Japanese Mini Tractors: Features Of The Iseki, Mitsubishi And Hinomoto Models. How To Choose Parts And Adjust The Track Gauge?

2024 Author: Beatrice Philips | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-18 12:09

Representatives of the world community of landowners trust the quality of medium-sized tractor equipment from Japan. Mini-tractors of Japanese production are reliable, maneuverable, easy-to-use assistants for versatile work in household or agriculture, construction and housing and communal services. A large selection of attachments greatly expands the functionality of these compact, productive agricultural machines.

They are involved in forest planting and park work, used to care for the backyard area and as loading and unloading equipment.

Advantages and disadvantages

The demand for Japanese mini tractors is driven by high quality workmanship combined with excellent performance.

The pros of a mini tractor from Japan include a number of characteristics

• High cross-country ability - move confidently on low quality roads, off the road network and on any type of surface from asphalt to lawn and paving stones.
• Performance - equipped with internal combustion engines with an effort of up to 105 liters. with. and traction indicators up to 2 tons.
• Endurance - work properly on all types of soil, are not afraid of extreme climatic and road conditions.
• Multifunctionality - a large selection of attachments makes the use of machines available in farm work, private households and on construction sites.
• Maneuverability - Japanese vehicles are considered to be the best in terms of speed of direction change. The indicator of the minimum turning radius for different models is 1900-3500 mm.
• Ergonomic - ease of use provides a combination of a comfortable cabin with full constant all-round visibility, ease of getting in and out of it and easy accessibility of all controls.
• Operational reliability - in terms of the quality of materials and assembly, mini-tractors of famous Japanese brands surpass any Russian or Chinese counterpart.

Minuses:

• the purchase of "Japanese", as well as spare parts for them, is much more expensive in comparison with agricultural machinery of Russian or Chinese brands;
• demanding in terms of maintenance and quality of fuels and lubricants, for example, cars need to systematically adjust the valves, since an increase in the gap between them and the camshaft leads to engine breakdown;
• spare parts have to be ordered from Japan.

Brands

Consider the Japanese mini-tractor brands with the highest consumer confidence index, which are at the top of the ranking of the world's best mini-tractor manufacturers.

Iseki

Compact tractors of this brand are known for their high quality workmanship and stability of power characteristics.

Advantages of Iseki agricultural technology:

• ultra-compact dimensions and small turning radius - less than 2.5 m;
• 3- and 4-cylinder engines with reliable generators operate reliably even under extreme loads and are fuel efficient;
• the possibility of installing a hitch both on the front of the unit and on the rear, plus equipment with hydraulics for controlling implements in any plane;
• a comfortable workplace - the cabin with good sound insulation has an air conditioner and a radio tape recorder;
• equipping with smart automation with functions of memorizing the driving mode for a specific area, reducing the speed when changing the direction of movement, switching to a stepped control mode.

The line includes several series of wheeled and tracked mini-tractors with / without a cab, equipped with diesel engines of different power from 16 to 105 hp. with. and hydrostatic transmission (GTS). The engine delivers uniform torque at all speeds to ensure stability and efficiency even in extreme conditions.

The units work with a wide range of attachments from front loaders and blades to lawn mowers and snow blowers.

Mitsubishi

Agricultural machines of this brand are designed to solve various tasks in agriculture, communal services, municipal services and private houses. The unflagging interest of Russian landowners in Mitsubishi mini-tractors prompted the manufacturer to constructively modify the units taking into account our climate. So, they began to be equipped with diesel engines with improved fuel filters so that the cars could work properly at negative temperatures. Mitsubishi mini-tractors are produced with two cab design options: removable and stationary, which ensures comfort in work in any climatic zone.

One of the most popular models is the all-wheel drive MT180D with a rigid suspension and a mechanism that forcibly blocks the rear axle differential. It features a proprietary 18.5 hp 3-cylinder liquid-cooled diesel engine, a 3-point hitch with fasteners and hydraulics to control the mounted and trailed implements.

Shibaura

Shibaura mini tractors are designed for all-season use in any climate. All models are equipped with high-power branded diesel engines with an effort of up to 40 liters. with., designed for long-term work in difficult field conditions.

There are quite a few advantages

• 4x4 all-wheel drive system and a mechanism that blocks the rear axle differential. Tractors with such a filling are not afraid of the worst road conditions with difficult terrain, slippery or unstable surfaces.
• Hydrostatic automatic transmission, which provides the ability to use the engine at full power under varying loads and simplifies tractor control.
• Economical, reliable, durable and environmentally friendly branded 4-stroke diesel engines.
• A comfortable workplace with an adjustable seat length and safety belts, an ergonomic control panel with a mechanical hour meter, fuel level and antifreeze temperature indicators.
• All products are USEPA Tier 1 compliant for diesel engines. Shibaura diesel exhaust contains a minimum amount of toxic compounds that poison the air. Shibaura is the leading manufacturer of environmentally friendly vehicles.

The model range of Shibaura mini-tractors includes two series of agricultural machines with GTS:

• ST - units with a capacity of 24-60 liters. with.;
• SX - models with a capacity of 21 to 26 liters. with.

