mixed fleet
Well-Known Member
some of them were 40K trecherous dangerous with the lack of brakes
The were the ones with the "amazing" 1 2 4 3 gearchange
some of them were 40K trecherous dangerous with the lack of brakes
Zetor Tractors were ahead of their time, designed for conditions in former Czechoslovakia the came equipped with features as standard that other "mainstream" manufacturers didn't adopt for years, in some cases almost 20, such as: pick up hitch, cab, power steering, draft/position setting for lift arms, double acting spool valve, four wheel drive, passenger seat, two speed PTO (available in the smaller models also), an "air seat" suspension system (if you look under the seat of most of the old models you'll see a valve similar to that on normal tyres used to inflate it, this at a time when MF gave you a steel bucket on a leaf spring.
Then there were optional extras such as: front and rear ballast weights, front axle suspension, a second double acting spool valve!!
It's easy to look back (and down) at them from the comfort of an air suspended seat in a 68 Decibel cab mounted on cab suspension or front/rear axle suspension with a 50kph gearbox, truck type air brakes, auto engage four wheel drive, variable speed transmission etc. and have a chuckle but they were, and many of them still are, major work horses.
There may have been reliability issues but then again it was a different age, if the stater didn't work most tractors could be started on a hill or with a pull but you could start it.
Nowadays if your tractor doesn't start with the key your screwed, most can't be started with a pull and some can't be towed at all and you may need a laptop to get he fault cleared etc.
It was also a different age in regards to maintenance, everything leaked oil, every tractor had it's problems. Zetors were "basic" but that was there best quality, they were easy to work on, cheap for parts, the Oil filter was re-usable!!
Imagine if you could re-used your oil filter now how much money you'd save in servicing costs.
And where have all these old reliables, Zetor etc, gotten us??
Most drivers nowadays demand the newest and best, how many would/could, if asked in the morning go back to one of these?
No syncromesh, timing your gears changes (in the Zetors crystals, it was always easier to change up and down without the clutch), no radio, no A/C, questionable braking performance (makes every stop a different experience).
I still enjoy driving a Zetor 12011, makes you appreciate what modern tractor have and it certainly keep driving interesting, pulling a 16' Redrock trailer, operating the hydraulic trailer brakes manually!!
Ah happy days!!!
Just spotted this "beauty"
http://www.donedeal.ie/tractors-for-sale/ursus-1234t-4wd/5693108
Just spotted this "beauty"
http://www.donedeal.ie/tractors-for-sale/ursus-1234t-4wd/5693108
Honest description of repairs ,and at least he didn't describe it as reliable
Our silage contractor bought two new 8011's back in the late 70's. As a very young boy :001_rolleyes:, I remember being very impressed by them. And they turned out to be great yokes, giving years and years of service. He still has them around the place I think!
A classic I do believe :001_cool:
Saw that one last night.
Were they Renault cabs at the finish up?
There was a 2wd one up there a few months back.
They must be some bus in fairness!
Saw that one last night.
Were they Renault cabs at the finish up?
Well travelled, started life in Wexico.
Looks very like it. They're not finished up either.Still being built, and sold mainly in S Africa evidently!
Lowish reg number so probably an import.
Just spotted this "beauty"
http://www.donedeal.ie/tractors-for-sale/ursus-1234t-4wd/5693108
Honest description of repairs ,and at least he didn't describe it as reliable
Would have thought that a low number would be original and imports tagged onto end of year regs.
I do believe,if the spec is anything to go by on these new Ursus',that they are away ahead of Zetor!