Belarus tractors

[LiveRoll]

Years ago, I acquired a little Belarus approx. 20- 25hp 2 wd basically for my acreage, the dealer had installed power steering, and there was an issue with that but they happily rectified it. It had a little 2 cylinder air cooled engine and the fuel tank was larger than the engine, It never missed a beat, I remember cultivating the garden with an old 10 foot double disc and it just wouldn't quit had dirt coming over the top of the gangs and just kept on pulling! quite impressive, as well down pressure on 3 point was a handy feature. but I often wondered... Russia put the MIR space station up and it lasted longer in space than everyone anticipated, some leading edge technology there, but they just hadn't quite got to the point of a live PTO.
I sold that tractor and implements years ago to a friend of mine and long since moved away. But I did run into him a few years back and he kept that tractor for many trouble free years and had just sold it to someone else and he never had a minutes problem with it. Would I buy another? Perhaps, they are simple, tough, and a real mechanic can actually fix them, not just replace electronic modules etc.

Cheers

Roger

 

[JasG]

Perhaps, they are simple, tough, and a real mechanic can actually fix them, not just replace electronic modules etc.

Roger

In order for them to sell today they would have to meet emissions which would mean electronic controls at the very least on the engine.

Looks like they use Bosch for fuel injection.


Minsk Tractor Works - Tractors

 

[daugen]

Common real fuel feed

Hydraulic Sistem

interesting website...

Not sure they "get it".

Catterpillar tractors
now that's my favorite

 

[3v0]

I was read reading that too
"Set for rear wheels doubling"

 

[JasG]

Common real fuel feed

Hydraulic Sistem

interesting website...

Not sure they "get it".

Catterpillar tractors
now that's my favorite

I was read reading that too
"Set for rear wheels doubling"

That is just translation issues. I repair machinery from the US, Germany, Japan, Italy, France among a few others. I also work with people from about 40 different countries (we hire a lot of refugees), sometimes translations are a real hoot. It is very hard to get it right 100% of the time. At times you can end up with some funny sentences and statements.

Of course all the people I deal with that know more than 1 language say English is by far the hardest. Our sentence structure and spelling is very different that most.

Are you going for parts, or do you need four parts. Is something minute, or will you be there in a minute. Of course you have all of the silent letters, ph sounds, etc.

 

[3v0]

If they want to sell tractors in an international market they should hire people who can do a better job of translating then babblefish.

 

[paulharvey]

I am wondering is you can get a 310 or 320, with front 3 pt, and/or down preasure on rear. Also I dont see much about tranny options. I am prehaps more open to the idea then most. If you had the right options (true shuttle/power reverser) and down preasure for the right price I could see buying one

 

[rdbigfarmboy]

I think the new Zetors are electronics free engine controls. So there must be another way apart from computers and modules to control fuel systems and meet emissions.

 

[milkman636]

Hello gimpel,

I think the US in particular has shown a willingness to buy products from anywhere that are priced right and offer good value. If you can establish a reasonable dealer presence and offer the pricing you suggest I believe you will find buyers. Mahindra and Kioti have done it. LS is doing it right now. Even thinking back to the 1980's I remember seeing an awkward looking little orange tractor with Japanese writing and chain drive rear wheels for the first time, I think it was called a Kubota or something like that.

Speaking for myself I would not want to spend 20 or 30 thousands dollars without having someplace within reasonable distance that could offer both service in case of a serious warranty issues, and a supply of normal parts on hand.

 

[3v0]

I think the new Zetors are electronics free engine controls. So there must be another way apart from computers and modules to control fuel systems and meet emissions.

Found this

Zetor 16-valve technology used on Forterra HSX maintains all-mechanical engine controls, but reduces fuel consumption by 10% and increases torque backup to almost 40%.

Excuse me if I am skeptical. Didn't we try mechanical engine controls in the the 80s!

A mechanical control can get dirt and wear. Maybe that is a good idea if you suffer from computer phobia.

 

[gimpel]

Thanks everybody for remarks and ideas.
I don't working for Minsk Tractors Plant so this topic is not an advertisement.
There are a lot of different models being produced now and something has been changed since '80-s. The link to production line is at the JasG' post and there are correctly pointed out that translation is not right anywhere.
First, about our tractors. Exported models are equipped with electronic direct injection system from Bosch or Motorpal (Czech Republic) and meet Tier IIIA ecological requirements. Older models have mechanical injection of russian supplier or Motorpal. Engines can be from Minsk Engine Plant or (for 180 and more hp) Deutz.
Second, the question about spare parts. As INH and Jonh Deere tractors are selling widely in Russia, I know that the spare parts price is much higher than for Belarus. If we will present our tractors in the USA they will be supplied with all necessary parts.
It's clear that american market is one of the most difficult markets in the world and money-back practise (for example), so unusual in the CIS countries, is natural for americans.
Also Belarus tractors as brand name has restrictments to sell in USA because of 90-s some dark business relations between plant and its american dealer. There are some ways to avoid, but this is not the main question now.
I believe not only end-users read this forum but also the sellers. Your opinion is also very important for me.
If you have any questions, comments, conserns please do not hesitate to ask.
Regards, Peter.

