Minitractor Centaur T 18. Overview, characteristics, operating features

Description

Minitractors Centaur T 18 stand out among other similar units of domestic and foreign production.
They are in the middle price range, have high quality and durable components. These devices are simple and cheap to maintain.

The T18 minitractor is widely used in gardens and farms, during construction and in public utilities. This is achieved through a wide range of compatible attachments. In particular, these include:

• Plows;
• Mills;
• Mowers;
• Harrows;
• Cultivators;
• Trailers;
• Utility brushes;
• Potato diggers and potato planters;
• Hillers of agricultural crops;
• Snow blowers;
• Blade-shovels.

The lineup

The range of mini tractors Centaur T18 has 4 models. Their technical characteristics are shown in the table below.

1. The Centaur T 18 E model has improved drive belts. It also has a floating hydraulic drive mode for attachments. In this position, the hitch follows the terrain, and the working depth is the same everywhere;
2. When creating model D, customer wishes and international standards were taken into account. Centaur T 18 D has an improved frame and the ability to change the wheel-to-wheel distance;
3. The T 18 V provides the possibility of using not only rear, but also front attachments.
4. Centaur T 18 C is the highest quality and modified model. When creating it, we took into account the disadvantages of previous mini tractors and corrected them, created an organic design, increased the service life of the belt and chain drive, and also modernized the tension rollers.

Basic equipment

In the basic configuration, the Centaur comes from the factory already assembled. The product comes with instructions and a 12 month warranty. Additionally, a plow and an active milling cutter for cultivating the soil may be supplied.

"Centaur T-18" in action, according to reviews from owners

So, let's get behind the wheel of the Centaur T-18. By the way, doing this out of habit is extremely inconvenient: in order to get into the saddle and get comfortable on it, “you have to be a virtuoso,” according to reviews from the owners. But it’s okay, then you get used to it and adapt.

The seat can’t be called comfortable either: it’s actually a piece of board covered with leatherette. You can’t sit in such a “saddle” for long. But, again, only at first. Later you can somehow adapt.

Before your eyes, on the dashboard - an ammeter, a coolant temperature sensor, an oil pressure sensor, an engine hour meter. There is also a horn. Lighting devices - two headlights, high and low beam, turn signals, dimensions.

Go! The gearbox, according to the unanimous opinion of the owners of the Centaurs, is extremely tight. The speeds are switched on with great difficulty, which only a person with extraordinary physical strength can do. By the end of the work, you may get a “bruise” on your arm. The hope that “it will work out later” is not justified: shifting gears remains difficult as before.

Floating two-vector hydraulics is really one of the advantages of this model: it allows you to connect two mounted units to the minitractor at once. Another plus is the adjustable track, which makes it possible to use the “Centaur T-18” not only for continuous cultivation, but also between rows.

The owners of these tractors really like the performance of the durable and productive Kama R196NDL engine. It starts well from the starter, even in winter. Subjectively, it is quite powerful and at the same time economical. But the V-belt drive, contrary to the assurances of manufacturers and sellers, still shows itself to be unimportant in practice. When operating under load, it is quite common for these belts to fly off or become twisted.

In general, the operation of the V-belt drive is called the main problem of the T-18 Centaurs. According to a number of owners of these mini tractors, initially their design was made in such a way that when loaded, the belts periodically fly off or twist (or jump on one another), as a result of which the work takes the form: passed a couple of rows - stop, loosen the tension roller, twist belt to the desired position, and so on constantly. Although without load the belts did not fly off or twist.

Experimentally, a “folk remedy” was found in which the belts stop flying off altogether (but sometimes continue to twist). This is setting the rear roller not in the “bottom of the belt” position, but in the “top of the belt” position. But, however, in this case it will not be possible to install the protective casing back, because the roller will interfere (and working without a casing is, in a sense, dangerous). Another solution is to install another support roller from below. Belts also stop flying off and twisting.

