Wesseler WL 230 E
Built: 1959–1964 · Series: WL
More machines from model year 1959
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Wesseler WL – the second tractor range of the farm-machinery dealer from Rheine: WL 12 to WL 340 E, the number as hp class, E as upgrade, MWM diesels with one to three cylinders and 0.9 to 3.1 litres, 9 to 28 kW
The WL range is the second tractor family of Wesseler of Rheine in Westphalia, the farm-machinery dealer that in the 1950s, like many small post-war firms, built tractors from bought-in components – engines from MWM of Mannheim, gearboxes and axles from suppliers – before the big makers pushed the small series out in the 1960s. The type logic: W marks the brand, L the range, the number the hp class – WL 12 about 12 hp, WL 18 18 hp, WL 28 28 hp – the three-digit types WL 230 E and WL 340 E the later models with power step and appended generation digit, E an upgrade. The engines are MWM diesels with one cylinder in the smallest, two in the medium and three in the large types, 0.9 to 3.1 litres at about 2,000 rpm – slow-running engines regarded as frugal and long-lived.
Read on 3 more paragraphs
The register lists 8 versions with 8.8 to 27.8 kW from one- to three-cylinders of 905 to 3,120 cm³, unladen weights from 790 to 1,800 kg, lengths from 2,450 to 3,070 mm, widths from 1,430 to 1,600 mm and heights from 1,450 to 1,770 mm.
Wesseler tractors are rare collectors' pieces of Westphalian tractor history today; the WL range differs from the W range in its later build period and upgrades, technically the base stays the same.
On used tractors, originality, the condition of the MWM engine (parts through MWM vintage specialists), clutch, gearbox, hydraulics and sheet metal count; supplier components are often identical to those of other small brands of the time.
Sources: SpecCodex register, model data: Wesseler WL, Wesseler (Wikipedia)
Technical data
Engine
| Fuel | dieselcorrect |
|---|---|
| Power | 30 hp (22 kW)correct |
| Cylinders | 2correct |
| Displacement | 2,080 cm³correct |
| Cooling | air-cooledcorrect |
Dimensions and weights
| Length | 2,960 mmcorrect |
|---|---|
| Width | 1,560 mmcorrect |
| Height | 1,620 mmcorrect |
| Wheelbase | 1,985 mmcorrect |
| Unladen weight | 1,390 kgcorrect |
Drivetrain and chassis
| Drive | rear-wheel drivecorrect |
|---|---|
| Gearbox | 8/4-Getriebecorrect |
| Forward gears | 8correct |
| Reverse gears | 4correct |
| Front tyres | 5.50-16correct |
| Rear tyres | 10-28, 11-28correct |
| Top speed | 20 km/hcorrect |
Origin and approval
| Construction | frameless unit constructioncorrect |
|---|
Where this model stands
Power-to-weight ratio: 15.8 kW/t (22 kW / 1.4 t)
Power class: Compact (< 40 hp)
Stronger than 16% 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 Wesseler WL 230 E have?
The Wesseler WL 230 E delivers 30 hp.
How much does the Wesseler WL 230 E weigh?
The unladen weight is 1,390 kg.
What engine does the Wesseler WL 230 E have?
2 cylinders, 2,080 cm³ displacement, Diesel.
How fast does the Wesseler WL 230 E go?
Top speed is 20 km/h.
What are the dimensions of the Wesseler WL 230 E?
2,960 mm × 1,560 mm × 1,620 mm.
When was the Wesseler WL 230 E built?
Production years: 1959–1964.
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 20 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
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Tractor in 3D section
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