Minitractor Bulat 120: characteristics and reviews from owners

The Bulat 120 minitractor is an inexpensive type of tractor equipment manufactured on the basis of a walk-behind tractor in a factory setting in China. It is designed for the mechanized performance of a number of tasks on household plots and summer cottages, as well as small farms and municipal enterprises. This small-sized agricultural machine is universal and can work with various attachments. You can hang attachments such as a tiller, mower, potato digger, harrow, hiller, seeder, snow blower on it, as well as attach a cart or trailer for transportation functions.

History of creation

The sonorous name “Bulat-120” was received from the Chinese manufacturer, Mahindra Yueda Tractor Company Ltd (Jinma), which has been producing this mini tractor for the Russian market since 2013. Based on reviews from owners, the work of this little helper is quite effective, the model is universal and promises a quick payback. The main office of Jinma is located in the city of Yancheng in the Chinese eastern province of Jiangsu, located on the coast of the Yellow Sea and being one of the most economically developed areas where industrial and agricultural products are produced. This joint venture is one of the largest and most famous enterprises in China.

Let's turn to history. Jinma was created by the Chinese company Jiangsu Yueda Group Co., Ltd., which includes a group of enterprises specializing in various industries (textile industry, etc.), also located in the city of Yancheng, and the Indian engineering concern Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd (M&M). M&M is a multinational company. The company was founded in 1945 and has been continuously developing since then. Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd is one of the leading tractor manufacturers in the world and is among the top ten industrial companies in India.

Scope of application

The Bulat's dimensions are slightly larger than those of a powerful walk-behind tractor, which is why the machine is commonly known as a motor tractor. However, the presence of 4 wheels and a classic layout determines that this model belongs to the category of small tractors.

A functional and maneuverable machine can be used with equal success in private and farm households, public utilities and construction organizations.

Compact and convenient for everyday use, the mini tractor of this model compares favorably with its analogues:

• high traction force on the tow hitch;
• economical consumption of fuels and lubricants;
• compatibility with different types of attachments;
• high maintainability;
• affordable cost of spare parts and consumables.

The Bulat-120 model includes a milling cutter and a double-furrow plow. For work between rows, the manufacturer offers Bulat T-120 Lux with an adjustable track of the front and rear axles.

Specifications

The Bulat-120 mini tractor model in the line of the Chinese manufacturer Jinma is the least powerful, and therefore uses a rear-wheel drive system. All-wheel drive is not available.

Among the main technical indicators it should be noted:

• Single-cylinder four-stroke diesel engine R195NDL or K195ХОТ with a power of 8.83 kW or 12 hp. With.
• Fuel consumption according to the specific indicator is within 188 g/kW*hour.
• The frequency of the engine crankshaft rotating clockwise is 2300 rpm.
• The nominal speed is 1.68–17.08 km/h forward and 1.29–2.22 km/h reverse.
• The maximum speed is 22.78 km/h forward and 6.97 km/h reverse.
• Fuel tank capacity 5.5 liters.
• The design minimum weight is 400 kg.
• It has a 4✕2 wheel formula with the tire size of the front lightweight wheels being 4.00–8 and the rear tires with herringbone tread being 5.00–12.
• Mechanical eight-speed gearbox.
• Starting the engine from an electric starter powered by a battery, with the possibility of manual starting in emergency cases.
• It has a double-sided drum brake system with foot drive.
• Water cooling system.
• Oil system under pressure.
• Small overall dimensions, length✕width✕height - 2140✕905✕1175 mm.
• Driver's seat with horizontal position adjustment.
• Steering with a worm gear allows you to control the tractor with little physical effort.
• A hydraulic system that provides aggregation of mounted and trailed equipment.

The main difference between a mini tractor and a walk-behind tractor is the ability to cultivate a plot of land using various attachments using a hydraulic system, while sitting on a comfortable seat. The use of horizontal V-belt transmission made it possible to significantly simplify and reduce the cost of the Bulat-120 design. When working with trailed equipment, you can transport loads weighing up to 1 thousand kg over distances of up to 20 km. The mini tractor usually comes with a rotary cutter and a mounted plow.

Peculiarities

The key features of this mini-tractor, in comparison with the same walk-behind tractor, are a comfortable cabin, the ability to use a large number of different attachments, as well as an additional set of wheels. In order to make the design cheap and simple, the manufacturer decided to use a V-belt drive. But it is worth noting that the ground clearance of the car is not that high and if it hits an obstacle, the suspension may be damaged, so this should be handled with care.

As for cross-country ability, this mini-tractor is slightly inferior to models of its family, since the vehicle does not have all-wheel drive, and the driving wheels are exclusively rear.

The hydraulic system of the tractor is designed for the installation of attachments that require a hydraulic drive for operation, namely a screw wood splitter, a tillage cutter, a potato digger and other similar equipment.

The standard equipment includes either single-body or double-body plow equipment and a soil-cultivating milling unit.

Dimensional and mass indicators

Due to its small dimensions, Bulat-120 will fit in any garage without any problems. Good maneuverability allows you to use the mini tractor on any site, no matter how small.

Keep in mind that due to the low ground clearance (clearance), significant obstacles, for example, a log or a ditch, can cause damage to the suspension of the mini tractor.

Purpose

A miniature tractor is indispensable in farms, farms, gardens, and summer cottages. It can easily overcome rough terrain, work on hills and in lowlands thanks to the use of a planetary gearbox. The trailer can transport heavy loads weighing up to 600 kg. Using mobile special equipment from Jinma, you can perform:

• plowing the soil;
• sowing;
• harrowing;
• hilling of plants;
• planting and digging potatoes;
• grass cutting;
• cleaning the area.

Bulat mini tractor, side view

Engine

The Bulat-120 minitractor is equipped with a horizontal single-cylinder four-stroke diesel engine model R195NDL or K195ХOT with a power of 12 hp. With. (8.83 kW) water cooled. Due to the small cylinder volume of 0.632 l, a low diesel fuel consumption of no more than 1.66 l/h is ensured at a crankshaft speed of 2300 rpm and maximum load. The engine is started by an electric starter powered by a 12 V battery; manual starting is possible. The water cooling system copes with the thermal load quite effectively.

Price

Above we have already noted the low cost of Bulat. Now let's confirm this statement with an example. Let's take several units of this equipment with similar characteristics that are sold in the same store, for example Scout.

Scout T 12Difyt

So:

• Minitractor Scout T 15DIFYT – 199,900 rub.
• Modification of the same device 12SDIF – 149,900 rubles.
• The same mini tractor, but a different modification 24 DIF – 239,900 rubles.

Now let’s compare it with Bulat.

Minitractor Bulat 120 its price is 14,900 rubles . As we can see, in comparison with a similar model, the price of Bulat is significantly lower.

Transmission

The cylindrical spur gear mechanical eight-speed gearbox 3+1✕2 allows the tractor to reach a speed of 22.78 km/h when moving forward, and 6.97 km/h when moving in reverse. A two-way drum brake system is installed on the rear axle of the Bulat-120. The drive axle with a non-locking differential is equipped with a planetary transmission type, and the main gearbox is driven by a belt drive. In this case, a double-plate dry clutch is connected to three drive belts. The entire transmission structure is protected from mechanical damage from below by a metal shield.

Cabin

Self-propelled equipment "damask steel" differs from walk-behind tractors in the presence of a comfortable cabin. It features a soft seat with longitudinal position adjustment. The tractor driver is provided with high ergonomic use of the steering column, levers and control pedals.

Bulat minitractor, rear view

Start of operation

After purchasing the Bulat-120 minitractor, and before starting operation, you should check the functionality of all its components and assemblies:

• The tank must be filled with clean diesel fuel that has settled for at least 48 hours. This is done to avoid possible engine malfunctions and to extend its service life. Before filling the tank, the fuel can also be filtered. The filler neck should be clean, as should the fuel filter and tank.
• The radiator must be filled with clean, soft water to ensure stable, continuous operation of the cooling system. To soften the water, you can boil it and add a little caustic soda (1.5 g/l). In winter, when the ambient temperature is below zero, a special coolant, antifreeze or antifreeze, is used instead of water.
• All external nuts and bolts must be checked and, if necessary, tightened.
• Be sure to check the oil level.
• Wheel toe should be within 3–11 mm, and tire pressure should be at least 2.5 atm.

A new tractor must be run in. First the engine starts. Before starting, the fuel system must be bled with the fuel valve open. After this, set all gearbox levers to neutral and the manual throttle to medium, and start the engine by turning the ignition key clockwise. If the engine does not start within 10 seconds, then you should wait at least 2 minutes before restarting, and if this does not help, then you should find and eliminate the faults that have arisen.

You need to listen to the operation of the engine and make sure that there are no extraneous noises. With the engine running, switch the power take-off shaft (PTO) to different positions within 5 minutes in the following sequence: 750–1000–540 rpm. This is done for grinding in, after which the shift lever is moved to the neutral position.

To check the hydraulic system, raise and lower the attachment several times without a load, and then do the same, but with an implement approximately equal in weight to the plow. After the tests, re-check the fastening of all components and mechanisms, as well as the absence of fuel, oil or liquid leaks.

After preliminary running-in, you can start moving, but not yet working in the field. Check the operation of the engine, gearbox, PTO, hydraulic system and steering mechanism under load and in motion, while carefully monitoring the readings of all control instruments. At the end of the work, drain all systems of oil and coolant and refill with fresh fluid. Now Bulat-120 is ready for full operation.

Let's look at frequently asked questions

Owners of motorized tractors sometimes have problems with the operation of the hitch or the unit itself. Most often they are concerned with the following questions.

How to properly set up a plow on a Bulat 120 minitractor?

Users often complain that the double-body tiller does not go deep to the required depth or does not remove the soil. It turns out that the problem lies not in the quality of the plowing implement, but in its incorrect settings. So, let's look at how to properly configure the device on the Bulat 120 mini-tractor so that it effectively plows the land. To do this, you need to make adjustments:

• depth of depth;
• plowshare positions;
• support wheel;
• working width.

In order to adjust the required depth level (this value is usually standard and is 18-20 cm), three beams are prepared, the same height as the expected plowing depth. One side of the mini-tractor wheels is placed on two bars (Fig. 1), simulating the position in the furrow.

Fig.1. Installing mini-tractor wheels on blocks

Then the plowshares are adjusted using the mounting bolts located on the bed near the hitch. The right ploughshare must be located exactly in the center of the motor tractor axis (Fig. 2). Otherwise, the angle of inclination of the field board will change, and this will worsen the quality of plowing.

Fig.2. Adjusting the shares

Next, the support wheel is adjusted. A third beam is placed under it and the fasteners are loosened. The support wheel is adjusted so that it is in contact with the block (Fig. 3) and in this state it is secured.

Fig.3. Adjusting the support wheel

Using adjusting screws located above the plowshares, the desired angle of attack and depth level are adjusted. When adjusted correctly, both plowshares will be in full contact (Fig. 4) with the floor surface.

Fig.4. Depth adjustment

Then the working width is adjusted. To do this, raise the locking lever on the bed and turn the plow towards the right wheel of the mini-tractor. Set the desired working width and fix it on the bed with a clamp. The working width will be greatest when the blade is located in the center (Fig. 5) relative to the position of the right rear wheel.

Fig.5. Setting the cutting width

To ensure proper plowing, the tiller is supplemented with a weighting agent.

How to make a counterweight for Bulat 120?

Owners of Bulat 120, however, like other models of lightweight motor units, often encounter another problem - when driving with a rear linkage or a loaded trailer, the front end tips up and the equipment practically rears up. To eliminate this effect, the front part of the agricultural machine is weighted using a balancer. Typically the weight of such a device is 30-45 kg.

Weighting materials are made in different ways, using available materials. For example, they make a frame from metal corners by welding, cover it with sheet metal and fasten it with coupling bolts to the front of the engine unit, and then fill it with bulk cargo: sand or small crushed stone. Another option is used: they prepare the frame, line the inside with durable metal mesh, install it on a tractor and fill it with sand-lime brick. A gas cylinder concreted with lightweight concrete is also used as a weighting agent. Such a balancer weighs 60-75 kg. It is coated with paint to make it look more aesthetically pleasing and harmonize with the color of the tractor.

Despite some shortcomings, the Bulat 120 mini-tractor is a reliable mini-tractor that will satisfy the owner of a small subsidiary or farm with its functionality. Such equipment will last for many years if it is operated correctly and maintenance is carried out in a timely manner.

Modifications

Another model is produced under the Bulat brand. There are also three analogues with different names.

• "Bulat-254" is an all-wheel drive mini tractor with an in-line three-cylinder KM385VT engine with a power of 24 hp. C (17.65 kW). Equipped with power steering and front towing device. There is a powerful hydraulic system with an additional hydraulic distributor. It is aggregated with various mounted and trailed equipment. Adjustable track of front and rear wheels. There is a trailer socket. Convenient to use.
• “Caliber MT-120” is a twelve-horsepower mini tractor with a single-cylinder engine and water cooling. It is convenient to work both on a farmer’s field and in small summer cottages. Small dimensions allow the mini tractor to be used in the most cramped and inconvenient conditions, and its low cost ensures good demand and implies a quick payback.
• “Zubr-12e Mill” is assembled from a liquid-cooled walk-behind tractor and a special kit that allows you to install a rotary and front mower, as well as a moldboard shovel, on a minitractor. The engine produces 10 hp. s (7.36 kW) at a crankshaft speed of 2000 rpm. Used in agriculture and public utilities.
• "Centaur DW 120C" is a new promising model for professional use with a durable R195NDL diesel engine developing 12 hp. s (8.83 kW). Comfortable adjustable driver's seat, bright lighting that allows you to work at night. Various types of agricultural and transportation work can be carried out.

Among the proposed models you can find such names as “Bulat-120 Lux” or “Bulat-120 NEW”. A thorough analysis showed that there are no differences from the base model, except for the name.

