The T-4 tractor, belonging to the 4.0 t category, has been produced by the Altai Tractor Plant since 1964. A crawler tractor is used as a tractor or bulldozer during construction and reclamation work, as well as as an agricultural machine. On the basis of the T-4, the TT-4 skidding machine was produced, widely used in logging. In 1970, production of a modernized version of the T-4A began, which remained on the assembly line until 1998.
Purpose of the T 4 tractor
The tractor was intended for use in agriculture. Thanks to the tracked undercarriage, it puts little pressure on the fertile soil layers. Traction characteristics allow you to perform a wide range of work. The machine is compatible with a wide range of mounted and semi-mounted equipment.
The large contact area with the T4 surface gives the vehicle high cross-country ability. This is important when processing fields in early spring.
REFERENCE: Early tillage in spring retains the moisture necessary for good germination.
The high power of the power plant allowed the machine to be used not only in agriculture, but also in the construction and industrial sectors. The machine has proven itself well in road construction. In winter, T4 was used to clear the road surface of snow.
Thanks to the universal attachment, the model can be equipped not only with agricultural equipment. It is possible to install a front blade. In the forestry sector, the tractor was used with specialized stump removers.
For all occasions
ATZ produced four main modifications of the tractor, differing in the equipment supplied with the machine. The most versatile model was the T-4A-S1. It was equipped with units of a hydraulic mounted system, a mechanism for hanging implements and main and external power cylinders. The equipment of other modifications was more modest.
The C4 model lacked power cylinders, and the C2 model also lacked a hanging mechanism. The SZ modification had cylinders, but there were no hydraulic units and, again, no mechanism for attaching guns.
The designers of the Altai plant also developed the T-4AP model. Unlike the T-4A, it was not intended for agriculture, but for use in industry, in particular for reclamation and construction work. To adapt the tractor to new operations, engineers equipped it with hydraulic drive cylinders and a front blade. The T-4AP also had a suspension spring locking mechanism that allowed it to maintain precise positioning of the blade.
Tractor T 4A
In 1970, employees of the Altai Tractor Plant produced the T 4A tracked tractor. The goal of the designers was to increase the traction characteristics of the machine. Compared to the basic modification, the T 4A was equipped with a more powerful power unit. The power of the power unit was 130 horsepower. Together with the transmission, the power unit gives the T 4A tractor high traction.
The T 4a tractor, whose technical characteristics are higher than those of the base model, was intended for cultivating soil of varying degrees of hardness. It can plow frozen ground at high speed.
User manual
The rules for caring for Altai and the features of its use are described in the instructions for use. The following are rules for maintenance and correction of basic faults.
Maintenance
Currently, T-4 crawler tractors are mainly used seasonally before planting and after harvesting. Therefore, every owner of this equipment should know how to properly start working after downtime.
Starting the tractor after preservation:
- Add oil and diesel;
- Install the battery;
- Make sure that the motor, as well as the braking and control systems are working;
- Check for oil or diesel leaks.
After carrying out work, it is necessary to clean the machine from adhering dirt and dust. When operating in the cold season, you should drain the fuel from the system each time after completing work.
To preserve Altai, you should perform the following steps:
- Drain antifreeze, diesel, oil and other liquids from the systems;
- Set the gearbox to neutral;
- Pull out the battery;
- Place a backing under the tracks to prevent their failure.
Basic malfunctions and ways to eliminate them
Altai equipment does not have a special build quality, so it is often necessary to carry out minor repairs.
If shifting gears is difficult:
- Lubricate accessible components with waterproof lubricant;
- Fill the gearbox with oil;
- Adjust the position of the clutch.
If the hydraulic pump does not work:
- No oil;
- Failure of the lubricant control system;
- Hydraulic system problems.
Tractor T 4AP
The T4 AP model is designed for use in industrial, municipal and other areas. The difference between the modification and the base model is the tow hitch. The tractor is equipped with brackets for mounting blades.
At the front of the model there are mounts for hydraulic cylinders. The blade is raised and lowered using hydraulic cylinders. The front attachments are controlled remotely from the driver's cab. The machine is equipped with a power unit of a previous modification.
IMPORTANT: The hinges for mounting the front blade are located closer to the rear edge of the tractor. This reduces the load on the blade mounting beams during operation.
Price and owner reviews
The cost of used cars produced in the 90s is 250-400 thousand rubles. There are cars after a major overhaul with the replacement of the main components of the power unit and transmission and the installation of additional equipment. The cost of tractors reaches 800-850 thousand rubles.
Alexey, Barnaul
Spare parts for the T-4 became scarce as the vehicle's manufacturing plant closed. The chassis only works well on hard ground. In the mud, soil and stones are packed inwards, until they become jammed. But when working on arable land, the tractor has no equal.
Technical characteristics of T4
The T4 Altai tractor has the following technical characteristics.
