, “John Deere 4020” | 73.6 kW (98.7 hp)Traktorenlexikon, “Steyr 8120” | Not comparableNot comparable on power at the PTO shaft: the 4020 has only engine power (gross or net not stated), claimed — a different quantity from power at the shaft; the 8120 (a) 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 4020 and the 8120 (a). |
| Which pulls harder at the drawbar? | — | — | No figureNo call on drawbar power: no figure on record for the 4020 and the 8120 (a). |
| Which pumps more oil for implements? | 68.0 L/min (18.0 gpm)Traktorenlexikon, “John Deere 4020” | 35.5 L/min (9.4 gpm)Traktorenlexikon, “Steyr 8120” | AheadThe John Deere 4020 has 92% more hydraulic flow (32.5 L/min / 8.6 gpm) than the Steyr 8120 (a) (both pump flow, as stated by the source). |
| Which lifts more on the three-point hitch? | 2,700 kg (5,952 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “John Deere 4020” | 4,063 kg (8,957 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “Steyr 8120” | AheadThe Steyr 8120 (a) has 50% more lift (1,363 kg / 3,005 lb) than the John Deere 4020 (both lift at the hitch ends, as stated by the source). |
| Which is heavier, for traction? | 3,830 kg (8,444 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “John Deere 4020” | 3,845 kg (8,477 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “Steyr 8120” | EvenEven on weight (both unladen weight, as stated by the source): the difference is under the 10% threshold, too small to call. |
| Which may carry more ballast and load? | 6,000 kg (13,228 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “John Deere 4020” | — | No figureNo call on maximum permissible mass: no figure on record for the 8120 (a). |
| Which has the wider choice of gears? | 8Traktorenlexikon, “John Deere 4020” | 12 to 15Traktorenlexikon, “Steyr 8120” | AheadThe Steyr 8120 (a) has 50% more forward gears (4 gears) than the John Deere 4020 (both forward gears, as stated by the source). |
| Which offers a creeper range? | — | — | No figureNo call on a creeper range: not stated for the 4020 and the 8120 (a). |
| Which is faster on the road? | 20 km/h (12.4 mph) to 30 km/h (18.6 mph)Traktorenlexikon, “John Deere 4020” | 25 km/h (15.5 mph) to 30 km/h (18.6 mph)Traktorenlexikon, “Steyr 8120” | 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? | 540/1000 rpmTraktorenlexikon, “John Deere 4020” | 540/1000 rpmTraktorenlexikon, “Steyr 8120” | EvenEven on PTO speeds: the same speeds (540, 1000 rpm). |
| Which PTO runs independently of the ground drive? | independentTraktorenlexikon, “John Deere 4020” | independentTraktorenlexikon, “Steyr 8120” | EvenEven on PTO independence: every PTO is independent. |
| Which drives on both axles? | 2WDTraktorenlexikon, “John Deere 4020” | Two-wheel or four-wheel driveTraktorenlexikon, “Steyr 8120” | AheadThe Steyr 8120 (a) is available with four-wheel drive; the John Deere 4020 is two-wheel drive (as stated by the sources). |
| Which is newer, and what about parts? | 1965–1972 | 1978–1984 | Ahead (a fact, not an advantage)The Steyr 8120 (a) 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 4020 has 92% more hydraulic flow (32.5 L/min / 8.6 gpm) than the Steyr 8120 (a) (both pump flow, as stated by the source).
- The Steyr 8120 (a) has 50% more lift (1,363 kg / 3,005 lb) than the John Deere 4020 (both lift at the hitch ends, as stated by the source).
- The Steyr 8120 (a) has 50% more forward gears (4 gears) than the John Deere 4020 (both forward gears, as stated by the source).
- The Steyr 8120 (a) is available with four-wheel drive; the John Deere 4020 is two-wheel drive (as stated by the sources).
- The Steyr 8120 (a) is newer: production began 13 years later. We hold no parts-availability data, so there is no call on parts.
- Even on weight (both unladen weight, as stated by the source): the difference is under the 10% threshold, too small to call.
- Even on top speed (both top speed forward, as stated by the source): the figures vary by configuration and the ranges overlap.
- Even on PTO speeds: the same speeds (540, 1000 rpm).
- Even on PTO independence: every PTO is independent.
- Not comparable on power at the PTO shaft: the 4020 has only engine power (gross or net not stated), claimed — a different quantity from power at the shaft; the 8120 (a) 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 and a creeper range.
← Every figure for both machines, side by side, with sources