Attachments

Several different attachments are provided for this tractor, including plows, cultivators, harrows, milling cutters, mineral fertilizer spreaders, potato diggers, potato planters, hillers, sprayers, front loaders, dumps and much more. The rear power take-off shaft has 6 splines, thanks to which the mini-tractor is also capable of using a variety of choppers and a host of other similar machines.

Operating experience, advantages and disadvantages

By choosing the Bulat-120 minitractor to cultivate your personal plot or farm field, you acquire an excellent assistant with many advantages:

• Good maneuverability when working in small areas.
• High speed characteristics.
• Possibility of cultivating even hilly soils.
• Easy to drive and maintain.
• Connection of various mounted and trailed equipment.
• Performing a wide range of work.
• Economical fuel consumption.
• Adaptation to the Russian climate.
• High maneuverability due to low weight.
• Affordable price.
• Operational reliability and reliability.

Not only Russian, but also European farmers speak positively about Bulat-120, which is due to the breaking of stereotypes about the unreliability of Chinese equipment. With timely maintenance, a minitractor can operate for at least three seasons before undergoing major repairs. Its components and parts are wear-resistant and rarely fail. Of course, there are also disadvantages. In order for the plowing of the land to be of better quality, the engine power should be increased to at least 16 hp. s (11.77 kW). Many farmers complain about poor quality assembly and lack of lubrication of rubbing components and parts. Low ground clearance often causes suspension failure. Plastic parts may burst, the metal of some components cannot be hardened, and the paint may be poorly painted, causing rapid corrosion.

Some owner reviews

Kursk farmer: “Our small village can boast of two Bulat-120 mini tractors.” The equipment is excellent, it was imported from Ukraine, where such tractors are very popular. We also sell these in the regional center, but they’re a little expensive.” Andrey: “It’s a good-quality model, although it’s low-powered, only 12 horses, but it pulls decently. After purchasing it, I immediately tested the operation of the cutter and plow included in the kit on my site. It plows without problems even without hanging ballast, although, of course, my soil is soft. But so far I’m happy.” Alexander: “You shouldn’t deny yourself the pleasure of purchasing Bulat 120, if such an opportunity has arisen. You can not only cultivate your own plot, but also plow your neighbors’ gardens, not for free, of course. Here you have a ready-made business. I know owners who have already paid for their mini tractor with just this.” Mikhail: “First of all, after purchasing the damask steel 120, I immediately tightened and lubricated all the bearings, none of which were lubricated. Sorry, no blocking. So far I've only removed snow, no complaints. In the spring I’ll see how it behaves in the field.” Vladimir: “Bulat 120 is still raw, you need to use your hands. But it’s all a matter of time, we’re slowly getting it right and putting it into action.” Alexei:

“There is no point in praising Bulat-120 yet; there are many shortcomings. I figure it out thoughtfully and slowly. I fine-tuned the external rack drive, for which I used a bushing, throwing out the axle and bolt. Everything about this tractor requires a hand. I took it because the weight was suitable for solving my problems, especially since I can do a lot of things myself.”

Owners' opinion

Basically all the reviews are the same, here are a few of them:

Sergey

An excellent mini-tractor that has become an indispensable and valuable assistant for me on the farm. I recommend for purchase.

Advantages: economical fuel consumption, versatility, reasonable cost.

Disadvantages: not yet identified.

Victor

A reliable and powerful unit with good characteristics, which made it easier for me to carry out many types of work, and thanks to the trailer, I was able to make more hay and stock up on building materials.

Advantages: copes well with various types of work and has a rather attractive appearance.

Disadvantages: after a year of operation of the mini-tractor, there are no complaints about its operation.

Alexei

In principle, a good unit, but it was necessary to carry out some modernization and replace some parts, in particular hoses, a generator, an ammeter, and so on in small things.

Prices

Russian farmers highly value the Bulat-120, since it is a good alternative to the already well-known low-power mini tractors and walk-behind tractors. And the main advantage is the affordable price, in the range of 89–130 thousand rubles. But these are still offers for old stocks, because due to the crisis and the rising dollar exchange rate, the price of this equipment will rise. To do this, just look at the offers of individual entrepreneurs selling Bulat-120 manufactured in 2014 with a mileage of 1 thousand km at a price of $1,500 to $2,200. Currently, buying such a mini tractor is quite simple, as it is offered by various specialized companies.

Reviews of the mini tractor Bulat-120

Vlad An excellent motor tractor, for me it has become an indispensable thing on the farm. I recommend to everyone. Pros: Excellent value for money, so far I'm happy with everything. Cons: Didn't find any.

Konstantin I recently ordered and the delivery was free, so overall I’m happy with the purchase. I opened the hood, everything was in place, it started right away, I drove around the yard to check it, so I recommend it!

Alexey Large wheels, both front and rear. I liked the controls, I expected it to be hard to work during the day, but everything steers perfectly.