Initially, this family was a complete copy of the Salyut walk-behind tractor. However, later it began to be produced under the Agat brand. The models of the family are adapted to difficult Russian conditions, which makes them stand out from most competitors. The line includes modifications with a variety of power plants, and the most popular are versions with a Chinese-made Lifan engine. In addition, any version of the Agat walk-behind tractor can be turned into a productive mini-tractor without serious time and financial costs.
Motoblock Salute
The Salyut walk-behind tractor is a multifunctional integrated agricultural technology. There are walk-behind tractors, there are very good walk-behind tractors, and then there is the legendary “Salyut”. If you are reading this article, it means that you are faced with the question of choosing self-propelled agricultural machinery, a universal assistant. Indeed, it is not easy to choose a specific sample from many different brands.
Brand history
For a quarter of a century, Salyut walk-behind tractors have been delighting their owners. Their production was organized at the Salyut MMPP, the history of which began in 1912 with the assembly of aircraft engines at a plant founded by the French.
Today, what was once a small factory has turned into a joint-stock enterprise, the Gas Turbine Research and Production Center Salyut, whose main profile is the production of turbojet aircraft engines and gas turbine units. The assembly of walk-behind tractors is an auxiliary production.
Motoblocks "Salut" are rightfully considered specialized equipment designed to perform household work of high complexity.
Over the entire period, the design of walk-behind tractors has been repeatedly improved, as a result of which the machines have risen from the level of household appliances to an impeccable professional level in terms of efficiency and quality of work.
For ten years (2002-2012), the assembly of Salyut 5 models was carried out at, which was part of the Federal Scientific and Production Center Salyut. After internal contradictions and structural separation of enterprises, the production of walk-behind tractors at Agata ceased, the supply of components and assemblies for its assembly ended, including the specific Omsk gearbox. And Agata began producing walk-behind tractors under its own brand.
Currently, Salyut walk-behind tractors are assembled at Chinese factories under the technical supervision of experts from JSC NPCG.
Therefore, in order not to purchase a Salyut Agat clone instead of a certified walk-behind tractor from the manufacturer, you should carefully read the product data sheet when purchasing. Naturally, NPCG JSC does not bear warranty obligations in relation to such counterfeits.
Line of models
The main task in developing the Salyut was to create a reliable, durable machine capable of performing many agricultural, economic, and construction tasks on farms and personal farms.
The Salyut 5 walk-behind tractor is distinguished by a well-thought-out design solution. Various modifications differ in the type of engine and its power.
Advantages of the “fifth” model:
- Use of engines from world famous manufacturers.
- Durable gear reducer.
- V-belt drive with two belts - comfortable operation due to less belt slippage.
- 2 forward speeds and 1 reverse.
- Possibility of convenient switching to a lower speed range.
- The presence of a power take-off shaft for connecting active-type trailed units.
- Excellent stability due to the forward and downward center of gravity.
- Steering column adjustable in two planes.
- Excellent aggregation with standardized mounted implements from different manufacturers.
In 2013, a modernized modification of the Salyut 100 was released, named in honor of the centenary anniversary of the enterprise. The “hundredth” model is a logical improvement of its predecessor. The designers have worked on improved design and ergonomics of the walk-behind tractor, which in our time is an important factor in promoting products on the market.
Features of the “100” model of the Salute walk-behind tractor:
- The gear selector is moved to the steering wheel, the clutch handle is equipped with a special lock, and the steering wheel is conveniently adjustable in all directions.
- A powerful gearbox with a service life of 3000 hours is installed.
- Front and rear hitches have significantly expanded the capabilities of the walk-behind tractor when working with mounted implements.
- The walk-behind tractor package includes pneumatic wheels with an expressive tread, expansion bushings, a specific dipstick for checking the oil in the gearbox, and an additional bracket for attaching the hitch.
- A special advantage is the three-row soil tillers with knives made of high-quality spring steel.
Pay attention to how, thanks to the specific crescent shape of the knives, the cultivation of any soil is carried out efficiently.
Video review of the work of the Salyut 100 walk-behind tractor with a Lifan 6.5 engine
Top models
You should choose a walk-behind tractor rationally, based on the required performance. Due to lack of power, the walk-behind tractor may fail earlier. On the other hand, it should be taken into account that equipment with excessive power reserves is more expensive.
