David Brown 3800 Selectmatic or Steyr 40, 40h, 40a?
Which should you choose?
On performance, every comparable figure that differs favours the David Brown 3800 Selectmatic: hydraulic flow. It is also ahead on PTO speeds and PTO independence. On features, the Steyr 40, 40h, 40a is ahead on top speed and drive.
- The David Brown 3800 Selectmatic suits PTO-driven implements (mowers, balers, pumps) better on this data: offers 1000 rpm and an independent PTO.
- The David Brown 3800 Selectmatic suits loader and hydraulic implement work better on this data: 39% (9.0 L/min / 2.4 gpm) more hydraulic flow.
- The Steyr 40, 40h, 40a suits heavy draft work (ploughing, cultivating) better on this data: 23% (350 kg / 772 lb) heavier and four-wheel drive.
- The Steyr 40, 40h, 40a suits road haulage better on this data: 12% (3.0 km/h / 1.9 mph) more top speed.
Generated by rule set compare@4 from the figures on the side-by-side table, allowed by route “the same stated configuration”. Measured figures are compared only with measured, claimed only with claimed, at the same test condition; differences within each figure’s tolerance are not called.
What decides it, question by question?
| Question | 3800 Selectmatic | 40, 40h, 40a | Call |
|---|---|---|---|
| Which puts more power through the PTO shaft? | 26.2 kW (35.1 hp)Traktorenlexikon, “David Brown 3800” | 25.8 kW (34.6 hp)Traktorenlexikon, “Steyr Plus 40” | EvenEven on power at the PTO shaft (both power at the PTO, claimed): the difference is under the 10% threshold for claimed figures, too small to call. |
| Which turns a litre of fuel into more work at the shaft? | — | — | No figureNo call on fuel efficiency at the shaft: no figure on record for the 3800 Selectmatic and the 40, 40h, 40a. |
| Which pulls harder at the drawbar? | — | — | No figureNo call on drawbar power: no figure on record for the 3800 Selectmatic and the 40, 40h, 40a. |
| Which pumps more oil for implements? | 32.0 L/min (8.5 gpm)Traktorenlexikon, “David Brown 3800” | 23.0 L/min (6.1 gpm)Traktorenlexikon, “Steyr Plus 40” | AheadThe David Brown 3800 Selectmatic has 39% more hydraulic flow (9.0 L/min / 2.4 gpm) than the Steyr 40, 40h, 40a (both pump flow, as stated by the source). |
| Which lifts more on the three-point hitch? | 725 kg (1,598 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “David Brown 3800” | 1,350 kg (2,976 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “Steyr Plus 40” | Not comparableNot comparable on three-point lift: the 3800 Selectmatic: lift through the full range at the hitch ends, as stated by the source (Traktorenlexikon, “David Brown 3800”); the 40, 40h, 40a: lift at the hitch ends, as stated by the source (Traktorenlexikon, “Steyr Plus 40”) — not the same quantity, basis and condition. |
| Which is heavier, for traction? | 1,520 kg (3,351 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “David Brown 3800” | 1,870 kg (4,123 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “Steyr Plus 40” | Ahead (a fact, not an advantage)The Steyr 40, 40h, 40a is 23% heavier (350 kg / 772 lb) than the David Brown 3800 Selectmatic (both unladen weight, as stated by the source). |
| Which may carry more ballast and load? | — | 2,850 kg (6,283 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “Steyr Plus 40” | No figureNo call on maximum permissible mass: no figure on record for the 3800 Selectmatic. |
| Which has the wider choice of gears? | 6 to 12Traktorenlexikon, “David Brown 3800” | 8Traktorenlexikon, “Steyr Plus 40” | EvenEven on forward gears (both forward gears, as stated by the source): the figures vary by configuration and the ranges overlap. |
| Which offers a creeper range? | — | — | No figureNo call on a creeper range: not stated for the 3800 Selectmatic and the 40, 40h, 40a. |
| Which is faster on the road? | 25 km/h (15.5 mph)Traktorenlexikon, “David Brown 3800” | 28 km/h (17.4 mph)Traktorenlexikon, “Steyr Plus 40” | AheadThe Steyr 40, 40h, 40a has 12% more top speed (3.0 km/h / 1.9 mph) than the David Brown 3800 Selectmatic (both top speed forward, as stated by the source). |
| Which offers more PTO speeds? | 540/1000 rpmTraktorenlexikon, “David Brown 3800” | 540 rpmTraktorenlexikon, “Steyr Plus 40” | AheadThe David Brown 3800 Selectmatic offers 1000 rpm at the PTO, which the Steyr 40, 40h, 40a does not (as stated by the sources). |
| Which PTO runs independently of the ground drive? | independentTraktorenlexikon, “David Brown 3800” | dependent (stops with the clutch)Traktorenlexikon, “Steyr Plus 40” | AheadThe David Brown 3800 Selectmatic has an independent PTO; the Steyr 40, 40h, 40a’s is dependent (stops with the clutch). |
| Which drives on both axles? | 2WDTraktorenlexikon, “David Brown 3800” | 2WD / 4WDTraktorenlexikon, “Steyr Plus 40” | AheadThe Steyr 40, 40h, 40a is available with four-wheel drive; the David Brown 3800 Selectmatic is two-wheel drive (as stated by the sources). |
| Which is newer, and what about parts? | 1968–1971 | 1967–1977 | EvenSame era: production began within 5 years of each other. We hold no parts-availability data, so there is no call on parts. |
What does this mean in plain words?
- The David Brown 3800 Selectmatic has 39% more hydraulic flow (9.0 L/min / 2.4 gpm) than the Steyr 40, 40h, 40a (both pump flow, as stated by the source).
- The Steyr 40, 40h, 40a is 23% heavier (350 kg / 772 lb) than the David Brown 3800 Selectmatic (both unladen weight, as stated by the source).
- The Steyr 40, 40h, 40a has 12% more top speed (3.0 km/h / 1.9 mph) than the David Brown 3800 Selectmatic (both top speed forward, as stated by the source).
- The David Brown 3800 Selectmatic offers 1000 rpm at the PTO, which the Steyr 40, 40h, 40a does not (as stated by the sources).
- The David Brown 3800 Selectmatic has an independent PTO; the Steyr 40, 40h, 40a’s is dependent (stops with the clutch).
- The Steyr 40, 40h, 40a is available with four-wheel drive; the David Brown 3800 Selectmatic is two-wheel drive (as stated by the sources).
- Even on power at the PTO shaft (both power at the PTO, claimed): the difference is under the 10% threshold for claimed figures, too small to call.
- Even on forward gears (both forward gears, as stated by the source): the figures vary by configuration and the ranges overlap.
- Same era: production began within 5 years of each other. We hold no parts-availability data, so there is no call on parts.
- Not comparable on three-point lift: the 3800 Selectmatic: lift through the full range at the hitch ends, as stated by the source (Traktorenlexikon, “David Brown 3800”); the 40, 40h, 40a: lift at the hitch ends, as stated by the source (Traktorenlexikon, “Steyr Plus 40”) — not the same quantity, basis and condition.
- No figure on record for every machine, so no call on: fuel efficiency at the shaft, drawbar power, maximum permissible mass and a creeper range.
← Every figure for both machines, side by side, with sources