Horsepower can be misleading. Torque, and traction (weight) play a much greater role in getting the work done. As an example, Deere offered the 455 garden tractor, which featured a yanmar 3 cyl diesel rated at 22 hp, but the thing was still just a garden tractor....it only weighed around 1000 lbs. The same tractor with a 2 cyl. gasoline engine, the 445, weighed only 100 lbs less and had the same horsepower.
By comparison, a steam powered traction engine from the very early 1900's might be rated at 25-30 hp, but could pull a six bottom plow through prairie sod for 10 hrs a day. Hook that same plow to one of today's 4WD compact diesel tractors with the same horsepower and have a go at it... be about like a banty rooster scratching in the dirt.
Weight (traction) and torque....that's the key.
Forgot to add...congrats on the purchase, bowfisher!
