It’s been years since I’ve seen one around here. Very crude and hard to find parts for. I’m sure in this day and age you could probably locate parts on the internet, but there’s almost zero parts on it you’ll be able to find locally.
Only way I’d ever consider one is if it was insanely cheap and just for a conversation piece. No way I’d own one to actually do much work with it.
Only way I’d ever consider one is if it was insanely cheap and just for a conversation piece. No way I’d own one to actually do much work with it.
495man
Well-known Member
Minsk built MTZ, so it is one of the "good" ones.
I'd only touch one if it was mint condition and really cheap.
I would not rely on one as a main tractor on a farm.
"No one" is running one now that is still farming around here.
Parts are online, that series of tractor is every common in the eastern bloc.
I'd only touch one if it was mint condition and really cheap.
I would not rely on one as a main tractor on a farm.
"No one" is running one now that is still farming around here.
Parts are online, that series of tractor is every common in the eastern bloc.
I suspect that most of the people who are responding negatively have never owned one and are pretty much engaging in hearsay. I’ve owned one for over 30 years and it’s been relatively trouble free and parts have pretty easily available. Sure, you might have to get them on line but not much different than my old twin cylinder John Deeres.
What some call crude, I call simple to work on. These tractors were designed to operate in areas without close dealer support so yeah, they are built crude but simple.
Mine has seen lots of hours doing snow removal, rototilling and other 3 point attachment work and has a loader on it. It also starts well in sun zero weather.
Thing is, it’s pretty cheap horsepower so you aren’t going to compare to some more common tractors that cost a whole lot more. But mine has been very good to me. Just keep up on maintenance.
What some call crude, I call simple to work on. These tractors were designed to operate in areas without close dealer support so yeah, they are built crude but simple.
Mine has seen lots of hours doing snow removal, rototilling and other 3 point attachment work and has a loader on it. It also starts well in sun zero weather.
Thing is, it’s pretty cheap horsepower so you aren’t going to compare to some more common tractors that cost a whole lot more. But mine has been very good to me. Just keep up on maintenance.
560Dennis
560Dennis
They were demonstrating at farm science review near Columbus. One tractor was pulling a disc harrow. The hydraulic connector was leaking spraying oil, all over . I walked away . Never will I consider . If management is that negligent to demo it I’m that condition , not interested
rustred
Well-known Member
My neighbour had an 825 about 40 years ago. I put rings in it back then due to blowby for some reason when it was fairly new. He used it for a lot of years. It did the job as his yard tractor. Another neighbour still has an 825 here also. Guess I am one of the few that actually did engine work on them. Lol. The centrifuge oil filter stuck out in my mind. There was a dealer here back then. I used to see the giant 4 wheel drive units also.
Diesel Gypsy
Member
Belarus tractors only means they come from Russia but it doesn't mean they are related to each other. Much like if all North American tractors were lumped together and called "American" even though we would know them as John Deere, IHC, Case etc.
So you need to know which models are related and which ones are different.
The Minsk tractors are the most prevalent and are built in Minsk Belarus which is where we get the name from. These are the 2WD and FWA tractors such as 500, 520, 800, 820, 825 etc. These are quite easy to get parts for.
But there was a model 611 which was made in a factory in Ukraine and is totally different from the MTZ (Minsk) tractors even though it looks quite similar. It was a good tractor but parts for these are getting harder to find.
The 250 and related models are made in another factory (I can't remember where) and again , don't share any parts with the other makes but parts aren't hard to find for these either.
My tractor is a 1500 which is a 4WD and was replaced by the 1770 and later 1790 etc. These are made in Kharkov which became part of Ukraine and is now involved with the war so I'm a little concerned about parts availability in the future.
The largest tractors are the Kirovets tractors which are built in the Ural area and again, they are their own creation, not sharing any parts with the other lines.
Parts for all of these are available but sometimes the links to them are a little hard to work out.
This has nothing to do with the actual parts but rather the political problems of sanctions, tariffs, trade embargoes etc.
One other thing to understand is that all these different lines are still being produced, (although they are much updated models with the GPS, autosteer, computers etc. that we have in North America) and the economy in Russia is booming so parts supply there is no problem at all but our ability to get them here is constantly being challenged by the bureaucracy.
The older models, like your picture, are good solid tractors which lack the finish and polish of the competition but make up for it with simplicity of service, dependability and great fuel economy. But be prepared to do some tinkering on the little stuff!
So you need to know which models are related and which ones are different.
The Minsk tractors are the most prevalent and are built in Minsk Belarus which is where we get the name from. These are the 2WD and FWA tractors such as 500, 520, 800, 820, 825 etc. These are quite easy to get parts for.
