Kirovets K-424: technical characteristics, description, review

The plant's debut in a new class, a worthy alternative to the T-150

In August 2022, a significant event took place in the history of the St. Petersburg Kirov Tractor Plant and the entire domestic mechanical engineering industry - the launch into mass production of a new model of Kirovets tractors.
The Kirovets K-424 tractor became the smallest in the enterprise’s production program. This model is intended for profitable work not so much in large, but in medium-sized, as well as in small peasant farms. According to experts, the “mini-Kirovets” can best perform in fields ranging from 500 to 2000 hectares. It is assumed that the K-424 will become the “pioneer” of the entire K-4 series, which will include compact tractors of the 3rd and 4th traction classes. Specialists from the oldest Russian machine-building enterprise hope that this tractor, and in the future the entire K-4 series, will be in demand on the market. It is indicated that the Kirovets K-424 will occupy a very promising niche in the agricultural machinery market, which in Soviet times was occupied by the incredibly successful and even irreplaceable Kharkov T-150 tractor.

In modern times, the Kharkov Tractor, as a result of which it is now, as they say, “more dead than alive.” And over the past many years, large and medium-sized farmers have been forced to purchase either several low-power tractors at once, or one tractor that is too energy-intensive and expensive for them. There is hope that the Kirovets K-424 will be welcomed not only by peasant farms, but also by large landowners and agricultural holdings. there, where there are tasks of regular transportation of equipment to remote fields, or the fields are mostly small-scale.

Design features and scope of application

By its design, the Kirovets K-424, nicknamed Kiryusha, is a wheeled tractor with an articulated frame, traditional for the products of the St. Petersburg Tractor Plant. The articulated frame has long been known for providing the best weight distribution, traction, high flotation and maneuverability, even in the most difficult road conditions. The welded frame of the “mini-Kirovets” “K-424” is made up of two semi-frames: front and rear, which are connected to each other by a hinge device.

The K-424 is much more compact than the traditional Kirov vehicles, and is also equipped with a less powerful but more economical YaMZ-53625 diesel engine with a capacity of 240 horsepower. This engine is paired with a new generation automatic transmission. The tractor has relatively small overall dimensions, which enable it to move freely on roads of all levels without additional permits. If necessary, the possibility of doubling the wheels is provided.

This model is also notable for the fact that this new product is the only tractor of the fourth traction class that is entirely produced in Russia. In nine workshops of the St. Petersburg Tractor Plant, metal casting and plastic casting are performed, as well as machining, welding, testing of components and assemblies... the entire technological chain up to the final assembly of equipment. The manufacturer provides a warranty of 1 year or 2000 engine hours for the Kirovets K-424.

The “K-424” hydraulics are powerful, the towing device is pendulum, the towing device is height-adjustable. Thanks to the presence of a modern unified coupling device, the Kirovets K-424 is suitable for the following types of current agricultural work:

• Pre-sowing treatment and soil preparation;
• Carrying out sowing work;
• Cultivation;
• Processing of crops between rows;
• Fertilizer application.

The premiere of the Kirovets K-424 tractor on the domestic agricultural machinery market took place a couple of years earlier than August 2017, in October 2015. Before its launch into mass production, the new Leningrad tractor underwent intensive field tests in seven agricultural regions of our country. Also, “Kirovets K-424” underwent an annual test cycle at three machine testing stations. Both at MIS and on farms, the tractor has proven itself exclusively on the positive side.

Functionality

The KIROVETS K-424 tractor is equipped with work systems for main and pre-sowing tillage, sowing, plant protection, auxiliary and transport work:

• Modern Russian economical diesel engine with electronic injection (environmental standard STAGE IIIa)
• Modern automatic transmission and transport dimensions, allowing you to effectively navigate on roads of various levels without additional permits
• Powerful hydraulics of working equipment, pendulum towbar, towbar, height-adjustable (multi-lift), rear and front agricultural linkage, PTO at 540/1000 rpm. provide aggregation with modern and promising implements
• The articulated frame, traditional for KIROVTS, provides the best weight distribution, traction, high cross-country ability and maneuverability in the most difficult road conditions
• Quiet, spacious cabin equipped with air conditioning, heater, on-board computer
• Wheel doubling kit

Engine "Kirovets K-424"

The modern, economical and quiet diesel engine YaMZ-53625 is one of the undoubted advantages of the new tractor. This is an in-line six-cylinder liquid-cooled engine with turbocharging and charge air cooling, with electronic injection (Common Rail fuel system), meeting the requirements of the Stage IIIa environmental standard. The engine is certified to comply with the requirements of the special technical regulation of the Customs Union 031/2012 “On the safety of agricultural and forestry tractors and trailers for them”: UN Regulation No. 24-03, UN Regulation No. 96-02.

• Engine displacement is 6.65 liters.
• Rated power - 176.5 kW, or 240 horsepower.
• Operating power – at least 158 ​​kW, or 215 horsepower.
• Maximum torque – 900 Nm, or 92 kgf.m, at 1300…1600 rpm.
• Specific diesel fuel consumption, at rated power no more than 197 hp. (145 kW) – 197 g/kW h, or 145 g/hp-h; and with an operating power of no more than 168 hp. – 229 g/kW h, or 168 g/hp-h.
• Fuel tank capacity (double) – 500 liters.

