MF 255 engine - what was the characteristic of the unit installed on the Ursus tractor?

The history of collaboration between Massey Ferguson and Ursus dates back to the 70s. At that time, attempts were made to modernize the technologically backward Polish automotive industry by introducing Western technologies into certain industries. To do this, it was necessary to buy licenses created by British engineers. Thanks to this, obsolete designs were replaced. One of the consequences of these changes was the MF 255 engine. We present the most important information about this unit.

MF 255 engine - types of units installed on Ursus

Before we move on to how the tractor itself differed, it is worth talking in more detail about the drive unit that was installed in it. The engine that could be inserted into the car was available in diesel and petrol versions.

In addition, there were two gearbox options:

• serrated with 8 levels forward and 2 back;
• in the Multi-Power version with 12 forward and 4 reverse - in this case, three gears in two ranges, as well as a two-speed Powershift transmission.

Perkins blocks in Ursus MF 255

Perkins was owned by Massey Ferguson until 1998 when the brand was sold to Caterpillar Inc. Today, it is still the leading manufacturer of agricultural engines, primarily diesel engines. Perkins engines are also used in construction, transportation, energy and industrial applications.

Perkins AD3.152

How was this MF 255 engine different? It was a diesel, four-stroke, in-line engine with direct fuel injection. It had 3 cylinders, a working volume of 2502 cm³ and a rated power of 34,6 kW. Rated speed 2250 rpm. The specific fuel consumption was 234 g/kW/h, the PTO speed was 540 rpm.

Perkins AG4.212 

The first version of the power unit, which was installed on the MF 255, was the Perkins AG4.212 gasoline engine. This is a four-cylinder naturally aspirated engine with a liquid cooling system. 

At the same time, the cylinder diameter is 98,4 mm, the piston stroke is 114,3, the total working volume is 3,48 liters, the nominal compression ratio is 7:0, the power on the PTO is up to 1 km / h.

Perkins AD4.203 

It is also a four-cylinder naturally aspirated and liquid-cooled diesel engine. Its displacement was 3,33 liters, and the bore and stroke were 91,5 mm and 127 mm, respectively. Compression ratio 18,5:1, propeller shaft power 50 hp

Perkins A4.236 

When it comes to the MF 255 Perkins engine, it is no longer a petrol version, but a diesel unit. It was a naturally aspirated and air-cooled four-cylinder diesel engine with a displacement of 3,87 liters, a bore of 94,8 mm and a piston stroke of 127 mm. The engine also featured a nominal compression ratio (16,0:1) and 52 hp.

Tractor MF 255 - design characteristics

The MF 255 tractor itself is made of sufficiently durable materials - many machines are still used in the fields today. The Ursus tractor is exceptionally resistant to heavy use and mechanical damage.

The weight of the apparatus with all fluids and the cabin is 2900 kg. These parameters make it possible to achieve a sufficiently low fuel consumption for the dimensions of an agricultural tractor. MF 255 machines are equipped with standard hydraulic jacks capable of lifting up to 1318 kg, allowing you to attach almost any agricultural and construction implements to them.

Operation of the Ursus 3512 machine

How did the MF 255 engine work and what was the Ursus agricultural tractor used for? Of course it was nicer because of the comfortable lounge. The designers of the MF 255 made sure that the user of the machine feels comfortable even on warm days, so the finish and air recovery are at a high level. 

The Ursus MF255 was discontinued in 2009. Thanks to such a long delivery time, spare parts are very high. You also don't have to worry about properly diagnosing the problem. The user experience with this machine is so great that in every agricultural forum you should get advice on a possible malfunction. All this makes the Ursus tractor and MF255 engine a good choice if you are looking for a proven agricultural tractor.

Photo by Lucas 3z via Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0