Is Zetor truly long lasting

Chukar09 · Aug 26, 2009

I have searched this forum for a couple of weeks now looking for infomation. Currently I am looking at the following and cannot decide:

1. New Holland TV140, 2001 model with 4140 hours. Good condition, but used.

2. Kubota M108X. This would be a rental return with 250 hours, new loader installed. (best financing options with 20% down) Also warranty of new machine.

3. Zetor 8441, with 30 demo hours and new loader.

I see a love hate with all makes/models, but cannot decide what would be the better buy for our operation.

We hay about 75 acres, run 100 head that need fed, and need to plow snow in winter. Other uses would be around farm.

Other things to consider, can get NH with NH BR780 round baler for price of Kubota Tractor alone. Zetor is about 20% less than either of the others, but dealer is two hours away in a different state. Other two dealers are in town about 1 mile apart. Have heard NH dealer has better service department, but have also heard of some horror stories on either side.

I like the NH the best (haven't sat in Zetor). What types of problems will I run into with any of these? Anything else I should consider since prices are all about the same?

Thanks. I am listening but need to get some answers to the dealers by the end of the week. The end of the month with lackluster sales this summer has them hungry, so I think odds are in my favor on the bargaining end of things.

I also looked at a Deutz-fahr, but have never known anyone that has a newer one of them.

Mike120 · Aug 26, 2009

I've got a friend with a Zetor and he loves it. He bought it used and it's got about 4K hours on it now. He uses it for baling and it's cheap HP. Only problem he's had is in getting parts because the local dealer shut down. Now he just gets them shipped to him.

Scooby074 · Aug 26, 2009

Ive read where Zetors are tough.. however my experience has proven a little different.

A friend had one on his dairy farm, and he hated it. While mechanically it was sound, electrically it was a disaster..... Always blowing fuses and lots of other electrical gremlins. To make it worse it took special european fuses that were dealer specific. I should mention that this was a early 90's machine, so their quality control may have improved. The lack of a local dealer hurts things too.

Id probably go with the NH. The BiDirectional is really handy for loader work. Plus its the mid priced of the bunch. And you get a bailer.

The large Kubotas are pretty nice, but ive read some complaints about cab size and some other things that escape me right now.

Renze · Aug 27, 2009

Scooby074 said:
A friend had one on his dairy farm, and he hated it. While mechanically it was sound, electrically it was a disaster..... Always blowing fuses and lots of other electrical gremlins. To make it worse it took special european fuses that were dealer specific. I should mention that this was a early 90's machine, so their quality control may have improved. The lack of a local dealer hurts things too.

Zetor was taken over by HTC holding of Slovakia in 2002, which has since then, installed some former Toyota chiefs. Traditionally Zetors will take a lot of abuse and still outlive 90% of the others, but there were some quality issues with parts like master brake and clutch cylinders in the 80's. minor things that are quick and cheap to replace.
Right now a Zetor isnt the cheap hp as it used to be, New Holland TDD tractors (built in Turkey) are cheaper, but have only 2/3 of the weight, and half the axle load ratings.
The Proxima 8441 is a sound tractor, the engines are fuel efficient, and have lots of torque. they lack any electronics that you wouldnt be able to fix by yourself, as the TIER 2 engine has a classic inline fuel injection pump and the 3pt is mechanical.
You can get parts from grey market suppliers like Ridgeway, for 2/3 of the dealer price.

I order most of my parts directly from the Czech republic at 1/3 to 1/4 of the price i pay at the dealer.
Apart from the tinwork, all parts for my 1967 3011 are available cheap. Some parts like a steering gear, have re-entered production recently because of new demand, though these steering gears were mounted on new tractors only untill 1972...

The tinwork forms were sold to a licensee, HMT of India, which has modified them so they cannot produce the original mudguards anymore.
I am investigating what it would cost if i had a motorhood supplier of the payloader plant i work, make glassfiber mudguards because they ask 400 euro for a pair of new ones that pop up from the loft of old dealerships every now and then...

Scooby074 · Aug 27, 2009

Renze: Sounds like Zetor has got there "stuff" together and have made the other parts of the tractor as rugged as the mechanicals. If anyone could get things together it would be former Toyota execs.