Introduction

Walk-behind tractors are universal agricultural machines that have become indispensable assistants in summer cottages and gardening. They make soil cultivation easier and allow you to carry out various agricultural and construction work, significantly saving time and effort.

Advantages of walk-behind tractors

Versatility

Walk-behind tractors are capable of performing many different tasks: plowing the land, cultivating the soil, mowing grass, snow and much more.

Saving time and effort

Thanks to the motorized drive, working with a walk-behind tractor becomes much more efficient and faster than performing the same tasks manually.

Reasonable cost

Walk-behind tractors have various models with a wide price range, which makes them accessible to a wide range of users.

Types of walk-behind tractors

1. Walk-behind tractors with one engine: Typically used for work in small areas, they are lightweight and compact.
2. Walk-behind tractors with two engines: More powerful and versatile models that can cope with more complex tasks and larger areas.
3. Electric walk-behind tractors: Environmentally friendly and quiet in operation, ideal for use in urban environments.

Application of walk-behind tractors

Plowing and soil cultivation: Walk-behind tractors are great for cultivating the soil before planting crops.

Cleaning and mowing: Special devices allow you to use walk-behind tractors for cleaning fallen leaves, mowing lawns and grass.

Cargo transportation: Additional trailers and carriages allow you to use walk-behind tractors for transporting goods around the territory.

Maintenance of walk-behind tractors

• Regular checks: It is important to monitor the condition of the engine, lubricate the bearings, check the oil and filters.
• Cleaning and storage: After use, the walk-behind tractor should be cleaned of dirt, degreased and stored in a dry place.
• Replacing consumables: Periodically change filters, spark plugs, oil and other parts to maintain the functionality of the walk-behind tractor.

Walk-behind tractors are an integral part of the equipment at your summer cottage or in the garden. Their versatility, ease of use and accessibility make them indispensable assistants for various agricultural and construction work. Proper maintenance and care of the walk-behind tractor guarantees its long service life and efficient operation.

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How to choose the walk-behind tractor

Contents:

• Types of walk-behind tractors
  
• Petrol or diesel
  
• Transmission
• Width and depth of soil treatment
• Power take-off shaft
  
• Which company is better
• Additional features
• Tips for choosing

To come across equipment on a rural road that looks like the front of a tractor with a heavily loaded trailer is no longer a curiosity. This is a very common phenomenon in modern Ukrainian villages. Such a mini-tractor is called a walk-behind tractor. Its popularity in Ukraine is growing every year.

The reason for its demand is the versatility of this device. This is something between a tractor and a cultivator. It is clear that large agricultural businesses choose complex and expensive equipment for cultivating their lands: tractors, combines, seeders. Private owners use cultivators for their homes and gardens. But small farms that do not have free funds for expensive units opt for a walk-behind tractor. It copes excellently with a wide range of agricultural work, as well as transporting cargo.

This technique should not be confused with a cultivator. Both cars are divided into three classes: light, medium and heavy. Large and heavy cultivators are very similar in appearance to walk-behind tractors and perform the same list of tasks in the field.

Their main difference is in the method of movement:

• The walk-behind tractor moves self-propelled, and even pulls a trolley.
• The cultivator moves due to the rotation of the cutter.

A low-power cultivator is easier to operate, but only cultivates the soil and nothing else. Medium and heavy machines work with attachments. They are bought for cultivating soil in the garden.

It is worth buying a walk-behind tractor if you are processing heavy virgin soils. It will carry out plowing competently, but it will be heavier and more clumsy. Although modern models have long refuted this opinion. They are so well thought out and equipped with various innovative features that they run across the field very quickly and maneuverably.

To choose the right walk-behind tractor for your garden, let’s take a closer look at its varieties and various modern “bells and whistles” offered by manufacturers.

