How to choose the right motoblock?

A walk-behind tractor is a functional subspecies and alternative to a mini-tractor. This mechanical unit with one axle is used for soil cultivation. The process is carried out using a special set, which can go either together with the main mechanism, or separately.

The spread of motoblocks began in 1980 after the manifestation of the agrarian reform. A mechanized block for cultivating the land existed before, but from this period it became widespread in the country. Its design provides for the convenience of controlling the process without any additional human effort. The walk-behind tractor is powered by a gasoline or diesel engine. The gear shaft is equipped with left-hand or right-hand equipment, which provides the mechanism with extended device functions. The unit moves on powerful wheels with sturdy tires, which are equipped with self-cleaning mechanisms from dirt during movement.

The mechanism performs a variety of tasks on the personal plot:

• processes, plows the land, preparing it for planting and sowing;
• helps to care for them, to harvest;
• helps to loosen and weed flower beds and beds, at the same time clearing them of dirt and weeds;
• mows and collects grass;
• saws firewood;
• shovels snow and carries loads.

Naturally, all these tasks are performed using special equipment, in accordance with the manufacturer's brand. All such elements have the same structure, differing only in minor details and accessories. They consist of a base - chassis, engine, transmission and control mechanisms. Modern cars mainly contain an internal combustion engine. Units of lower power are equipped with such gasoline engines.

The single-cylinder 4-stroke engine is available in machines designed for the processing of a small area of ​​land and consists of the main mechanism, control systems, gas distribution and ignition and starting of the mechanism. The transmission determines the travel speed and the target direction. With the help of a gearbox, gear changes are made. The undercarriage consists of a frame, wheels and main units. Control elements consist of a steering axle, gearshift levers, clutch and other structures. Lift height and steering axle angle are adjusted with a lever. And the role of the battery is performed by a one-piece self-charging battery.

To perform various tasks in the garden and vegetable garden, various types of motoblocks have been developed that successfully cope with the tasks set. Their assortment today is so great that it is simply impossible to bring everything together. Therefore, in this article we will consider the most basic ones. All mechanisms for soil cultivation are divided into light, medium and heavy.

Mini-devices of this type are used by owners of small land plots of several tens of acres. They are often small in size, with only four horsepower, which equates to 20 centimeters of soil cultivation in depth. They weigh no more than 30 kilograms, are compact and maneuverable. All kinds of attachments are used to strengthen them. Light tillers are unsuitable for heavy virgin soils. In large areas, untouched islets of unplowed land will remain.Light peat soil with low resistance is optimal for them.

Average motoblocks weigh about 100 kilograms, their power is about six horsepower. They move loads weighing up to half a ton well. Equipped with additional attachments, which also include a pump for pumping and pumping liquid. Medium walk-behind tractors are semi-professional, equipped with several cutters and can harvest root crops. They are ideal for small garden plots. In winter, they can be used as a snow removal device.

Heavy four-wheeled walk-behind tractors have relatively large dimensions, which directly correlate with the power of the devices. They are also equipped with special attachments for a variety of functions. They are versatile, but due to their impressive dimensions, they cannot be transported.

All motoblocks by engine type are divided into diesel and gasoline.

A feature of gasoline-based motoblocks are:

• compact size and low price;
• low noise threshold;
• the ability to work smoothly under any weather conditions, including adverse ones;
• soft vibration.

Motoblocks with a diesel engine also have a number of properties, including:

• reliability and efficiency;
• high productivity with low fuel consumption;
• good adhesion to the surface, providing stability;
• ease of repair and replacement of the complete set;
• availability of water and air cooling systems.

These tillage machines are not cheap, but they quickly pay for themselves on fuel. Many farmers choose gasoline powered vehicles due to their relatively low cost, while diesel ones have the advantage of quick payback due to the cheapness of fuel. In such devices there is no carburetor, so they do not need constant adjustment. Benefits also include the ability to run at low revs and the dual cooling system. Among other things, diesel motoblocks have a higher efficiency compared to gasoline ones. Their body and parts are made from more durable, wear-resistant materials.

Choosing a suitable walk-behind tractor is quite difficult. Before buying, you should seriously prepare. The determining criteria are the power and the price of the cultivator. But first of all, it is necessary to determine the purpose, operating conditions and other important factors. There are some tips on how to do it right.

• The design and composition of the unit must be related to the area to be treated.
• For heavy soils and large areas, it is better to use heavy walk-behind tractors, since the lungs will "jump" and quickly fail.
• For often cultivated soils in relatively small areas, for example, for summer cottages, as well as for working in gardens and vegetable gardens, light and medium walk-behind tractors, which are adapted for loose humus soils, are suitable.
• Heavy units are used to work with attachments. When using it, you should buy devices over 100 kilograms.
• For convenience, reliability and long service life, you need to choose especially powerful models with active knives.
• Always study the technical aspects and parameters of the mechanism before starting work. They are indicated in special instructions that are necessarily included with any equipment.

