Engine overhaul periods for different brands?

[freedomlives]

I'm split between buying a Japanese import tractor (Iseki, Kubota or Yanmar) and a Belarus 320 or 321. The latter I was driving at a friend's yesterday, and it seems fine, despite having a non-synchro, non-hydroassist transmission.

The Belarus uses a Lombardini 1603 diesel engine, and one of the nice things about Lombardini is that they have their service manuals as a free download. Their maintenance schedule is that every 1200 hours sleeves need to be changed-- though, it isn't clear exactly what's supposed to be done, because the product literature says "Cast iron engine block with re-borable integral liners.", but I guess it means take to machine shop to get rebored. And then at 5000 hours "partial overhaul" and 10 000 hours "complete overhaul".

One thing is that there is a used, 3 year old Belarus 320 for a good price, with 1100 engine hours. Current owner has had it for a year and not used it much, and I need to get the wife to probe what it was used for before, but given that it has the additional front PTO and 3pt, probably mowing and/or snow blowing.

I just wonder in comparison to these 15-25 year old Japanese tractors-- are there even service manuals for their engines? How often do they need to be overhauled?

 

[Kernopelli]

As far as service intervals, I would have a hard time with the 1200hr sleeve replacement. It just seems much sooner than I would expect from any of the small Japanese engines. With any of them, I would be disappointed if I had to perform a similar service at less than 2500 hrs. and I have seen way more hours than that before doing anything other than basic maintenance.

I will be honest, I didn't even know Belarus was still making tractors but it sounds like parts support would be no problem. That's not the case with some of the older Japanese tractors but there are still plenty of models that have parts support and available manuals.

What is your primary use for the tractor going to be?

 

[CincyFlyer]

Also note that a high usage rate (more hours per year) typically ends up with more hours between overhauls, if the maintenance is similar. It's certainly true with airplane engines.

 

[freedomlives]

Primary use is going to be the front end loader. To move bales of hay and loose hay (make some sort of buck-rake), as well as moving soil and gravel. Pulling a trailer to move those things, and also to carry water for cattle and firewood.

Then I would want to pull a subsoiler to pipes in the ground, but that's going to be a one-off or once-in-a-long while use. Eventually, perhaps, some other implements, but I'm pretty well covered with my two wheel tractors right now for everything else.

My guess is that it would be a while before I got to the 5000 hour partial overhaul.

 

[freedomlives]

They are definitely in full production. Even in Canada there is a company importing them. Products: Minsk Tractor Works

The Belarus 321 is pretty no-frills, manual gearbox, but shifted fine. The one thing it lacks that I really liked on some of the Japanese tractors I looked at is the reverser on the steering column. I figure that is nicer for FEL work.

 

[Kernopelli]

I can tell you first hand, if loader work is going to be a main use, I wouldn't settle for a machine without FWD, power steering and a shuttle shift/ reverser....just a thought.

 

[freedomlives]

I can tell you first hand, if loader work is going to be a main use, I wouldn't settle for a machine without FWD, power steering and a shuttle shift/ reverser....just a thought.

The Belarus 321 has the first two, just not the third. There are three different levers for shifting-- "Hi - Lo" on the floor, and then on the right side of the front bulkhead is "1 - 2 - 3 - 4" and "I - R - II". So going between forward and reverse isn't such a problem, but still from an ergonomic perspective, every FEL I've seen has its controls also on the right side, so a bit of a nuisance to be reaching down. Also, what I see available on the used market is the 320.4, which is the same, but with a cabin that I'd just as soon not have.

 

[Kernopelli]

For years, I could not see the benefits of a cab on a small tractor. I always felt it would be more of a hindrance than help. However, I began running a cabbed backhoe and wheel loaders at work and I fell in love. Admittedly, they can be hot in the summer so you had better be able to open doors and windows or have A/C. The comfort in winter temperatures, snow and rain is where they REALLY shine though. Also nice when doing dusty jobs like cutting hay. It looks like your seasonal temps are fairly moderate but If you will be relying on it for daily farm chores and feeding livestock, you may give a cab some consideration.

 

[buickanddeere]

Properly maintained and operated. Odds are the equipment will outlast the owner/operator.

 

[shui5612]

My deutz-fahr doesn't even include it in the manual.. dealer told me that an engine overhaul happens usually at the 10-12k hours.. with some getting as high as 16k before an overhaul...

John deers , NH, knots and yanmars, dealers usually say 5-7K before an overhaul....

1200h seems way too soon...

On a side note, Older Belarus's weren't killable... people buy them here for the woods and mountains... a welder, hammer, screwdriver, pliers and tape is what you need to fix anything on it.