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THE ACREAGE EQUIPMENT FIELD GUIDE

Case IH Farmall 50A and 55A: two different tractors share each name

Case IH sells a Farmall Compact 50A and a Farmall Utility 50A, and the same for 55A. They are different tractors with different PTO ratings, hitches and lifts.

By Acreage Equipment · Reviewed November 9, 2026 · Specification research, not a field test

PTO wood chippers at work
In this guide

THE DECISION IN NUMBERS

Same model number, different tractor

PTO hp as Case IH lists it; compact figures are mechanical / servo-HST. Lift at 24 in. behind the pin.

Scroll the table sideways on smaller screens.

ModelEngine hpPTO hpHitchLift at 24 in.
Farmall Compact 50A5245.0 / 42.4Category 12,310 lb
Farmall Utility 50A5345Category 1/22,701 lb
Farmall Compact 55A5749.3 / 46.4Category 12,310 lb
Farmall Utility 55A (cab)5440Category 1/24,300 lb
Sources for this decision table (2)

The 50A pair

The compact 50A has 52 engine hp, 45.0 / 42.4 PTO hp (mechanical / servo-HST), a Category 1 hitch and 2,310 lb of lift at 24 inches. The utility 50A has 53 engine hp, 45 PTO hp, an 8x8 shuttle, a Category 1/2 hitch and 2,701 lb.

The 55A pair

The compact 55A has 57 engine hp and 49.3 / 46.4 PTO hp. The utility 55A is a cab tractor with 54 engine hp and 40 PTO hp, enough to change which chippers and mowers fit.

Where it changes the answer

The compact 55A’s 49.3 PTO hp is over the 45-hp ceilings of WoodMaxx FM-62 and the Farmer-Helper and Farmry chippers; the utility 55A’s 40 is under them. Woodland Mills WC68’s full feed needs over 40 PTO hp: the compact 55A has it, the utility 55A is exactly at 40.

How to tell them apart

Case IH lists the compact A series under Farmall Compact and the utility A series under Farmall Utility. The utility tractors use 2.2- or 2.9-litre FPT engines and weigh over 5,000 lb; the compacts use a 1.9-litre engine and weigh about 3,000.

Take these questions with you.

  1. Is the quote for the Farmall Compact or Farmall Utility model?
  2. Which PTO rating does the dealer’s spec sheet show?
  3. Is the hitch Category 1 or 1/2?
  4. What does the tractor weigh?

Keep these questions with your exact tractor and attachment details.

Use these questions in my seller brief

FOLLOW THE NUMBERS

Sources & documentation

Research record reviewed November 9, 2026. Confirm the current manual and the exact revision supplied with your machine.

  1. Case IH Farmall Compact A specification sheet, models 35A–55A (PDF created August 24, 2026)Specifications: Engine HP, PTO HP (Mechanical Trans. / Hydrostatic Trans.), 3pt Hitch Category 1, Lift Capacity @ 24 in. Behind Pin, implement and total flow, weight
  2. Case IH Farmall Compact 50A current U.S. product pagePTO Horsepower: 45/42
  3. Case IH Farmall utility tractors brochure (PDF created August 21, 2026)Small Utility Specifications: Engine HP, PTO HP, 3-point Hitch Category 1/2, Lift Capacity (footnote 2: measured @ 24 in. behind pin), transmission, weight
  4. Case IH Farmall Utility 50A current U.S. product pagePTO Horsepower 45; Rated Engine Power 52 hp
  5. Case IH Farmall Utility 55A current U.S. product pagePTO Horsepower 40; Rated Engine Power 54 hp
  6. WoodMaxx FM-62 official product pageHammer SKU FM-62-0006; mower-only and shaft weights; price
  7. Current index-linked Farmer-Helper FH-BX42 & 62 manualPrinted p2 / PDF p3: 25 minimum and 45 Max PTO HP
  8. Farmry WCAP5 PRO operator manual, Rev 1.4Printed p21: 15–45 PTO HP for Category 1; p22: 20–50 PTO HP for Cat 1N
  9. Woodland Mills WC68 official product pageCapacity, including full-diameter/full-infeed-speed condition; price
  10. Farmry official product specifications
  11. Woodland Mills WC68 operator manual, Rev C, 28-May-2024 — Printed p9 product/shipping weights; p12 Cat 1 and PTO range; operation/setup sections
  12. Current FM-62/62H and FM-78/78H manual: printed p40 / PDF p41
  13. WoodMaxx manual index: Models 2025 to current
  14. Official current FH-BX62S product page: exact SKU, USD price and conflicting power/weight text
  15. Official FH-BX62S series page: self feed and current-manual link
  16. Product-linked older manual, Revision 1-3-2018, p38
  17. Betstco official manual index

EQUIPMENT IN THIS GUIDE

Check prices and fit for the attachments discussed.

MAKE THE NEXT CHECK

Continue with the related decision.

FIELD GUIDE

When the tractor is too strong: attachment maximum horsepower

Most horsepower checks look at the minimum. Many small chippers and flail mowers also publish a maximum, and a larger tractor can be outside the range for a lighter attachment. Treat the maximum as a published limit with its own horsepower basis. Ask the maker before assuming a light attachment is the safe choice.

Read the guide →FIELD GUIDE

Deluxe, Premium and model numbers: why tractor names do not rank power

A higher trim level or a bigger model number does not guarantee more PTO power or lift. Kubota’s Grand L70 range shows both cases: a Deluxe model with more PTO power than a Premium, and two Premium models with the same engine model and different ratings. Screen attachments on the published figures for the exact model.

Read the guide →FIELD GUIDE

Woodland Mills WC68’s “over 40 PTO hp” line: which tractors clear it

Woodland Mills rates WC68 at 20–50 PTO hp, then ties full 6-inch logs at full infeed speed to over 40 PTO hp. Many mid-size compact tractors sit within a couple of horsepower of that line, and for several the transmission or the document decides it. A tractor exactly at 40 is inside the range but not over the line.

Read the guide →

MAKE THE TRADEOFFS CLEAR

Read a focused comparison.

SIDE BY SIDE

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WCAP5 PRO or MX-9900?

Read the guide →SIDE BY SIDE

Farmer-Helper FH-BX42 vs Woodland Mills WC68: $1,683 gravity or $3,450 hydraulic feed

Compact tractor: FH-BX42 or WC68?

Read the guide →SIDE BY SIDE

TMG TFM60 vs WoodMaxx FM-62: 60-inch at $2,299 or 55-inch at $3,630

Compact tractor: TFM60 or FM-62?

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