• It is better to choose a device with a low gear, since with its help the maximum tractive effort is achieved and the differential is locked.
• You need to make sure that the device is under warranty and service, as well as find out where the repair shop is located, so that if necessary, you can contact there in time.
• Try to figure out the nature of the gearbox. In some models, if it breaks down, you have to replace it completely. And there are those that need to be repaired. It is necessary to pay special attention to this "heart" of the walk-behind tractor, without which the operation of the device is impossible. This element plays an important role, setting in motion the mechanism that rotates the walk-behind tractor. It can be of several types: angular, gear and reversible. They all have their own design features.
• Decide what kind of grip in the walk-behind tractor. They are of three types: centrifugal, with a clutch (found in professional units) and belt (the most "running" in medium-priced and inexpensive models). The belt is part of the drive transmission, operates with virtually no noise and does not put pressure on the motor with bearings. This drive is quite easy to use and does not need lubrication. Add to this the low wear and tear of parts and a fairly long life, and this is a great option for everyday work.

The price of motor cultivators invariably depends on the base and configuration. Multifunctional equipment is much more expensive than conventional equipment. Therefore, even at the stage of choosing a device, it is worth finding out what equipment it has. It happens that the same blocks have different additions, which affects their purpose and price. Basically, for a simple set of functions, a milling cutter and wheels are enough. Others are purchased as needed. On the sales market for this type of product, you can find a large selection of universal soil cultivators. The main thing is to find your model in this variety, which will become your irreplaceable assistant.

The operation of the walk-behind tractor depends on its power. And that, in turn, depends on the technical characteristics of this device. It follows that blocks with good performance in this area last longer and better than others. The type of fuel on which the walk-behind tractor works should be taken into account: gasoline, diesel and, very rarely, electricity. Power is the main parameter when choosing motoblocks. The price of the device and its efficiency depend on it. The required power of the device can be calculated taking into account the surface area, the number of approaches, as well as the total distance traveled during a certain time of operation of the unit.

On an area of ​​one hectare, soil is captured by half a meter. Dividing the size of one side of the cultivated area by the average of 55 centimeters, we have the number 182, which is the required number of moves. Working the soil at an average speed of half a kilometer per hour, we calculate the time it will take to plow. It takes about 45 hours. This is exactly how much it will take to plow one hectare of land, working without breaks and weekends. It can be seen from the above calculations that a powerful heavy cultivator is required for processing. The easy one will not cope with this task.

The performance of cultivators depends on additional equipment, which is also called attachments. With its help, multiple functions of processing, cultivation, soil cleaning and other related tasks are carried out. Usually these fixtures are included in the basic kit. They can also be purchased separately if required. The ability to transform and the versatility of the unit gives it a high cost. Therefore, it is necessary to clearly decide which functions should be performed, and only then acquire additional structures.

In order to save money, you can create some details yourself. For example, by reconstruction, make a snowmobile out of a walk-behind tractor. After all, such consoles in the store are not cheap.Or, for example, make your own steering with a comfortable steering wheel and various gadgets. But back to the intended purpose of the motoblocks. And this is, first of all, cultivation. There are the following types of additional attachments.

• Mowers, with the help of which you can take care of the lawn, mow the grass on plantings, remove the tops.
• Rumbling nozzles, with the help of which loosening and processing in the aisle are performed, and at the same time remove weeds and other growth.
• Cultivation units for plowing and cultivating the land. They are also used for soil harrowing.
• The trolley module, which is where a person sits to control the cultivation of large land areas.
• Trailers required for the transportation and transmission of goods, and much more.

It is important to take into account the replacement of the complete set if necessary, if, for example, some part is out of order. Having a good service base is the main aspect of any machine of this type. Spare parts of a foreign manufacturer are in fact much more expensive than domestic ones. In addition, they are not always in stock, which means that some of them may not be available for a long time. When performing urgent work, such a delay is highly undesirable.

The modern market for these products is filled with new equipment from domestic and foreign manufacturers. Most often these are models of German, Japanese and Chinese brands. In terms of availability, models from domestic and Chinese manufacturers are in the first place. German and Japanese soil cultivation machines are of high quality and no less expensive. Many Chinese models are designed according to the type of our "Neva", "Salut" and "MB". But in retrospect of the choice, preference is still given to our models. The market overview allows highlighting the main models of world brands of this type of product. Based on customer reviews, the following rating was compiled.