In some cases, it is necessary to align all the rollers of the transmitting and receiving shafts - along the same line. Since the tension and guide rollers are not made in one line, which is why the belt, when it is tensioned, rubs on its sides against these rollers. As a result, it can become so frayed after just one plowing that it will require replacement. Take a crowbar and use it to align the guide plates on which the roller is installed, plus adjust the position of the engine, which is attached to the frame with four bolts.

According to owners' reviews, sometimes the following problem occurs with the engine of the Centaur T-18 minitractor: water begins to get into the oil. It begins to enter the oil crankcase either through the cylinder head gasket (included in the delivery kit) or through the liner gasket, or rather the O-ring.

Many owners have noted problems with the electrical equipment of these mini tractors. The fuses blow (by the way, they are all dangling in their sockets), the light in the headlights disappears, and the engine begins to have trouble starting with the starter. You have to do the rebuilding, re-stretching and bringing the electrical wiring into “divine form” yourself: you won’t get help from the service, no matter what the sellers “sing” before selling the mini tractor.

After purchasing a new mini tractor “Centaur T-18”, it is imperative to tighten absolutely all bolts throughout its entire structure. All owners say that for some reason this “option” is not produced where the tractor is assembled.

The tiller that comes with the mini tractor works very well. BUT! Provided it is assembled correctly. Half of the cutters leave the factory assembled incorrectly. After installation, it becomes obvious that “there is no gear engagement at all!” (i.e. the cutter was mounted at the factory so that the gears could not contact each other in any of the shift knob positions).

We took it to the service station (+100 km of travel) - the mechanic looked at it and said it was assembled incorrectly at the factory: the “gears” were placed on the wrong side. We rearranged it and everything became normal.” This is by no means an isolated case: this is often observed with cutters for “Centaurs”.

Regarding the plow included in the kit, it is adjustable and works fine. In principle, it could have been larger in size; this minitractor could have pulled it like that. It would also not hurt to provide a thrust wheel for this plow. Because quite often during the plowing process the plow buries itself in the ground, causing the wheels to start spinning until you lift it up with hydraulics. That is, while working with the plow, you constantly have to keep your hand on the hydraulic control lever. But you can “live” with this.

As already noted, the engine starts without problems with the starter. But if you still have to use the manual start handle, then don’t be surprised if it breaks the first time you use it: according to reviews from the owners of the T-18 Centaurs, it is made of some kind of “rotten” and fragile metal.

Specifications

Characteristics of wheelsets and disks

Attachments that are suitable for the PTO for working on arable land, in the garden and vegetable garden:

Features of application

Minitractors Centaur T 18 are representatives of classic diesel machines.

Due to their small dimensions, they are capable of not only carrying out work on land plots in the open air, but also in closed spaces (barns, garages, greenhouses, etc.).

Before leaving, be sure to check the availability of fuel and oil. When the fuel tank is maximally filled, the Centaur T 18 minitractor can be operated for more than 8 hours continuously.

Design Features

The Centaur T-18 is based on a reinforced frame, such as on tractors with a power of 24 horsepower or more. It increases the weight of the equipment, which has a positive effect on its maneuverability. Also, the available safety margin allows you to increase the maximum loads and use heavier attachments in conjunction with the tractor.

The attention of potential buyers is focused on the fact that all the most important elements of this model, subject to increased loads, are made of high-strength alloys. For example, the gearbox is made from an alloy of cast iron and graphite marked “QT-500”, which perfectly withstands load changes and does not deform or break. And the gears are made of ultra-strong alloy steel “20CrMn”.

Hydraulics

A hydraulic system with a forced deepening function appeared in the Centaur T-18 several years ago, after restyling and modernization. All mini tractors have it, starting with the “Centaur T-18C” version and further, “according to the English alphabet.”

This absolutely necessary option allows you to work with mounted units weighing up to 150 kilograms, ensuring their necessary penetration into the soil without additional weight. Another advantage of such hydraulics is the upper location of the hydraulic cylinder, which ensures its greater stroke and minimal exposure to dust.

An advertisement for a mini tractor, where it is depicted with a tiller, a plow and a hiller.

