Bearco Machinery from Canada has begun manufacturing three simple agricultural tractors with power ratings ranging from 150 to 260 horsepower. These Ursa Ag tractors cost a fraction of the price of comparable models from the well-known manufacturers.
By Gertjan Zevenbergen
Editor Landbouwmechanisatie, The Netherlands
Tractors are becoming far too expensive, says Bearco owner Doug Wilson. Not only to buy, but also to maintain. This is partly because they are difficult to repair, due to the extensive use of electronics. That is why he is building three simple tractors in his workshop in Bowden, in the Canadian province of Alberta. He sources parts from all over the world. The cab is very simple. Hydraulic valves are operated mechanically and, like most other levers, are equipped with Bowden cables or another mechanical connection. The seat, however, is air-suspended.
The smallest model, the Ursa Ag 150, is equipped with a 5.9-liter six-cylinder Cummins engine with an output of 110 kW (150 hp). The tractor is 5.25 meters long and has a wheelbase of 2.70 meters. The Ursa Ag 180 has the same specifications, but its engine delivers 132 kW (180 hp). Both tractors weigh 6,000 kg. The largest model, the Ursa Ag 260, is 2,600 kg heavier, has a total length of 5.66 meters, and is equipped with a Carraro front axle. This tractor is also equipped with a Cummins engine, but with a displacement of 8.3 liters. It delivers 191 kW (260 hp). The fuel pump is also mechanical.
In an interview with American media, Wilson stated that the engines he installs are all remanufactured. This keeps the price low. The Ursa Ag 150, for example, costs 129,900 Canadian dollars (currently USD 95,000 / EUR 80,800). The Ursa Ag 180 costs CAD 149,900 (USD 109,600 / EUR 93,300), and the 260-hp top model costs CAD 199,900 dollars (USD 146,200 / EUR 124,400 euros). According to Wilson, that’s about half the price of a Zetor with the same power output.
Wilson has been selling attachments, loaders, and mini dumpers imported from China for some time now with a limited dealer network in Canada. The idea is that any local mechanic can handle maintenance of the Ursa Ag.
