Steyr 540
Built: until 1977 · Series: Plus-Serie
More machines from model year 1977
Steyr Plus series – tractors from St. Valentin built through the 1970s and 1980s: types 30, 40, 40a and 40h alongside the 1200(a) and 540, two- to six-cylinder diesels from 22 to 85 kW, with and without four-wheel drive
The Plus series brings together Steyr tractors from the 1970s and 1980s, built at the St. Valentin plant in Upper Austria. Steyr, which grew out of the Steyr arms works and had been building tractors since the 1940s, ordered its models in this period using two- to three-digit type numbers, with the digits broadly marking the power class. The letter a after the type number denotes four-wheel drive at Steyr, while models without that suffix were supplied with rear-wheel drive; the h on the 40h marks a high-wheel or special version within the same base line. The 1200 marks the upper end of the range covered here with clearly larger displacement, while the 30, 40 and 540 types cover the smaller and mid-range power classes.
Read on 3 more paragraphs
The register lists four versions here with 22.1 to 84.6 kW from two- to six-cylinder diesel engines with 1,992 to 5,976 cm³ displacement. Rated speed lies between 2,000 and 2,400 rpm, unladen weight ranges from 1,761 to 4,036 kg with lengths from 3,250 to 4,190 mm, widths from 1,614 to 2,154 mm and heights from 1,512 to 2,340 mm.
The Plus series dates from a period when Steyr competed on the European market alongside Fendt, Deutz and the international brands for farms in the Alpine countries and central Europe; the four-wheel-drive models with the a suffix found early favour on slopes and in mountainous regions, a segment in which Steyr traditionally held a strong position.
When buying used, it is worth checking the steering knuckles and front axle bearings on the four-wheel-drive versions, the condition of the clutch and gearbox, and corrosion on the wings and cab frame where a cab was fitted. Parts for the engine and drivetrain remain available through the Steyr Traktoren network under CNH Industrial, while independent suppliers are worth checking for attachments.
Sources: SpecCodex register, model data: Steyr Plus-Serie, Steyr (CNH Industrial, Hersteller)
Technical data
Engine
| Engine make | Steyrcorrect |
|---|---|
| Engine | Dieselmotor, 3 Zylinder, 2, 355 l, 29 kW (40 PS)correct |
| Fuel | dieselcorrect |
| Power | 40 hp (29.4 kW)correct |
| Rated speed | 2,400 rpmcorrect |
| Torque | 153 Nmcorrect |
| Speed at max. torque | 1,400 rpmcorrect |
| Cylinders | 3correct |
| Displacement | 2,356 cm³correct |
| Bore | 100 mmcorrect |
| Stroke | 100 mmcorrect |
| Injection pressure | 215 barcorrect |
| Cooling | water-cooledcorrect |
Dimensions and weights
| Length | 3,330 mmcorrect |
|---|---|
| Width | 1,614 mmcorrect |
| Height | 1,534 mmcorrect |
| Wheelbase | 1,950 mmcorrect |
| Ground clearance | 380 mmcorrect |
| Unladen weight | 1,870 kgcorrect |
Drivetrain and chassis
| Drive | rear- or four-wheel drivecorrect |
|---|---|
| Gearbox | 8V/6Rcorrect |
| Forward gears | 8correct |
| Reverse gears | 6correct |
| Front tyres | 6.00-16 ASF (A: 6.50-20 AS)correct |
| Rear tyres | 11-28 AScorrect |
| Top speed | 30 km/hcorrect |
Working data
| Fuel tank capacity | 62 lcorrect |
|---|
Origin and approval
| Plant | St. Valentin, Austriacorrect |
|---|---|
| Construction | unit construction (no separate frame)correct |
Other data
| Linkage category | Cat I/IIcorrect |
|---|
Where this model stands
Power-to-weight ratio: 15.7 kW/t (29 kW / 1.9 t)
Power class: Compact (< 40 hp)
Stronger than 25% 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 Steyr 540 have?
The Steyr 540 delivers 40 hp.
How much does the Steyr 540 weigh?
The unladen weight is 1,870 kg.
What engine does the Steyr 540 have?
3 cylinders, 2,356 cm³ displacement, Diesel.
How fast does the Steyr 540 go?
Top speed is 30 km/h.
What are the dimensions of the Steyr 540?
3,330 mm × 1,614 mm × 1,534 mm.
When was the Steyr 540 built?
Production years: ?–1977.
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 34 individual figures for this model. They come from 4 recorded sources; 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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