Belarus Tractor Controls: Master Your Machine's Movement

Belarus tractors have been in production since 1950 and are manufactured at Minsk Tractor Works, MTZ, in Minsk, Belarus. They are well-known throughout the Commonwealth of Independent States and are exported to over 100 countries worldwide. The tractors are designed with the three main concepts of Soviet engineering in mind: reliability, simplicity, and value for money. Belarus tractors come in a range of models with varying engine power and specifications. While specific controls may vary depending on the model, operators can refer to manuals for detailed information on controls, gauges, adjustments, operating instructions, and maintenance procedures.

Hydraulic controls

The hydraulic controls of a Belarus tractor are located on the right side of the vehicle and consist of four levers. The inner two levers by the dashboard control the spool valves, while the outer lever operates the up-down and float position of the 3-point arms. This outer lever can also be used to raise the arms and, if enough power is applied, the rear end of the tractor. The third lever is the hyd traction booster control, which should be pushed forward and clicked back one or two notches. The fourth lever is the pump disengagement unit, which is found at the bottom of the main hydraulic oil tank. This lever has two locked positions: engaged and disengaged.

All unused spool/hitch levers must be in the neutral position for the system to work properly. If they are not, none of the levers will work correctly. To check if there is any hydraulic pressure, observe whether the tractor makes any sounds when moving the three levers on the main control spools. If the tractor is not functioning properly, the flow valve in the control spool block may be stuck, or the oil level in the main tank may be low.

Engine throttle and stop control

The engine throttle and stop control is located on the left side of the steering column. This is where you can control the engine throttle of your Belarus tractor and also bring it to a stop.

The engine throttle control allows you to adjust the engine's power output, which will impact the speed of the tractor and its fuel consumption. By increasing the throttle, you will increase the engine's RPM, resulting in higher speed and more power available for tasks such as towing or ploughing. Decreasing the throttle will have the opposite effect, reducing the tractor's speed and fuel consumption.

To bring the tractor to a complete stop, you will use the stop control, typically located near the engine throttle control. This control will cut the fuel supply to the engine, slowing down and eventually stopping the tractor. It is important to use this control when you need to bring the tractor to a halt, such as when you have finished your work or need to perform maintenance.

The engine throttle and stop control is an essential feature of your Belarus tractor, allowing you to manage its performance and bring it to a safe stop when needed. It is important to familiarise yourself with the location and function of this control, as well as all other controls, to ensure safe and efficient operation of your tractor.

For further details on the engine throttle and stop control, as well as other controls and functions of your Belarus tractor, it is recommended to refer to the operator's manual or seek guidance from a trained expert.

Raise/lower and position/draft control

The lever on the right side of the steering column is the raise/gravity lower and position/draft control for the three-point hitch. Depending on the setting of the unit under the seat, this lever controls the height and position of the three-point hitch. The three-point hitch is a standard system used on tractors to attach and power various implements, such as ploughs, mowers, or tillers. It consists of two lower arms and a top link, forming a triangle, which provides stability and allows for the transfer of weight and traction from the tractor to the implement.

The raise/lower function of the lever controls the height of the three-point hitch by adjusting the position of the lower arms. This is used to raise or lower the implement attached to the tractor, such as lifting a plough out of the ground when not in use or lowering a mower to the desired cutting height. The position/draft control function of the lever adjusts the sensitivity of the hitch to the draft force, which is the resistance or pull exerted by the implement on the tractor. This allows the tractor to maintain a consistent depth or pressure when using implements like ploughs or tillers, ensuring that they don't dig too deep or shallow.

The unit under the seat, connected to the steering column lever, can be adjusted to set the range or sensitivity of the draft control function. This allows the operator to fine-tune the tractor's performance based on the specific implement being used and the field conditions. For example, when using a plough in a field with varying soil conditions, the operator can adjust the draft control to ensure that the plough maintains a consistent depth, even when encountering harder or softer soil.

The raise/lower and position/draft control lever interacts with the other levers controlling the spool valves and the hydraulic system. To ensure proper functioning, all levers that are not in use should be in the neutral position. Additionally, the pump disengagement unit, located on the bottom of the main hydraulic oil tank, should typically be in the up or engaged position.

Hydraulic traction booster control

The Belarus tractor has four levers on its right side, two of which control the spool valves, while the third is the hydraulic traction booster control. This third lever should be pushed right forward and clicked back one or two notches and left in that position. The fourth lever is the up-down control and float position for the three-point arms.

The levers on the steering column on the left side are the engine throttle and stop control. The lever on the right is the raise/gravity lower and position/draft control for the three-point hitch, depending on how the unit under the seat is set.

For the system to work properly, all the spool/hitch levers that are not in use need to be in the neutral position. If one is not in neutral and another is being used, none of them will work properly.

Transmission gears

The transmission gears in the Belarus tractor are responsible for controlling the tractor's speed and direction. These gears are typically selected using a lever or a shift pattern, which allows the operator to switch between different gears smoothly. The tractor's speed can be adjusted by selecting the appropriate gear, with a higher gear resulting in a faster speed. Additionally, some models have a reverse gear, denoted as "rare" in some manuals, which allows the tractor to move backward.

The number of transmission gears available on a Belarus tractor can range from as few as 4 to as many as 24 forward gears, with some models also offering multiple reverse gears. For example, the MTZ-50 model has 9 forward gears and 2 reverse gears, while the MTZ-80 model offers 22 forward gears and 8 reverse gears. The availability of multiple gears allows operators to fine-tune the tractor's speed according to their specific tasks and terrain conditions.

It's important to note that the shift pattern for the transmission gears on a Belarus tractor may be different from what you're used to. In some models, such as the Belarus 500, the shift pattern has been described as "weird" but "not hard once you are used to it". This highlights the importance of familiarising yourself with your specific tractor model and its unique characteristics.

Lastly, it's worth mentioning that the transmission gears are just one aspect of the Belarus tractor's controls. Other controls may include hydraulic controls, engine throttle controls, and raise/lower levers for attached equipment. All of these controls work together to provide the operator with a versatile and powerful machine capable of tackling a wide range of agricultural, forestry, and land reclamation tasks.

Frequently asked questions