Utb/universal U-510
Built: 1979–1990 · Series: 500
More machines from model year 1979
Not the right version? The data comes from vehicle registers holding many near-identical versions side by side. Photograph the data plate — we read make and type from it. Open the scanner e-mail address required
UTB Universal 500 – the Romanian farm tractors of the 1970s: U-453 DT to U-553 DT, 33 to 41 kW from three- and four-cylinder engines
The UTB Universal 500 range bundles the models U-453 to U-553 of the Romanian maker Tractorul Braşov from the 1970s, sold under the export brand Universal, or UTB. The number in the type designation gives the power class roughly, DT and DTC mark the four-wheel-drive versions.
Read on 3 more paragraphs
The register lists here 5 versions with 33.1 to 40.5 kW from three- to four-cylinders of 2,399 to 3,118 cc, unladen weights from 1,920 to 3,125 kg, lengths from 2,959 to 3,770 mm, widths from 1,570 to 1,839 mm and heights from 1,520 to 2,500 mm, torque from 132 to 174 Nm at a rated speed of 2,400 rpm.
The 500 range was, in the 1970s, one of the medium power classes in the UTB programme and, like the other Universal tractors, was exported in large numbers to Western Europe too, where it found buyers as an affordable alternative to Western brands. Unlike the more varied range of other UTB models, the 500 series formed a self-contained medium power class for medium-sized farms in Romania and its export markets.
On the 500 range, what counts is the condition and compression of the three- or four-cylinder diesel, the condition of the four-wheel-drive clutch on the DT and DTC models, the tightness of the hydraulics, and rust on bodywork and cab; parts are partly still available through Eastern European dealers.
Sources: SpecCodex register, model data: UTB Universal 500
Technical data
Engine
| Fuel | dieselcorrect |
|---|---|
| Power | 48 hp (35.3 kW)correct |
| Rated speed | 2,400 rpmcorrect |
| Cylinders | 3correct |
| Displacement | 2,696 cm³correct |
| Bore | 102 mmcorrect |
| Stroke | 110 mmcorrect |
| Compression ratio | 17correct |
| Injection pressure | 125 barcorrect |
| Cooling | water-cooledcorrect |
Dimensions and weights
| Length | 2,959 mmcorrect |
|---|---|
| Width | 1,830 mmcorrect |
| Height | 1,520 mmcorrect |
| Wheelbase | 1,930 mmcorrect |
| Ground clearance | 470 mmcorrect |
| Unladen weight | 1,943 kgcorrect |
Drivetrain and chassis
| Drive | rear-wheel drivecorrect |
|---|---|
| Gearbox | 8 V/2 Rcorrect |
| Front tyres | 6.50-16 ASF (DT: 9.5-20 AS)correct |
| Rear tyres | 14.9-28 AScorrect |
| Top speed | 23 km/hcorrect |
Origin and approval
| Construction | unit construction (no separate frame)correct |
|---|
Where this model stands
Power-to-weight ratio: 18.2 kW/t (35 kW / 1.9 t)
Power class: Universal (40–100 hp)
Stronger than 32% 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 Utb/universal U-510 have?
The Utb/universal U-510 delivers 48 hp.
How much does the Utb/universal U-510 weigh?
The unladen weight is 1,943 kg.
What engine does the Utb/universal U-510 have?
3 cylinders, 2,696 cm³ displacement, Diesel.
How fast does the Utb/universal U-510 go?
Top speed is 23 km/h.
What are the dimensions of the Utb/universal U-510?
2,959 mm × 1,830 mm × 1,520 mm.
When was the Utb/universal U-510 built?
Production years: 1979–1990.
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.
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 23 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.
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 →
Other models in this series
Sources: [1]
Tractor in 3D section
Turn the model, look inside and click an assembly — each one is explained.