Automated transmission "T5"

In the photo: Automated gearbox "T5"

Revisions and improvements to the T5 automatic transmission:

• The electrical control and automation unit has been improved.
• Now the inclusion of ranges is precision pneumatics.
• The pressure in the control system has increased.
• Increased consumption for lubrication and engine cooling.
• The teeth of the friction clutches are strengthened.
• Added additional disks in the package to speed up switching between on and off modes.
• A new and improved clutch drum design reduces heat when engaging and disengaging.
• New bearings are provided that extend the service life and transmission oil.
• The MPP rail has enhanced sealing.

In the production process of individual components and parts of the tractor, new modern technologies are used:

• hardening using laser equipment;
• processing of parts using high-precision equipment;
• new surface grinding technologies are used;
• heat treatment of parts on a modern thermal line.

Transmission

“Kirovets K-424” is equipped with an all-wheel drive transmission and a six-speed automatic transmission with torque converter locking. The drive axles have differential locks. The number of gears is: forward – six; rear - three. Gear shifting on the K-424 is electro-hydraulic, without interrupting the power flow, both in automatic and manual modes. In work mode, gear shifting occurs from first to fourth gear, and in transport mode - from first to sixth gear.

In order to avoid engine overloads when the gearbox is operating in manual mode, the gearbox control system provides for automatic switching to a lower gear when the crankshaft speed is reduced to 1300 rpm. Tractor speed: forward - slowest - 5.8 km/h; maximum operating speed is 14 km/h. The highest transport speed with the full weight of a standard trailer is 40 km/h. The tractor power take-off shaft is independent, two-speed.

Rational and convenient

KIROVETS K-424 is a universal farm tractor that is most effective for farms with arable land from 500 hectares to 2000 hectares.

K-424 will fit into agricultural technologies and large land users and agricultural holdings, primarily to solve the following problems:

• frequent transfers of equipment to remote fields on public roads,
• work in shallow fields.

The concept of the K-424 tractor is broad functionality with an emphasis on quality, comfort and convenience of human work.

Drive axles "K-424"

Both bridges are leading; The wheel formula of the Kirovets K-424 tractor is 4x4. The drive axles are equipped with differential locks. The main gear consists of drive and driven bevel gears with a circular tooth and a self-locking differential. The differential with driven gear assembly is mounted in the main gear housing on tapered bearings. The bridge includes unified planetary-type wheel reducers, which consist of a driving sun gear, a fixed epicyclic gear, a carrier and three satellites.

The rear axle is rigidly fixed to the tractor frame. The front axle is mounted on longitudinal semi-elliptical springs, with telescopic hydraulic shock absorbers. The Kirovets K-424 is equipped with disc brakes with a pneumohydraulic drive.

Attachments

Photo source: kirovets-ptz.com Photo Kirovets K-424
Technical characteristics of the Kirovets K-424 tractor allow the installation of front (optional) and rear attachments of category III, three-point. The rear load capacity at a distance of 610 mm from the suspension axis is 6,000 kgf; front at the same distance - 4,500 kgf. The connection is made using four adjustable hydraulic lines with free drainage.

Hydraulic system and aggregation options

The hydraulic system of working equipment and steering control on the Kirovets K-424 tractor is combined, with a single hydraulic tank. The operation of the tractor’s hydraulic system is ensured by a tandem pumping station: a 100 cubic centimeter Bosch axial piston pump plus a 40 cubic centimeter gear pump for steering. The maximum productivity of the pumping station is 210 liters per minute.

The hydraulic distributor is five-section, electronically controlled, located on the semi-frame. The flow rate through one section of the hydraulic distributor is 95 liters per minute, and through the double section - 185 liters per minute. There are four independent hydraulic lines, free drainage of liquid.

The rear linkage with the function of positional power regulation is included in the basic package of the Kirovets K-424 tractor. The maximum load capacity of the rear linkage is 6,000 kilograms. The rear linkage of the III category with power and position regulation can optionally be equipped with a height-adjustable multi-lift with a tow bracket; as well as a pendulum tow hitch.

The pendulum tow hitch has a maximum vertical load of 1,700 kilograms. Also, as an additional option, it is possible to equip the Kirovets K-424 tractor with a three-point front linkage with a lifting capacity of 4,500 kilograms.

Powerful hydraulics of the tractor working equipment and the rear agricultural linkage of the third category of the Kirovets K-424 tractor provide quick and reliable aggregation with 3-6 meter disc harrows, 15-21 meter medium tooth harrows, pre-sowing cultivators, seeding complexes and other classic and modern agricultural implements .

Advantages and disadvantages

Thanks to its unique technical capabilities, K-744 are leaders in their towing class.