Tractor dimensions
The overall dimensions of the T4 tractor are as follows:
- The weight of the T4 tractor is 8870 kilograms;
- Length with the attachment in a raised state – 4650 mm;
- The width of the machine along the outer edges of the tractor is 1952 mm;
- Height from the ground to the top edge of the roof – 2840 mm;
- Ground clearance - 370 millimeters;
- Track (distance between the centers of the tracks) – 1384 millimeters;
- Base – 2522 mm;
- Track width – 420 mm.
Cabin and control station
The machine is equipped with a metal cabin. It is located on the back of the frame. The cabin is sealed, has ventilation and autonomous heating. This prevents dust from entering during operation, and makes it possible to use the machine in any climatic conditions.
The cabin is installed on shock absorbers that dampen vibrations transmitted from the power plant and chassis. An operator's seat is installed in the cabin. To reduce vibration, the chair is mounted on a shock absorber. The seat height can be adjusted. This makes it possible to set up a chair for a person of any height.
ATTENTION: A passenger seat is installed next to the operator's seat.
The T4 tractor transmission control levers are located in the interior. Instruments are located on the front panel. The instrument panel allows the tractor driver to monitor the operation of components and mechanisms.
Transmission
T4 is equipped with a manual gearbox. It has 8 forward gears and 4 reverse gears. The caterpillar tractor modification T 4A has a reverse gearbox. The gearbox is controlled remotely from the operator's cabin.
Torque is transmitted from the power plant to the gearbox through a dry-type double-disc clutch. The clutch is in the permanently engaged position. The machine is turned by braking one of the tracks. This allows you to make turns practically in one place.
Chassis
The frame of the model is made of two longitudinal spars. They are rigidly connected to each other by transverse beams. The spars and beams are made of high quality steel. The tractor suspension has a transverse spring.
The crawler bogie of a tractor is a frame with support rollers installed on it. The drive gear is located at the rear of the cart. This system has proven itself well when used with front blades. The track tension is carried out by the front guide wheel.
content .. 11 12 16 ..Tractor T-4A (technical characteristics)description and technical specifications
| Crawler, general purpose, traction class 40.0 kN (4 tf). Designed to be used in conjunction with mounted, semi-mounted and trailed hydropowered agricultural machines (deep plowing, continuous cultivation, sowing, harvesting of agricultural crops), as well as planting and earthmoving work. The A-01M diesel engine is six-cylinder, four-stroke, liquid-cooled and has a combustion chamber in the piston bottom. Starting the main engine from the driver's seat using a starting engine with an electric starter. All tractor mechanisms are mounted on a frame welded from two box-section spars and connected to the rear axle housing with bolts and pins. At the front, the spars are connected to each other by a beam. The engine is mounted on the front of the frame on three supports (one at the front, two elastic at the rear). Behind it are the main clutch, cardan transmission, reverse gearbox, gearbox, rear axle, final drives and PTO mechanism. Radiators for the lubrication system and cooling system are installed in front of the diesel engine. The main clutch is dry, double-disc, permanently closed, pedal-controlled, with hydraulic booster. To connect the clutch shaft with the intermediate shaft of the reverse gearbox, an elastic cardan transmission with rubber bushings is used, consisting of two cardan heads connected to each other by forks. The gearbox is mechanical, with a reverse gear, allowing you to get eight forward gears and four reverse gears. The gears of the gearbox and reverse gear are cylindrical, spur-cut, the shafts have involute splines. The rear axle of the tractor consists of a main bevel gear, a dual single-stage planetary turning mechanism with four-planet carriers, two sun gear brakes and two stopping brakes for the final drive gears and brake control mechanisms. The brakes are dry, band, floating type, allowing you to brake the tractor when moving forward and in reverse. The planetary mechanism brakes are used for smooth turns of the tractor, and the stopping brakes are used for sharp turns and turns on the spot. The sun gear brakes are controlled using levers with hydraulic boosters, and the stopping brakes are controlled using pedals. The final drives are located on both sides of the rear axle housing. Each of them includes a pair of spur gears located in the crankcase and a drive wheel. The undercarriage consists of two tracked bogies, two track chains and a balancing transverse spring. Six support rollers are attached to the side members of the crawler frame from below, two brackets with support rollers with rubber bands on treadmills are attached to the top, and a guide wheel with a tension mechanism is attached to the front. On the large side members of the crawler frames, support plates with holes for attaching supports of bulldozer attachments are welded on the outside. Support plates on the frames of caterpillar carts are also used when aggregating a