• Motoblocks brand Shtenli belong to the best models of this type of equipment on the world market. This joint brainchild of high-end German and Japanese manufacturers has a capacity of 18 horsepower. All models of this class of equipment are specialized and can cope with the most difficult tasks. The demand for models is constantly growing as consumers begin to understand from their own experience all the advantages of this technique. This is especially noticeable after the production of affordable and high-quality motoblocks on its own was launched in China.

• Motoblocks of Italian production Goldoni have their own characteristics: they run on pure gasoline, have a high power, a 4-stroke engine and a lot of various designs, from a circular saw to a trailer for transporting goods. In terms of cost, they are slightly lower than their previous foreign counterparts, but they are still considered expensive mechanisms.

• Belarusian model Magnum is on the third line, equipped with an engine with a long power resource, runs on gasoline. Equipped with anti-vibration system and fuel saving function. When the scale of work is increased, it is supplied with a larger wheel size. Weighing 110 kilograms, it has good maneuverability and grip. This also includes the Pecheneg cultivators of the same manufacturer, equipped with reinforced wheels and milling knives for deep plowing of the land.

• Japanese walk-behind tractors of the Kubota brand, which are in fourth place in the ranking of popular models among motoblocks, are famous for their organic nature, versatility, relatively small dimensions for heavyweights - 160 kilograms, quiet operation. Also equipped with the ability to follow the ground and work in a floating mode. Diesel is used.

• Partner mechanized blocks equipped with American engines.The equipment is produced in Italy by the Swedish company "Huskvarna" and is considered one of the most reliable machines for soil cultivation. The only drawback is the difficulty with the selection of attachments. Structural elements from the Pubert maxi brand are suitable for the models of this series.

• Line of motoblocks "Stavmash" of the Russian manufacturer of the same name belongs to inexpensive, affordable units for cultivating land on gasoline and diesel fuel. High quality and affordable price have brought popularity to this brand not only in our country, but also abroad.

• Production of motor-blocks "Dobrynya" is engaged in the PRC, having specially developed this type of product taking into account the Russian consumer. The range of applications is wide: from cultivation of small areas of soil to agricultural scale. Heavy, medium and light motoblocks run on different types of fuel, are distinguished by high performance indicators and high-quality speed indicators. They work under any conditions on surfaces with varying degrees of difficulty.

• Motoblock "Rusich" domestic production with a Chinese engine, belongs to the true heavyweights. A special power take-off shaft allows the use of various equipment that comes with the unit. It runs on diesel fuel, is economical and affordable.

• Russian motor-cultivator "Caliber" is made in China, is supplied with a universal package and is quite easy to use.
• Universal domestic motoblock powered by Zarya diesel engine with a cylinder motor and an air cooling system is simple, versatile and easy to operate, maintain and repair.

• Motoblocks "Ruslan" based on the AgroMotor gasoline engine guarantee high quality units and long service life, subject to the operating conditions. A well-thought-out system allows them to be used in difficult adverse conditions all year round. And the additional equipment makes them irreplaceable assistants on virgin lands and personal plots.
• And closes our rating unit of the domestic manufacturer "Electropribor" - "Usadba" walk-behind tractor with a belt clutch and a powerful gasoline engine.

Based on customer reviews, you can formulate the main nuances of certain mechanisms, taking into account which you can easily choose a suitable technique for yourself. According to consumer reviews, the following can be distinguished among Chinese motoblocks.

• "Centaur", characterized by a relatively low cost and good power, reliability and quality.

• "Zubr" with good wear resistance during continuous operation and resistance to heavy loads. Among other things, these units are environmentally friendly, do not pollute the environment and are practically silent.

• "Storm", considered the fastest among motoblocks. According to consumers' estimates, equipment based on Motor Sich engines is a small tractor capable of working on any land. Motoblocks are assembled in Ukraine, which significantly reduces their cost. A variety of models based on this engine allows you to choose the most suitable option. Moreover, the manufacturer gives two guarantees for its products at once: for the body and the engine. With a Motor Sich engine, the cultivator can work all season without technical repairs and oil refueling.

With proper care, the technician will last longer. Therefore, regardless of the type of device, you should take care of it by thoroughly washing the knives and the body. According to the owners' estimates, motor cultivators with a differential are the most reliable among others.When choosing, you should not adhere to the fuel consumption parameters. Since powerful mechanisms consume more fuel and with a significant gripping volume, they do their job faster.

Domestic units with foreign engines need high-quality fuel, while the engines of our manufacturer can run on any. And this is partly their advantage. But, according to statistics, breakdowns of domestic motoblocks happen much more often than imported counterparts, which, in turn, increases the cost of maintenance and repair. Owners of walk-behind tractors believe that cultivators with Honda engines often fail due to a gearbox malfunction. Especially in belt driven models.

How to choose a walk-behind tractor, see the next video.