Ruhrthaler Motorpflug 28 PS
Built: 1915 · Series: Other models
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Ruhrthaler – other models: the collective page of the motor ploughs from Mülheim an der Ruhr, Motorpflug 28 PS and Motorpflug 45 PS, four-cylinders of 5,713 to 8,138 cm³ at 800 rpm, unladen weights from 2,800 to 2,900 kg
This page gathers the Ruhrthaler machines the register could not assign to a named range: the Motorpflug 28 PS and the Motorpflug 45 PS. Ruhrthaler, based in Mülheim an der Ruhr, was known in the Ruhr region chiefly for haulage locomotives and tractors built for underground mining, and both motor ploughs carry that character clearly: four-cylinder diesel engines of 5.7 to 8.1 litres that run at only 800 revolutions per minute deliver, despite considerable weight, only 28 to 45 hp – a design built for pulling power and continuous load rather than revs, typical of heavy haulage machines.
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The register lists here 2 versions with 28 to 45 hp from four-cylinders of 5,713 to 8,138 cm³ at 800 revolutions per minute. Unladen weights run from 2,800 to 2,900 kg, length is 3,900 mm, width 800 mm and height 2,000 mm.
Motor ploughs of this heavy, slow-running kind replaced horse-drawn haulage on farms in many places in the first half of the 20th century, before the lighter, faster-revving four-wheel-drive farm tractor took over. The pulling-power-oriented design of the Ruhrthaler engines also made such machines useful in industrial haulage, for instance shunting heavy trailers and mine wagons.
On a motor plough of this age, the condition and tightness of the slow-running four-cylinder, the cooling system and injection pump, the state of the gearbox and steering, wear on the drawbar eye and trailer coupling, and corrosion on the frame and mudguards matter most; a thorough check of the brakes and electrics is worthwhile before putting one back into service.
Sources: SpecCodex register, model data: Ruhrthaler (weitere Modelle)
Technical data
Engine
| Power | 28 hpcorrect |
|---|---|
| Power | 28 hpcorrect |
| Rated speed | 800 rpmcorrect |
| Cylinders | 4correct |
| Displacement | 5,713 cm³correct |
Dimensions and weights
| Length | 3,900 mmcorrect |
|---|---|
| Width | 800 mmcorrect |
| Height | 2,000 mmcorrect |
| Wheelbase | 2,100 mmcorrect |
| Unladen weight | 2,800 kgcorrect |
Drivetrain and chassis
| Drive | rear-wheel drivecorrect |
|---|---|
| Front tyres | Stahl 800x150 mmcorrect |
| Rear tyres | Stahl 1600x320 mmcorrect |
| Top speed | 4.3 km/hcorrect |
Origin and approval
| Construction | frame constructioncorrect |
|---|
Where this model stands
Power-to-weight ratio: 7.4 kW/t (21 kW / 2.8 t)
Power class: Compact (< 40 hp)
Stronger than 15% 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 Ruhrthaler Motorpflug 28 PS have?
The Ruhrthaler Motorpflug 28 PS delivers 28 hp.
How much does the Ruhrthaler Motorpflug 28 PS weigh?
The unladen weight is 2,800 kg.
What engine does the Ruhrthaler Motorpflug 28 PS have?
4 cylinders, 5,713 cm³ displacement.
What are the dimensions of the Ruhrthaler Motorpflug 28 PS?
3,900 mm × 800 mm × 2,000 mm.
When was the Ruhrthaler Motorpflug 28 PS built?
Production years: 1915.
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.
- 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 15 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: Wikibooks Traktorenlexikon (CC BY-SA 4.0) (retrieved August 2026) · Values adopted and presented in our own form; changes from the source are possible. · How we check the data
Tractor in 3D section
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