tractor with special equipment for cultivating fields for cotton, rice, etc. The semi-rigid chassis system allows the tractor to be aggregated with bulldozer equipment, a log maker, a leveler, a snow plow and an uprooter with a covering frame. The dozer attachment is controlled by the distributor from the driver's seat using two hydraulic cylinders. The PTO is dependent and receives rotation from the intermediate shaft of the gearbox reverse gear. It is equipped with a separate-unit hydraulic system controlled from the driver’s cabin, a rear linkage mechanism that allows you to connect machines and implements using a two- or three-point scheme, a towbar and an automatic coupler. The cabin is metal, mounted on shock absorbers, double, closed, heated and ventilated. The seat is sprung and adjustable according to the weight and height of the driver. 12 V DC electrical equipment provides electric starting of the starting engine, audible alarm, cab fan drive, pre-heater operation and lighting. To heat the engine before starting it at an ambient temperature below -5°C and to reduce the engine warm-up time after starting, as well as to maintain the thermal conditions of an idle engine during long stops in low temperatures, the tractor is equipped with a liquid pre-heater PZHB-Z00B. The tractor was supplied in four trim levels. For agriculture, it was supplied with a two-point adjustment of the rear linkage mechanism and with a PTO. Technical characteristics of the T-4A tractor Rated operating power of the engine, kW (hp) | 95,6 (130) |
| Rotation speed, rpm: | |
| ..engine crankshaft at rated power | 1700 |
| ..PTO | 540 and 1000 |
| Cylinder diameter, mm | 130 |
| Piston stroke, mm | 140 |
| Specific fuel consumption at rated operating power, g/kW*h (g/e. hp-h) | 251,7 (185) |
| Fuel used for: | |
| ..diesel | diesel GOST 305-73 |
| ..starting motor | mixture of automobile gasoline A-72 or A-76 GOST 2084-77 with diesel engine oil in a ratio of 20:1 by weight |
| Fuel tank capacity, l | 320 |
| Track, mm | 1384 |
| Longitudinal base, mm | 2522 |
| Ground clearance, mm | 340 |
| Shoe width, mm | 420 |
| Specific pressure on the soil with rear linkage mechanism, MPa (kgf/cm2) | 0,04 (0,4) |
| Overall dimensions, mm | 4684 X 1952 X 2545 |
| Structural weight, kg | 8145 |
| Tractor T-4AP (technical characteristics) description and technical characteristics |
| The T-4AP tractor is an industrial modification of the T-4A tracked agricultural tractor. Designed to work in conjunction with road construction equipment on soil categories 1 and 2. The tractor has a front-mounted diesel engine and a rear-mounted transmission and cab. The tractor frame consists of an interconnected frame and rear axle housing. The tractor uses a six-cylinder in-line four-stroke diesel engine A-01M with a permanently closed clutch. The diesel engine is started by the starting engine from the tractor driver's seat. The gearbox, rear axle and final drives are rigidly connected by housings and form a single unit - the transmission unit. The gearbox has a reverse gearbox, which ensures that the transmission is disconnected from the diesel engine and allows you to get three gear ranges - main, low and reverse. To eliminate the possibility of starting a diesel engine when the gear is engaged, there is an electrical locking device in the reverse gear column. The rear axle consists of a dual single-stage planetary steering mechanism, planetary gear brakes, and stopping brakes. Final drives are single-stage gearboxes with spur gears. The tractor cabin is metal, double, equipped with an adjustable heating system and a dust separator fan. For aggregation with machines and implements, the tractor is equipped with a hydraulic system with two parallel operating pumps. The electrical equipment of the tractor ensures the starter start of the starting engine. the tractor was produced in two configurations: T-4AP-S1 - with a hydraulic system for working with bulldozers and a uprooter-collector; T-4AP-S-2 - with a hydraulic system for working with a scraper. Technical characteristics of the T-4AP tractor Rated operating power of the engine, kW (hp) | 95,6 (130) |
| Rotation speed, rpm: | |
| ..engine crankshaft at rated power | 1700 |
| Cylinder diameter, mm | 130 |
| Piston stroke, mm | 140 |
| Cylinder displacement, l | 11,15 |
| Compression ratio | 15,5…16,5 |
| Specific fuel consumption at rated operating power, g/kW*h (g/e. hp-h) | 251,7 (185) |
| Fuel used for: | |
| ..diesel | diesel GOST 305-73 |
| ..starting motor | mixture of automobile gasoline A-72 or A-76 GOST 2084-77 with diesel engine oil in a ratio of 20:1 by weight |
| Fuel tank capacity, l | 320 |
| Track, mm | 1384+ — 10 |
| Longitudinal base, mm | 2522 |
| Ground clearance, mm | 340 |
| Caterpillar, mm: | |
| ..step | 176 |
| ..width | 420 |
| Specific pressure on the soil with rear linkage mechanism, MPa (kgf/cm2) | 0,05 (0,47) |
| Overall dimensions, mm | 4445 X 1962 X 2585 |
| Structural weight, kg | 9000 |
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Machine Features
The T4 tractor is a machine characterized by its simplicity of design and unpretentiousness to the conditions of use. The bulk of breakdowns are minor faults. Tractor repairs can be quickly performed in the field. The machine can be serviced by a person with minimal skills.
