How to choose the right single axle tractor.

Power tillers for country houses: top 12 all-purpose helpers

Just do not confuse a single-axle tractor with a cultivator. they may be similar in appearance, but these machines are significantly different in functionality.

Single axle tractor. it is a universal tractor weighing from 70 kg with a gearbox and reverse gear, as well as with the engine power takeoff, which transmits part of the torque to the attached equipment. The capabilities of a power tiller depend on the attachments installed on it, and they are not forced into the set, but are sold separately. Most often, power tillers are sold with cutters for soil cultivation (they are installed instead of the wheels and, rotating, dig over the ground). But the clippers, plows, ridgers, duggers, mowers, snowthrower, carts and other attachments, if necessary, you can buy more.

Cultivator has no gearbox, no engine power takeoff system, and it cannot be equipped with attachments. Unless it’s a dipper or a digger. A cultivator also weighs up to 60-70 kg, so it is harder to dig into virgin land with its cutters. So it’s only good for systematically tilled land and only for tilling, hilling and digging up root crops. But cultivators, unlike power tillers, are electric, and it is a big plus when working in greenhouses (because of the lack of exhaust), but because of the lower weight of the cultivator and to work with him easier.

About the engine

Gasoline engine has been used in power tillers since their introduction as machines for small-scale mechanization. For a long time, it was a two-stroke engine, because this type provided more power and unpretentiousness, and the increased noise and exhaust was not paid attention to back then. Today, most devices are put on four-stroke motors. they work more quietly, have a longer life, and use fuel more economically. Almost all devices have one cylinder each. Only the heaviest power tillers are equipped with two-cylinder engines, which makes them closer to mini-tractors.

The torque from the engine to the drive axles can be transmitted by different types of gears:

• Belt and chain drives. The most common type of drivetrain. The engine crankshaft in these models is usually parallel to the wheel axle. To transmit torque, these are pulleys with a belt or a pair of sprockets with a chain. Sometimes a belt drive is used as a V-belt variator. this unit usually lowers the rotational speed but increases the traction capability. Sometimes a double pulley is installed instead of a power take-off shaft.
• Worm gears. This transmission is very light and compact and is most common on smaller tractor units for home use. Their crankshaft is vertical and the clutch is usually automatic centrifugal.
• Toothed. This is the classic type, which is usually used on full-sized machines like tractors. Transmission is reliable, but it is heavy and material-intensive, and costs a lot. That is why it is used with heavy row crop tractors that are reasonable to use on a large area.

The country where most popular power tillers as a type of equipment is China. There are a lot of private farms there, and no money for a mini-tractor. In the U.S., on the contrary, power tillers are not used at all, because there are no subsidiary farms there, and professional farmers use tractors. Russia is roughly in the middle: the single–axle tractor is used here by private landowners who sell their surpluses to procurement companies.

Auxiliary equipment for power tillers and cultivators

There are different types of attachments for cultivators and power tillers, here are the main ones used for tillage:

Cutters for ripping

Almost all models are equipped with a power tiller by default. But additional burrs can increase the working width. Nevertheless, do not get carried away with such an upgrade. Be sure to pay attention to the power of your machine, make sure that the cultivator is able to provide the necessary power to operate an extended unit of cutters.

• Cutters with sabre knives are the most popular. Blades in the form of curved strips of carbon steel. This material is impervious to welding, so a quality mill has a collapsible design.
• Gooseneck blades. Recently there has been a lot of discussion on the network. It is a common opinion that this type is effective for controlling weeds. But there is a “but”. this type of milling machines has a welded construction, which means that steel for their manufacture is not the most durable. In any case, it is not recommended to use welded structures as a basic working tool on the plots with undeveloped, too dense or heavily overgrown with weeds soil.

There is also a distinction between cutters, which are designed for installation instead of the wheels of a power tiller and a cultivator attachment.

