Soviet era "Belarus 1500" tractor walk Condobolin NSW. Tue 25th June 2024. скачать в хорошем качестве

Soviet era "Belarus 1500" tractor walk Condobolin NSW. Tue 25th June 2024.

Soviet (USSR) made tractors are not a common sight in Australia, for the past few years I have been driving past this 1979 model "Belarus 1500" 4X4 tractor sitting in front of a shed at Condobolin NSW. Finally I plucked up the courage to have a closer look and chat with the owner, a retired local gentleman. USSR tractors and Australia: Soveit made tractors were first imported to Australia in the 1960's and were renown for their solid construction but poor reliability on the mechanical side. They were exported by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic trade department V/O Traktoroexport. The Belarus MTZ-80 and MTZ-82 were first imported in 1978, they were hailed as a huge improvement over the ones imported to Australia in the 1960's. The Belarus T-150K four wheel drive 165hp model was one of their better exports. The tractor in the video was imported to Australia in the late 1970's (engine is dated as a 1979 build) and purchased new by a farmer in South Australia, years later, it was sold to another farmer at Euabalong NSW where it faithfully worked until its retirement, then purchased by the current owner, John Hassan, and brought to Condobolin NSW. Still in working order, the engine is given a run each week but there is other work to be done to the electrical system. The enclosed drivers cab is very Soveit "no frills" style, you don't even get a heater for those cold Siberian winters. The USSR made tractors had a reasonable reputation with notable Australian tractor commentator Mr Chris Milne saying..."well engineered, but badly built". The importation of tractors from the former USSR faded away until February 2017 with large Soviet tractor maker "Kirovets" (formerly branded as "Belarus") coming back to the Australian market with the "Kirovets 744R" model articulated heavy duty 4X4 tractor to be marketed in Australia. These tractors were being made at St Petersburg, in the Russian Republic. With Russia now at war with the Ukraine Republic (2023/2024) obtaining spare parts for tractors exported overseas is now a major issue with trade sanctions being a huge problem. "Belarus Tractors" started making these 4X4 articulated tractors from 1950 at the Minsk Tractor Works, Belarus, in what was still the U.S.S.R and under state ownership. The tractors were exported to more than 100 countries, including the USA and Canada between 1975 & 1985, some found their way to Australia. Under the "XTZ" brand tractors were also made at Kharkiv, in what is today the Ukraine Republic, they had 175hp Russian engines and sold for USD$37,000 at the time. Australia exhibited a huge loyalty to Australian, British or American made tractors back then so interest in Eastern Bloc made farm equipment was not pursued to any large extent. Operating details: Powered by a Belarus 9.1 litre six cylinder diesel engine coupled to a Belarus 12 speed partial power shift transmission. Articulated power steering with pneumatic shoe brakes to the wheels. Fuel capacity is 314 litres, hydraulic oil capacity 37.1 litres with a pump flow of 79.9 litres per minute. Wheel base is 286cms and weight is 8,436Kgs. As mentioned, whilst the tractor is in running order, other work needs to be done to bring it to a full operational standard. It may be 45 years old but it still has some farm work left in it yet. Russian heavy duty trucks: Russian trucks were another significant export item in the Soviet era, mostly sent to other communist countries. ZIL, GAZ and URAL trucks can be found today still at work in Burma, Vietnam and Indonesia. Have you seen any Russian trucks in Australia? Let me know in the comments section if you have. Acknowledgements: Special thanks to Mr John Hassan, owner of the tractor for an informative chat and details, John is a collector at restorer of classic vehicles at Condobolin NSW. Also a big thank you goes out to Ian M. Johnston, a dedicated Scottish/Australian tractor enthusiast as his book "In Search of Old Tractors" proved a valuable information source. 1130hrs on Tuesday 25th of June 2024.