It’s now almost 30 years since Zetor held the number one spot for tractor sales in Ireland. That was during the early 1980s and, back then, Irish farmers had a large appetite for both Zetor and Ursus tractors from what was then Czechoslovakia and Poland because of a combination of price and value.
Zetor and Ursus were among the top three in tractor sales in Ireland for a number of years. The brands shared much, particularly within the Zetor Crystal and Ursus C series. Shared components included engines built by Zetor and back-ends built by Ursus.
Even cabs were almost identical, with the major difference being how the doors opened – Ursus to the rear wheels, with Zetor forwards to the front wheels.
Zetor was always the market leader ahead of Ursus. You got a lot of tractor, a great cab, air seat and even front suspension. No matter how cold it got, the Zetor engine started first time.
While some of the engineering wasn’t as good or as refined as some Western-built tractors, in general, they served farmers very well.
Today, things have changed. The iron curtain has come down and the marketplace is tougher for manufacturers like Zetor.
The sector of the market which they once dominated is now populated by many more manufacturers, not just from Eastern Europe, but also Turkey, China and India. Global brands like John Deere, AGCO and CNH also produce models to compete within lower-budget sectors of the market.
Twin Zetor test
To see what is currently on offer from the Czech manufacturer, McHale Plant Sales Ltd, Ireland’s Zetor importer, recently provided the Irish Farmers Journal with two Zetor models for test.
The smaller of the two is from the firm’s Major range, while the larger mode is from its Forterra range.
To make it even more interesting and do an even better evaluation, both were equipped with front-end loaders.
This week, we will feature our analysis of the larger Forterra 140 HSX tractor, to be followed next week by a review of the Major 80.
Zetor Forterra 140 HSX
The larger 136hp Zetor Forterra 140 HSX was fitted with a Czech-built Trac Lift TL260 SLx loader with parallel linkage and third service but no soft-ride boom suspension facility.
The 140 is the largest model in the Forterra HSX five-model range, topping out at 136hp, while the smallest model in the Forterra HSX range, the 100, tops out at 96hp.
This tractor series is not just built by Zetor. With the exception of the Carraro front axle, the rest of the tractor is almost entirely manufactured by Zetor too.
What has the Zetor Forterra 140 HSX got to shout about?
Externally, it has modern styling, plus solid wheel centres. In the cab, it has a modern dash and lots of storage space and pockets, plus the added comfort of cab suspension.Under the bonnet is Zetor’s own four-cylinder turbo-charged and inter-cooled engine with common-rail fuel injection. A diesel particulate filter (DPF) unit and cooled exhaust gas recirculation unit (EGR) control slot and NOx emissions bringing it in line with Stage III B regulations. Maximum power is quoted at 136hp.Zetor’s own transmission includes a three-speed power-shift and power shuttle and a total of 30 forward and 30 reverse speeds. The top speed is 40km/h.Bosch-based electronic lift control with a quoted lift capacity of 7t. Decent hydraulic pump capacity of 70 litres/min is standard and the test tractor was fitted with three double-acting hydraulic services.Dromone telescopic hitch is included.Technical ability
On paper, the specification of the Zetor Forterra 140 HSX is typical of a tractor found on medium- to large-size dairy and small- to medium-size tillage operations. It has a nice mix of the essential specifications for this type of work with a loader.
These include a powerful engine, yet in a short-wheelbase four-cylinder package, with power-shuttle and power-shift, decent capacity hydraulics and three-point linkage, electronic lift control and a telescopic Dromone pick-up hitch.
So, technically, the Forterra 140 HSX should be at home with larger slurry tankers, twin-axle trailers and 3m-type cultivation equipment. It should easily handle a shear grab or round bale of silage. With the exception of tillage operations, we looked at most potential work scenarios.
Getting to work
First up was handling straw bales at height, silage bales for weight and loading dung. We found visibility at ground level a bit obscured by the high bonnet.
Under-hood is perhaps the safest place for a DPF unit, but it raises the bonnet level.
At height in the shed it was much better, aided somewhat by a clear roof panel. The Czech-built Trac Lift TL260 SLx loader with parallel linkage was very capable at height and was smooth to operate.
