Belarus / MTZ Tractors

[Klause]

Hi All,


I figured I'd clear a few things up as people have been asking me lately...


1. Belarus Equipment of Canada is defunct. They do not represent anything anymore.

2. The "Belarus" trade name is not actually a manufacturer. It was a trade name from the USSR days to market Soviet / Belarusian/ Ukrainian equipment in North America.

3.The smaller (25-125hp) tractors were built by Minsk Tractor Works ("MTZ"). The medium sized 4WDs were Ukrainian built. The large (7111/7011/7010/7110) 4WDs were built by the Kirov factory (thus known as Kirovets). Combines (Don1500 and Belarus 8400) were built by Rostselmash, which now owns Versatile.


4. MTZ has a representative in Canada known as MTZ Equipment. Their website can be found here... http://www.mtzequipment.com/

MTZ today builds a lot more models than ever before... right up to 300HP plus. They also have the only near-production diesel-electric hybrid tractor, which should be in full production within a few years.... MTZ's website shows all available models: http://tractors.com.by/


5. MTZ is one of the largest builders of tractors in the world.... and today's units aren't the Belarus tractors of the 80s and 90s...


6. MTZ's lineup in Canada has no Tier IV emissions equipment. The engines are still simple, fuel efficient, and run forever... Only major difference is an electronic injection system.

7. MTZ Canada also has a discussion / support forum for current and previous tractors http://www.mtztractortalk.com/


Ok, there ya have it folks

-Chris

[oneoff]

The iron can still be recycled for scrap

The rubber components (tires, belts etc never were any good from the beginning.

Maybe they'd run forever; but there were spare parts to consider; fixing and leaks...leaks...leaks and stiff hydraulic controls and "unresponsiveness"; and the 10 years of parts and most likely the required depot in Sask. is a thing of the past.

Sometimes its just best to move on and remember that those units did pay for themselves and don't owe anyone very much.

[oneoff]

But it was possible to rebuild a diesel injection pump and actually make it work as well as new. The 4 speed power shifts may very well have been indestructible; and the air brakes were made to stop a train.

If only the rims were a little thicker; and the tires more servicable and the cabs more dust proof etc. etc.

But in a pinch you could run a combine in near pouring rain and still thresh the wheat out.

Bigger tractors sorely needed duals; but maybe the planetaries wouldn't have stood the stress; and yet maybe instead of those radials squirming in an attempt at making a turn instead of continuing in a straight line......who knows .....somebody actually could have created a tractor that had all the features, at real reasonable costs and belched out black smoke that proved they didn't mind hard work.

[oneoff]

Thanks for the memories

[stonepicker]

Klause, you did say that the new units aren't like the belarus of the 80's,90's didn't you? That's what i read anyways. I think there is lots of room in the market for a simple well built tractor of any horsepower.Something you can actually fix, labour at the implement dealers is a killer.

[blackpowder]

Its a matter of trust. In the product and the manufacturer support/dealer network.

[arie515]

New tractors kept the reliability and simplicity of the old machines, and addressed main shortcomings.
Main improvements include:
- Better cab, with AC
- Straight Axle to handle loaders better
- Brand new hoses, vavles, couplers to eliminate leakages
- Bausch type electric wiring with quick disconnects and common fuses for easier service
- Factory installed joystick
- Easier transmission operation (separate lever for speeds, range, hi-low)

Price remains most competitive in the industry.
Simple Tier 3 engine have no computers nor complicated electronics, so many farmers can easily service them in house, using a screwdriver and a wrench.

[stonepicker]

Sounds good, hopefully someday they'll be in a dealership near me.

[Klause]

How far from humboldt are you?

[rockpile]

I had a friend in the 80"s who bought a Don 1500. Very impressive - clean sample, no loss out the back and hardly burned any diesel. I asked him if he had any trouble getting parts. He said getting parts was not a problem but lifting them up was.