The hydraulic distributor in the Centaur T-18 is designed for three positions: forced deepening, lifting and “floating position”. The “floating position” function of the hydraulics allows you to increase the efficiency of tillage, regardless of differences in the surface of the site, since the units copy the terrain during operation, ensuring a uniform tillage depth over the entire area.

The T-18 hydraulic distributor is a dual-circuit one, allowing you to simultaneously control two mounted implements. For example, a mower and a rake. To do this, you do not need to rearrange the hydraulic hoses and drain the hydraulic oil from the system, but you can simply connect both implements at once.

Updated models, starting with the T-18S, in addition to the rear one, are also immediately equipped with a front hydraulic hose with a cylinder for connecting and controlling the mower or blade.

Starter, V-belt and chain drives

Thanks to the electric starter, the power unit of this equipment is started with the ignition key. A decompression valve is also provided, which, in the event of low battery voltage, allows the engine to be started using a “crooked starter”.

To ensure that the V-belt drive belt does not slip under high loads, the manufacturer installed special tension rollers that ensure constant tension from the engine. Thus, this made it possible to minimize the occurrence of slipping on the pulleys. The V-belt not only does not slip, but also does not twist or fray during operation, which significantly increases their service life.

The manual differential unlocking function has a positive effect on the cross-country ability of the Centaur T-18 tractor. It also provides decent maneuverability, a minimum turning radius, reduces tire wear when driving on roads, and helps avoid slipping when cultivating soil.

Manufacturers and traders draw the attention of potential buyers to the fact that the soil tiller chain on the Centaur T-18 is double. This drive element is constantly subject to heavy loads during operation and operates in dusty and dirty conditions. The double chain, in any case, guarantees enhanced strength and durability of the important element.

Brake control, adjustable track

The dual design of the brake pedals allows both wheels to brake simultaneously or each wheel independently. When braking with one wheel, the turning radius decreases, so the Centaur T-18 maneuvers freely in a limited area and when changing to another lane.

By adjusting the rear and front tracks, this mini tractor is suitable for row processing of a wide variety of crops. The Centaur T-18 is equipped with extended shafts and universal hubs with holes provided for fixation. Thanks to this, the track can be adjusted from one meter to 1,200 m. Therefore, the mini tractor is suitable for both continuous (with a narrow track installed), but also for inter-row cultivation and harvesting (with a wide track).

User manual

New owners of the Centaur T 18 mini tractors should definitely read the user manual. This will help them understand the principle of its design, the assembly process, running-in, maintenance and repair.

All Centaur T 18 minitractors must be run-in. This can be done automatically or manually. Running in involves using a mini tractor at minimum power. This is done to ensure that the motor parts are lubricated and fit securely into the corresponding grooves. After break-in, the engine oil needs to be changed.

Mini tractor maintenance

The Centaur T18 minitractor is easy to maintain. It is enough to change the engine oil on time (after 80 hours of operation on the M-10G2), fill in high-quality fuel (diesel must be clean and free of impurities), and check the condition of the fuel and air filters.

If it is necessary to preserve the Centaur T18 mini tractor for a couple of months, it is recommended to disconnect the spark plugs and drain the oil and gasoline (during this time they will take on water and become unusable). After this, clean the tractor, lubricate all parts with oil to prevent corrosion, cover and store in a dry place.

Question answer

What distinguishes the Centaur T18 mini-tractor model from other modifications?

1 of the series is equipped with a professional Toyokawa diesel engine produced in Japan with a capacity of 18 l/s

What new fuel equipment are introduced in the T18 model?

The vehicle is equipped with an advanced direct injection system 40DI-EM Toyokawa series, with this modification the average tractor consumption will be 1.5 l/hour.

What innovations are used in the Toyokawa G series internal combustion engines?

Centaur T18 works non-stop for 10 hours, thanks to the use of a diesel engine of this series. The developer paid special attention to the cooling system; the liquid system allows the internal combustion engine to operate without overheating at temperatures up to +30 0C.