Solis Tractors Avis 

Having just completed the 1st 50hr service I thought this would be a good time to review the Solis 26.

The tractor

Before buying I viewed and compared the Solis 26 and equivalent Siromer. I had decided to buy the Siromer (generally beefier & shuttle gearbox) but then I found it would not fit in my garage, so ended up going with the Solis.

Essentially the 26 is a good little tractor. I specified the Industrial tyres and a loader with a grab. I use the tractor for mowing (flail mower), towing a trailer and using the bucket.

Good points – It does what I want; Runs well, loader dismounts very easily from the machine. It’s a convenient size

Bad points
1. A big issue is that the PTO cover is a section of welded metal (actually the thickest metal on the tractor) and CANNOT BE REMOVED. It’s really quite hard to get a PTO shaft off and on. Heaven knows how you’d get the shaft off if the locking button on the Universal joint became stiff or rusted.

2. The Gearbox is not great – just 3 gears in each ratio, can be a pain when you’re mowing over very bumpy ground; 3rd L is bit too slow and 1st H is bit too fast. Also I have found that it can be hard to get into gear on occasions. Sometime you go to select a ratio (while stationary) and there’s no way it’s going into gear – needs a little joggle on the clutch, some grinding and then it goes. Whether this is poor clutch adjustment or a result of the rubbish actions by the dealer (more later) I don’t know.

3. The clutch appears to be a single stage so, for example, when you’re mowing and you come into a really thick bit if you slightly depress the clutch to stop the forward motion of the tractor the PTO is disengaged as well, so you can’t edge your way through the thick stuff keeping the mower running at full belt.

4. There are bits that are fiddly, downright poor design or just cheap. For example the engine oil dipstick is buried deep at the back of the engine; Had to replace a grease nipple on the clutch for one with a 90 bend as straight nipple was totally inaccessible due to the welded bracket just in front of it. Need to be careful getting in and out of the drivers seat to avoid catching the ignition key with your boot. There is rust starting to appear on the roll bar, underneath the tractor and on many nuts. The hand brake rusted solid within 2 weeks (kept in a dry garage)

Solis Tractors
I had a lot of trouble with the dealer and James from Solis UK was helpful and communicative. Sent me a manual (dealer didn’t provide) and a filter kit for the 1st service by way of apology. Generally good communications, although at the time of writing I’m still waiting for a reply or even acknowledgement to my email asking some questions arising from the 1st service.

The Dealer

I should have walked away from this person the moment I went to view the tractor. He runs a headstone business in Aberdeen and, as he says on his website, “I turned my passion from a hobby to a business.”

My buying experience was appalling.

When the machine was eventually delivered I should have rejected it there and then. It was a different serial number, it had a muck fork and not a grab bucket, it had 9 hours on the clock and a bent ignition key so I was pretty certain it had been used as a demo. Furthermore when I checked things like oil levels a few days later both the engine and transmission were below the minimum marks so clearly there had been no PDI.

The name of this dealer is North East Plant Sales, from Aberdeenshire.

In conclusion. I am stuck with my Solis, despite trying to return it after it had been delivered and before I’d used it.

It does the job okay but when you spend £12k on a brand new tractor, you expect to get a brand new tractor. I think in hindsight, I’d have been better off paying a little more and going with the Siromer with the shuttle gear box