Orenstein & Koppel SB
Built: 1938 · Series: Other models
More machines from model year 1938
Orenstein & Koppel SB (1938): single-cylinder diesel tractor with thermosiphon cooling, 10.3 kW output and fewer than ten units built from the Further Models series
Orenstein & Koppel was a German manufacturer best known for light and industrial railways and construction machinery, alongside which it also built small farm tractors. The SB was built in 1938 and is among the rarest models of the brand: according to available records, fewer than ten units were made.
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The single-cylinder diesel engine has a displacement of 1,470 cm³ with a 105 mm bore and a 170 mm stroke, a clearly long-stroke ratio typical of slow-running single-cylinder diesels of the period. At 1,400 rpm it delivers 10.3 kW, equivalent to 14 horsepower, driving the rear wheels through a three-speed gearbox. Cooling is by thermosiphon, meaning circulation of heated coolant without a water pump.
Long-stroke single-cylinder diesels with thermosiphon cooling were a deliberately simple, low-maintenance design for small farm tractors, offered by several manufacturers in the 1930s alongside the better-known Lanz Bulldog. Omitting a circulation pump reduced the number of wearing parts but required a sufficiently large coolant volume.
Since the SB was built in single-digit numbers, buying a used example is practically out of the question; surviving units are mostly found in collections or museums. Anyone caring for such a vehicle should check the thermosiphon cooling for deposits, since without a circulation pump these impair cooling performance especially strongly.
Sources: SpecCodex-Register: Kennwerte des Modells SB
Technical data
Engine
| Fuel | dieselcorrect |
|---|---|
| Power | 14 hp (10.3 kW)correct |
| Rated speed | 1,400 rpmcorrect |
| Cylinders | 1correct |
| Displacement | 1,470 cm³correct |
| Bore | 105 mmcorrect |
| Stroke | 170 mmcorrect |
| Cooling | thermosiphon coolingcorrect |
Dimensions and weights
| Wheelbase | 1,450 mmcorrect |
|---|---|
| Unladen weight | 1,250 kgcorrect |
Drivetrain and chassis
| Drive | rear-wheel drivecorrect |
|---|---|
| Gearbox | 3/1correct |
Origin and approval
| Units built | < 10correct |
|---|
Where this model stands
Power-to-weight ratio: 8.2 kW/t (10 kW / 1.2 t)
Power class: Compact (< 40 hp)
Stronger than 3% 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 Orenstein & Koppel SB have?
The Orenstein & Koppel SB delivers 14 hp.
How much does the Orenstein & Koppel SB weigh?
The unladen weight is 1,250 kg.
What engine does the Orenstein & Koppel SB have?
1 cylinders, 1,470 cm³ displacement, Diesel.
When was the Orenstein & Koppel SB 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.
- 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 14 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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Sources: [1]
Tractor in 3D section
Turn the model, look inside and click an assembly — each one is explained.