John Deere Model A or John Deere General Purpose?
Which should you choose?
The data can’t decide this. Power at the PTO shaft cannot be compared: the Model A has only engine power (gross or net not stated), claimed — a different quantity from power at the shaft; the General Purpose has only engine power (gross or net not stated), claimed — a different quantity from power at the shaft.
- The John Deere Model A suits road haulage better on this data: 43% (3.0 km/h / 1.9 mph) more top speed.
Generated by rule set compare@4 from the figures on the side-by-side table, allowed by route “similar machines”. 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 | Model A | General Purpose | Call |
|---|---|---|---|
| Which puts more power through the PTO shaft? | 18.4 kW (24.7 hp)Traktorenlexikon, “John Deere Modell A” | 18.6 kW (24.9 hp)Traktorenlexikon, “John Deere Modell GP” | Not comparableNot comparable on power at the PTO shaft: the Model A has only engine power (gross or net not stated), claimed — a different quantity from power at the shaft; the General Purpose 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 Model A and the General Purpose. |
| Which pulls harder at the drawbar? | — | — | No figureNo call on drawbar power: no figure on record for the Model A and the General Purpose. |
| Which pumps more oil for implements? | — | — | No figureNo call on hydraulic flow: no figure on record for the Model A and the General Purpose. |
| Which lifts more on the three-point hitch? | — | — | No figureNo call on three-point lift: no figure on record for the Model A and the General Purpose. |
| Which is heavier, for traction? | 1,841 kg (4,059 lb) to 2,715 kg (5,986 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “John Deere Modell A” | 1,935 kg (4,266 lb) to 2,234 kg (4,925 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “John Deere Modell GP” | EvenEven on weight (both unladen weight, as stated by the source): the figures vary by configuration and the ranges overlap. |
| Which may carry more ballast and load? | — | — | No figureNo call on maximum permissible mass: no figure on record for the Model A and the General Purpose. |
| Which has the wider choice of gears? | 4 to 6Traktorenlexikon, “John Deere Modell A” | 3Traktorenlexikon, “John Deere Modell GP” | EvenEven on forward gears (both forward gears, as stated by the source): fewer than 2 gears apart. |
| Which offers a creeper range? | — | — | No figureNo call on a creeper range: not stated for the Model A and the General Purpose. |
| Which is faster on the road? | 10 km/h (6.2 mph) to 20 km/h (12.4 mph)Traktorenlexikon, “John Deere Modell A” | 7.0 km/h (4.3 mph)Traktorenlexikon, “John Deere Modell GP” | AheadThe John Deere Model A has 43% more top speed (3.0 km/h / 1.9 mph) than the John Deere General Purpose (both top speed forward, as stated by the source). |
| Which offers more PTO speeds? | 546 rpmTraktorenlexikon, “John Deere Modell A” | 520 rpmTraktorenlexikon, “John Deere Modell GP” | No figureNo call on PTO speeds: no standard PTO speed stated for the Model A and the General Purpose. |
| Which PTO runs independently of the ground drive? | dependent (stops with the clutch)Traktorenlexikon, “John Deere Modell A” | dependent (stops with the clutch)Traktorenlexikon, “John Deere Modell GP” | EvenEven on PTO independence: every PTO is dependent. |
| Which drives on both axles? | 2WDTraktorenlexikon, “John Deere Modell A” | 2WDTraktorenlexikon, “John Deere Modell GP” | EvenEven on drive: all two-wheel drive. |
| Which is newer, and what about parts? | 1934–1952 | 1928–1935 | Ahead (a fact, not an advantage)The John Deere Model A is newer: production began 6 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 Model A has 43% more top speed (3.0 km/h / 1.9 mph) than the John Deere General Purpose (both top speed forward, as stated by the source).
- The John Deere Model A is newer: production began 6 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 figures vary by configuration and the ranges overlap.
- Even on forward gears (both forward gears, as stated by the source): fewer than 2 gears apart.
- Even on PTO independence: every PTO is dependent.
- Even on drive: all two-wheel drive.
- Not comparable on power at the PTO shaft: the Model A has only engine power (gross or net not stated), claimed — a different quantity from power at the shaft; the General Purpose 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, hydraulic flow, three-point lift, maximum permissible mass, a creeper range and PTO speeds.
← Every figure for both machines, side by side, with sources