Missing was a soft-ride suspension kit, which is not a big job or cost to add.
In dung-loading, both the tractor and loader proved stable and capable. The hydraulics were a shade slow in comparison with some tractors within this category.
The competition uses CSLS pumps, which provide output in excess of 100 litres/min. At Zetor, that specification comes at a much higher price.
The 140 spent some time with a trailer behind it, loaded either with dung or fodder beet. The four-cylinder engine performed well but not to the level of a 136hp tractor.
On the dyno test at Nicholas Gainford Ltd, it registered 113hp at rated PTO speed, which was a more realistic interpretation of the power available.
You would generally expect some more horsepower to be released as the engine loosens up after putting some hours on the clock.
Five synchromesh gears are plus-three powershift speeds, and are all selectable from a single stick, which provides lots of speed options when loaded. And we had some serious hills on which to test the Zetor’s mettle with around 13t behind it.
The powershift speeds were super smooth and an auto-shifting function worked well to boot.
The layout and use of the synchromesh gear stick was not easy. Gear positioning is different to what most would be used to and the changes were very notchy. The de-clutch button on the stick was useful when making synchromesh changes.
The Forterra was pretty snug in the comfort department, with cab suspension only hindered by the lack of loader suspension.
With a six-pillar cab, the side windows and roof panel open to allow in extra ventilation.
The analogue dash is very colourful and modern. Some of the cab finish is still very eastern-bloc with hard, brittle panels.
Within the cab there is lots of storage space for the tools of the trade, plus a comfortable passenger seat. The latter hinders cab access a little, even when folded.
Electronic lift control is based on Bosch’s earlier system. It is a very easy system to understand and use, especially for the less technical among us.
The spool valve levers could be better positioned. Our tractor did not have an eco-speed PTO and this is certainly an option worth specifying.
Service access with the loader fitted is reasonable. There are two more engine side panels, which can be removed to provide more access.
Next Week
In next week’s Journal, we give you the verdict on the Zetor Major 80, the company’s biggest-selling tractor across Europe and one that is proving popular on Irish farms.
It’s now almost 30 years since Zetor held the number one spot for tractor sales in Ireland. That was during the early 1980s and, back then, Irish farmers had a large appetite for both Zetor and Ursus tractors from what was then Czechoslovakia and Poland because of a combination of price and value.
Zetor and Ursus were among the top three in tractor sales in Ireland for a number of years. The brands shared much, particularly within the Zetor Crystal and Ursus C series. Shared components included engines built by Zetor and back-ends built by Ursus.
Even cabs were almost identical, with the major difference being how the doors opened – Ursus to the rear wheels, with Zetor forwards to the front wheels.
Zetor was always the market leader ahead of Ursus. You got a lot of tractor, a great cab, air seat and even front suspension. No matter how cold it got, the Zetor engine started first time.
While some of the engineering wasn’t as good or as refined as some Western-built tractors, in general, they served farmers very well.
Today, things have changed. The iron curtain has come down and the marketplace is tougher for manufacturers like Zetor.
The sector of the market which they once dominated is now populated by many more manufacturers, not just from Eastern Europe, but also Turkey, China and India. Global brands like John Deere, AGCO and CNH also produce models to compete within lower-budget sectors of the market.
Twin Zetor test
To see what is currently on offer from the Czech manufacturer, McHale Plant Sales Ltd, Ireland’s Zetor importer, recently provided the Irish Farmers Journal with two Zetor models for test.
The smaller of the two is from the firm’s Major range, while the larger mode is from its Forterra range.
To make it even more interesting and do an even better evaluation, both were equipped with front-end loaders.
This week, we will feature our analysis of the larger Forterra 140 HSX tractor, to be followed next week by a review of the Major 80.
Zetor Forterra 140 HSX
The larger 136hp Zetor Forterra 140 HSX was fitted with a Czech-built Trac Lift TL260 SLx loader with parallel linkage and third service but no soft-ride boom suspension facility.
The 140 is the largest model in the Forterra HSX five-model range, topping out at 136hp, while the smallest model in the Forterra HSX range, the 100, tops out at 96hp.
