Belarus 400AN

[jimb111]

Does anyone know the reliability of a 95 Belarus 400AN or any other information that would help in making a decision to buy or not to buy. I believe the tractor has 400+ hours.
I am a little concerned as this is an air cooled 50HP engine and and woundering if anyone knows if they have any cooling problems.
Thanks for your advice and help.

 

[buckle97]

This is only my personal opinion, but it is based on my own experience. Save yourself the trouble and forget about it.
In '98 I bought a '91 model 400A with 444 hours on it (so the meter said). Looked a little rough but it was only $2,500. The tractor had more power than I knew what to do with. It was extremely heavy duty and worked fine once it was started.
I had electrical problems from day one. After a year I finally rewired it and that solved most everything electrical. I had chronic hydraulic leaks and anywhere there was a seal there was a broken seal.
Another problem with owning a Belarus is dealer support. I bought mine from an individual and he claimed he knew of no dealers in the area. I finally tracked one down 250 miles away. That was very inconvenient.
As to your cooling question, mine was also air cooled. The temp was pretty normal the first season but after that I could not keep the temp down. I was constantly blowing out the filters but the temp was never in the "range" I felt the tractor should be in.
Basically the Belarus tractors are great workers when they are running properly, but you may spend the majority of your time trying to fix a problem when it arises (and it will be often). If you are looking for reliability, you are looking at the wrong brand.
I kept that tractor until last June when I finally upgraded to a brand new Kubota. The 3830 is much smaller but I am able to get much more work done simply because of the reliability factor. I actually unloaded the Belarus for $1,000 and had a hard time finding someone to pay that much.

Lawrence

 

[jimb111]

Thanks very much for your time and advice Lawrence. Do you know the difference between the 400AN and the 400 you had.
Jb

 

[Gatorboy]

<font color="blue"> to buy or not to buy </font>

My vote is NOT to buy. I have not heard good things about Belarus tractors.

 

[Evasive1]

Not positive but I think the 400an is the low profile version of the 400a.
Here is a link to the Belarus web Belarus homepage

When I was on my quest of a new tractor I looked at several Belarus tractors and every one of them had hydraulic leaks.

 

[frank_f15]

I would pass! i looked at one a few years ago, was not impressed. also did some checking and dealer support is very minimal.

 

[RichZ]

My neighbor has a Belarus, and it is by far the worst tractor I have ever seen. It breaks down more often than it runs, and parts can be hard to find, and are always expensive. Every seal on it leaks, and it leaves a toxic trail where ever it goes. I've heard much the same from other Belarus (usually former Belarus) owners. My advice is to stay away from it.

 

[buckle97]

<font color="blue"> (Do you know the difference between the 400AN and the 400 you had.) </font>

I am not sure. I have never seen an "AN" in person but that low profile idea sounds about right. My "A" was very tall (taller than it needed to be). Mine also did not have ROPS. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
Lawrence

 

[sweettractors]

I agree that you should RUN in the opposite direction when you hear Belarus mentioned. Nothing, in the way of dealers or support parts that I know of--Ken Sweet
Sweet Farm Equipment LLC *New and Used sickle bar mowers and cultipackers*

 

[rtimgray]

As a former Belarus 420AN owner, I can give you some firsthand insight into my experiences. The AN is merely the low-profile version of the tractor, sits lower to the ground (i.e. smaller tires).

The 420AN I had was a powerful machine, but it had it's share of problems, mostly electrical and hydraulic. I finally did have it pretty much rewired and fixed the worst of the leaks using aftermarket parts (many of the Belarus parts are not very good quality and are fairly expensive).

I'm not sure about dealer support - there is Petsch (sp) in Hopkinsville, KY that used to and I think still does deal with Belarus tractors; most of my parts came from Beshears in Alabama. I'm not sure if they are still in the Belarus business or not.

To purchase one would depend on your needs and desires. If you need an occasional powerhouse and don't mind working on leaks, electrical stuff, etc., and can get it at a bargain basement price, hey go for it. But if you want something that you can just go out, turn the key, and go, maybe steer clear.

If given the opportunity to pick one up for $1000 to $1500, I probably would, simply as a spare time tinker tractor. I would not buy one as my sole tractor (although I got by for about 6 years with one).

