Compare/Best Thirty vs John Deere 520

Best Thirty vs John Deere 520

Verdict: Best Thirty vs John Deere 520

The Best Thirty and the John Deere 520 are both tractors — here is how they stack up on the figures that matter. Both are rated at the same 33 hp. John Deere 520 is the lighter machine (2,249 kg vs 3,356 kg), which helps on soft ground and transport, while the heavier model carries more ballast for traction-limited draft work. John Deere 520 is the newer design (1956 vs 1921). Use the full side-by-side spec tables below to weigh the details against your own operation, and confirm with a dealer demo.

Tune the fit score

Tell us about your operation

Acreage600 acBudgetMain crop / use

Fit & specs

Best

Fit score

Clear

John Deere

Fit score

Best match

Clear

Rated power

33 hp

Confidence

40%

98%

Guide price

—

Overview

Manufacturer

BestReference

John DeereReference

3-speed crawlerSeptember 15 - 22, 1924Link: Nebraska Tractor Test 104 fileReference

Gear 2 used for pull test.Reference

Drive

crawlerReference

—

Total built

—

244 (all-fuel)Reference

Original price

—

$2,300 (1958)Reference

Steering

—

power optionalReference

Engine

Plows

4Reference

3Reference

Drawbar (tested)

24.8 kWReference

Belt (tested)

28.2 kWReference

28.0 kWReference

Displacement

7.6 LReference

3.1 LReference

Bore/Stroke

121 x 165 mmReference

119 x 140 mmReference

Rated RPM

850Reference

1325Reference

Belt power (max)

28.2 kWReference

28.0 kWReference

Max power

24.8 kWReference

Air cleaner

—

oil bathReference

Compression

—

7:1Reference

Firing order

—

1-2Reference

Starter volts

—

12Reference

Oil capacity

—

6.6 LReference

Coolant capacity

—

17.0 LReference

Sparkplug gap

—

0.762 mmReference

Point gap

—

0.559 mmReference

Transmission

Type

gearReference

unsynchronized gearReference

Gears

3 forward and 1 reverseReference

6 forward and 1 reverseReference

Clutch

—

dry discReference

Dimensions

Weight

3356 kgReference

2249 kgReference

Height

149 cmReference

211 cmReference

Wheelbase

—

228 cmReference

Front tire

—

5.50-16Reference

Rear tire

—

12.4-36Reference

Ag front

—

5.50-16Reference

Ag rear

—

12.4-36Reference

Length

—

337 cmReference

Ballasted weight

—

2993 kgReference

Ground clearance

—

62 cmReference

Capacities

Diameter

30 cmReference

—

Width

135 cmReference

220 cmReference

RPM

800Reference

—

Speed

765.96 meters/minReference

—

Fuel

—

124.9 LReference

Aux. fuel

—

7.6 LReference

Test results

Max pull

3430 kgReference

2142 kgReference

Belt fuel use (max)

—

12.5 l/hourReference

PTO & Hydraulics

Hydraulic system

—

9.5 LReference

Capacity

—

9.5 LReference

Rear Type

—

IIReference

Rear PTO

—

independentReference

Rear PTO Type

—

540Reference

John Deere 520 attachments

520 Serial Number Location

520 Serial Numbers

1956

—

5200000Reference

1957

—

5202982Reference

1958

—

5209029Reference

Final

—

5213189Reference

Electrical

Ground

—

positiveReference

Batteries

—

2Reference

Battery volts

—

6Reference

Fit score weighs budget, operation size, crop match and data confidence against the details above. It’s guidance, not advice — always confirm with a dealer demo.