Fahr D 540 or SOMECA 715 (DT)?
Which should you choose?
The data can’t decide this. Power at the PTO shaft cannot be compared: the D 540 has only engine power (gross or net not stated), claimed — a different quantity from power at the shaft; the 715 (DT) has only engine power (gross or net not stated), claimed — a different quantity from power at the shaft.
- The SOMECA 715 (DT) suits loader and hydraulic implement work better on this data: 43% (8.0 L/min / 2.1 gpm) more hydraulic flow.
- The Fahr D 540 suits road haulage better on this data: 28% (7.0 km/h / 4.3 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 | D 540 | 715 (DT) | Call |
|---|---|---|---|
| Which puts more power through the PTO shaft? | 43.9 kW (58.9 hp)Traktorenlexikon, “Fahr D 540” | 44.2 kW (59.3 hp)Traktorenlexikon, “Someca 715” | Not comparableNot comparable on power at the PTO shaft: the D 540 has only engine power (gross or net not stated), claimed — a different quantity from power at the shaft; the 715 (DT) has only engine power (gross or net not stated), claimed — a different quantity from power at the shaft. |
| 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 D 540 and the 715 (DT). |
| Which pulls harder at the drawbar? | — | — | No figureNo call on drawbar power: no figure on record for the D 540 and the 715 (DT). |
| Which pumps more oil for implements? | 18.5 L/min (4.9 gpm)Traktorenlexikon, “Fahr D 540” | 26.5 L/min (7.0 gpm)Traktorenlexikon, “Someca 715” | AheadThe SOMECA 715 (DT) has 43% more hydraulic flow (8.0 L/min / 2.1 gpm) than the Fahr D 540 (both pump flow, as stated by the source). |
| Which lifts more on the three-point hitch? | — | — | No figureNo call on three-point lift: no figure on record for the D 540 and the 715 (DT). |
| Which is heavier, for traction? | 3,330 kg (7,341 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “Fahr D 540” | 2,880 kg (6,349 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “Someca 715” | Ahead (a fact, not an advantage)The Fahr D 540 is 16% heavier (450 kg / 992 lb) than the SOMECA 715 (DT) (both unladen weight, as stated by the source). |
| Which may carry more ballast and load? | 4,100 kg (9,039 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “Fahr D 540” | — | No figureNo call on maximum permissible mass: no figure on record for the 715 (DT). |
| Which has the wider choice of gears? | 5 to 7Traktorenlexikon, “Fahr D 540” | 7 to 14Traktorenlexikon, “Someca 715” | 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 D 540 and the 715 (DT). |
| Which is faster on the road? | 32 km/h (19.9 mph)Traktorenlexikon, “Fahr D 540” | 25 km/h (15.5 mph)Traktorenlexikon, “Someca 715” | AheadThe Fahr D 540 has 28% more top speed (7.0 km/h / 4.3 mph) than the SOMECA 715 (DT) (both top speed forward, as stated by the source). |
| Which offers more PTO speeds? | 540 rpmTraktorenlexikon, “Fahr D 540” | 540 rpmTraktorenlexikon, “Someca 715” | EvenEven on PTO speeds: the same speeds (540 rpm). |
| Which PTO runs independently of the ground drive? | dependent (stops with the clutch)Traktorenlexikon, “Fahr D 540” | — | No figureNo call on PTO independence: not stated for the 715 (DT). |
| Which drives on both axles? | 2WDTraktorenlexikon, “Fahr D 540” | Two-wheel or four-wheel driveTraktorenlexikon, “Someca 715” | AheadThe SOMECA 715 (DT) is available with four-wheel drive; the Fahr D 540 is two-wheel drive (as stated by the sources). |
| Which is newer, and what about parts? | 1955–1958 | 1966–1967 | Ahead (a fact, not an advantage)The SOMECA 715 (DT) is newer: production began 11 years later. We hold no parts-availability data, so there is no call on parts. |
What does this mean in plain words?
- The SOMECA 715 (DT) has 43% more hydraulic flow (8.0 L/min / 2.1 gpm) than the Fahr D 540 (both pump flow, as stated by the source).
- The Fahr D 540 is 16% heavier (450 kg / 992 lb) than the SOMECA 715 (DT) (both unladen weight, as stated by the source).
- The Fahr D 540 has 28% more top speed (7.0 km/h / 4.3 mph) than the SOMECA 715 (DT) (both top speed forward, as stated by the source).
- The SOMECA 715 (DT) is available with four-wheel drive; the Fahr D 540 is two-wheel drive (as stated by the sources).
- The SOMECA 715 (DT) is newer: production began 11 years later. We hold no parts-availability data, so there is no call on parts.
- Even on forward gears (both forward gears, as stated by the source): the figures vary by configuration and the ranges overlap.
- Even on PTO speeds: the same speeds (540 rpm).
- Not comparable on power at the PTO shaft: the D 540 has only engine power (gross or net not stated), claimed — a different quantity from power at the shaft; the 715 (DT) has only engine power (gross or net not stated), claimed — a different quantity from power at the shaft.
- No figure on record for every machine, so no call on: fuel efficiency at the shaft, drawbar power, three-point lift, maximum permissible mass, a creeper range and PTO independence.
← Every figure for both machines, side by side, with sources