Talk Me Out of Buying a ZETOR

So, I've found a Zetor 7711 with low hours on it, that appears well taken care of, somewhat close to where I live, and am considering going for it. The new Mahindra I bought in 2015 hasnt been the most reliable thing ever, has had its share of (electrical) issues and has spent some time away at the dealer. When it is here, its pretty nice, but at ~40 HP, I've sometimes wished for more power/weight and a few times its come up short on lifting strength on larger tasks.

Therefore, I'm interested in these machines. It sure would be nice to have two functioning tractors here, to not have to switch loader implements as much and to have a larger machine when the time calls for it. I'm looking at a handful of them within 4 hours drive from me, available in the ~$6k-$8k range.

Some common concerns that I've pondered myself:

Whose ever heard of a ZETOR? Thats not one of those third world makers thats unpopular for a reason, is it?
-They're made in the Czech Republic and apparently very popular in Europe. From what I've read, they're known for being durable, cost effective and long lasting, albeit sometimes lacking in creature comforts. Its extremely difficult to find negative reviews of them, almost impossible actually, although some members of their (korean, IIRC) "Century" line dont fare quite as well. The actual ZETOR's seem very well liked.

So, its a commie-block tractor?
I guess, but evidently vastly superior to the UTB/Long/Belarus/etc makes, at least from the few comparisons from folks who've used them all, that I've read

Where will you find parts/dealer?
-Theres one a reasonable distance from where I live, so I'm lucky here I guess. Zetor apparently claims to be able to have almost every part to every model they've ever made. It seems that they sell to a lot of poorer countries where people run the wheels off of things (as we used to/still should imho) and therefore run a pretty smooth parts business. A bunch of people in other threads like this one have said they've had no issues getting parts for them. Even most things can be shipped from Europe if they cant be sourced from an American seller, and smaller parts can still be less expensive than a comparable JD or Kubota part locally. Or so I'm told.

It seems that all the reviews I've found on these machines are very favorable of them. I'm tempted because that's a lot of tractor for the price, and these seem to be less problematic than the MF models with Multi-power and "unique" transmissions that I've looked at online. I really like masseys, but from the research I've done, if you get a "bad" one, then there's no end to the misery. It seems I might have better chances with the traditional manual transmission in the Zetors, even if this model is only partially synchronized (still a step up from what I have now), not to mention the Zetors are comparable in price, but have fewer hours and are 25-30 years newer.

Its tempting guys, talk me out of it. Mainly looking for opinions from folks who've owned or run a Zetor, not just the usual "My brother has a neighbor whose babysitters dog said that they...."

Either way, thanks in advance guys. Whether I buy one or not, I've still enjoyed learning about these machines.

Don't. Resale. None. Brakes?dont work that good. Electrical nightmare. Basic engine is powerful and very economical deal ships are dwindling with very poor support. Keep looking for another brand.

Lots of you tube videos with 7711

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Zetor+7711++tractor

I'm aware that the brakes arent anything special, but source on the parts support or electrical problems? Legitimately curious. Is there really that much wiring on a mechanically injected 30 year old diesel tractor?

In terms of resale - that crossed my mind, but lets say I buy one of these things for $6k, and a 10 year old kubota for $20k.

In a decade I go to sell them both, the Kubota is now only worth 8-12k, whereas I could literally give the Zetor away and have lost less.

Plus I dont plan to sell whatever I do end up with. Thanks for the reply.

Yes, I've been watching them

I've owned a couple of Zetors a 910 Long which is a rebadged Zetor and a 35 HP Zetor.Both were strong runners and started easily,transmissions are pretty tough with lots of gears.The bad was the hydraulic brakes always problematic and the wiring wasn't much but a 1 wire alternator and a couple hrs to replace basic wiring was good to go.I've sold them both but would buy another
at the RIGHT PRICE which means pretty cheap.BTW nothing wrong with the UTB/Fiat tractors I'll put them up against any foreign or US built,I've kept the Fiats to use so I guess thats means I like them better than the Zetors.Price is everything when it comes to what to buy,I'll buy anything if its cheap enough and no matter how great something may be if its too expensive I'll pass.

28 years in the business and yes I am bias, you just answered what I was going to address. If you buy it you better like it because there is no resale. Over the years have traded for a few on new tractor trade in and most time lost money on the trade, Just not too many folks out there that look at it like your. Best of luck hope you like it.

You had problems with one piece of junk,, so why not buy another!

Because that was built in India and this is from an industrialized European company. Also almost every problem with the mahindra is related to the computer systems they need to be "emissions friendly", I understand the older ones are okay, with the exception of them being sold by a horrible to deal with company, Mahindra USA.

Getting off topic, the Czech tractor predates the emissions requirements by entire decades, so I'm not too worried about it.

While not my personal preference in tractors, I used my neighbors a few times and didn't really see anything wrong with it. He's had it for over 20 years and never had any major issues with it and it has roughly 9 thousand hours. As for resale, if you maintain it and keep it looking decent, somebody will buy it, may not be a farmer with acreage, but someone like yourself.

Have you thought about getting a good used forklift?

They actually built a few of them for John Deere for sale in countries where the machines had to fit a certain criteria of being built in the country where the tractor was sold none we're ever sold in the us you can also find some John Deere tractors with Perkins engines they were sold in Africa I think

The motor is a pretty good one. The transmissions and hydraulics are not as good as the motor. The controls are a nightmare. You have several levers down on the transmission hump that control whether you have the hydraulic pump engaged and the PTO working. The wiring is the major draw back to them. If you have much trouble just tear it out and put a single wore Delco alternator on it and wire the important stuff. Forget the warning lights and gauges as they rarely work for long anyway.

You would need to buy it cheap. I do mean cheap. Do not even compare it to any major brand as far as resale. A Zetor 7710 2wd will need to be in the $4000-4500 to be any kind of a deal around here.

I worked at a dealership that had some to sell. I worked there for 7 years and they sold ONE. Had six in stock but you could not give them away in this area. I have one repair customer that has two of them. His are total junk. Not a single piece of sheet metal not beat up or missing. The motors run IF you can get the starter and some type of charging system to function. LOL

IF you buy one get a operators manual. You will need it to make sure you have the levers set right for what you want to do. If you drive it too long with the PTO disengaged it will ruin the throw out bearing. If you are not using the PTO you disengage the output shaft and engage the PTO clutch an that takes the pressure off the throw out bearing. Like I say get a book to learn what to do.

Check out Zetorworld. Some people actually get them to start, run and do chores.

(quoted from post at 00:34:47 02/07/17) They actually built a few of them for John Deere for sale in countries where the machines had to fit a certain criteria of being built in the country where the tractor was sold none we're ever sold in the us you can also find some John Deere tractors with Perkins engines they were sold in Africa I think

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JD marketed several Zetor built models that were painted green & yellow in the USA back in the 90's. The model #s were 2300,2400,2700 & 2800. Check Tractordata for name of manufacturer & factory location. which is Brno, Czech Republic.

My neighbor bales hay with a late model Zetor that he purchased when it was new & his tractor had transmission & hyd problems. He's stated it's very fuel efficient.

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Lance, go to tractor house dot com , look up Allie charmers 7040 c they have one listed in Indiana with a loader for 7500. Its 136 hp, cat 3 three point, with a cab. Prolly way more than you need, but good solid cheap horsepower.

If you need a Hydraulic filter it will cost you around $86.00 plus shipping if you can find one online, only Zetor or fleetguard supply them and no local suppliers have a listing for them.

Dang spell check, should be allis chalmers

To paraphrase Mr. Thinker, given the choice I would rather eat live bees as opposed to farming with one of those.

I tried one out. Front wheel assist,cab and loader. Things were just kind of backwards and awkward. That said,they're out there,I guess somebody has to own them.

Handyman,for your 7711 I found hydraulic filters online , part # 70114566 priced from $9.40 USD and up to about $25.00 delivered. Some come in Zetor carton. Search for part number.
If you need the hydraulic filter screen, part # 70114624 they cost $32.54.