Types of walk-behind tractors

1. Lightweight walk-behind tractor. Often this is a gasoline walk-behind tractor. Diesel ones are also found, but rarely. Economical. The price is low. Equipped with an engine with power from 6 to 9 hp. The motor is air-cooled. Designed for cultivating soil to medium depth. You can attach static attachments: plow, hiller, potato digger, etc. You just need to know that it is unlikely to cope with unplowed land - it will jump, the cutters will not be able to penetrate deep. It performs best in areas of 15-20 are with pre-treated soil.

2. Average. These units are much more serious. Their advantage is that they can be used to attach a large range of equipment, including active (dynamic) attachments: rotary mower, broom, snow auger, water pump. More power, heavier weight. Basically, these are air-cooled diesel walk-behind tractors, but powerful gasoline engines are also often found. It is best to buy them for use on areas from 0.5 aсres to half a hectare.

3. Heavy walk-behind tractor. This includes the most expensive and functional models. Dimensional. Heavy weight. Copes with dynamic loads. All of them are equipped with extremely powerful water-cooled diesel engines, which allows long-term operation in any type of soil. The cutter, as a rule, is powerful, steel, with an active feed. It rotates independently and very quickly, deeply plowing hard virgin soil. The power of a heavy-duty walk-behind tractor makes it possible to convert it into a tractor.

Power type	Processing area	Advantages	Disadvantages	Attachments
Light	0.35-0.5 acres	Budget price Good mobility Easy to use Easy maintenance	Limited capabilities	Plow for plowing Hiller Potato digger Adapters Rake And more
Medium	0.5-1.25 aскуы	Low cost Ability to install a wide range of attachments Capable of performing the functions of a vehicle	The air cooling system of the engine does not allow the use of the equipment for industrial purposes Not intended for hours-long, complex tasks	Harrows Dump shovels Potato planter Trailers
Heavy	From 1.25 acres and above	Very wide range of functionality Able to work several hours daily when performing particularly complex tasks Designed for transporting heavy loads Increased engine life	High cost Operation requires special, technical knowledge Large overall dimensions	Almost all types of attachments, including active ones, such as: Water pump Wood splitter Branch chopper Mowers Mulchers Sweeper brushes Sprayers Seeders Snow blowers

Engine type

1. Gasoline walk-behind tractors.

The gasoline engine is installed on light and medium walk-behind tractors. It is cheaper in price, but does not have great efficiency. The torque is transmitted to the cutter by 85-90%, but this is not enough for plowing large virgin areas. In addition, its service life is less than that of a diesel engine, and its endurance is lower.

2. Diesel walk-behind tractor.

It costs more. Since fuel consumption is lower and the price is cheaper than gasoline, it pays for itself very quickly at maximum load. The efficiency is much higher than that of gasoline equipment, the figure reaches 98%. This explains that such a unit is designed for frequent daily work in large areas. Motor life is 2 times higher. Some models have over 3000 operating hours.

Number of gears

Before choosing a walk-behind tractor for your plot, garden or field, think about what speed do you need. It directly depends on the number of gears. If the area is 1.25 acres - 2.5 acres (1 hectares), and you also plan to transport cargo often and far, then, of course, you need a multi-stage gearbox. For a vegetable garden near the house, you can limit yourself to one forward gear and reverse for maneuvers. The transmission also affects the rotation speed of the cutter.

You should know that:

• In the simplest light-class machines, the gear part is simplified. Transmission – minimum: 1 forward speed and 1 reverse. Restrictions on the movement of the cutter do not allow working with very hard soil. In addition, difficulties also arise with some attachments. Often the car does not go as fast as the digger or hiller needs. Speed with a trolley -2-3 km per hour;
  
• Motoblocks, which have 3-4 forward speeds, work very well with harrows and potato diggers, since it is possible to select the desired gear. Two speeds allow for excellent manoeuvres. Such machines quickly plow large areas, also working as a mini-tractor. In this case, you need to install larger wheels and choose a model that has a headlight and battery. The maximum speed of movement with a conveyor is 10-12 km per hour.