The air cooled engine was the best part of the tractor. In all the time that I had it it never, ever, leaked or burned one drop of engine oil, and I ran both dino and synthetic (not at the same time). It ran better on synthetic, in my experience. The guys that I talked to at the Belarus headquarters in Milwaukee (at the time) said that you can't really go by the gauge for the air cooled engines because it is the same one that they use for the water cooled engines, which run in the middle of the gauge normally. The air cooled engines peg the gauge. I got an aftermarket and it worked out alright. I can't remember the temp it ran, but I want to say it was about 250 F.

Again, just decide if you want a tractor to tinker or one to work with. The Belarus can be an excellent value if you have the time and patience. Good luck.

 

[ZJ_HR]

Just a remark on ait colled engines.
DEUTZ uses temperature gauge with sensor mounted in 3rd head of engine.
SAME uses temperature gauge with sensor mounted in OIL line near filter.
Both temperature gauges are special, not equal to ones for water cooled engines.
So, easiest way to install aftermarket temperature gauge is by measuring OIL temperature. Temperature of 130C is normal.
Hope this helps.

 

[rtimgray]

The sensor that I used was from JC whitney for measuring oil temperature. I think that 130C equals about 266F, so I may have been a little off in my memory. I plugged the aftermarket temp gauge into the same place as the factory gauge, which I think was somewhere around the oil cleaner.

I was also told by the Belarus guys in Milwaukee that the engine used in the 400/420 was a copy of a particular Duetz engine (which one and how good of a copy I don't know).

I think I remember that for a while, just a few years ago, the Belarus Machinery, Inc. (or whatever their name was) went out of business, but there is someone else importing them now, I think.

Ironically, it turns out that they guy that I sold my tractor to, who lives about 12 miles from me, hasn't used the tractor more than a couple of hours. I work with his son (and am known as the "tractor guy" at work) he came to ask me some questions about a Belarus tractor that his dad had bought a few years ago. The more we talked, the more familiar the tractor sounded. Finally, I asked him if it had "The Big Red Machine" stencilled on the canopy (something I did a while ago), so it turns out it was mine. It turns out it may be for sale in the near future...if the price is right, I'm not sure I can turn it down (but I'll know what I'm getting -back- into).

 

[jimb111]

Thanks very much folks for your input/advice.

 

[buckle97]

Well, have you made your decision? Do you need a reliable machine or just an occasional powerhouse? Is it too good of a deal to pass up?

Lawrence

 

[Kevin_in_VA]

I used to have a Belarus 250AS. It didn't cost me anything but diesel fuel, oil, hydraulic fluid, and batteries. It was thrown in by the old guy I bought the place from. After about 375 hrs the clutch and brakes went out. Not out of adjustment mind you, burned out. Before that it was a hard working machine. I sold it to a guy here on TBN who wanted one to fix up.

My closest dealer was about 120 miles away. That's usually one of the biggest issues with these tractors, dealer suppport and parts availability.

One nice thing about the Belarus is that there is down pressure on the 3 point, but that is really a minor point unless you are using a post hole digger.

Kevin

 

[jimb111]

Have not made a decision yet. I made the seller a conditional offer yesterday and have not got a response. He lives approx. 150 miles from me and all I have seen is photos. It will be costly to hire someone to transport and he states that the starter does not work. That alone is somewhere around $400. Thanks for your help and I will let you know if I buy.

 

[jimb111]

I failed to fully reply to your question in my last post but to continue, I do not need a tractor for anything but a toy and handling hay for 3 horses on small acreage.
I have been retired from the Feds for some time and now I am on my 3rd year working as a consultant to the same organization through a contractor. Bottom line is, I do not plan on working much longer and I enjoy tinkering with machines so the Belarus does not scare me.

 

[Indjls]

I have a 420Belarus (4wdversion) which I inherited from my dad. It is a 1989 and has lots of hours. It has held up very well as dad used it for everything. It does leak at most of the fittings, but 30 weight oil is used for hydraulic fluid soo is no big deal. Have all the original manuals needed for repairs. Even have one in Russian!! They are powerhouses and love the downpressure for grading. They do seem to run hot , but from the other posts I guess 100 to 120c is normal. Good Luck on your decision. Jim

 

[horsepoorchap]

thanks for the info... I passed on a 400An in Texas...

 

[hurliman]

You had a much better tractor in the Belarus than a Kubota! Had your Belarus not been abused by the previous owner, I am sure you would have loved it.