Belarus T-40AM

You may find free manuals over on the Belarus site. It's been pretty quiet over there lately..but lots of good info and tractor specific. Look for your T40A in the 'old models' forum. B.
www.mtztractortalk.com

Thank you very much!
Downloaded all the manuals (owners, service and parts) and sent them pics to see if they can tell me more about it, like what year it was built.

I believe it’s an early model made for export, destined for the USA/CA market, because of the decals in English. I don’t know much about the air cooled tractors as they never appealed to me. Good luck with your tractor..keep us updated with your progress with it. Expect the electrical system to be a mess. With the age of the tractor…hard to say what gremlins will rear their heads. And Welcome to the forum. B.

Okay, not surprisingly, the batteries are dead. I have them in the shop right now being charged and tested. I should know by tomorrow if I need new ones or not.

I got prices on new parts for the drive shafts. about $650.00. The welding guy I usually used said he'd be at least 500 to make ones himself, so I'm just going to wait until we can buy the new ones as I'll at least know for sure they're right.

If the batteries do hold a charge I'm hoping I'll be bringing it home tomorrow or the next day at the latest.

Hard to say... my 8345 is 24v start...2x 12v batteries in series w/isolator..12v charging system and gauges. That's one of their problems.. I had a power surge thru the isolator which put 24v into the 12v system and took out everything electrical that was either turned on or powered during normal operation. Hopefully you have a wiring diagram. I have added additional fuses and done away with the 50amp. glass fuse. The wiring is redundant and some circuits are actually backfed and not fuse protected. Good luck. Like I mentioned earlier...their electrical system is a nightmare!! Plus like me..no telling what the previous owner may have changed. B.

Do you have a picture of the isolator, what it looks like, where and how it was hooked up?

I'll get you a picture. As I recall it's inside the battery box on my tractor between the two batteries.

My service manual shows 3 variations of starting systems… 2x 6v(series) with 12v starter…2x 12v(parallel) with 12v starter…2x 12v(series) with 24v starter. Each version has differing electrical components to maintain 12v system. Alternators are 12v output tho amp output varies depending on options. You definitely need to reference the service manual to define what wiring diagram/electrical components you have. B.

Okay, I've figured it all out... lol I think.

It SHOULD be two 6v batteries in this tractor. Someone replaced them with two 12v ones. I'm just going to leave the two 12v but switch them to a parallel hookup instead of series.

Half the fuses are burnt out, which isn't that surprising. Assuming I can find similar ones in town, I'm replacing all the fuses as the ones in it look like the originals. 42 years is enough life for any fuse lol

I hooked just one of the 12v batteries up and got the tractor to turn over a couple of cranks, but I didn't actually try to start it beyond that yet.

I'm going to check the fuel level in it and fill it up with new diesel, make sure all the fluids are topped up, grease it all, replace the fuses and any bulbs that need replacing and then I'll try to start it.

Assuming all goes well, I'll drive it home after that.

Those fuses are still available at auto parts store. If you need the large(PV80) glass fuses, I cut them out and replaced with mini fuse.

I'll check at carquest later today and see.

Carquest did have the fuses. We bought all they had (7) and ordered another 5 for backup.

Also...

Congratulations!! Just starting a Belarus can be a challenge for some.. Make sure your PTO bands are/stay properly adjusted to save repairs there. And a word of caution about the brakes… they do a better job of slowing the tractor…then actually stop it!! B

Lol, thanks for the tip. I have about an 8 mile drive home with it in the next day or two, so I expect I'll have a pretty good idea of it's oddities by then.

The only thing not original on it that I can see is the starter. The fuses are new now, but the same style. Even the lights lens and covers are all intact and the horn works. One of the rear 'headlights' and one turn signal is burnt out, but I expect that's just a bulb issue. I replaced a connector on the end of one wire and reconnected one other one that runs to the lights. Even the tires seem like originals, at least they're stamped made in the USSR so if not original, pretty close.

After I switched the battery to just a single one and did those repairs mentioned about, it started up without an issue. I drove it back and forth a couple of feet, raised the bucket, tipped it back and forth, lowered it again. I engaged the pto with no problem, the 3ph operates properly.

I'm really sorta blown away by it.

If it has a main power disconnect switch coming off the batteries, I would recommend using it when parked…if not I would suggest installing one. Except for being 75 year old technology and rough around the edges, they are mechanically sound. The electrical system is their real downfall. Once you get the bugs worked out of that, you’ll be fine. I’m over 8500hrs on my 8345 and except for the electrical system meltdown, the only repair has been to remove/rebuild the PTO pac.