Eicher 241 vs Powertrac Steeltrac 18
Comparing the Eicher 241 and the Powertrac Steeltrac 18 — the Eicher 241 carries 8.8 HP more, and the Powertrac Steeltrac 18 is about ₹1.16 lakh cheaper ex-showroom. The specifications below are from the manufacturers; the section under them explains what those differences mean on an actual farm.
Which one should you buy?
Both of these are sold into the same segment, so the choice comes down to a handful of real differences rather than one being better than the other outright.
Price
The Powertrac Steeltrac 18 is roughly ₹1.16 lakh cheaper ex-showroom — about 32% less than the Eicher 241. On road that gap widens slightly, because RTO tax and insurance are calculated on the higher figure. Whether the Eicher 241 earns that back depends entirely on the points below; if it does not, the cheaper machine is the better buy.
PTO power — the number that matters
Engine horsepower is the headline; PTO horsepower is what actually turns a rotavator or a thresher. Here the Eicher 241 delivers 8.9 HP more at the PTO (Eicher 241: 21.3 HP, Powertrac Steeltrac 18: 12.4 HP). That is roughly the difference between comfortably running a wider rotavator and working the engine hard to do it.
Lifting capacity
The Eicher 241 lifts 410 kg more (Eicher 241: 960 Kg, Powertrac Steeltrac 18: 550 KG). This decides which mounted implements the tractor can actually carry, and it is where cheaper models usually cut corners. Check it against the heaviest implement you own — loaded weight, not the dry weight in the brochure.
Gearbox
Eicher 241: 5 Forward + 1 Reverse. Powertrac Steeltrac 18: 8 Forward + 2 Reverse. Count the low-range speeds rather than the total — puddling and rotavating need slow ground speed at working engine revs, and a box with too few low gears forces a compromise between the two.
Weight
The Eicher 241 is about 699 kg heavier. Weight is an advantage when braking a loaded trolley or pulling hard in draft work, and a disadvantage in wet fields and on soft ground where the Powertrac Steeltrac 18 will compact less and sink less.
The short answer
Taken together the Eicher 241 leads on more of the dimensions that affect day-to-day work. It is the safer pick unless the Powertrac Steeltrac 18 is meaningfully cheaper for you after the dealer quote.
- Wide rotavator, thresher or heavy PTO work: the Eicher 241 — it has the PTO horsepower to hold speed under load.
- Heavy mounted implements: the Eicher 241, which has the hydraulics to carry them.
- Loaded trolley and haulage: the Eicher 241 — the extra weight helps it brake and hold a load on a gradient.
- Tightest budget, or if none of the above apply to you: the Powertrac Steeltrac 18. Paying for capability you never use is the most common and most expensive mistake at this size.
Before you decide
- Prices here are ex-showroom. Add roughly 7–10% for RTO registration and insurance, and get the on-road figure in writing from the dealer, itemised.
- Visit more than one dealer for each brand. Exchange value and finance terms vary between showrooms by more than the price gap between these two machines.
- Ask how far the nearest workshop is for each brand. A tractor that is down for a week in season costs more than the difference between these two.
- Drive both with an implement attached, not empty. An unloaded tractor tells you very little.
Specifications compared
| Specification | Eicher 241 | Powertrac Steeltrac 18 |
|---|---|---|
| Ex-showroom price | ₹3.6 - ₹4.15 Lakh* | ₹2.44 - ₹3.8 Lakh* |
| Engine | ||
| HP | 25 HP | 16.2 HP |
| Cylinders | 1 | 1 |
| Displacement (CC) | 1557 CC | 895 CC |
| Engine RPM | 1650 RPM | NA |
| Air Filter | Oil bath type | — |
| Cooling System | Air cooled | — |
| Battery | 12 V 88 Ah | — |
| Torque | — | 61 NM |
| Transmission | ||
| Transmission Type | Center shift Sliding mesh | Synchromesh |
| Clutch | Single clutch | Single Clutch,(Diaphragm) Hub Reduction |
| Gearbox | 5 Forward + 1 Reverse | 8 Forward + 2 Reverse |
| Forward Speed | 25.48 kmph | 31.7 kmph |
| Reverse Speed | — | 33.7 kmph |
| Brakes | ||
| Brake Type | Drum Brake, Dry Disc Brake (Optional) , Drum Oil Immersed Brakes (Optional) | NA |
| PTO | ||
| PTO Type | Live, Six splined shaft | — |
| PTO RPM | 540RPM @ 1715 ERPM | — |
| PTO Power (HP) | 21.3 HP | 12.4 HP |
| Hydraulics | ||
| Lifting Capacity (Kg) | 960 Kg | 550 KG |
| 3 Point Linkage | Draft, Position and Response control Links fitted with CAT-2 (Combi Ball) | — |
| Steering | ||
| Steering Type | Mechanical Steering/ | Mechanical |
| Dimensions & Weight | ||
| Total Weight (Kg) | 1640 KG | 941 KG |
| Wheelbase (MM) | 1895 MM | 1580 MM |
| Overall Length (MM) | 3160 MM | 2530 MM |
| Overall Width (MM) | 1640 MM | 1055 MM |
| Ground Clearance (MM) | 410 MM | 310 MM |
| Turning Radius | 3040 MM | 2800 MM |
| Fuel Tank Capacity (L) | 35 litre | 17.4 litre |
| Wheels & Tyres | ||
| Wheel Drive | 2 WD | 2 WD |
| Front Tyre | 6.00 X 16 | 5.25 X 14 |
| Rear Tyre | 12.4 X 28 | 8.3 X 18 / 8.3 x 20 |
| Other | ||
| Warranty | 1 Year | NA |
| Accessories | Tipping trailer kit, Drawbar, Top link | — |
| Additional Features | High fuel efficiency, Steering Lock | — |
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