This tractor series is not just built by Zetor. With the exception of the Carraro front axle, the rest of the tractor is almost entirely manufactured by Zetor too.
What has the Zetor Forterra 140 HSX got to shout about?
Externally, it has modern styling, plus solid wheel centres. In the cab, it has a modern dash and lots of storage space and pockets, plus the added comfort of cab suspension.Under the bonnet is Zetor’s own four-cylinder turbo-charged and inter-cooled engine with common-rail fuel injection. A diesel particulate filter (DPF) unit and cooled exhaust gas recirculation unit (EGR) control slot and NOx emissions bringing it in line with Stage III B regulations. Maximum power is quoted at 136hp.Zetor’s own transmission includes a three-speed power-shift and power shuttle and a total of 30 forward and 30 reverse speeds. The top speed is 40km/h.Bosch-based electronic lift control with a quoted lift capacity of 7t. Decent hydraulic pump capacity of 70 litres/min is standard and the test tractor was fitted with three double-acting hydraulic services.Dromone telescopic hitch is included.Technical ability
On paper, the specification of the Zetor Forterra 140 HSX is typical of a tractor found on medium- to large-size dairy and small- to medium-size tillage operations. It has a nice mix of the essential specifications for this type of work with a loader.
These include a powerful engine, yet in a short-wheelbase four-cylinder package, with power-shuttle and power-shift, decent capacity hydraulics and three-point linkage, electronic lift control and a telescopic Dromone pick-up hitch.
So, technically, the Forterra 140 HSX should be at home with larger slurry tankers, twin-axle trailers and 3m-type cultivation equipment. It should easily handle a shear grab or round bale of silage. With the exception of tillage operations, we looked at most potential work scenarios.
Getting to work
First up was handling straw bales at height, silage bales for weight and loading dung. We found visibility at ground level a bit obscured by the high bonnet.
Under-hood is perhaps the safest place for a DPF unit, but it raises the bonnet level.
At height in the shed it was much better, aided somewhat by a clear roof panel. The Czech-built Trac Lift TL260 SLx loader with parallel linkage was very capable at height and was smooth to operate.
Missing was a soft-ride suspension kit, which is not a big job or cost to add.
In dung-loading, both the tractor and loader proved stable and capable. The hydraulics were a shade slow in comparison with some tractors within this category.
The competition uses CSLS pumps, which provide output in excess of 100 litres/min. At Zetor, that specification comes at a much higher price.
The 140 spent some time with a trailer behind it, loaded either with dung or fodder beet. The four-cylinder engine performed well but not to the level of a 136hp tractor.
On the dyno test at Nicholas Gainford Ltd, it registered 113hp at rated PTO speed, which was a more realistic interpretation of the power available.
You would generally expect some more horsepower to be released as the engine loosens up after putting some hours on the clock.
Five synchromesh gears are plus-three powershift speeds, and are all selectable from a single stick, which provides lots of speed options when loaded. And we had some serious hills on which to test the Zetor’s mettle with around 13t behind it.
The powershift speeds were super smooth and an auto-shifting function worked well to boot.
The layout and use of the synchromesh gear stick was not easy. Gear positioning is different to what most would be used to and the changes were very notchy. The de-clutch button on the stick was useful when making synchromesh changes.
The Forterra was pretty snug in the comfort department, with cab suspension only hindered by the lack of loader suspension.
With a six-pillar cab, the side windows and roof panel open to allow in extra ventilation.
The analogue dash is very colourful and modern. Some of the cab finish is still very eastern-bloc with hard, brittle panels.
Within the cab there is lots of storage space for the tools of the trade, plus a comfortable passenger seat. The latter hinders cab access a little, even when folded.
Electronic lift control is based on Bosch’s earlier system. It is a very easy system to understand and use, especially for the less technical among us.
The spool valve levers could be better positioned. Our tractor did not have an eco-speed PTO and this is certainly an option worth specifying.
Service access with the loader fitted is reasonable. There are two more engine side panels, which can be removed to provide more access.
Next Week
In next week’s Journal, we give you the verdict on the Zetor Major 80, the company’s biggest-selling tractor across Europe and one that is proving popular on Irish farms.
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