The Ursus MF-235 was the small licensed tractor of the late 1970s. Assembly started in November 1978 from parts supplied by Massey Ferguson, and 4,014 were built in this way up to 1984. After 1988 the same design continued as the Ursus 2812.
Ursus MF-235 at a glance
| Maker | ZPC Ursus, Warsaw, Poland |
|---|---|
| Licence | Massey Ferguson |
| Assembly began | November 1978 |
| Licensed units, 1978–1984 | 4,014 |
| Polish production | from 1986 |
| Renamed Ursus 2812 | 1988 |
| Tractor class | class 4 |
| Engine | Perkins AD3.152, three-cylinder diesel |
| Displacement | 2,502 cc |
| Power | 28 kW (38 hp DIN) at 2000 rpm |
| Torque | 144 Nm |
| Gearbox | 8 forward / 2 reverse |
| Lift capacity | 1,180 kg |
This page is based on one source, the Polish Wikipedia article covering the Ursus MF-235 and 2812, which share one page.
History of the Ursus MF-235
The MF-235 was the smaller of the two Massey Ferguson licences taken up by Ursus. Assembly began in November 1978 from components delivered by the licensor, and by 1984 4,014 tractors had been built in this way. The arrangement gave the Polish factory a modern light tractor to sell while its own light models were reaching the end of their development.
In 1986 serial production began using mostly Polish-made parts, and a number of important changes and improvements were introduced. Two years later, when the licence expired, the model was renamed Ursus 2812 and continued in production under that name until 2009. The type is classed as class 4 in the Polish farm machinery system.
The engine was a three-cylinder diesel of 2,502 cc with direct injection, the Perkins AD3.152, which in the later U2812 was replaced by the Polish Ursus 3250. It developed 28 kW, or 38 hp to DIN, at 2,000 rpm, with a maximum torque of 144 Nm and a specific fuel consumption of 228 g/kWh. A simple eight-speed gearbox with two reverse gears and a lift capacity of 1,180 kg completed the package.
The hydraulic lift offered draft, position, reaction-speed and pressure control, which made the tractor flexible with different implements. Its small size, light weight and low running costs suited small and medium farms, and the design was kept in production for three decades under two names. For many Polish farmers the MF-235 was the first modern light tractor on the farm.
Design and features
- Massey Ferguson licence: a modern light tractor built under Western licence.
- Perkins AD3.152: three cylinders, 2,502 cc, 38 hp and 144 Nm.
- Eight-speed gearbox: simple and robust, with two reverse speeds.
- Flexible hydraulics: draft, position, reaction-speed and pressure control, 1,180 kg lift.
- Long-lived design: built from 1978 to 2009 under the MF-235 and 2812 names.
Ursus MF-235 versions
- MF-235 licensed assembly (1978–1984): built from parts supplied by Massey Ferguson.
- Polish-built MF-235 (from 1986): mostly Polish components with detail improvements.
- Ursus 2812 (from 1988): the same tractor renamed after the licence expired.
- U2812: version with the Polish Ursus 3250 engine.
The MF-235 was the smaller relative of the Ursus 3512 and continued as the Ursus 2812. More tractors are in the Ursus collection.
Video: Haymaking with an Ursus C-360 and an MF 235
Video by Polska Moc on YouTube.
Sources
- Ursus MF-235/2812, Polish Wikipedia: licence history, production, engine, gearbox, lift
