Zetor 4341

[rScotty]

Hello Prokop. Thanks for the link and the Czech info. I first became a fan of Czech manufactured goods back when our motorcycle shop imported some Jawa's, CZs, and some sidecars for BMWs. The quality was astonishing at any price....and the price was shamefully low. Later I was to find the same thing was true in machine tools and air rifles.

Frankly I was hoping to buy a new Zetor this time around and I'm no longer as much concerned with price. But our only dealer within a two day drive closed up. Zetor's problem in the US has always been distribution and dealerships. I wonder why? In fact now that I think of it that's the problem with their motorcycles and machine tools too. But not so much with the air rifles. What else do they build that is so good?
rScotty - BTW, I'm growing hops this year.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Well, today was the day. I finally worked out the deal and bought the tractor. It is a 2003 Zetor 4341/FEL one owner with 312 hrs. The check should clear and the tractor be delivered to me by next Thursday or Friday. I am going to absolutely go crazy waiting for its arrival. I will likely use my current 5' brush hog at first, but will be purchasing a larger one in the very near future. Thanks for all the comments and suggestions to everone, and I will certainly post pictures upon its arrival.

I bought the 3 cyl version (40+HP) in 1992 but my business ate it in 1996 and it was a sad day to see it go. I used a 6' mower and it was just fine weight/power wise. It was a top notch tractor that under full load burned less than a gallon of fuel per hour.

The FEL will outwork a JD, etc if the same as back then because they had the strongest lift system on the market I think. Getting hotg does not weaken the lifting power it seemed to me.

Enjoy your new Zetor. I would have had to gone to the bank and got the cash because the waiting would have killed me.

 

[TnWV]

The tractor arrived last Thursday safe and sound. I have only put about one hour on it so far. Turns out that it has a CAT 2 hitch, so I had to change the draw pins on my brush hog. Then I found that my current driveshaft for the brush hog is to short for the new tractor...so now I have to get another drive shaft or go ahead and splurge on the new brush hog I will be getting at some point anyway.

Gale - I would have gotten the cash out if that would have helped, but the tractor was 7.5 hrs and way, I overnighted a certified check through UPS, and I had to wait on the shipping company anyway. I actually never saw the tractor in person, and I used Uship.com to ship it, and everything went perfect for much cheaper than I expected.

Still working on getting pictures. At first my camera was dead, then once I charged it and took pictures, now I can't find the cable to transfer to the CPU. Will be posting soon though.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

That makes sense but glad you finally have it.

I did have to do that on my 6 footer. TSC has an PTO extension you can buy that goes on at the tractor.

I think all of that series are CAT 2. The transmission/rear end were the same in 1992 the 40-70 HP tractors. Did you get air hose with it that screws to the compressor?

If you have a box blade becareful when pushing backwards and lifting. I had to beef my up to handle the powerful lift system. They are very heavy tractors which is nice until you get stuck. With a FEL you will be able to push yourself out sometimes.

 

[TnWV]

I did get a air hose, it is still in the original unopened package in the tool box. This tractor seems to be barely used and definitely wasnt used hard for the 312 hours it had on it when it arrived.

I finally got some seat time this evening. Started digging a hole with the FEL to use as a burn pit to get rid of an unsightly old junk pile left to me by some relatives who use to live on my property. Took more pictures and will post them as soon as I can find my cable.

This tractor is certainly a beast. I dug about a 12X20 hole about 2 feet deep in no time. Plan to dig it a little deeper by the end of the weekend. My property will be clean as a whistle before long, as time permits that is.

I am interested in the extension you are talking about but not sure what to look for. I have been to TSC looking for something like that, but I guess I didnt know what I was looking for. Anyway you could post a picture of it?

Thanks

 

[TnWV]

rScotty - Luckily I have a dealer about 15 miles from me that has been a Zetor dealer for over 30 years. Now they only sell much larger Zetors, but still gets parts and service any Zetor you take to them. They also sell Mahindra now. I consulted this dealer before making the purchase. The owner has a 4340 which is very similar and said that it is his favorite tractor he has ever owned. He had a nice 2008 Mahindra for sale, but recommended that I buy the Zetor. I think that says something about this dealer as he would have made money if he talked me into the Mahindra. This dealer has worked on my Massey in the past. So far I am glad that I bought this tractor and in my limited experience with it, I would recomend Zetor to anybody looking for a tractor.

 

[czechsonofagun]

Hello Prokop. Thanks for the link and the Czech info. I first became a fan of Czech manufactured goods back when our motorcycle shop imported some Jawa's, CZs, and some sidecars for BMWs. The quality was astonishing at any price....and the price was shamefully low. Later I was to find the same thing was true in machine tools and air rifles.

Frankly I was hoping to buy a new Zetor this time around and I'm no longer as much concerned with price. But our only dealer within a two day drive closed up. Zetor's problem in the US has always been distribution and dealerships. I wonder why? In fact now that I think of it that's the problem with their motorcycles and machine tools too. But not so much with the air rifles. What else do they build that is so good?
rScotty - BTW, I'm growing hops this year.

Hello, Scotty. Thank you for kind words. With the east block fall, the situation in Czech industry changed and sometimes not for better - CZ and Jawa motorcycles are basically gone to obscurity, on the other hand CZ guns are on a roll - they now own Dan Wesson too - Skoda cars, the joke of 70ties and 80 ties are part of VW concern with Volkswagen, Audi, SEAT, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini and Scania.

But some of the tool making factories with hundreds of years of tradition could not face the competition of shiny fancy low quality tools coming from China and India and went down - similar to US. Oh well, you can not stop progress, right?

Are you growing hops to make beer yourself or for the market? I always joke that Czechs have three major exports: beer - for instance, crystal such as chandeliers and hockey players:thumbsup: