How to choose a walk-behind tractor for agriculture?

In recent years, walk-behind tractors have firmly entered the life of lovers of cottages and gardens. They greatly simplify the lives of people who spend a lot of time and energy on growing crops. Firstly, the walk-behind tractor really helps during the preparation of the soil for planting - it is easier to cultivate the land with it, sow and harvest. Secondly, this unit is a full-fledged vehicle.

If your site is far away or you need to transport, for example, hay for livestock, this technique will also help you. As a rule, a trolley trailer comes with a walk-behind tractor, so you can move on it for short distances.

However, if you decide to acquire such a device, a reasonable question will arise - how to choose the right walk-behind tractor. Today on sale you will find a huge number of models: light and heavy, gasoline and diesel, with different engine power, etc. We will analyze the main criteria for choosing walk-behind tractors and the characteristics that you need to pay attention to when choosing.

Types of walk-behind tractors

To date, walk-behind tractors are divided into three main types by weight and set of functions. Let's consider each of them in more detail.

Lungs walk-behind tractors

Light walk-behind tractors are devices for standard work in a summer cottage of a small area. Such units do not have outstanding characteristics, but at the same time they differ in democratic cost. The minimum weight makes them easy to transport.

The standard engine power of such equipment is 6-9 hp. Air cooling of the power plant. With its help processing of the soil on average depth is possible. The main advantages of this solution are:

• Low cost;
• Good mobility;
• Elementary operation;
• Easy maintenance;

However, the possibilities of such technology are limited. These types of walk-behind tractors can be used with a plow for plowing, a hiller, a potato digger, etc. It cannot be used as a vehicle. The main purpose of these devices is the processing of plots up to 20 acres.

Medium walk-behind tractors

The average walk-behind tractor is more versatile than the light one. Such equipment is well suited for serving medium-sized farms. In particular, the parameters of this device allow you to work on a plot of 20-50 acres. The advantages of such a unit are as follows:

• Relatively low price;
• You can install a large number of attachments - a harrow, a shovel-dump, a trailer;
• This type of walk-behind tractor can be used as a vehicle.

However, medium motoblocks also have disadvantages. In particular, they provide an air cooling system, which contributes to rapid overheating. Because of this feature, the walk-behind tractor cannot be used for many hours of tasks.

Heavy walk-behind tractors

The main type of walk-behind tractors for industrial use. Such options should be chosen for plots over 50 acres. On such walk-behind tractors, engines with increased motor resources are installed. The unit is able to work with all types of attachments designed for such equipment. The main advantages of heavy walk-behind tractors are as follows:

• Complete versatility;
• Possibility of long-term operation without interruptions;
• Can carry heavy loads;
• Able to work for a long time without engine overhaul.

However, walk-behind tractors of this type are very expensive, and, as a rule, only entrepreneurs can afford them. The operation of such units requires special knowledge and skills. In addition, they are quite large.

Petrol or diesel motoblock?

Another important question: which walk-behind tractor is better - diesel or gasoline. According to statistics, diesel-powered units predominate among customers - 59% versus 41% of gasoline.

Gasoline walk-behind tractors are mainly lightweight models. Less often - average. Such devices are cheaper, less demanding on fuel quality. However, the efficiency of such walk-behind tractors is low. The torque is transmitted to the cutter by 85-90%, and this is not enough to work on difficult soils. In addition, the motor resource of gasoline engines is lower than that of diesel engines.

Motoblocks with diesel engines are more expensive than gasoline ones, and their fuel consumption is less. However, the efficiency is much higher, it reaches 98%. Diesel engines are more resistant to constant and long-term loads. The resource of some models exceeds 3000 hours.

Width and depth of processing

The indicators of the width and depth of tillage for different walk-behind tractors also differ. For example, there are walk-behind tractors with a working width of up to 1.3 m. They will quickly process the site, but it is more difficult to work with them in narrow places. In this case, it is better to choose equipment with typesetting cutters. Also, if possible, it is worth buying a walk-behind tractor with depth adjustment.