IH Engine Keeps Belarus Going

IH Engine Keeps Belarus Going ENGINES Engines 31-6-38 The Belarus 1790 4-WD tractor is built like a tank with features that set it apart from many of its day, says Jim Ward. But one problem with the old workhorse is its engine. Obsolete and with few parts available, it is a problem for owners. That's where a machinist like Ward can help. "I had a customer with a blown engine in a Belarus 1790," says Ward. "He wanted to replace it with a 466 DDT International, but the bell housing and engine block face are completely different." Ward's first step was to extend the frame by close to a foot to make room for the in-line IH 6-cylinder. He then fabricated an adapter ring to fit the bell housing to the engine. When Ward pulled the Belarus engine out, he discovered another problem. Unlike North American tractor brands, there were no indicator marks for lining up the bell housing with the center of the new engine shaft. "If you don't get it lined up just right, the clutch will hang up and not release," explains Ward. "It is important that the clutch plates are free when the clutch is disengaged." Ward fabricated a temporary shaft and, with the aid of shims, marked his own indicator lines. He also had to fabricate a new throwout bearing assembly to engage the clutch. "The double clutch on the Belarus is a monstrosity with huge splines that wouldn't fit on the 466," says Ward. "We made our own splines for the clutch plate and used a splined coupler off a ready mix truck. We then made our own input shaft to fit the splines." Once he had the engine matched up and bolted up, he made engine mounts to fit the frame. A new loader custom built for the 1790 rounded out the remake. Ward built it with 4 by 6 by 3/8-in. steel tubing. While he built a bucket for the loader, the main use is for pushing snow with a large blade fashioned from an old grader blade. "The frame had to be built tough to handle the manhole covers it hits," explains Ward. "We put support wheels on the blade for transit. To lighten it up, we cut out sections of steel and lined the front with plastic." Ward's customer pushes a lot of snow in and around Missauga, Ontario. Though he has two other large tractor-powered snow blades, the Belarus was ideal for the job. That's one reason he invested the $10,000 or so in shop time to replace the engine. That was partially offset by $2,500 he got selling the old engine for parts. "It looks ugly, but it does the job," explains Ward. "The 1790 has two air seats, with the operator's seat on the right hand side that lets him watch the curb as he is plowing snow. The tractor was ahead of its time in many ways with its air seats and the original air-activated clutch and brakes." Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Edenholme Custom Machinery, 1263 Richardson Rd, Minesing, Ontario, Canada l0l 1Y0 (ph 705 728-0907 daytime; 705 735-2172 evening; fax 705 735-2171).

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