Let's note the most prominent representatives of the Shibaura mini-tractor family

• ST 318 M with 18 hp diesel, high efficiency mechanical power train, dry single clutch and agricultural wheels.
• P17F with a capacity of 17 liters. with. The unit has a 4-speed gearbox with two operating modes - low and high, as well as a mechanism that blocks the rear axle differential.
• ST 460 SSS with a powerful 60-horsepower diesel engine. Advantages - mechanical synchronized transmission, 3-point hitch and cruise control option for setting the optimal speed, taking into account the type of work being performed.

Hinomoto

Hinomoto mini tractors are known for their excellent technical characteristics and are suitable for work in any type of farming: rural, farm, private, municipal and construction sites. Their pluses:

• small turning radius - up to 170 cm;
• economical fuel consumption - 0.5-1.05 l / h;
• rear axle differential lock mechanism.

The product line is divided into series C, E, N. Different models are equipped with 17-25 hp diesel engines with 2 or 3 cylinders. They are equipped with 15-40 hp diesel engines with 2 or 3 cylinders, 2x2 or 4x4 drive systems.

A number of Hinomoto mini tractor models are in high demand

• N249 with front loader and 25 hp diesel, 4WD all-wheel drive system, 32 speeds (16 front and 16 rear), 3-speed PTO, manual transmission, 3 hitch points.
• N209DT with 3-cylinder 20 hp engine with., four-wheel drive 4x4 and a rotary cutter included.

All equipment is designed to work with any attachments: snow removal, agricultural and land management.

Optional equipment

The installation of attachments makes it possible to appreciate all the advantages of small-scale mechanization tools, especially such productive and nimble ones as Japanese mini-tractors. The more varied and more complex the hitch, the higher the degree of versatility of the machine, manifested in the ability to perform versatile work.

The main types of hinge:

• buckets are basic with a high breakout force; planning for heavy work on construction sites; clamshells for cleaning construction and demolition waste;
• dozer blades for snow removal and those types of excavation or other work where you need to quickly clear the space;

• trenchers for digging narrow, even trenches for laying pipes, cables, drainage devices;
• scarifier for quick uprooting of stumps, extraction of stones from dense soils;

• road milling cutters, with the help of which the asphalt concrete road surface is repaired and engineering works are carried out;
• dump trailers of various carrying capacities and universal 1- and 2-axle trailers with manual unloading, on which it is convenient to transport garden waste, turf, logs, humus;

• cultivator cutters, with the help of which they cultivate the land, prepare the soil for planting, loosen and tamp the dug in the ground;
• coons for loading and transporting bales of hay, rolls of turf / roofing material, building materials;

• stone pickers for collecting stones from burrowed fields;
• reversible plows with dredging depth controller;
• front lifters and front power take-off shafts.

Repair and replacement of damaged attachments must be carried out using original spare parts.

Selection Tips

When buying a mini-tractor, you need to take into account the land area, structure, type of soil and the planned intensity of operation. If the equipment is needed only for caring for the adjacent territory with an area of up to 2 hectares, then models with a capacity of 16-20 liters will cope with this task. with. The most acceptable solution for owners of plots with an area of 4-5 hectares or more is machines with a capacity of 20-24 liters. with. For serious tillage and cultivation, you will already need a technique with higher productivity. It is advisable for owners of land areas from 10 hectares to acquire units with powerful 35-40 strong diesel engines.

With an increase in the productivity of mini-tractors, the possibilities of their arrangement with replaceable equipment increase, the number and complexity of which differs from model to model. There is no point in buying a lot of attachments for 16 hp machines. with. for garden maintenance and snow removal. Whereas on models with 25-horsepower diesel engines and more, you can install any attachments.

Not every landowner can afford to buy a new Japanese-made tractor . Therefore, many people buy units on the secondary market of agricultural machinery. The interest in second hand agricultural machinery from Japan is due to the attractive combination of an impressive remaining motor resource and an acceptable price.

When buying a used tractor, you need to be prepared for the difficulties with the purchase of spare parts. Repair kits for them may simply no longer be produced, especially when it comes to outdated models with a service life of 30 years or more.

How to use?

Despite the high working life, reliability and long service life (more than 25 years), Japanese mini-tractors need regular inspection and maintenance. Before starting the agricultural machine, you need to read the operating instructions and carry out complex maintenance with a check of the operability of technological units and assemblies. Be sure to change the oil filter, fuels and lubricants (engine and transmission oil) and coolant, check the electrolyte level and battery charging. Periodic maintenance of the mini-tractor is carried out every 50, 100, 200 and 400 hours of operation.

For soil cultivation in row spacings on fields with row crops, it is recommended to adjust the track width in multiples of the row spacing , thereby achieving the maximum size of the protective zones. The increased track size helps to increase the stability of the equipment when working in mountainous terrain, but at the same time has a negative impact on handling, therefore, if necessary, it is also changed. In Japanese units, the track size is adjustable within 80-100 cm. For models with all-wheel drive, the rear track can be smoothly adjusted by moving the axle clutch or turning the disc. To widen the front axle, it is necessary to swap the positions of the right and left wheel.