Bührer KJ4
Built: 1949–1950 · Series: K
More machines from model year 1949
Bührer KJ4: early post-war tractor of the K range, four-cylinder petrol engine with 30 hp, about 290 units built, built 1949 to 1950
Bührer, a Swiss tractor maker based in Hinwil in the canton of Zurich, was among the early makers of field tractors developed in Switzerland. The KJ4 in the K range was built only in 1949 and 1950, during the years of rapid rebuilding of European agriculture after the Second World War, with around 290 units produced.
Read on 3 more paragraphs
The KJ4 carries a water-cooled four-cylinder petrol engine of 2,200 cm³ displacement with rear-wheel drive, producing 30 hp; a 4V-1R gearbox provides four forward and one reverse gear. For its time, the KJ4 was a light-to-mid-class tractor, typical of the mechanisation of smaller Swiss farms.
The post-war years brought rapidly growing demand in Switzerland for tractors of this size, as many farms only switched from horse power to engine power during this period. A four-cylinder petrol engine such as the KJ4's was cheaper to build and maintain than a comparable diesel engine during this early phase of mechanisation, which mattered on farms with tight budgets.
When buying such an old model second-hand, the condition of the engine, ignition system and carburettor, the tightness of the cooling system, and rust on the sheet-metal parts and chassis matter. Because only around 290 examples were built, spare parts are practically only obtainable through specialist collectors of historic Swiss tractors, and finding a matching one takes patience.
Sources: SpecCodex-Register: Kennwerte des Modells Bührer KJ4
Technical data
Engine
| Fuel | Benzin/Petrolcorrect |
|---|---|
| Power | 30 hpcorrect |
| Power | 30 hpcorrect |
| Cylinders | 4correct |
| Displacement | 2,200 cm³correct |
| Cooling | water-cooledcorrect |
Drivetrain and chassis
| Drive | rear-wheel drivecorrect |
|---|---|
| Gearbox | 4V 1Rcorrect |
Origin and approval
| Units built | 290correct |
|---|
Frequently asked questions
How much power does the Bührer KJ4 have?
The Bührer KJ4 delivers 30 hp.
What engine does the Bührer KJ4 have?
4 cylinders, 2,200 cm³ displacement, Benzin/Petrol.
When was the Bührer KJ4 built?
Production years: 1949–1950.
What to check before buying
- Check the hour meter against the service records — a replaced instrument is the most common gap.
- Compare the data plate and chassis number with the papers.
- Shift the gearbox cold and warm — jumps only show up at temperature.
- Load the hydraulics and watch for sag.
- Ask about parts availability for this build year — the running costs hang on it.
A general list for this type of machine — no substitute for an inspection or an appraiser.
We do not sell machines. We ask the dealers who carry this model and come back with price and lead time.
Request a quote →
We ask the suppliers and come back with price and lead time.
Request spare parts →
This page carries 9 individual figures for this model. They come from 2 recorded sources; every figure can be traced there. What we cannot document is not here — we leave gaps open rather than estimate them.
Missing a figure you were looking for? Report it →
Know this machine better? Have a photo, a manual, or know that a figure is wrong? Add it to the register →
Tractor in 3D section
Turn the model, look inside and click an assembly — each one is explained.