Hela D 38
Built: 1938 · Series: D-Reihe
More machines from model year 1938
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Hela D37 to D415 – small German standard tractors of the post-war years: D prefix for diesel drive, single- and twin-cylinder engines, 11 to 16.1 kW, 1.13 to 1.6 t service weight
Hela's D range belongs to the numerous small and mid-size standard tractors with which German makers drove the mechanisation of smaller farms in the post-war years, at a time when dozens of workshops across West Germany entered the tractor business alongside the established names. The D prefix in the type designation, as with many makers of the period, stands for diesel drive; the model numbers from 37 to 415 order the range roughly by power class, with the smaller versions running one and the larger two cylinders.
Read on 3 more paragraphs
The register lists 5 versions with engines of 1,082 to 2,198 cm³, 1 to 2 cylinders and outputs of 11 to 16.1 kW. Service weights range from 1,130 to 1,600 kg, lengths from 2,560 to 2,900 mm, widths from 1,500 to 1,540 mm and heights from 1,250 to 1,600 mm.
Like many smaller German tractor brands of the 1950s, Hela served a niche alongside the large makers Deutz, Fendt and Eicher, aiming at farms that needed a simple, compact tractor for basic work without being able or willing to afford one of the pricier branded tractors of the day.
On these rare small tractors, operating hours, the condition of injection pump and cylinder head, clutch and gearbox, steering linkage, and rust on frame and sheet-metal parts all count; spare parts are practically obtainable only through specialist vintage-tractor collectors and replica workshops.
Sources: SpecCodex register, model data: Hela D-Reihe
Technical data
Engine
| Fuel | dieselcorrect |
|---|---|
| Power | 22 hp (16.1 kW)correct |
| Rated speed | 1,500 rpmcorrect |
| Cylinders | 2correct |
| Displacement | 2,198 cm³correct |
| Bore | 100 mmcorrect |
| Stroke | 140 mmcorrect |
| Injection pressure | 100 barcorrect |
| Cooling | water-cooledcorrect |
Dimensions and weights
| Length | 2,900 mmcorrect |
|---|---|
| Width | 1,540 mmcorrect |
| Height | 1,550 mmcorrect |
| Wheelbase | 1,800 mmcorrect |
| Ground clearance | 360 mmcorrect |
| Unladen weight | 1,600 kgcorrect |
Drivetrain and chassis
| Drive | rear-wheel drivecorrect |
|---|---|
| Gearbox | 5V/1Rcorrect |
| Forward gears | 5correct |
| Reverse gears | 1correct |
| Front tyres | 5, 50 x 16correct |
| Rear tyres | 9, 00 x 24correct |
| Top speed | 20 km/hcorrect |
Origin and approval
| Construction | unit construction (no separate frame)correct |
|---|---|
| Units built | 94correct |
Where this model stands
Power-to-weight ratio: 10.1 kW/t (16 kW / 1.6 t)
Power class: Compact (< 40 hp)
Stronger than 9% of the tractors in the register — out of 15,663 models with a stated power figure.
Calculated from the documented figures above — not a rating.
Frequently asked questions
How much power does the Hela D 38 have?
The Hela D 38 delivers 22 hp.
How much does the Hela D 38 weigh?
The unladen weight is 1,600 kg.
What engine does the Hela D 38 have?
2 cylinders, 2,198 cm³ displacement, Diesel.
How fast does the Hela D 38 go?
Top speed is 20 km/h.
What are the dimensions of the Hela D 38?
2,900 mm × 1,540 mm × 1,550 mm.
When was the Hela D 38 built?
Production years: 1938.
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.
- Check the weights in the papers against the figures here — attachments change them.
- Check front and rear tyre sizes: mismatched pairs strain the drivetrain.
- 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.
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This page carries 26 individual figures for this model. They come from 1 recorded source; every figure can be traced there. What we cannot document is not here — we leave gaps open rather than estimate them.
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Other models in this series
Sources: [1]
Tractor in 3D section
Turn the model, look inside and click an assembly — each one is explained.