SOMECA 480-8 (TD) or VALMET 500?
Which should you choose?
On performance, every comparable figure that differs favours the SOMECA 480-8 (TD): hydraulic flow and three-point lift. It is also ahead on forward gears and drive. On features, the VALMET 500 is ahead on top speed.
- The SOMECA 480-8 (TD) suits loader and hydraulic implement work better on this data: 11% (2.7 L/min / 0.7 gpm) more hydraulic flow and 21% (300 kg / 661 lb) more three-point lift.
- The VALMET 500 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 | 480-8 (TD) | 500 | Call |
|---|---|---|---|
| Which puts more power through the PTO shaft? | 30.1 kW (40.3 hp)Traktorenlexikon, “Someca 480-8” | 29.6 kW (39.7 hp)Traktorenlexikon, “Valmet 500” | 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 480-8 (TD) and the 500. |
| Which pulls harder at the drawbar? | — | — | No figureNo call on drawbar power: no figure on record for the 480-8 (TD) and the 500. |
| Which pumps more oil for implements? | 26.8 L/min (7.1 gpm)Traktorenlexikon, “Someca 480-8” | 24.1 L/min (6.4 gpm)Traktorenlexikon, “Valmet 500” | AheadThe SOMECA 480-8 (TD) has 11% more hydraulic flow (2.7 L/min / 0.7 gpm) than the VALMET 500 (both pump flow, as stated by the source). |
| Which lifts more on the three-point hitch? | 1,750 kg (3,858 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “Someca 480-8” | 1,450 kg (3,197 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “Valmet 500” | AheadThe SOMECA 480-8 (TD) has 21% more lift (300 kg / 661 lb) than the VALMET 500 (both lift at the hitch ends, as stated by the source). |
| Which is heavier, for traction? | 1,810 kg (3,990 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “Someca 480-8” | 2,077 kg (4,579 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “Valmet 500” | Ahead (a fact, not an advantage)The VALMET 500 is 15% heavier (267 kg / 589 lb) than the SOMECA 480-8 (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 480-8 (TD) and the 500. |
| Which has the wider choice of gears? | 8 to 12Traktorenlexikon, “Someca 480-8” | 6Traktorenlexikon, “Valmet 500” | AheadThe SOMECA 480-8 (TD) has 33% more forward gears (2 gears) than the VALMET 500 (both forward gears, as stated by the source). |
| Which offers a creeper range? | — | — | No figureNo call on a creeper range: not stated for the 480-8 (TD) and the 500. |
| Which is faster on the road? | 25 km/h (15.5 mph)Traktorenlexikon, “Someca 480-8” | 30 km/h (18.6 mph)Traktorenlexikon, “Valmet 500” | AheadThe VALMET 500 has 20% more top speed (5.0 km/h / 3.1 mph) than the SOMECA 480-8 (TD) (both top speed forward, as stated by the source). |
| Which offers more PTO speeds? | 540 rpmTraktorenlexikon, “Someca 480-8” | 540 rpmTraktorenlexikon, “Valmet 500” | EvenEven on PTO speeds: the same speeds (540 rpm). |
| Which PTO runs independently of the ground drive? | — | — | No figureNo call on PTO independence: not stated for the 480-8 (TD) and the 500. |
| Which drives on both axles? | Two-wheel or four-wheel driveTraktorenlexikon, “Someca 480-8” | 2WDTraktorenlexikon, “Valmet 500” | AheadThe SOMECA 480-8 (TD) is available with four-wheel drive; the VALMET 500 is two-wheel drive (as stated by the sources). |
| Which is newer, and what about parts? | 1981–1982 | 1968–1971 | Ahead (a fact, not an advantage)The SOMECA 480-8 (TD) is newer: production began 13 years later. We hold no parts-availability data, so there is no call on parts. |
What does this mean in plain words?
- The SOMECA 480-8 (TD) has 11% more hydraulic flow (2.7 L/min / 0.7 gpm) than the VALMET 500 (both pump flow, as stated by the source).
- The SOMECA 480-8 (TD) has 21% more lift (300 kg / 661 lb) than the VALMET 500 (both lift at the hitch ends, as stated by the source).
- The VALMET 500 is 15% heavier (267 kg / 589 lb) than the SOMECA 480-8 (TD) (both unladen weight, as stated by the source).
- The SOMECA 480-8 (TD) has 33% more forward gears (2 gears) than the VALMET 500 (both forward gears, as stated by the source).
- The VALMET 500 has 20% more top speed (5.0 km/h / 3.1 mph) than the SOMECA 480-8 (TD) (both top speed forward, as stated by the source).
- The SOMECA 480-8 (TD) is available with four-wheel drive; the VALMET 500 is two-wheel drive (as stated by the sources).
- The SOMECA 480-8 (TD) is newer: production began 13 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 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, maximum permissible mass, a creeper range and PTO independence.
← Every figure for both machines, side by side, with sources