The Valmet 359 D was the second diesel tractor built by Valmet, a further development of the Valmet 33 D that received its type name in 1959. Its 37.5 hp three-cylinder diesel, six-speed gearbox and protected fuel tank made it a capable machine for both fields and forests.
Valmet 359 D at a glance
| Maker | Valmet, Tourula plant, Jyväskylä |
|---|---|
| Production | 1959–1960 |
| Predecessor | Valmet 33 D |
| Engine | three-cylinder diesel, 2,685 cm³ |
| Power | 37.5 hp at 2,000 rpm |
| Gearbox | 6 forward, 2 reverse |
| Fuel tank | between clutch and gearbox, 40 litres |
| Hydraulics | separate 10-litre oil tank |
| Instruments | mounted in the dashboard |
| Appearance | almost identical to the Valmet 33 D |
Based on the Finnish Wikipedia article on the Valmet 359; production years from the Finnish list of Valmet tractors.
History of the Valmet 359 D
Valmet presented its first diesel tractor, the 33 D, in 1957. It was considerably heavier than the petrol models 15 and 20, weighing 1,600 kg, and its 37.5 hp engine made it fast on the road for its time. The 359 D was developed from that tractor and received its type name in 1959; externally it was almost exactly the same machine as the 33 D.
The engine produced 37.5 hp at a nominal speed of 2,000 rpm. The gearbox had six forward and two reverse gears. The fuel tank was placed between the clutch and the gearbox, and the underside was flat like that of its predecessor — a layout that protected the tank and made the tractor well suited to forest work, a trademark of Valmet and Valtra tractors.
The hydraulics used a separate 10-litre oil tank mounted apart from the gearbox. The instruments were now grouped in the dashboard. These changes made the 359 D a tidier and more practical tractor than the 33 D without altering its familiar silhouette.
The 359 D was followed in 1961 by the Valmet 361 D, a more powerful development of the same three-cylinder theme with 46 hp, and later by the Valmet 565, which introduced synchronised gears to Finnish tractors.
Design and features
- Three-cylinder diesel: 2,685 cm³, 37.5 hp at 2,000 rpm.
- Protected fuel tank: carried between clutch and gearbox, with a flat underside.
- Six-speed gearbox: six forward and two reverse gears.
- Separate hydraulics: a 10-litre oil tank independent of the transmission.
- Dashboard instruments: a small but useful update over the 33 D.
Valmet 359 D versions
- Valmet 359 D (1959–1960): the standard diesel model.
- Valmet 361 D (1961–1965): the more powerful successor, with 46 hp.
- Valmet 565 (1964–1968): the next generation, with synchronised gears.
The 359 D came after the petrol Valmet 20 and before the Valmet 565. More tractors are in the Valmet collection.
Video: valmet 359 lähdössä lumitöihin
Video on YouTube.
Sources
- Valmet 359, Finnish Wikipedia: development, engine, gearbox, hydraulics
- Valmet (traktori), Finnish Wikipedia: production years and the 361 D successor
- Valtra, English Wikipedia: company history and the protected fuel tank
