Soviet tractor T-4 "Altaets" - in some places it is still in service

Everyone has long been accustomed to the fact that wheeled vehicles work in the fields. Crawler tractors are considered unpromising in agriculture. They were written off for construction sites, and even there they prefer wheeled models. But tracked tractors are more maneuverable and stable, especially on uneven fields. And on loose soils, such a technique is much more effective. And this will be confirmed by machine operators who began their working careers in the USSR. One of the best Soviet tractors for plowing is the T-4 Altaets. The model debuted in 1964 and its main task was to conquer virgin lands in Siberia and Kazakhstan. It was these caterpillar tractors, and two at once, that the author of the LandTech channel was able to see in action. And they are doing the same thing they did 50 years ago - plowing.


T-4 "Altaets" was sometimes called "Iron". This is because the technique is simple, but at the same time heavy. Not to say that the tractor was mega reliable - it broke down periodically. But it’s not difficult to fix it even in the field. A modern tractor driver may not be able to start the T-4 Altaets. After all, the equipment was equipped with a special two-stroke engine, which started the main engine. Some people still remember how they had to wind the rope starter and pull it. And when the engine started with a characteristic crackling sound, the entire tractor was enveloped in a bluish smoke. And only after that it was possible to start the main power unit.