Belarus 500 with Stuck Engine?

enrightj · Dec 2, 2018

Hello,

I saw a Belarus 500 for sale for $950 CAD. It has a stuck engine, however, the seller claims that everything else is in tact. With transportation I suspect the total costs to purchase it would be around $1700 CAD. Is this worth it for a tractor with a non working engine? I checked through a couple of forums and it sounds like there are a couple of techniques that might unstick the engine, however, it could be risky. I'm about a 5/10 in terms of mechanical skills. I was hoping that I might be able to get the engine running without needing to do anything drastic. Would this be realistic or is this just throwing money and time away?

Thanks!

VicS · Dec 2, 2018

Better run.

rustyfarmall · Dec 2, 2018

RUN!!! No one wants a Belarus.

bison · Dec 2, 2018

Better find out what causes it to be seized before thinking of buying it.
Belarus are good tractors if you know what makes them tick and how to fix them.Dealers don't know dick about them and a proper repair manual does not exist.

bison · Dec 2, 2018

(quoted from post at 12:56:40 12/02/18)
RUN!!! No one wants a Belarus.

gnorance is not a virtue.
have two of them. one of them a 1978 800 has over 20.000 hrs on it with very few issues, the other one a1993 925 is just as good. Neither one has ever failed me in the field yet, both start in a split second.

grayrider · Dec 2, 2018

I agree with others here, stay away from it. I see them parked
in the weeds everywhere, you can spend your money more
wisely and get a good tractor

beige35 · Dec 2, 2018

I think Belarus has owned Versatile for a few years

Bob · Dec 2, 2018

(quoted from post at 15:20:27 12/02/18) I think Belarus has owned Versatile for a few years

Naw, "Combine Factory Rostselmash" bought Buhler/Versatile a few years back.

bison · Dec 2, 2018

(quoted from post at 13:18:58 12/02/18) I agree with others here, stay away from it. I see them parked
in the weeds everywhere, you can spend your money more
wisely and get a good tractor

I have seen tractors of every make parked in the weeds and in tractor salvage yards.
I have however never seen yet a Belarus parked in the weeds and there are very few to be found in a salvage yard either.
Maybe they are better than you and the other hear sayers think.

Zachary Hoyt · Dec 2, 2018

I used to see a lot of Belarus tractors around here, some working and some abandoned. I haven't seen any in the last few years. They didn't seem to bring much at auction
around here, but I don't know much about them other than what I've heard which may or may not be true.
Zach

495man · Dec 2, 2018

Stuck or seized.....

500 is 2wd.

Unless you like Belarus and can do the work yourself.....

They are cheap power and good on fuel...

old · Dec 2, 2018

Gas or diesel?? What happened that the engine is locked up? If diesel common cause of locked engine is injector pump seals going bad and having diesel in the oil. For that type of $$ I would be asking a lot of question and probably running after I got the answers.

rustyfarmall · Dec 2, 2018

(quoted from post at 14:01:59 12/02/18)

(quoted from post at 13:18:58 12/02/18) I agree with others here, stay away from it. I see them parked
in the weeds everywhere, you can spend your money more
wisely and get a good tractor

Click to expand...

I have seen tractors of every make parked in the weeds and in tractor salvage yards.
I have however never seen yet a Belarus parked in the weeds and there are very few to be found in a salvage yard either.
Maybe they are better than you and the other hear sayers think.

I know where 2 of them are parked in the weeds. 4x4s both of them. Been there for at least 20 years and easily seen from a busy highway.

Traditional Farmer · Dec 2, 2018

If you need a big ole hole to dump some money then it'll be just the thing for you.

ajl · Dec 2, 2018

Belarus tractors like the 500 are actually made by a company called MTZ which still makes new tractors today. There are some of these tractors around this area and I have seen some in the field working the last two summers. Cattle guys have them and use them for haymaking in this area. Rostelmash is a Russian harvest equipment manufacturer, which has nothing to do with the Belarussian MTZ, does currently own the majority of the Canadian Versatile tractor line.

enrightj · Dec 2, 2018

Thanks for the feedback!

It sounds to me like the only way this could be a good deal is if:
-I have or know someone who has mechanical experience with Belarus engines
-they pretty much gave me the tractor

I do have some experience with Belarus tractors. My dad has a 400 for over 30 years. It has been outside most of it's life, my dad has done zero maintenance on it and it still starts up every time. From what I understand one of the issues with these tractors was quality control. This would explain some of the mixed opinions out there. Although the 400 has been discontinued, I called MTZ Canada a while back and surprisingly they still are making the Belarus 500 under the MTZ name The model is different but most of the parts are the same.

The seller said that it was stuck from sitting. The tractor looks like it was kept outside so I'm guessing water got in to the cylinders. I already have a tractor, however, I was thinking this could be a fun winter project if I could actually get the engine moving again without needing a major overhaul. It's sounding like this could easily become the winter project from hell.

Thanks,
Julian

Duner Wi · Dec 2, 2018

Yahoo groups has a Belarus group.
This might get you free online manuals

https://www.mtzbelarusparts.com/manuals/category/5-belarus-mtz-500-800-900-series-manuals.html

Buying anything with a stuck engine is risky business.
I would figure out a reliable parts source first.

paul · Dec 2, 2018

Yea, they generally have a poor reputation, so even if you totally restored it and made it work great and look pretty, it?s not going to have resale value.

Stuck engine is a big scare, can be lots wrong. Never know.

Parts aren?t the easiest to find.

All together, he is asking 4-5x too much for it?

Paul

Elton Fancher · Dec 2, 2018

Look on Craigslist for Belarus buyers. There are guys in Misou that pay good money for good tractors or parts machines. There may be a profit to be had there. I have sent a couple that way.

sotxbill · Dec 2, 2018

If you figure around $4800 for a total rebuilt engine, if your lucky, does that still make you want it? And that would be for any tractor locked up.

Elton Fancher · Dec 2, 2018

Don't buy it to repair. They ship them. They won't buy the air cooled but the 500 is fluid cooled. They are sort of popular in other countries. I drove a 500 around here and fed hay with it. After you get past the tranny puzzle you still don't have a great tractor but for some reason Nam and Egypt and other places buy them.

mmidlam · Dec 2, 2018

What state? I wouldn't mind one for parts.

2 9600 · Dec 3, 2018

they are not in salvage yards because they go straight to scrap .save yourself a head ache and run away

Belarus 500 with Stuck Engine?

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