Milling cutters
In the basic configuration, all models of the Agat walk-behind tractor have four tillers. To expand the grip during cultivation, an additional pair of cutters is installed. There are several types of such additional equipment:
- "crow's feet";
- saber cutters;
- "Virgin soil".
Crow's feet are considered the most popular cutters due to their performance and pricing. This is a non-separable all-welded steel structure of increased strength, which allows you to cultivate virgin lands
It is important to remember that such attachments are only suitable for plowing and not weeding. Due to the blunt edges, when destroying weeds, grass and roots will wrap around the cutter, which ultimately complicates the operation of the entire unit.
In addition to loosening the soil, crow's feet are used to cultivate soil with large lumps. Most often, additional cutters are installed when preparing the soil for planting potatoes and other root crops. Another purpose of this attachment is to combat wireworms and other pests, including the Colorado potato beetle.
The base on Agat walk-behind tractors contains saber-shaped cutters. They are made exclusively from carbon steel. Installing additional attachments allows you to expand the soil cultivation area. Virgin wood cutters are distinguished by the spiral shape of their knives. Their main purpose is to cultivate unplowed land with deep cultivation. Thanks to the monolithic design, such cutters are not afraid of rocky soils. One of the disadvantages of virgin cutters is the raking of the earth to the sides, as a result of which a groove is formed at the passage site, which must be additionally filled.
The advantage of Agat walk-behind tractors is that most additional cutters, both domestic and imported, are suitable for this equipment. The interchangeability of attachments expands the functionality of cultivators.
Advantages
When asked which walk-behind tractor is best to choose, the most correct advice would be: choose from trusted brands such as Salyut.
Today's quality of the Salute walk-behind tractor fully complies with high international standards.
This brand has been popular for decades. Many interesting recommendations have been developed for converting Salyut walk-behind tractors; ready-made kits for converting them into mini tractors are on sale. No problems with attachments, spare parts and service.
Throughout history, the design of motor vehicles has been improved 5 times. Ergonomics have been significantly improved. The walk-behind tractor base was replaced with a frame. 8 modifications with different engines have passed the test of time - from household to professional.
When purchasing walk-behind tractors from little-known companies, after some time their owners inevitably face problems with maintenance, searching for spare parts, and special attachments.
JSC NPCG Salyut is different:
- powerful potential for many types of own production and unique technologies,
- high-precision equipment,
- high-performance tool machines from the world's best manufacturers.
An innovative approach allows us to produce more and more advanced models. Technological production capabilities are being actively improved, new systems are being developed and licenses are being obtained.
Recommendations for selection
Motoblock "Salute"
A multifunctional device that is distinguished by the quality of its work and the reliability of its components. It is equipped with an engine from renowned manufacturers. Due to frequent breakdowns, the Chinese Lifan engine causes complaints among users
The undoubted advantage of the Salyut is its stability, thanks to the center of gravity shifted down and forward. It is equipped with a reliable front step, so it does not “burrow” into the soil when working.
The gear-chain reducer with gear connection ensures a long service life and smooth operation of the entire mechanism. The belt drive wears out quickly. The belts have to be changed to better quality ones than those that are installed; the belt has low weight and dimensions, giving it good maneuverability in small and medium-sized areas. For deep plowing, a weighting agent is needed, with which you can cultivate the soil to a depth of up to 30 cm, for example, for black soil or for planting potatoes.
The presence of 4 forward and 2 rear speeds is useful when cultivating soil of different densities, removing snow, and transporting goods.
“Salute” is a good unit for cottages and land plots of up to 100 acres, for narrow beds with light soil, for removing garbage and snow. They are maneuverable and lightweight.
Comparison with other brands
Brief characteristics of these series of walk-behind tractors are collected here. On the Internet you can find a variety of opinions and real reviews from fellow owners.
Salyut and Neva
When compared with other models, the Salute walk-behind tractor is undoubtedly as popular as the well-known Neva. During development, Moscow designers abandoned blind copying of the St. Petersburg Neva and created a more advanced design.
Brand Features:
- Fireworks are much more stable. Its control handles are narrowed and rotate 180°. The weight is significantly reduced, and when performing heavy work, the weight of the Salyut, on the contrary, is increased with weights.
- The Salute has two drive belts and three power take-off pulleys (the Neva has one). The gearbox chain drive has been replaced with a more reliable gear drive. Changing the speed ranges is done not only by changing the stream, as on the Neva, but also by removing the power take-off shaft and reinstalling it according to the instructions. The choice is clear - in favor of Salyut.