Width and depth of processing

If the question is which walk-behind tractor is better in terms of processing width, then you should proceed from the size and shape of your site. There are walk-behind tractors with a huge working width - 1.2-1.3 meters. They will pass the overall area much faster. But in order to plow a narrow or hard-to-reach area or walk between rows, this width is not suitable. It is most convenient to buy a unit with:

• adjustable (set) cutters. Then you will have the opportunity to select the desired width in two or three positions by detaching the side parts;
• depth adjustment. This is also important, especially if you plant different crops or work with soil of different hardness.

By the way, active cutters with a built-in special tractor, although they rotate faster, are not adjustable in width.

Power take-off shaft

The power take-off shaft transmits torque from the drive axis to the attachment. The lever for turning it on is located on the handle. By using this mechanism, you can turn on dynamic hitches. These are those that work not passively, but actively: the axis, shaft, impeller, etc. rotate.

Manufacturer: brand to choose

When purchasing, it is important to pay attention to the manufacturer. There is always a risk of running into a deceiver - a fly-by-night company. Today she sold you a product, and tomorrow - look for fistulas. No warranty service, no spare parts.

To avoid getting into trouble, choose the most reliable brands that:

1. Stable. They have been selling their equipment in Ukraine for many years;
   
2. Known. As in our country, so throughout Europe. They have awards, titles, medals. Occupy the top of sales rankings;
3. Tested in practice. Customer reviews and advice about the quality of the product and its shortcomings are always very important;
4. Own an extensive service network. By the way, ask if there is a service center from your chosen brand in your region. After all, failed walk-behind tractors are not such a rare occurrence, given the severity of the load on them.

Additional functions

Additional functionality is what makes your model extremely convenient to use. Additional functions always increase the price, because they often work due to built-in electronics. But it’s worth paying for comfort and pleasure when working.

Launch type.

Traditional launch - manual. By pulling the cable. It is difficult and physically strains the user. Many manufacturers are trying to alleviate the resistance that arises during such a start-up and make an easier start. But still, it is almost impossible to start a heavy car the first time. The second or third is also a bit difficult. The best thing is an electric starter. You simply turn the ignition key in the lock - just like in a car. The motor starts working instantly. Even when it has cooled down, or in the cold.

Differential lock.

It is very convenient for maneuvers if the unit has a mechanism that blocks one wheel. It stops, and the second one continues to rotate. The car makes a perfect circle in one place. This is the optimal way to turn a device that weighs 100-150 kg.

Adjusting the steering wheel.

The steering column is good when it is adjustable. The handles must make a semicircle of 180 degrees in order to quickly turn left and right and drive into the right place. In addition, adjusting the height of the handles – up and down – is also important. There are also models in which the steering wheel can not only be turned, but also shifted slightly to the side. This makes it possible to walk next to the device, rather than behind it.

Presence of headlights.

A halogen headlight is important at night: in the morning or evening. Especially if you plan to transport cargo, you cannot do without road lighting.

Pneumatic wheels.

The necessary equipment to perform all kinds of work in the field, as well as to transport the harvest home. Large wheels with tread do not weigh down in the swamp and do not slip on wet soil. They are often included, but not on all models.

Conclusions

• If you have a hectare-sized plot (2.5 acres), and the soil is hard, then we recommend buying a heavy-duty walk-behind tractor. Your work will be made easier by a powerful diesel engine and steel saber cutters with adjustable width and depth. A multi-speed forward gearbox is required. Among the additional functions, differential locking and electric start are important;
• For average areas of 0.5-0.75 acres, choose a mid-class gasoline model. If a long-term load is expected every day, then it is better to use a diesel drive. More economical and reliable. For virgin lands, you also need to take a diesel engine, and even more powerful;
• light walk-behind tractors are suitable for the home and backyard (0.25-0.5 acres). Only the soil must be previously plowed;
• If you plan to use the machine not only during field work, then a power take-off shaft is required. Working with all kinds of active attachments, such devices mow grass, supply water from a pond for irrigation, improve lawns, sweep streets and roads, and even remove snow drifts;
• When planning to transport a lot of cargo for a long time, a multi-speed gearbox and large wheels are a must. There are extremely comfortable cars: with a seat and headlights. Very convenient as a mini transporter.