Belarus article

[Jay4200]

Saw this article this morning - for anyone interested in a little info er:commie tractors. Apologies for post placement - there isn't a 'general BS' forum here...

Belarus’ Post-Soviet Economy: Tractors to World of Tanks

 

[Farmer495]

Neat, always liked the larger Belarus in a way, not in a way enough to own one though...

 

[RjCorazza]

Interesting article, thanks for posting the link. When I was first shopping for tractors I gave Belarus a hard look. There was actually a local dealer, but I couldn't get over how Spartan the tractors were. Reminded me of my old Farmall H.

 

[Farmer495]

There are a ton of Belarus tractors around here, especially the 1980's models like the 250, 400, 572, 825 etc. They were big bang for the dollar, but not too many farmers bought them, mainly the real small hobby guys or the guy needing a woods/snow removal tractor.

Biggest issue seems to be consistent dealers, some guy (usually in his backyard or existing business) opens a Belarus dealer, sells a bunch of tractors, then closes up 3 to 4 years later.

I can go get parts for IH, David Brown, Ford, MF, Kubota, Deere at the same places that sold them 40 years ago. Might have a different sign out front from mergers etc, but I know where to get parts. With Belarus, can make a list of where you USED to be able to get parts. I know the internet has made things easier and MTZ just relaunched heavy here so time will tell.

 

[seaneastok]

Buddy of mine own's two..Got them cheap at auction because everyone else was afraid of them..and that has been 20 plus year's ago...Good machine's with no other problems than any other brand has experienced,he has to drive a bit to get part's..But he can still get them...The smaller of the two had power down on the three point...made short work of a fence line..

 

[MattLynch]

I priced a new 105hp MTZ before I bought my MF. Way overpriced. In Europe the same tractor with loader is under $30,000 CAD, here it was $75,000. Didn't even consider it after that for such a basic, awkward tractor with no dealer support.

 

[Farmer495]

I priced a new 105hp MTZ before I bought my MF. Way overpriced. In Europe the same tractor with loader is under $30,000 CAD, here it was $75,000. Didn't even consider it after that for such a basic, awkward tractor with no dealer support.

Yup, priced them at Farm Mech show in Moncton, about fell over when he said the price.

 

[big bubba]

never looked that closely at them. as mentioned, parts/service support could be a concern. have heard numerous complaints of clutch issues, maybe just on earlier models.

 

[DeutzFahr85]

I priced a new 105hp MTZ before I bought my MF. Way overpriced. In Europe the same tractor with loader is under $30,000 CAD, here it was $75,000. Didn't even consider it after that for such a basic, awkward tractor with no dealer support.

Aside from the price was the fact they came off the crude platform. The machine I saw at National Farm Machinery show in Louisville had some odd and cheesy electronics inside the cab. I believe even Electronic range control for shifting. If I'm buying one I want bare bones mechanical everything. I think that one had a list price of about $100,000 USD

 

[ArtMech]

Maybe they think America is capable to purchase whatever will be proposed at whatever price. You know, business is business...

 

[Industrial Toys]

They have had ads lately in the farm mags. Saying they have high hp tractors without computers and no dpf! How is this possible or legal?

A friend once bough one in the 80s. Had a mile long list of deficiencies to be addressed. But he kept it and used it for many years til he died.


Someone once compared the Belarus to the difference between US fighter jets and the MIG.

A US fighter jet requires a huge support structure and technicians to accompany it.

A Mig can land without undercarriage. You just jack it up fold the wheels down and take off again!

There is something to be said for crude! Maybe more so today than ever!

 

[DeutzFahr85]

They have had ads lately in the farm mags. Saying they have high hp tractors without computers and no dpf! How is this possible or legal?

I would assume they will have to comply with teir 4 eventually. The epa will only allow you to bring in so many non conforming engines before they **** you down. The other big companies start years in advance to get there as it is certainly beneficial to get the bugs worked out sooner than necessary.

 

[ArtMech]

Don't worry, they are installing Detroit, Deutz and Lombardini engines on the tractors to be sold in the countries, where it's necessary to comply TIER 4 or higher emissions. Have heard president Lukashenko saying that and have seen such tractors.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Or, they will comply the same way VW did. But, I like that. Screw the man. Or in the case of our premier, the woman who looks like a man.

 

[ArtMech]

Or, they will comply the same way VW did. But, I like that. Screw the man. Or in the case of our premier, the woman who looks like a man.

Your sarcasm is close to me. Guess each of us think much more than can say.
I've bought a tractor from the Western country. I didn't do it in my country, where there are a lot of them at every corner, BTW cheap ones (if about grey market). Don't ask me why I did it so :laughing:.

VW issues are too much sophisticated comparing to good engine adaption in a tractor. Some countries could not understand a dispute at all, especially those, where the oil spots, tyres and other stuff in the rivers and lakes are quite normal. In many cases including mine.

 

[big bubba]

well as a diversion from the same part of the world, what ever happened to the Yugo?

 

[ArtMech]

well as a diversion from the same part of the world, what ever happened to the Yugo?

Same like sooner or later will happen with Moscovia.

Serbia (like Moscow) ate the main part of budget, leaving much less for the others, who were working sometimes much more harder than metropolis. Inequality. Conflicts also could be ignited by religion, national issues (Serbians, Croatian nationalists, Albanians, Bosnian Muslims). Later 1996-1999-2001 among ethnic Slav dominating governments of Kosovo, Macedonia, Serbia and the Albanian national minority, West/East influence, and/or other reasons. Perestroika, like for the rest of the world, also was one of the most influential factor.

Sorry, I'm not a specialist of former Yugoslavia. That's just how I understand it. Please correct me, if I'm wrong.

But again, this thread is about Belarus tractor article, not political :confused3:.

 

[MHarryE]

well as a diversion from the same part of the world, what ever happened to the Yugo?

Ironically I made a trip to Serbia and Croatia this fall (both parts of the former Yugoslavia). My tour guides in both countries had the same story about the Yugo - short for You Gonna Die. Yugo plant now taken over by Fiat - Fix It Again Tony. Don't kill me - I am only repeating what the natives said.

 

[MattLynch]

 

[MattLynch]

View attachment 493414
New 2016, no loader though. Lots on the web for sale, easy to find prices on internet forums as well. I was quoted $74,000 for the same with loader from NB dealer.