Fiat 540 (DT) or VOLVO-BM-VALMET 305 (305/4)?
Which should you choose?
On performance, every comparable figure that differs favours the VOLVO-BM-VALMET 305 (305/4): hydraulic flow and three-point lift. It is also ahead on top speed.
- The VOLVO-BM-VALMET 305 (305/4) suits loader and hydraulic implement work better on this data: 63% (13.8 L/min / 3.6 gpm) more hydraulic flow and 11% (175 kg / 386 lb) more three-point lift.
- The VOLVO-BM-VALMET 305 (305/4) suits road haulage better on this data: 20% (5.0 km/h / 3.1 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 | 540 (DT) | 305 (305/4) | Call |
|---|---|---|---|
| Which puts more power through the PTO shaft? | 33.3 kW (44.7 hp)Traktorenlexikon, “Fiat 540/540 DT” | 33.0 kW (44.3 hp)Traktorenlexikon, “Volvo 305” | 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 540 (DT) and the 305 (305/4). |
| Which pulls harder at the drawbar? | — | — | No figureNo call on drawbar power: no figure on record for the 540 (DT) and the 305 (305/4). |
| Which pumps more oil for implements? | 21.8 L/min (5.8 gpm)Traktorenlexikon, “Fiat 540/540 DT” | 35.6 L/min (9.4 gpm)Traktorenlexikon, “Volvo 305” | AheadThe VOLVO-BM-VALMET 305 (305/4) has 63% more hydraulic flow (13.8 L/min / 3.6 gpm) than the Fiat 540 (DT) (both pump flow, as stated by the source). |
| Which lifts more on the three-point hitch? | 1,620 kg (3,571 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “Fiat 540/540 DT” | 1,795 kg (3,957 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “Volvo 305” | AheadThe VOLVO-BM-VALMET 305 (305/4) has 11% more lift (175 kg / 386 lb) than the Fiat 540 (DT) (both lift at the hitch ends, as stated by the source). |
| Which is heavier, for traction? | 1,865 kg (4,112 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “Fiat 540/540 DT” | 2,710 kg (5,975 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “Volvo 305” | Ahead (a fact, not an advantage)The VOLVO-BM-VALMET 305 (305/4) is 45% heavier (845 kg / 1,863 lb) than the Fiat 540 (DT) (both unladen weight, as stated by the source). |
| Which may carry more ballast and load? | — | — | No figureNo call on maximum permissible mass: no figure on record for the 540 (DT) and the 305 (305/4). |
| Which has the wider choice of gears? | 8 to 12Traktorenlexikon, “Fiat 540/540 DT” | 8 to 12Traktorenlexikon, “Volvo 305” | 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 540 (DT) and the 305 (305/4). |
| Which is faster on the road? | 25 km/h (15.5 mph)Traktorenlexikon, “Fiat 540/540 DT” | 30 km/h (18.6 mph)Traktorenlexikon, “Volvo 305” | AheadThe VOLVO-BM-VALMET 305 (305/4) has 20% more top speed (5.0 km/h / 3.1 mph) than the Fiat 540 (DT) (both top speed forward, as stated by the source). |
| Which offers more PTO speeds? | 540 rpmTraktorenlexikon, “Fiat 540/540 DT” | 540 rpmTraktorenlexikon, “Volvo 305” | EvenEven on PTO speeds: the same speeds (540 rpm). |
| Which PTO runs independently of the ground drive? | independentTraktorenlexikon, “Fiat 540/540 DT” | independentTraktorenlexikon, “Volvo 305” | EvenEven on PTO independence: every PTO is independent. |
| Which drives on both axles? | Two-wheel or four-wheel driveTraktorenlexikon, “Fiat 540/540 DT” | 2WD / 4WDTraktorenlexikon, “Volvo 305” | EvenEven on drive: every machine is available with four-wheel drive. |
| Which is newer, and what about parts? | 1973–1982 | 1985 | Ahead (a fact, not an advantage)The VOLVO-BM-VALMET 305 (305/4) is newer: production began 12 years later. We hold no parts-availability data, so there is no call on parts. |
What does this mean in plain words?
- The VOLVO-BM-VALMET 305 (305/4) has 63% more hydraulic flow (13.8 L/min / 3.6 gpm) than the Fiat 540 (DT) (both pump flow, as stated by the source).
- The VOLVO-BM-VALMET 305 (305/4) has 11% more lift (175 kg / 386 lb) than the Fiat 540 (DT) (both lift at the hitch ends, as stated by the source).
- The VOLVO-BM-VALMET 305 (305/4) is 45% heavier (845 kg / 1,863 lb) than the Fiat 540 (DT) (both unladen weight, as stated by the source).
- The VOLVO-BM-VALMET 305 (305/4) has 20% more top speed (5.0 km/h / 3.1 mph) than the Fiat 540 (DT) (both top speed forward, as stated by the source).
- The VOLVO-BM-VALMET 305 (305/4) is newer: production began 12 years later. We hold no parts-availability data, so there is no call on parts.
- 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.
- Even on PTO speeds: the same speeds (540 rpm).
- Even on PTO independence: every PTO is independent.
- Even on drive: every machine is available with four-wheel drive.
- 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