• Cutters to fit instead of wheels. For a cultivator is an acceptable option, for a power tiller is not particularly convenient due to their massiveness. A power tiller weighing 100 kg is quite difficult to handle, if it does not stand on wheels.
• Cultivator attachment. It is driven by the power take-off shaft, which means it is mainly used on power tillers with this shaft. Easy to maintain, a single-axle tractor does not lose control.

The plow refers to a passive attachment (does not require a PTO). The main purpose of the plough is plowing the soil and making furrows for planting root crops, mainly potatoes. Also used as an elementary device for digging tubers without a potato digger. Actively used as the main tool for tilling virgin lands. In this case it is advisable to use the plow in conjunction with a tines, which are also sold separately.

A plow is attached to a power tiller with a special hitch. Most models have horizontally and vertically adjustable plowshares to improve tillage.

The option to protect the plants on the tillers is very useful. All crops mature at different times, and when you cultivate one area and the plants have already sprouted on the neighboring bed, the earth flying during cultivation can damage them. To avoid this, 2 discs are added to the tillers to protect the plants.

Tillers

CLOGS are metal wheels with ribs welded to the rim. Mounted on the main working shaft of the cultivator. They are designed to improve traction, increase machine weight, provide extra tillage and make it easier to move on soft ground.

Tiller

Actually, an earplow is a type of plow, but it has a specific function. Its blade has a V shape. Designed to prepare the furrow for sowing and for mowing the seeded crops.

Ploskorrez

Passive attachments. Designed for weed control. Consists of a headstock with two blades that are horizontally mounted. There are also variants with circular knives, a ripper and a double row ploughshare for a wider working width.

The ploughshare works by cutting the topsoil and in so doing, destroys the root system of unwanted plants. The distinguishing feature of the ploughshare is that it does not mix the layers during tillage, leaving the structure of the upper layer intact.

Other attachments

The range of tasks that can be solved by cultivators is very wide and, accordingly, there is a huge number of attachments for various purposes. To describe all possible options in the framework of one article is almost impossible, so we give a brief list of the most common nozzles:

• Motor pump. turns your single axle tractor into a pump to pump or deliver water.
• Potato planter. minimizes manual labor when planting potatoes. Makes a furrow, plants seed tubers and covers them with a layer of soil. Similar implements exist for planting other crops, such as garlic.
• Potato digger. automates harvesting. A distinction is made between vibratory and conveyorized potato diggers. Pulls mature tubers from the ground and makes the primary cleanup of soil particles. After this, all that is left is to collect the potatoes from the surface of the ground.
• Mower. a device for cutting grass. A distinction is made between knife mowers and rotary mowers. The former are more maneuverable and allow you to easily cut the grass between bushes and trees. Also, knife mowers are safer than rotary mowers, but rotary mowers have greater capacity. So if you plan to mow a large open area you are better suited to a rotary mower.

Choice of equipment

Before choosing the right power tiller for your needs, you need to determine the required speed of the equipment. This figure depends on the number of tasks required to perform. If the size of the plot is 0.5-1 hectares and there is a need to make trucking, then it will be advisable to choose a unit with a multistage gearbox.

For processing a small vegetable garden or summer cottage, you can get by with a device with one gear.

What tasks can a single axle tractor cope with??

Like any tool, a single-axle tractor is bought to simplify the work on the site. The functionality of the tool is quite diverse:

How it’s fueled?

One of the most important criteria when choosing a power tiller is the way it is fueled. Choosing the right model will allow you to calculate the possible cost of recharging the tool. There are 3 types of power tillers:

Engine mechanism

Most often, power drills have one of two types of engine: a two-stroke or a four-stroke. Experts recommend not to save money and immediately purchase the second option, because it has a high motor life. The power of the selected unit directly depends on the land area for which the tool is purchased. the minimum requirement is 5 horsepower.

Controls

The type of control depends entirely on the type of power tiller. For example, heavy instances are provided with a special brake, which makes braking pleasant and comfortable for the user. Lightweight machines have no brake at all, because they do not need it at all.

