The Valmet 502 was a rear-wheel-drive tractor introduced in 1971 as the successor to the Valmet 500. Its cab was described by the manufacturer as the quietest on the market at the time, and the model brought a longer frame, a redesigned lift and hydrostatic steering.
Valmet 502 at a glance
| Maker | Valmet, Finland |
|---|---|
| Introduced | 1971 |
| Predecessor | Valmet 500 |
| Layout | rear-wheel drive |
| Engine | three-cylinder 310 B, 2,685 cm³ |
| Power | 49 hp |
| Cab | described by the maker as the quietest on the market |
| Steering | hydrostatic |
| Rear tyres | 28 inches, 30 inches from 1974 |
| Fuel tank | 65 litres |
| Built until | 1982 |
Based on the Finnish Wikipedia article on the Valmet 502 and the Finnish list of Valmet tractors.
History of the Valmet 502
The Valmet 502 was introduced in 1971 and replaced the Valmet 500. It kept the familiar three-cylinder layout but was built on a new, longer frame. The lift was completely redesigned and hydrostatic steering was added, two changes that made the tractor easier to use with heavier implements.
The engine was the three-cylinder 310 B inherited from the 500, with a displacement of 2,685 cm³ and an output of 49 hp. The cab was, according to the manufacturer, the quietest on the market when the tractor appeared — a claim that reflected the growing attention paid to driver comfort in the early 1970s.
In 1974 the rear tyres grew from 28 to 30 inches, and the tractor’s own weight rose by about 100 kg as a result. A revised 502 S joined the range in the same year. The 502 remained in production until 1982, and Valmet also introduced a front loader for it — a novelty for the company at the time.
The 502 was part of the generation of Valmet tractors built before the Swedish connection: in 1979 Valmet bought Volvo BM’s tractor operations and from 1982 sold the Volvo BM Valmet range, which eventually replaced the older models.
Design and features
- Quiet cab: promoted by Valmet as the quietest cab then on the market.
- Hydrostatic steering: light and precise steering for a 1970s tractor.
- Longer frame: more room for implements and a redesigned lift.
- Front loader: a new Valmet product offered with the 502.
- Bigger rear wheels: 30-inch tyres from 1974.
Valmet 502 versions
- Valmet 502 (1971–1974): original version on 28-inch rear tyres.
- Valmet 502 (1974–1982): 30-inch rear tyres and about 100 kg more weight.
- Valmet 502 S (from 1974): revised version of the same model.
The 502 replaced the Valmet 500 and was followed by the Volvo BM Valmet generation, including the Valmet 805. More tractors are in the Valmet collection.
Sources
- Valmet 502, Finnish Wikipedia: introduction, cab, frame, lift, steering, tyre change
- Valmet (traktori), Finnish Wikipedia: engine, power, fuel tank and production years
- Valtra, English Wikipedia: the Volvo BM Valmet generation