Salyut and MTZ
Compared to Salyuts, Belarusian MTZ walk-behind tractors are heavy machines. Owners unanimously note their reliability, good build quality, and durability.
Brand Features:
- The powerful MTZ 9N walk-behind tractor provides a processing width of only 330-610 mm with a depth of 200 mm. The Salyut walk-behind tractor has an adjustable processing width of 350 mm, 600 mm, 800 mm, but the weight of the MTZ is almost 2 times the weight of the Salyut.
- The MTZ-0.5 is equipped with an engine similar to the MEMZ-966 model, as in the Zaporozhets car, which is characterized by difficult starting. The gas regulator is located inconveniently for the operator; the walk-behind tractor has no balance, although it becomes more stable with a trailed trolley.
- In the Salyut 100, the speed switch has been moved to the steering wheel, the clutch handle has a special lock, and the steering wheel is very conveniently adjustable in all directions.
- The owners of MTZ note that difficulties arise when setting up attachments. The high cost and low level of service of older MTZ models is another significant drawback.
Configuration and additional equipment of Agat walk-behind tractors
The standard equipment of the Agat walk-behind tractor includes cultivator cutters. In addition, all kinds of special attachments are used with this equipment. Its most common models:
- Lugs of various diameters. Used for transportation, weeding, plowing and hilling.
- A plow designed for plowing land with medium resistance. Made from special structural steel and has a collapsible design.
- Rotary mower – mows and places grass in special rollers. It is installed in front of the walk-behind tractor and is used for mowing grass and coarse vegetation. According to the owners' reviews, it also copes with mowing a single small bush; grain crops. Many people note that after using a rotary mower, there is no need to collect the grass with a rake: it is laid in an even row. This equipment is not afraid of stones and anthills.
- Potato planter - used for planting potatoes to a given depth with embedding in the ground and forming a soil ridge of the required height. It can be equipped with a fertilizer sowing device that allows you to simultaneously apply mineral fertilizers.
Motoblocks "Agat" in the store. Nearby are plows and lug wheels for them.
- Hiller - used for soil cultivation (weeding with loosening, cutting beds, hilling). Has a collapsible design.
- Potato digger – used for harvesting potatoes and other root crops from the ground.
- Trailer for transporting cargo weighing up to five hundred kilograms. Unloading is carried out by tilting the body towards the rear side. An additional option is galvanizing the body.
- Chassis trolley - used for transporting goods and cultivating land by attaching a plow, potato digger and other additional equipment to it.
- Motoblock brush “ShchRM-1” – for cleaning areas of various sizes. This device not only sweeps up the remaining snow and debris, but also “brings shine.”
- Snow blower "SM-0.6" - used for removing snow in small areas. Due to the rotation of the augers, it simply throws the snow to the side at a distance of 3-5 meters.
- Knife blade “LM-100” - used for removing debris and snow from sites, sidewalks, paths, as well as for leveling the soil. In one pass, a meter-wide path is cleared, and the walk-behind tractor itself works on the principle of a mini-bulldozer.
Main disadvantages
The design of the walk-behind tractor is elementary simple, so it is not difficult to work.
- If there are doubts about the engine, then, of course, in terms of reliability and perfection, Lifan is inferior to Honda, Briggs & Stratton, Subaru, Vanguard. As for the gearbox, according to the declared motor life, it will be able to work with more than one engine.
- The design of the belt drive is quite reliable, however, according to many reviews, it is precisely because of the quality of the belts that they have to be changed quite often. Consequently, the only significant flaw can be considered the quality of the drive belts.
Hiller
When it is necessary to form furrows, loosen the soil between the rows while simultaneously hilling the plants, a hiller is installed on the cultivator. It is used in conjunction with disc cutters. When the hiller is deepened into the soil, a trapezoidal furrow is created the width of the sole of an adult’s shoe, due to which, when passing behind the cultivator, the furrow remains of a fixed size. The ridges on the sides of the resulting groove remain uniform.
For processing narrow row spacing, a lister-type hiller is chosen. It has two wings fixed relative to each other. One of the disadvantages of this attachment is the limitation on the type of soil: on hard soils, lister hillers quickly break due to the presence of a thin stand that cannot withstand overload. For "Agat" walk-behind tractors with an engine power of 6.5 hp declared by the manufacturer
Lister hillers are installed with extreme caution due to their increased high-torque properties
Hillers with variable working widths cope well with complex, dense soils. They are resistant to soil adhesion, but are considered more expensive due to increased energy consumption.
