The Ursus 3512 was the renamed version of the licence-built Massey Ferguson 255, produced in Warsaw from 1988 to 2009. A three-cylinder Perkins diesel of 48 hp and a simple 8/2 gearbox made it a dependable small-farm tractor, and 47,037 examples were built under the 3512 name.
Ursus 3512 at a glance
| Maker | ZPC Ursus, Warsaw, Poland |
|---|---|
| Licence | Massey Ferguson and Perkins |
| Licence bought | 1974 |
| MF-255 production | from July 1984 |
| Renamed Ursus 3512 | 1988 |
| Production ended | 2009 |
| Total built | 81,127 (MF-255 34,090, 3512 47,037) |
| Engine | Perkins AD3.152 UR, three-cylinder diesel |
| Displacement | 2,502 cc |
| Power | 35.8 kW (48 hp) at 2250 rpm |
| Torque | 165.4 Nm rated, 170 Nm maximum |
| Gearbox | 8 forward / 2 reverse |
| Lift capacity | 1,318 kg |
| Weight | 2,170 kg without cab, 2,880 kg with cab and weights |
This page is based on one source, the Polish Wikipedia article covering the Ursus MF-255 and 3512, which share one page.
History of the Ursus 3512
Ursus bought the licence for the Massey Ferguson 200 series in 1974, but serial production of the MF-255 did not start until July 1984. Four years later, when the licence agreement expired, the model was renamed Ursus 3512 and continued in production until 2009. In total 81,127 tractors of the line were built, of which 34,090 were MF-255s and 47,037 were 3512s.
Power came from the three-cylinder Perkins AD3.152 UR of 2,502 cc. It produced 35.8 kW, or 48 hp, at 2,250 rpm, with a rated torque of 165.4 Nm at 1,300 rpm and a maximum of 170 Nm. A mechanical gearbox with eight forward and two reverse speeds, a 540 rpm PTO and a hydraulic lift rated at 1,318 kg made the tractor suitable for a wide range of small and medium farm work.
Late in its life the range gained the Agro Bis specification, with a higher-standard cab, plastic bonnet and wings and hydrostatic steering. There was also a four-wheel-drive version, the Ursus 3514, and an export version with a comfort cab, but the 4×4 variant was dropped after a relatively short production period.
The 3512 weighed 2,170 kg ready for work without a cab or additional weights, rising to 2,570 kg with weights and 2,880 kg with weights and a cab. Front tyres were 6-16 and rear tyres 12.4-32 or 14.9-28. Its light weight and modest size kept it useful on wet ground and in small yards, which is why so many examples are still at work.
Design and features
- Perkins three-cylinder diesel: 48 hp, 2,502 cc, direct injection.
- Simple 8/2 gearbox: eight forward and two reverse speeds, 540 rpm PTO.
- Light and compact: 2,170 kg without cab, with 12.4-32 or 14.9-28 rear tyres.
- Agro Bis equipment: comfort cab, plastic panels and hydrostatic steering in later versions.
- Large production run: 47,037 Ursus 3512 tractors, plus 34,090 MF-255s.
Ursus 3512 versions
- Massey Ferguson 255 (1984–1988): the original licensed model.
- Ursus 3512 (1988–2009): the renamed standard tractor.
- Ursus 3514: four-wheel-drive version, produced only for a short period.
- Agro Bis: later specification with a better cab and plastic bonnet and wings.
- Export version: comfort cab for foreign markets.
The 3512 was the larger brother of the Ursus 2812 and an alternative to the classic Ursus C-360. More tractors are in the Ursus collection.
Sources
- Ursus MF-255/3512, Polish Wikipedia: licence history, engine, gearbox, weights, production totals