But there was a model 611 which was made in a factory in Ukraine and is totally different from the MTZ (Minsk) tractors even though it looks quite similar. It was a good tractor but parts for these are getting harder to find.
The 250 and related models are made in another factory (I can't remember where) and again , don't share any parts with the other makes but parts aren't hard to find for these either.
My tractor is a 1500 which is a 4WD and was replaced by the 1770 and later 1790 etc. These are made in Kharkov which became part of Ukraine and is now involved with the war so I'm a little concerned about parts availability in the future.
The largest tractors are the Kirovets tractors which are built in the Ural area and again, they are their own creation, not sharing any parts with the other lines.
Parts for all of these are available but sometimes the links to them are a little hard to work out.
This has nothing to do with the actual parts but rather the political problems of sanctions, tariffs, trade embargoes etc.
One other thing to understand is that all these different lines are still being produced, (although they are much updated models with the GPS, autosteer, computers etc. that we have in North America) and the economy in Russia is booming so parts supply there is no problem at all but our ability to get them here is constantly being challenged by the bureaucracy.
The older models, like your picture, are good solid tractors which lack the finish and polish of the competition but make up for it with simplicity of service, dependability and great fuel economy. But be prepared to do some tinkering on the little stuff!
Last edited:
Diesel Gypsy
Member
That centrifuge oil filter is a FANTASTIC advance and works great. Nothing to replace, no cost just clean it out and back to work!
Scania used the same thing. If you look at a Case 2870 tractor you will see one there (Scania engine).
Mack has used that filter for ever
Diesel Gypsy
Member
I have run Mack trucks for many years. Started out with a B61, then another one, then an R600, followed by 3 Cruiseliners, and finally a CL700with an E9-500 in it. This is not to mention several Freightliners and Kenworths. All the Macks had Mack engines but I've never seen one with a centrifugal oil filter! The B61s only had a partial flow LuberFiner filter. All the rest had spin-on filters but no centrifugal filters! What models have you seen that have them?
Diesel Gypsy
Member
I looked this up and apparently Volvo, after integrating Mack, started putting centrifugal oil filters on their hybrid Mack/Volvo engines. However these seem to be small replaceable filter cartridges, definitely not the same kind of unit as the Belarus or Scania uses, although the operating principal appears to be the same.
My experience with Mack has all been with true Mack engines, I've never had anything to do with the newer hybrid versions.
On the centrifugal oil filter, I was told at the annual Belarus service school, (I was a certified service rep for MT3 tractors) that the centrifugal filter was so efficient that it would remove some of the additives used in multi viscosity oil and that was why Belarus recommended only using straight grade oils! I can't say if that is accurate or not but that was Belarus's position. All I know is I was amazed at how much dirt was taken out by these filters. With the Belarus filter it is an easy job to open it up and scrape out the dirt. On some tractors, with poor servicing, it was not unusual to find up to an inch of hard packed dirt covering the inside of the filter!
Newgenerationdeere
Member
Agri tech imports in Arkansas has pretty any part you will ever need in stock . Usually the parts are at my door in 2 or 3 days .
Agri-Tech Import - Agri-Tech Imports
Belarus Tractor Parts and Earthmover Tires in the warehouse and ready to ship fast, at a low cost! BELARUS TRACTOR PARTS – AG TIRES – OTR TIRES – Since 2004 – SHOP NOW! OTR Tires FARM & AG Tires Belarus Parts Since 2004 Agri-Tech Imports has provided earthmover, farm and ag tires and Belarus...
www.agritechimports.com
tractorguy2
Well-known Member
I know a guy that had two in the late 90's.. His dad bought them because they were cheaper than a Deere or CIH of same size. he hated them. The FWA had a slip clutch. The one they used to feed with the slip cultch would start slipping as soon as the front tires hit mud. They are both long gone.
Newgenerationdeere
Member
if you have time to wait
The front axle Is described the service manual as a front wheel assist it’s not a true mechanical front wheel drive there is a disconnect clutch on the transmission that will engage the front axle automatically when the rear wheels slip or you can lock it in full time there’s also a slip clutch in the driveshaft to the front axle it’s designed to slip and protect the front axle. There’s a torque setting that you set it up to.. there’s a reason why you can buy these tractors for $5000 when John Deere or Case ih of that age will set you back about $45,000 or more. They are simple tractors and pretty easy to keep going eBay has about everything you’ll ever need to keep one going .
We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.
Copyright © 1997-2025 Yesterday's Tractor Co.
All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.
Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters
Website Accessibility Policy