greg_g
Super Member
- Joined
- Dec 18, 2003
- Messages
- 6,086
- Location
- Western Kentucky
- Tractor
- JD3720 Cab, 300X loader with 4-in-1 bucket
The "TS" on the nose may only coincidentally suggest TaiShan. It's actually the occidental corporate logo of Shandong Tractor Works. Both my KM454 and my TS354C were made by that outfit, but in 2004 and 2006 respectively. So the logo and the ROPS strongly suggest it's not a grey market Japanese/Vietnamese tractor. The Shandong corporate logo makes a pretty strong case that it's Chinese, and a federal import at that.
But I think the "324" decal may be a red herring, probably affixed by some previous owner. Note first that they don't appear as weathered as the rest of the finish. Note also the asymmetrical placement; rearward on the left of the cowl, forward on the right. I won't pretend to have seen every tractor ever made, but I can say that it's pretty unusual to have them staggered like that.
This is reinforced by the presence of a 2 cylinder engine. I've not personally encountered any Asian tractor diesel engines rated at more than 24hp. And they typically rated in KW (kilowatts) anyway, rather than horsepower. Given the KW number, it's then easy to do the conversion calculation for horsepower. Look for a manufacturer tag on the engine, they're usually affixed either to the valve cover or to an open spot on the engine block. See if you can find a KW number.
The ROPS regulation on agricultural tractors was issued in 1975 and requires tractors manufactured after October 25, 1976 of over 20 hp engine used in agriculture to be equipped with a seatbelt and ROPS. The problem is, I can't find evidence of KAMA or TaiShan tractors being imported that far back. But given that "TS" doesn't necessarily stand for TaiShan, it could still be a Shandong/Shantu manufactured tractor imported under some other label.
But I doubt seriously it's anywhere close to 30hp. I'd ballpark it somewhere closer to the 20-24hp vicinity.
//greg//
But I think the "324" decal may be a red herring, probably affixed by some previous owner. Note first that they don't appear as weathered as the rest of the finish. Note also the asymmetrical placement; rearward on the left of the cowl, forward on the right. I won't pretend to have seen every tractor ever made, but I can say that it's pretty unusual to have them staggered like that.
This is reinforced by the presence of a 2 cylinder engine. I've not personally encountered any Asian tractor diesel engines rated at more than 24hp. And they typically rated in KW (kilowatts) anyway, rather than horsepower. Given the KW number, it's then easy to do the conversion calculation for horsepower. Look for a manufacturer tag on the engine, they're usually affixed either to the valve cover or to an open spot on the engine block. See if you can find a KW number.
The ROPS regulation on agricultural tractors was issued in 1975 and requires tractors manufactured after October 25, 1976 of over 20 hp engine used in agriculture to be equipped with a seatbelt and ROPS. The problem is, I can't find evidence of KAMA or TaiShan tractors being imported that far back. But given that "TS" doesn't necessarily stand for TaiShan, it could still be a Shandong/Shantu manufactured tractor imported under some other label.
But I doubt seriously it's anywhere close to 30hp. I'd ballpark it somewhere closer to the 20-24hp vicinity.
//greg//