Leyland 344 or SOMECA 540 (TD)?
Which should you choose?
On performance, every comparable figure that differs favours the Leyland 344: hydraulic flow. On features, the SOMECA 540 (TD) is ahead on drive.
- The Leyland 344 suits loader and hydraulic implement work better on this data: 42% (9.2 L/min / 2.4 gpm) more hydraulic flow.
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 | 344 | 540 (TD) | Call |
|---|---|---|---|
| Which puts more power through the PTO shaft? | 33.5 kW (45.0 hp)Traktorenlexikon, “Leyland 344” | 33.3 kW (44.7 hp)Traktorenlexikon, “Someca 540” | 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 344 and the 540 (TD). |
| Which pulls harder at the drawbar? | — | — | No figureNo call on drawbar power: no figure on record for the 344 and the 540 (TD). |
| Which pumps more oil for implements? | 31.0 L/min (8.2 gpm)Traktorenlexikon, “Leyland 344” | 21.8 L/min (5.8 gpm)Traktorenlexikon, “Someca 540” | AheadThe Leyland 344 has 42% more hydraulic flow (9.2 L/min / 2.4 gpm) than the SOMECA 540 (TD) (both pump flow, as stated by the source). |
| Which lifts more on the three-point hitch? | 1,520 kg (3,351 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “Leyland 344” | 1,620 kg (3,571 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “Someca 540” | EvenEven on three-point lift (both lift at the hitch ends, as stated by the source): the difference is under the 10% threshold, too small to call. |
| Which is heavier, for traction? | 2,125 kg (4,685 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “Leyland 344” | 1,865 kg (4,112 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “Someca 540” | Ahead (a fact, not an advantage)The Leyland 344 is 14% heavier (260 kg / 573 lb) than the SOMECA 540 (TD) (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 344 and the 540 (TD). |
| Which has the wider choice of gears? | 10Traktorenlexikon, “Leyland 344” | 8 to 12Traktorenlexikon, “Someca 540” | 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 344 and the 540 (TD). |
| Which is faster on the road? | 25 km/h (15.5 mph)Traktorenlexikon, “Leyland 344” | 25 km/h (15.5 mph)Traktorenlexikon, “Someca 540” | EvenEven on top speed (both top speed forward, as stated by the source): the difference is under the 10% threshold, too small to call. |
| Which offers more PTO speeds? | 540 rpmTraktorenlexikon, “Leyland 344” | 540 rpmTraktorenlexikon, “Someca 540” | EvenEven on PTO speeds: the same speeds (540 rpm). |
| Which PTO runs independently of the ground drive? | independentTraktorenlexikon, “Leyland 344” | — | No figureNo call on PTO independence: not stated for the 540 (TD). |
| Which drives on both axles? | 2WDTraktorenlexikon, “Leyland 344” | Two-wheel or four-wheel driveTraktorenlexikon, “Someca 540” | AheadThe SOMECA 540 (TD) is available with four-wheel drive; the Leyland 344 is two-wheel drive (as stated by the sources). |
| Which is newer, and what about parts? | 1969–1972 | 1973–1982 | 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 Leyland 344 has 42% more hydraulic flow (9.2 L/min / 2.4 gpm) than the SOMECA 540 (TD) (both pump flow, as stated by the source).
- The Leyland 344 is 14% heavier (260 kg / 573 lb) than the SOMECA 540 (TD) (both unladen weight, as stated by the source).
- The SOMECA 540 (TD) is available with four-wheel drive; the Leyland 344 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 three-point lift (both lift at the hitch ends, as stated by the source): the difference is under the 10% threshold, 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 top speed (both top speed forward, as stated by the source): the difference is under the 10% threshold, too small to call.
- Even on PTO speeds: the same speeds (540 rpm).
- Same era: production began within 5 years of each other. We hold no parts-availability data, so there is no call on parts.
- No figure on record for every machine, so no call on: fuel efficiency at the shaft, drawbar power, maximum permissible mass, a creeper range and PTO independence.
← Every figure for both machines, side by side, with sources