Transmission unit

Naturally, the motor blocks use a transmission. There are many transmission unit variations, each with pros and cons. The most commonly used is the toothed one, and the most high-tech one is the hydro-powered one. This mechanism makes the tool light and easy to use.

Additional equipment

Most modern power tillers allow you to connect additional equipment, which will significantly increase the efficiency of work. It can expand the work potential and add several useful features to a power tiller.

Chinese engines Zongshen, loncin

Many domestic and foreign manufacturers design motor blocks, using a line of Chinese engines Zongshen and loncin. These engines, as well as Lifan motors, which are popular in Russia, are copies of engines produced by the Japanese company Honda. All these engines made at well-known Chinese enterprises have a fairly decent motor-resource and good reliability. all this is due to the use of the most modern technical solutions that help to increase their service life, such as:

• cast-iron cylinder liners;
• Oil level sensors that automatically shut off the motor when the oil level falls below the minimum level;
• treatment of crankshafts with high frequency currents, etc.д.

At the same time, Chinese motors are much cheaper than the original Japanese or American engines. Suffice it to say that the repair of the latter can in some cases exceed the cost of Chinese motors. That is why many experts recommend buying motor blocks with Chinese engines. The difference in cost makes up for the purchase of a second identical motor.

Gearbox

Gearboxes can be found on power tillers such as:

Additional Info. Older motor blocks used to have a gearbox consisting of a worm and pinion mechanism. Such a design had a high efficiency, but could not withstand heavy use. So, for example, even working with an oscillator or a light plow, the gearbox mechanism leads to overheating and failure. Nowadays, motor blocks with a worm gearbox are almost uncommon.

Chain reducer. Reliable but simple chain reducer consists of a chain and set of gears. It is used in light and medium power tillers with small and medium engines. Easily maintained and easy to repair. Provides reliable operation in small fields, but the attachments used are severely limited (light plow, dipstick).

IMPORTANT! The chain can stretch over time and needs to be replaced in a timely manner. If the gearbox housing is indestructible, the entire unit will be replaced.

Gear Gearbox. Gearboxes are designed to be the most reliable and unpretentious in operation. It can work on any terrain, even in the most extreme conditions. Gearboxes are installed on heavy power tillers with a PTO, working with heavy implements. Practically perpetual gearbox. the main thing is to change the oil in time.

One of the main disadvantages of gear reducers is the high noise level and its cost.

Gear and chain reducer. The most common reducer. The spur chain gearbox is only found on Russian-made motor blocks. Available in one-speed, two-speed and more. The design provides high elasticity at work (ideal output shaft speed of 80-120) and has a low vibration level. Very long service life and reliability of the gearbox. Structurally it is the most complex and can not withstand heavy loads. Development of this gearbox was caused by the need to increase the number of gears of front (up to 4) and rear (up to 4) travel.

IMPORTANT! The main disadvantage of this gearbox is the need for maintenance in strict accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications. Their violation is fraught with failure of gear parts (chain breakage or stretching, broken gears) with subsequent expensive repair.Jump to rating

Type of transmission and the ability to lock the differential

To transfer torque from the engine to the motoblock gearbox, several design variants of transmissions are used:

• The belt system is the simplest solution, consisting of several pulleys and a tensioned belt. Used on small and medium sized models, as the belt can slip under load or even burst. The belt is easily replaced if necessary. May have 1 or more belts. It is better to have an automobile toothed belt that is resistant to high temperatures without stretching from a proven manufacturer;
• chain. the optimal connection by a chain on gears, most often found on medium and sometimes heavy power tillers;
• pinion. includes several tapered or spur gears. Gear transmission always has 6 forward speeds and two reverse speeds. It is installed on heavy power tillers.

Class of Moto-Block.

Scooters are subdivided into 3 classes.

Light. Motor blocks weighing 60-80 kg., are designed for plots of 10-20 acres. Engines are usually 6 or 6.5 л.с. Scooters of this class are able to perform all works, carry loads of up to 300 kg., Work with any active attachments. Good representatives of the light class: Mobil K MKM-3, MKM-4, Neva MB-Compact, single-axis tractor AVANGARD, Celina MB-501. All tractors of light class are completed with tillers, extensions of axles, 4×8. 4×10 wheels. Optional grousers can be fitted.