Like I told you before. Go and buy a JD 4020 and be done with it !

Take a look at John Deere oil filter for 2300 part# PE70114566. I think it is same as for 7711.
Filter gasket is sold separate. Green parts has them for around $17.00.

That is like all the guys are driving GTOs and Chevelles and you want a Saab.

Neighbor is retired and seems to run a farm for tax purposes. He has a 4wd Zetor, probably 60hp range, not sure the model. I asked the hired man how he liked it a few years ago, and he said "it's ok, no real problems; starts good cold." They use it mostly for hauling manure and raking hay now. It's their oldest tractor. Got 2 4wd CIH units after that, then a couple years ago a big 4wd Kubota. Seems they use them until the tires get worn, then buy something new. (must be nice...)

The fact that they still have it and use it says something, even if that something is that it has more value in use than in resale. Shoot, I could easily say the same for the twice as old "saved-from-the-scrap-heap" stuff I farm with.

They are all trying to talk you out of it but you won't listen. Why did you ask for advice if your mind was made up?

I bought a new Zetor 3320 back around 1994 or so. Used it until a year ago because I wanted a tractor with a heated cab. Selling it was hard to get much $$$ out of it even though it did not have many hours. It did everything I needed done with few problems. At the time I bought it, it was about 1/2 as much money as a John Deere. If you are on a limited budget, I would recommend a Zetor. There is an outfit which I think is in Arkansas that can get any parts you want. I found them online a few years ago.

i worked for a dealer that sold zetor many years ago. they were an old time case dealer case took away the franchise in the early 70s. one of their suppliers had some English and Italian tractors so when the oil prices went up and the farm prices went bad thy sold a lot of them. after the English and Italian tractors went by the wayside they sold zetors. the zetors were the easiest tho fix the other ones had complex engine and transmission repair procedures. as for parts zetor has two large parts depots on in texas and one in pennsylvnania. anyone could call out to pennsylvnania to get parts or tech. advice the dealers got a price break. one thing the zetors used a lot of the same parts in most of their models.on the brakes and clutch master and slave cylinders the rubber parts couldnt stand the coid minnesota winters and leak but they were easy to replace. a 7711 would have a long steering cylinder on the side they were power assist if its leaking i wouldnt by it they are tricky to fix. as for resale the salesman had a sales pitch that went something like resale didnt matter because you didnt have to put as much money in the purchase. now the local dealers are trading those english and italian tractors in on CIH and deere tractors so they are only worth scrap price and what ever it cost to haul them to the salvage yards so the resale value is gone. but the zetors are tough tractors some of the ones they sold are taking a lot of abuse. i guess if you by one dont trade anything that has any value and run it till the wheels fall off

You already bought a Mahindra and you were not happy with your lack of dealer support. I would put Zetor in a similar category as for dealer support. I realize you need to stick to a budget (like all of us) but if you don't want the frustration then you need to stick with a name that has been around and is well supported in your area.

I have a 7711. The engine has given no trouble. The transmission has given no trouble, but I wish it had some synchronized gears. Some tractors have had synchronized gears since at least 1980, so why not all? The clutch gave trouble. There is a later modification, after it was put in the clutch works fine. The brakes needed an upgrade too and they have not given anymore trouble, but get a shop manual and folloe directions to keep them adjusted.

The instructions say leave the pto lever disengaged for only a very few minutes at a time because it will cause excessive wear on the throwout bearing.

It has a differential lock. Do NOT engage it with the tractor moving under load of it will break the axle.

My big complaint is that the air conditioning is not reliable.

It does handle a 10 foot disc mower quite well. It is a heavy tractor and has a FEL so there is no weight problem with the disc mower. As to how much the FEL will pick up, I don't know. Everything I have tried to move got moved, including some large logs. Round bales of hay are no problem.

KEH

Lanse
If you knew the grief our neighbor had with his Zetor, it would be an easy decision. I don't remember what model it was, but it was in the shop a lot. The dealer even got tired of seeing it show up, and parts seemed to always be on back order.