Farmall Super C vs. John Deere A

I'm looking at both of these as a second tractor for food plot work. Pulling a 2 bottom plow,8 foot disc,and a 10 foot spring tooth quaker. Are these comparable tractors? Will one pull a 2 bottom better? Is one easier on gas? I've got more experience with John Deeres but I found a Super C in really nice shape with new tires. The JD A runs really well but looks rough.
 
Late A? Does the Super C have fast hitch? The styled A should pull a drawbar type 2 bottom plow better but the Super C will be more enjoyable to run for any length of time and the fast hitch if so equipped will be nicer yet.
 
Depending on the soil and if the depth can not be controlled 8 feet on the disk might be pushing it for the Super C.
 
A Super C is a 2 bottom plow tractor so under reasonable plowing conditions I would think 2-14's should work. I don't think you have a prayer with the 8 ft disk. Don't know about the spring tooth quaker since I don't know what that is. I believe a JD A is more comparable to a Farmall M than any version of a C.
 
As per my Neb test list the Super C is around 23HP and the JD-A is around 38HP. So hands down the A should do any of that with les trouble then the Super C will
 

John Deere A tested at 18.72 drawbar HP while Super C tested at approx 23, but the JD is way more cubic inches and very long stroke and usually carries a lot more weight. The JD A would have no problem with any of those implements while the Super C would struggle with the disc.
 
My Neb test list has the JD-A dist. at 29HP and Gas at 38HP. The JD-B dist. is 23HP and gas 27.
 
Both are roughly 20 hp at the drawbar and both will struggle with that disk and harrow. Go for the Farmall in that choice and add weight to rear and front. I?ve used both tractor models but only for chopping cotton stalks back in the day. I don?t know about fuel consumption.
 
I grew up on a late model A and I own a Super C. The A will handle the work easier, but the SC will do the work, just in first and second gear.
 
If it is about power then you have to go with the A. If you are just playing with a couple of acres and does not matter that the Super C will take longer with the same implements then the Super C is more operator friendly IMO. Frankly, if the Super C has fast hitch I would get rid of any drawbar implements (within reason) and obtain fast hitch implements where possible. Get a 3 pt 6 foot disk and make an adaptor so it can be lifted by the Super C. If it were a late A and I was in the mood to pretty up the A then the A would have more appeal. As it is I would want the tractor easiest to run even if it did not accomplish as much in an hour as the other tractor.
 
It's a bigger tractor,but it won't beat it in fuel economy. Dad always used to say he could plow a field with his Oliver 66 on the same amount of gas it took to drag it with the John Deere A.
 
I have to stop my '52 A every couple hrs. just to drain the fuel, if not it would run out the filler neck.
 
Look at the nebraska test that "OLd" posted down below. The late styled "A" at 38 hp falls between the H and M farmall. Will pull a super C around backwards all day. A JD late "B" is 28 hp and to compete with the H farmall. I would hook my '50 JD "B" back to back with any Super "C" and I would be going forward. The "A" if you want power and the C if you want a nimble toy.
 
The A for heavier tillage for sure and no comparison on that. That said, the hand clutch and fast reverse do not make it very nimble tractor IMOP.

The Farmall Super C if you want to use it more like a little nimble utility tractor for things like mowing and back blading etc.


I have a late JD A (1950) as well as a 1951 Farmall h and a 1946 Farmall M. Both of my farmalls are far more nimble than the JD A. I love the JD A for raking hay and I bet it would have been a favorite for cultivating row crops back when that was still done before herbicides took over. The John Deere A is a fine tractor when used out in wide open space where you put in a gear engage the clutch and go. Lights of tight quarters, frequent direction changes from forward to reverse or frequent speed changes then not so handy and I will pick either of my Farmall's for that work myself.


4 cyl engines are smoother on PTO work too. Gutsy Super C have been known to outwork Farmall h's at times. I think I would go Super C and plan on 6' disc.
 
The A for heavier tillage for sure and no comparison on that. That said, the hand clutch and fast reverse do not make it very nimble tractor IMOP.

The Farmall Super C if you want to use it more like a little nimble utility tractor for things like mowing and back blading etc.


I have a late JD A (1950) as well as a 1951 Farmall h and a 1946 Farmall M. Both of my farmalls are far more nimble than the JD A. I love the JD A for raking hay and I bet it would have been a favorite for cultivating row crops back when that was still done before herbicides took over. The John Deere A is a fine tractor when used out in wide open space where you put in a gear engage the clutch and go. Lights of tight quarters, frequent direction changes from forward to reverse or frequent speed changes then not so handy and I will pick either of my Farmall's for that work myself.


4 cyl engines are smoother on PTO work too. Gutsy Super C have been known to outwork Farmall h's at times. I think I would go Super C and plan on 6' disc.
 
The 18.7 drawbar horsepower rating was for the original Model A in the mid- to late-30's and would
have been tested on distilate fuel with low compression. There were three generations of the A and
B and each generation got a sizable increase in power. (By the end of these model's production
runs the high compression, gasoline-only version of the B was actually more powerful than the
original A.) The gas-burning "late styled" A starting in 1947 had drawbar power in the mid-30 hp
range, basically the same as the distilate-burning G due to that model's low compression ratio.
 
I had Deere A's and never were they hard on fuel. The JD B used about same amount as the Farmall H. Same HP.
 
(quoted from post at 23:09:32 07/10/18) If you have to back any wagons in the shed you are going to want the super C.

What he said.
You can do it with the A, but the other one would be a lot handier for things like that.

Here's an idea.....get both! :D
 
Not really a good comparison, the JD A is a much heavier tractor with more power, the Farmall Super C is a lighter tractor with less power by far. I love the super C for cultivating and pulling wagons etc. But just cannot see how you can compare.
 
Farmall C had 4 speeds including the road gear. Some C's has live hydraulic pumps added behind the distributor. I think a C would struggle with the implements mentioned, it would be about half the weight and power of a late A. It would do well on a sickle mower or with an underbelly mower.

There were at least 3 versions of JD A's, I think all unstyled were 4 speed with no road gear, early styled were 6 speed including a road gear and late A's with pressed frames had a creeper first gear for PTO work. Live hydraulics conversions were very rare on A's.

A two row cultivator for either tractor would be inexpensive ($50 to $200 ?) and would be very handy for weed control in row crop food plots.
 

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