Medium. Motor blocks with the weight of 80-120 kg., Are designed for plots of 10-50 hectares of land. Engines have a capacity of 6-10 liters.с. Capable of working with both active and passive attachments, carry loads weighing up to 500 kg., Sometimes have the wheel release function; there are variants with V-belt drive and PTO. Bright representatives of the middle class with belt transmission: OKA, Celina, Neva series MB-2, MB-23, Agat, Weima. Power tillers with PTO: UGRA, some Weima versions.

Remark: let’s return a bit to cultivators, there are cultivators Fermer, Asilak, Shtenli in the characteristics, which are written that they have a PTO (power takeoff shaft). And indeed, they have a so-called PTO. And here begins a cognitive dissonance. If Fermer/Asilak have at least a real PTO, Shtenli have a fictitious one. PTO has a constant rotation in Shtenli, does not match the diameter for active attachments, t.е. in fact it is impossible to use it. And Fermer/Asilak do not bring active attachments for their motor blocks. By its nature, the models of these producers and other Chinese analogues cannot be used as a power tiller with active attachments, so they remain in fact cultivators with PTO (which is not functional). This is generally one of the most important nuances for which I started this article. In real life, it’s impossible to operate a Chinese single-axle tractor with PTO.

Heavy. Heavy class power tillers with weights from 170 to 240 kg. Used usually for worksites from 20 hectares to 20 hectares. They are heavy, have a massive exterior, a pinion gearbox, a differential lock function, a power take-off shaft. Engine power 9-13 liters.с. Wheels 6.00 x 12 with regular or high tread, or 6.50 х 12. These power tillers can be fitted with both passive and active attachments. Active attachments are connected through the PTO, including the tiller. Passive, through a special hitch. This class of motor blocks is worth quite serious money, attachments are also very expensive, one active cutter at a cost of about 1000 Belarusian rubles. Most often, such power tillers are used on farms with a decent area of cultivation. Although private individuals often use such power tillers on the plots of 20-50 acres. On the other hand, a single-axle tractor of this class, with a set of attachments at a cost approaching the price of a minitractor. Here you have to weigh the pros and cons. Bright representatives of the heavy class: MTZ (Belarus), Motor Sich, Grasshopper, Mobil K G85, Mobil K Ghepard. They are virtually identical, with minor differences in gearbox, engines, gears.

Engines from world producers are installed on any class of motor blocks. Most often, motors can be found on motor blocks of light and medium class:

Lifan, Loncin, Zongshen. Chinese factory engines, the most common is the series 168F- 6.5 л.с., 170F- 7 liters.с. and 177F-9 liters.с. Can be installed on motor blocks OKA, Ugra, Avangard, AGAT, Celina. High quality motors with 1100 hrs. and low maintenance costs. and up, depending on version.

BriggsStratton. American company producing engines for garden equipment, also assembled in China. Most often, BriggsStratton engines are used on motor blocks: OKA, Ugra, Neva, AGAT. Power of 6 to 10 liters.с. One of the inexpensive engines is the version RS 950, which has a capacity of 6.5 л.с. Resource of which is, like in Lifan from 1100 moto / h. Next engine. this is the VANGUARD 6 series.5 л.с., Service life of this engine from 2000 hours. And BS I/C 10 engine.0 л.с., high-quality, resourceful engine VANGUARD from 600.

Honda. Japanese engine company with a capacity of 6.5. 13 л.с. Able to be combined with light, medium and heavy-duty power tillers. Honda engines can be found on the motor blocks: OKA, Ugra, AGAT, Neva, Belarus, Mobil K. On mid-range power tillers, the most common engine is Honda GX200, which has a horsepower of 6 m³.5 л.с., on heavy-duty GX270 power tillers. 9 l.с., GX390. 13 liters.с. All Honda engines have a long service life and are among the best professional engines for MotoGPs.

