Leyland 344 or SOMECA 580 (TD)?
Which should you choose?
On performance, every comparable figure that differs favours the Leyland 344: hydraulic flow. On features, the SOMECA 580 (TD) is ahead on drive.
- The Leyland 344 suits loader and hydraulic implement work better on this data: 26% (6.4 L/min / 1.7 gpm) more hydraulic flow.
- The SOMECA 580 (TD) suits heavy draft work (ploughing, cultivating) better on this data: four-wheel drive.
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 | 580 (TD) | Call |
|---|---|---|---|
| Which puts more power through the PTO shaft? | 33.5 kW (45.0 hp)Traktorenlexikon, “Leyland 344” | 33.7 kW (45.2 hp)Traktorenlexikon, “Someca 580” | 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 580 (TD). |
| Which pulls harder at the drawbar? | — | — | No figureNo call on drawbar power: no figure on record for the 344 and the 580 (TD). |
| Which pumps more oil for implements? | 31.0 L/min (8.2 gpm)Traktorenlexikon, “Leyland 344” | 24.6 L/min (6.5 gpm)Traktorenlexikon, “Someca 580” | AheadThe Leyland 344 has 26% more hydraulic flow (6.4 L/min / 1.7 gpm) than the SOMECA 580 (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” | — | No figureNo call on three-point lift: no figure on record for the 580 (TD). |
| Which is heavier, for traction? | 2,125 kg (4,685 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “Leyland 344” | 2,335 kg (5,148 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “Someca 580” | EvenEven on weight (both unladen weight, as stated by the source): the difference is under the 10% threshold, too small to call. |
| Which may carry more ballast and load? | — | — | No figureNo call on maximum permissible mass: no figure on record for the 344 and the 580 (TD). |
| Which has the wider choice of gears? | 10Traktorenlexikon, “Leyland 344” | 8 to 16Traktorenlexikon, “Someca 580” | 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 580 (TD). |
| Which is faster on the road? | 25 km/h (15.5 mph)Traktorenlexikon, “Leyland 344” | 25 km/h (15.5 mph)Traktorenlexikon, “Someca 580” | 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 580” | 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 580 (TD). |
| Which drives on both axles? | 2WDTraktorenlexikon, “Leyland 344” | Two-wheel or four-wheel driveTraktorenlexikon, “Someca 580” | AheadThe SOMECA 580 (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 | 1978–1983 | Ahead (a fact, not an advantage)The SOMECA 580 (TD) is newer: production began 9 years later. We hold no parts-availability data, so there is no call on parts. |
What does this mean in plain words?
- The Leyland 344 has 26% more hydraulic flow (6.4 L/min / 1.7 gpm) than the SOMECA 580 (TD) (both pump flow, as stated by the source).
- The SOMECA 580 (TD) is available with four-wheel drive; the Leyland 344 is two-wheel drive (as stated by the sources).
- The SOMECA 580 (TD) is newer: production began 9 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 weight (both unladen weight, 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).
- 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