Operating rules
Motoblocks do not require any professional knowledge or complex specific care from the owners. All recommendations, starting from the features of running-in, are clearly described by the manufacturer.
The main condition for reliable operation is:
- compliance with permissible engine loads,
- operation within the recommended operating speed range,
- preventive maintenance,
- routine maintenance in accordance with the user instructions.
The wide use of various attachments turns the walk-behind tractor into a multifunctional machine. At our own enterprise, many auxiliary devices are produced, which differ in the connection method.
Options for connecting attachments:
- mounting on the gearbox axle;
- mounting on a hitch or bracket;
- connection using PWM.
In addition to the standard ones, there are many specialized attachments with which the Salyut walk-behind tractor can be easily aggregated: seeders, electric generators, hay turners, motor pumps, combined equipment for simultaneously performing several operations.
Device Description
The plant for the production of Agat equipment is a branch of Moscow Mash and has been operating since 1968.
Thanks to the use of professional engines from well-known brands, the manufacturer managed to create a whole series of modern walk-behind tractors. These are classic devices with optimal technical characteristics and easy operation.
IMPORTANT!
The equipment is used to perform a full cycle of work on landscaping gardens and vegetable plots. Due to the attachments, motor cultivators can replace several devices.
They are suitable for plowing the soil, digging up roots, cultivating, garbage collection and other tasks.
Owner reviews
There are a lot of positive reviews about these walk-behind tractors on the Internet.
Pavlovsky Oleg, Krivoy Rog
“If anyone still doubts the Salyuts with the Chinese Lifan engine, I can say with confidence that it is in vain.
The Chinese, just like ours, know how to make anything - both high-quality goods and disposable junk. I have had my assistant for four years now. The only problem is the belt. The neighbor advised me to immediately change it, but not with the original one, but to pick up a similar one, otherwise it will simply start to slip off over time.” Alex Stroev, Voronezh
“I’ve been working with a Salyut 5 walk-behind tractor since 2006, still an Agatov one. We got used to each other and worked together. I don’t advise you to think too long about choosing a walk-behind tractor. Over time, new models will appear, and perhaps they will have some shortcomings. Just choose a model whose shortcomings will not bother you too much and work for your health.”
Potato digger
The simplest potato digger for the Agat walk-behind tractor is considered to be a lancet type model. When passing through the rows, the soil is cut with knives along with the harvest and moves along the rods. The potatoes remain on them, and the remaining soil crumbles away. The disadvantages of potato diggers of this type include instability on uneven areas. If the rods get stuck in the ground, they will bend.
“Agat” cultivators can be equipped with screening potato diggers that have a ploughshare and screening grids. The advantage of such equipment is productivity. When passing through the rows, the ploughshare goes 20 cm into the ground, cuts it off and, together with the tubers, directs it onto the grate. The remaining soil is sifted and the potatoes remain in the lattice cart.
The most popular installations for Agat are KUM-1, KKM-1, KVM-3. They differ in grip width and performance. For example, the universal model KKM-1 provides 0.05-0.2 ha/hour, and KVM-3 with the same width produces 0.1-0.2 ha/hour.
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Specifications
Today it produces 7 models of walk-behind tractors with various power plants. All varieties are distinguished by reliability and high performance.
The following characteristics are the same for all modifications:
- length - 1500 mm;
- width - 625 mm;
- height - 1330 mm;
- ground clearance - 120 mm;
- cutter diameter - 300 mm;
- wheel diameter - 415 mm;
- turning radius - 1100 mm;
- fuel consumption - 1.1-1.5 l/h;
- fuel tank - 3.0 l;
- weight - 83.7 kg.
All modifications can move at the following speed:
- first gear - 2.7-3.8 km/h;
- second gear - 3.6-7.7 km/h;
- reverse gear - 2.7-3.8 km/h.
When working on the ground, Agat brand units produce the following indicators:
- processing width - up to 800 mm;
- processing depth - up to 300 mm;
- weight of towed cargo - up to 500 kg.
The cost of walk-behind tractors varies significantly depending on the power plant. You can purchase the product without additional equipment at a price of 25,000 to 42,000 rubles.