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Technical characteristics of "K-424" in numbers

• Length – 6.971 m; width – 2,540 m; height 3.384 m.
• Base – 3.1 m. Track – 1.930 m.
• Ground clearance – 500 mm.
• The structural weight of “K-424” is 9.3 tons.
• Operating weight, with ballasting – 10.6 tons; with front linkage – 10.9 tons.
• Percentage distribution of operating weight along the axles - 55% of the load - on the front axle; 45% of the load is on the rear axle.
• The turning radius is 6.2 meters.
• Tire size – 23.1 R26.
• Traction class, according to GOST-27021 – 4th. Nominal traction force – 40 kN (+0.3).

Operator's cabin and workplace

Specialists from Kirov Plant OJSC especially emphasize that the ergonomics of the Kirovets K-424 tractor cabin, its vibration and noise insulation, and climate control system are designed taking into account not tractor, but automobile standards. Indeed, it is not difficult to make sure that the operator’s workplace on the K-424 is quite comfortable, spacious and quiet.

The mini-Kirovets cabin is equipped with a built-in protective frame. It is all-metal, double, sealed, with panoramic glazing and heat-absorbing tinted glass. The cabin is equipped with modern heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. There is only one entrance door, it is located on the left side of the tractor. The cabin suspension of the Kirovets K-424 tractors is connected to a sprung front axle, on rubber-metal shock absorbers AKSS.

The control of the coupling devices is simple and functional, it is performed using a joystick; The steering is supplemented and strengthened with hydraulic drive. The back of the operator's chair has the ability to change its configuration.

Focus on people

Making a tractor functional means laying the foundation for the tractor's performance. But only the operator can unlock the potential of the machine. Thus, the efficiency of a tractor mainly depends on human comfort and fatigue.

A pleasant microclimate is created in the cabin: low noise level, protection from sun and dust, wide visibility.

The K-424 tractor cabin is equipped with an improved control system - “Command Post 2”

: Now the automatic transmission control joystick, EHR control buttons, linkage and 4 hydraulic lines are located on the armrest of the sprung seat.

Controlling the tractor allows the operator to concentrate as much as possible on the quality of the technological operation at a stable pace.

Owner reviews

According to eyewitnesses, at the Open Day of the Kirov Plant, the concept of the Kirovets K-424 tractor was demonstrated back in 2011. But then the tractor was equipped with a Cummins diesel engine; axles and a ZF gearbox. It is gratifying that in the final, serial version, the new St. Petersburg tractor is still presented as a completely domestic product: with a YaMZ diesel engine, with a PTZ gearbox and axles. A new cabin, a three-point hitch, a towbar bracket, and a towbar pendulum rod were developed and refined from scratch - all from our own parts and domestically produced components.

According to one of the heads of a peasant farm in the Stavropol region, they have been waiting for just such a tractor for a long time: “We have 1200 hectares of land on our farm, now we have acquired another 300 hectares, so we need another tractor. This tractor is suitable for our load. It’s energy-rich, lightweight, and according to my calculations, we’ll be cultivating 70 hectares of land with this machine per shift.” The peasants watched with interest the tractor tests that took place nearby, and soon after the start of its sales they went to the dealer.

It was not uncommon for “Kirovets K-424” tractors to go to farms straight from the exhibition-presentation, being immediately purchased by interested farmers.

Many peasants note that the pressing question: How long? When will a worthy replacement for the “veteran” T-150 come out, a worthy answer has finally been given. True, the price of the Kirovets K-424 is high, and not all peasant farms can afford it.

Quality in every element

When designing the tractor, modern software products and databases were used, as well as new progressive methods for organizing design and testing processes, namely, a wide team of specialists from different departments and companies was created: MIS experts, agronomists and farm engineers, engineers from major suppliers, designers and Plant technologists.

As a result of the new approach to design and manufacturing, the reliability and efficiency of the tractor has been increased. Each unit has undergone comprehensive quality analysis and testing. Thus, confidence in the design and quality of the K-424 tractor is reflected in the increase in the service interval by 4 times: now only every 500 hours it is necessary to do maintenance

.

Cost of the Kirovets K-424 tractor

The price of the new Kirovets K-424 tractor from dealers of Kirov Plant OJSC starts at 6,200,000 rubles. The tractor is supplied to order, delivery time is 30 days. Since the model is completely new - it has been on the market only since August 2017, it has not yet been presented on the secondary market of agricultural machinery.

The new Kirovets K-424 tractor provides new opportunities for small farms where the use of heavy energy-intensive tractors is impractical and unprofitable. It has proven itself excellently during field tests, including in regions with complex and ambiguous climatic conditions.

As you know, previously the St. Petersburg Kirov Tractor Plant specialized only in the production of heavy tractors of 5-8 traction classes. The new “Kirovets” K-424,” if it is successful in the agricultural machinery market, can serve as the beginning of a new era in the history of the enterprise, becoming the first in a series of tractors of 3-4 traction classes.

In the near future, we can expect the plant to master the production of even smaller tractors, with a specific engine power of less than two hundred horsepower. This is the strategy of the domestic manufacturer, which seeks to move to a new level of development, with further expansion of the model range, in accordance with the current needs of modern agriculture.