Yamaha. Japanese premium engines. Output capacity of engines installed on power tillers is 6. 12 hp.с. You can meet on the Neva premium segment motorized tractors. Reliable, resourceful motors have won the hearts of consumers.

My recommendation would be.

If you are choosing a single axle tractor and want to save money when buying, choose the engine: Lifan, BriggsStratton RS, Kasei, Hammerman, Kohler, Dinking. This will give you the opportunity to buy a quality single axle tractor for the minimum price. The life of these engines, depending on the quality of service (oil, etc.).д.), will be from 500 engine hours. That is somewhere between 5 and 7 years of work. At the end of this period, you buy a new engine for 100 and work for the next 5-7 years. I will let you in on a secret, the customers who buy premium engines run it for 7-10 years, and when they replace them, they buy Lifan as well, because new premium engines are very expensive. For those who are afraid of Chinese engines, though groundlessly in the segment of 6.5 л.с., I recommend Honda GX200 or VANGUARD. Who wants more power, take Yamaha, BriggsStratton I/C 10L.с., Subaru EX-17 (21). A single-axle tractor will initially cost significantly more expensive, but the resource you get 2-3 times higher than with Lifan engines and others with them. But, we must remember that any repair, God forbid a breakdown, will cost for a new motor Lifan. Replacement of the carburetor with the work on the Honda engine will actually cost Lifan 168F 6.5 powers. Therefore, in such cases, consumers prefer to replace with a new Chinese engine.

Domestic or imported units

It is believed that foreign-made machinery is better than domestic units in all respects. In many respects such an opinion is justified, since the experience of operating foreign products speaks in their favor. However, today Russian manufacturers produce equipment, which is practically on a par with imported counterparts in all respects. This applies not only to performance characteristics, but also to external design. At the same time, the of domestically made products are several times lower than the imported units.

Russian-made power tillers of Neva, Ugra, Kaskad, Rusich, Nadezhda, Forza, Salyut and Mole trademarks have established themselves excellently. These products, along with their affordable price, are notable for reliability and functionality.

Some models are equipped with power units from world-known manufacturers (Mitsubishi, Honda, Robin-Subaru, BriggsStratton, Lombardini, Minsel).

As for imported models, it is worth paying attention to:

• Chinese Zirka, KDT, Forester, Aurora, Zubr, Kentavr;
• Italian Meccanica Benassi, Oleo-Mac, Goldoni, Grillo, Bertolini;
• German Solo, Gardena, MTD, Huter;
• Swedish Stiga, Husqvarna.

It is advisable to buy this product as a promising investment. Despite the high cost, the units of these brands serve for decades without breakage and repair.

Which is the best single axle tractor??

To this rather simple and at the same time complicated question the answer is very simple. What single axle tractor is better?? The one you have.

But of course this is all lyric. And the question is really serious. As when choosing a power tiller the potential buyer can not formulate for himself a complete list of works that he needs to do today, and what, potentially, in a month, two, six, and also does not consider the functional purpose of this or that technique, does not consider its return or physical capabilities.

You see, choosing a single-axle tractor is like choosing a car. And in this regard, when choosing a car, a man puts quite a lot of questions for himself. Comfort, fuel consumption, number of family members, marketability. When choosing a washing machine, housewives also put a lot of questions for themselves, energy consumption, loading weight, number of functions, etc.д. But when choosing a power tiller very few people ask themselves the following questions. And how will I work on it? I wonder if I can walk behind the machine at the manufacturer’s pace, if I can plow with a plow, what kind of attachments there are, etc.д. Of course, this does not apply to all customers, but the lion’s share of customers are just trying to point their fingers in the sky, at random. God willing, if you are in our caring hands and we can figure out the volume of tasks, works, your physical data and pick up the technique that best suits you. But if you happen to fall into the hands of illiterate resellers stores, it can be a real tragedy for you, without exaggeration of this word.

Let’s try now to figure out what options you have if you decide to buy a single axle tractor.