 

[gimpel]

paulharvey, I can't give advice you to buy 320 model now, it has some serious disadvantages in design. Pay attention to bigger model (if it is accessible now) as 800-series.

 

[Alberta Haymaker]

Older thread but tractors from the Minsk plant in Belarus that we in N/A know as Belarus are now imported through MTZ Equipment Ltd. located in Canada with dealers in Canada/USA There was some sort of issue between the Belarus importers in Canada and the US with the Minsk plant from what I've heard and now they are being brought in by this company which I believe is an arm of Minsk Tractor works. They are called MTZ like they are in some other markets to get around not using the Belarus brand name.

They offer a whole line of tractors and plan to bring over the compact ones too down the road.

I don't understand the issues people are having with parts ... just google Belarus parts! There is several online companies in the USA and Canada that have parts plus jobber parts or dealers. I've had an 825 for 16 years really parts has never been an issue With out question its nothing fancy but it "works" and is a handy little loader tractor for around the farm. I bought mine used and of course got a good deal on it so bang for the buck at the time it was great. I had looked a long time for a 80hp MFD loader tractor with cab then ran across this 825.

Now though its getting a bit small ... well the Ezze On loader is as its been giving greif (welds breaking/cylinders bending)with the stuff I'm lifting. Not sure what I'm going to do be it a bigger/heavier loader or upgrade the tractor to something like 100hp model of some sort be what ever brand.

A New MTZ ... they've come a long way since those goofy ones they shipped over here in the 1970's!

 

[daugen]

interesting info, thanks for posting.
Your comment about the US being the toughest market is interesting.
Is that because the expectations are higher here?
Is there a wider diversity of brands here, more competition?

If you could expand on how our market is viewed, I think lots of us would be interested.
thanks again.
and most importantly,
:welcome:

 

[RUMBLON]

Personally the thought of buying anything from Russia makes me laugh. Its bad enough we buy junk fro China, Russia too!

RUMBLON

 

[Alberta Haymaker]

Personally the thought of buying anything from Russia makes me laugh.

Now why would that be? Actually most come the Minsk plant located in Belarus. However the big articulated 4 wheel drive units were the Krovets which did come from Russia.

 

[RUMBLON]

Now why would that be? Actually most come the Minsk plant located in Belarus. However the big articulated 4 wheel drive units were the Krovets which did come from Russia.

MY response started out as " PERSONALLY" I have zero use for anyting Ruussian made.

 

[rScotty]

interesting info, thanks for posting.
Your comment about the US being the toughest market is interesting.
Is that because the expectations are higher here?
Is there a wider diversity of brands here, more competition?

If you could expand on how our market is viewed, I think lots of us would be interested.
thanks again.
and most importantly,
:welcome:

Yes, I'm also curious about how the US market is viewed, and how US products are viewed over there as well.
rScotty

 

[MikeInEburg]

MY response started out as " PERSONALLY" I have zero use for anyting Ruussian made.

I think the point is that these tractors are not being made in Russia, but rather they're made in Belarus - which is a different country.

 

[daugen]

Mike you make a good point, but I think most of us who have lived through the Cold War believe that anything East of Germany is Russia. Not so of course...

I will admit to a certain bias here, but only from personal experience. There is a large Russian population in my area.
They often drive German cars, do not use turn signals, smoke constantly with butts thrown everywhere, have a serious
"me first" attitude, and from what I have seen as a social group aren't very honest. Maybe it's the old world attitude towards their corrupt government, where anything goes if you can get away with it. A "gypsy" mentality?

When the roofing crooks came through our neighborhood after a storm and told folk they could get new roofs for free, they were the insurance experts..., and three of our neighbors were suckered in. Or welcomed them....two were Russian.
Broad brush smear? Sorry, I mean no offense to anyone. Just what I have seen with my own eyes. And I try to be as non judgmental as possible and give folks a chance. Are all Russians crooks? Of course not. Rumblon is simply stating his gut feelings, feelings which, like mine, I'm sure are fashioned after many years of observation, and let's face it, some serious spin by our government. The Belarus tractor folks would like all of this nasty political stuff of the past to just disappear. But many of us have long memories.

I hope this isn't too political, but the question was asked "why" and I think it has more to do with context than the mechanical quality of those tractors. Time will cure this, the current gen of youth probably thinks the Berlin Wall was a
historical note of the far past.

A good product with good distribution, good parts, and established dealers backed up with a really good warranty will
allow Belarus to succeed. It's up to them if they can pull it off.