The Ursus C-360 was the middle tractor that replaced the C-355M in April 1976 and stayed in production until 1994. In that time about 282,000 were built, making it the most common Polish farm tractor of its generation. A 52 hp four-cylinder diesel and a simple 10/2 gearbox did most of the work.
Ursus C-360 at a glance
| Maker | Zaklady Mechaniczne Ursus, Warsaw, Poland |
|---|---|
| Production | 1976–1994 |
| Built | about 282,000 |
| Nickname | sześćdziesiątka |
| Drive | 4×2 |
| Engine | Ursus S-4003, four-cylinder diesel |
| Displacement | 3,121 cc, bore/stroke 95/110 mm |
| Power | 38.2 kW (52 hp DIN) at 2200 rpm |
| Torque | 190 Nm at 1500–1600 rpm |
| Gearbox | 10 forward / 2 reverse |
| Top speed | 25.4 km/h |
| Lift capacity | 1,200 kg |
| Weight | 2,170 kg dry, 2,700 kg ready for work |
This page is based on one source, the Polish Wikipedia article on the Ursus C-360.
History of the Ursus C-360
Serial production of the C-360 began in April 1976. It replaced the Ursus C-355M, the modernised version of the C-355 that had been built since July 1975 and was itself the first stage in introducing the C-360. The new model kept the familiar layout of the middle Ursus tractors but brought a more powerful engine and detail improvements throughout.
The engine was the S-4003, a four-cylinder liquid-cooled diesel of 3,121 cc with a bore and stroke of 95 by 110 mm. It was rated at 38.2 kW, or 52 hp to DIN, at 2,200 rpm, with a maximum torque of 190 Nm between 1,500 and 1,600 rpm. The compression ratio was 17:1, the firing order 1-3-4-2, and the PZL-Mielec injection pump fed the cylinders. Specific fuel consumption at rated power was 265 g/kWh, or at most 10.2 kg an hour at full load.
The transmission used a two-stage dry clutch and an unsynchronised gearbox with a reducer, giving ten forward and two reverse speeds. A mechanical differential lock helped in slippery conditions, the front axle was of the rigid, pivot-mounted type, and steering was by a screw-and-ball mechanism. The hydraulic drum brakes worked independently on the two rear wheels, and the maximum speed was 25.4 km/h on 13-28 rear tyres.
For implement work the tractor had a hydraulic pump of 20 litres a minute at 12 MPa, two external couplers and a category II three-point linkage lifting 1,200 kg. Hitches included a top transport hitch, a swinging drawbar and a hitch for single-axle trailers, and the PTO ran at 540 rpm in dependent or independent mode. Front tyres were 6.00-16 and rear tyres 14.9/13-28; the tractor weighed 2,170 kg dry and 2,700 kg ready for work.
The C-360 was the tractor that mechanised countless small Polish farms, and its simple construction kept it repairable long after production ended. A second generation appeared in 2015, when Ursus S.A. of Lublin offered a new C-360 with four-wheel drive, a turbocharged three-cylinder Perkins engine of 58 hp and a Carraro 12/12 gearbox. That model was built until 2017 and shared nothing but the name with the original.
Design and features
- 52 hp S-4003 diesel: 3,121 cc, 190 Nm, a proven and easily serviced unit.
- 10/2 gearbox: unsynchronised with reducer, plus mechanical differential lock.
- Strong hydraulics for its class: 1,200 kg lift and two external couplers.
- Simple maintenance: the reason so many C-360s are still at work.
- Huge production run: about 282,000 tractors between 1976 and 1994.
Ursus C-360 versions
- C-360 (1976–1994): the original 52 hp rear-wheel-drive tractor.
- Single-brake examples: a small number built with a one-sided brake on the right wheel.
- C-360 second generation (2015–2017): a new Lublin-built tractor with 4×4, 58 hp Perkins engine and 12/12 Carraro gearbox.
- Second-generation options: front and rear weights, extra couplers, air conditioning and larger tyres.
The C-360 succeeded the Ursus C-355 and was later joined by the Ursus C-385 in the heavy class. More tractors are in the Ursus collection.
Video: Ursus C-360 on the Motowizja programme
Video by Telewizja Asta on YouTube.
Sources
- Ursus C-360, Polish Wikipedia: production, both generations, technical data
