May 5, 2014. Chelyabinsk Tractor Plant (ChTZ, a member of Uralvagonzavod Scientific & Production Corporation) started making its new B10M bulldozer with mechanical transmission and a more advanced engine made by Yaroslavl Engine Plant instead of the older D180 diesel, Uralvagonzavod Corporation’s press service says.

‘As the most popular and best-selling make of Chelyabinsk tractors keeps enjoying good demand, including in the CIS member states, ChTZ designers developed an upgraded version of the classical series-produced vehicle. Yaroslavl-made engines have been installed on tractors with hydro-mechanical transmission for a few years now, and now our customers can buy the ones with mechanical gear and a Yaroslavl Engine Plant engine that are less expensive and easier to maintain,’ the press service explains.

Yaroslavl Engine Plant adjusted its diesel engine specifically for ChTZ vehicles, so this engine runs at 1,500 rotations per minute rather than the 1,250 rpm typical of the D180 engine.

‘Despite the difference in rotations, the engine and the transmission synchronize very smoothly. There is no noticeable difference from the series-produced vehicle in terms of propulsion performance. One can already see that this machine is quite suitable for use. I have tried operating this bulldozer at high-speed engine performance, and the propulsion is just great,’ says the trial procedures curator Sergey Yartsev.

In addition to the new engine, this version of the machine has some other installations. For one, the tractor has a hexagonal rather than a rectangular driver’s pit, and the battery has been removed from the pit into a special compartment – all in accordance with the European safety standards. The heater is now located under the seat, which makes the inside temperature more supportive for the driver.