Bear service. You have a plot of land, or a garden, and your neighbor has a single axle tractor. In this case, you will come to him and naturally begin to wonder what single–axle tractor is best to take for yourself. As it happens, alas, no owner of a power tiller will ever admit to you that he has a problem with the machine. He will tell you about his, about the tasks he performs, and ultimately recommend that you buy one just like it. Because it is the best, the most powerful and so on.д. This kind of advice, this is a conditional trap. Because everyone is different, and for your neighbor may be the norm, for example, to weld something to the tractor, how to improve it, can make his own repairs. And you, for example, have a rather categorical attitude to it, believing that the equipment should initially work, rather than force you to do something to remake. Therefore, in order to avoid such a trap, you need to find out the model of your neighbor’s power tillers and at least read the reviews, watch video reviews and find out all the strengths and weaknesses of this technique.

Your own bumps. If you do not have neighbors, relatives and generally in the environment of someone who does not have any experience in operating this type of equipment. Here you will have to independently trawl the expanse of the Internet, articles, reviews, forums, reviews. The trap of this way of choosing a power tiller is very simple. There is no agreement between farmers and gardeners, from the word quite. Everyone will praise the technique that he has. So you will see a lot of contradictory information, someone will shout that China. is cool, someone will praise the technique Neva, and someone will categorically argue that better than MTZ and Motor Sich does not exist. The problem with modern movies is that we can either find a review of some single-axle tractor, where you will be told about its features, or a video of him doing some work on this or that. What does this information and this video format give you, exactly NOTHING. For example, you can enter the query “milling with MTZ power tiller” in YouTube search line and be impressed by how coolly the active mill grinds the earth into fluff. But you will never be able to determine how much land the person who makes this video for you is working on. For example, you have a suburban area of 6 hectares, and the presenter of the video 2 hectares of land, in this case, bought MTZ they actually can not work on your garden. Exactly like the flip side, you are shown a video of a Mobil K power tiller, beautiful, colorful, advertising the incredible efficiency of this little guy. But the author of this video has 2 hundred square meters of land in cultivation, and you have 40, and what do you do with such a baby on your plot. Therefore, video materials, reviews and various kinds of advertising information should be treated very carefully and with the maximum amount of skepticism.

Objective reality. The easiest, and sort of reliable way, is to come to the sales organization, touch the equipment, and get a complete and detailed advice from the salesman. In Belarus, this is actually the most unfortunate way to buy machines. Reasons for this, quite a lot. And we are going to take them apart little by little.

Caiman VARIO 60H single axle tractor

For countryside work it is better to buy a single-axle tractor as strong and reliable as the Caiman.

• The 6-horsepower motor is suitable for working with difficult plots;
• The petrol engine doesn’t need much fuel or expensive maintenance;
• Thanks to the belt-driven power transfer to the linkage, the engine components will not suffer when the tillers get stuck;
• The weight of 57 kg and small dimensions allows storing the single-axle tractor in the garage and transport in a trailer or small truck;
• Control levers are on the handlebar for operator comfort.

Khoper 900 MQ single axle tractor

Best power model of the power tiller for any works in the garden, homestead or summer cottage.

• 4-stroke engine is quiet and economical;
• Wide protective fender prevents dirt and rocks from getting on the operator when working;
• Best maximum ploughing width. 1200 mm to prepare the ground for planting;
• Belt type coupling does not require intensive lubrication as opposed to disc coupling;
• Cast-iron body of the rotor is resistant to external influences;
• Thanks to the 7-liter engine.с. The device copes even with virgin soil.

single axle tractor PATRIOT POBEDA X Drive 440107501

The best single-axle tractor for a private home on the price/quality ratio.

• Power. 7 horsepower for long, intensive work in the garden;
• Ploughing depth of 30 cm for better oxygenation of the fertile soil layer;
• Gear and chain reducer is durable and reliable;
• Versatile for use with all attachments;
• Equipped with a front wheel for greater stability during deep tillage and heavy attachments;
• Ergonomic handles for convenience.