In terms of traction characteristics, the T4 is superior to many analogues in its class. A powerful engine combined with a tracked undercarriage allows it to perform a variety of jobs. The fuel capacity is 320 liters. This allows the model to be used in remote areas for a long time without additional refueling.
Thanks to universal towbars and a high-quality hydraulic system, the T4 can work with different types of equipment. It is a multifunctional machine used in various fields. You can also read about Category for a tractor: Which one is needed and how to open it.
Advantages and disadvantages
Car owners note the positive aspects of operating the T-4:
- unpretentious engine;
- low fuel consumption (6-8 l/ha during cultivation);
- possibility of using additional attachments from DT-75 or T-150.
At the same time, there are complaints regarding the design:
- the need for frequent checks of the condition of the cooling system, since overheating of the block head leads to the destruction of jumpers near the injectors;
- the air filter requires frequent maintenance and washing;
- the reversible gearbox uses scarce bearings;
- the undercarriage becomes clogged with dirt;
- difficulty of engine repair;
- rigid suspension;
- low speed (up to 9 km/h).
Model T4
The tractor was equipped with a four-cylinder in-line diesel engine. The maximum power of the power plant is 90 horsepower. The engine has forced liquid cooling. The movement of coolant in the system is carried out using a water pump.
The power unit is started by a two-stroke single-cylinder engine. The fuel for operating the starter is a mixture of gasoline and diesel oil. The gasoline starter spins the crankshaft of the main unit. After starting the motor, the starter drive disengages automatically.
Main modifications
Overall, the project turned out to be successful. But the base model itself was offered in 4 configuration options. In addition, there was one modification for industrial use.
Main configuration options:
- C1 - additional mounted hydraulic system, two power cylinders and an additional suspension system.
- C2 - C1 configuration without additional cylinders and additional suspension system.
- C3 - only additional hydraulic cylinders.
- C4 - mounted hydraulic system and additional suspension system.
The modification for industrial purposes was marked T-4AP and did not have a suspension system for equipment at the rear. Most often used as a bulldozer.
Therefore, when asked how much the T-4 tractor weighs, it is difficult to say unambiguously. It all depends on the configuration.
Machine Specifications
Although four variants of power units were used during production, the technical characteristics of the T-4 Altaets tractor remained unchanged.
Model T 4A
The T 4A is equipped with a more powerful power unit than the base model. It has a six-cylinder, four-stroke, in-line engine.
The maximum power of the unit is 130 horsepower. It is liquid cooled. To facilitate starting at sub-zero ambient temperatures, the motor is equipped with a pre-heater.
The engine has the following technical characteristics:
- Power plant brand - A-01M;
- The diameter of the cylinders is 13 centimeters;
- The piston stroke (from top to bottom dead center) is 14 centimeters;
- Volume – 11.15 l.;
- Diesel fuel consumption – 173 g/kW. h.;
- Crankshaft rotation speed – 1300 rpm;
- Engine starting is combined.
For starting, a single-cylinder starter with a power of 10 hp is used. The starter cooling is included in the cooling system of the main unit. The petrol starter is started by an electric starter from the operator's cabin.
From the above it follows that the T4 crawler tractor is a high-quality machine. In technical characteristics, it is not inferior to analogues in its class, and in some indicators it surpasses them.
Cabin and facing of the TT-4M tractor
Additional differences between the TT-4M and the prototype are the displacement of the cabin layout from the central axis, increased glazing of the driver's seat, installation of a comfortable seat with a position adjustment system, and the possibility of equipping it with climate control equipment. To allow work to be carried out in the dark and in polar night conditions, the tractor is equipped with a powerful lighting system for the technological site.
Low specific pressure due to the large area of the tracked tracks became the reason for the use of the base chassis for the production of: chokerless skidding machine LP-18A, LP-8G, felling machine VM-4, feller-skidding machine VM-4B, delimbering machine LP-33 and many others options used for logging in difficult terrain.
Transmission
The transmission of torque from the flywheel of the power unit to the gearbox and then to the transmission is carried out using a permanently closed double-disc clutch with a hydraulic booster. The tractor transmission uses the advantages of a manual transmission with a reversing gearbox.
Eight forward gears and four reverse gears provide the tractor with a sufficient range of operating speeds up to 9.32 km/h inclusive. The direction of movement is changed by turning off the side clutch and, if necessary, additionally tightening the band brake.
The cabin is a two-seater with a ventilated volume and heating from the radiator of the power unit cooling system. Early models do not have thermal and sound insulation. To reduce vibration levels, vibration dampers are used in the cabin design.
Photo: “Altaets” T-4 in the museum
