Large Chinese Made Tractors User Experience

n4807g · Oct 13, 2005

I believe it's worthwhile to have a thread devoted to the larger Chinese tractors. Should anyone feel like posting their experience with a smaller (less than 50hp) please do. I've read quite a # of threads where advice is requested prior to purchasing a tractor. Whenever the topic of Chinese tractors comes up, the trashing and derogatory comments aren't far behind. The one common denominator I've found is that those who speak out against Chinese tractors don't know much about them.

Hopefully some reasonable comments and observations will be posted.

Thanks!

n4807g · Oct 13, 2005

My experience (so far).....I was replacing a Belarus 572 bought in 1992 and was looking for a similar sized machine with cab & AC. Since I had already purchased a no name brand tractor (at least on this side of the Atlantic) I didn't have any bias against tractors that didn't run in the main stream. The popular ones. However since I don't farm and the tractor wasn't bought by a business (depreciation allowance) it is my post tax $'s that I'm spending. The 1st criteria was buy the machine that fit the need and the 2nd was: don't spend more than necessary.

Shopping - I looked at tractors in the 70-90 hp range that had a cab. I needed the weight and HP for hauling logs with a Farmi Winch and plowing snow in the winter. My shopping list didn't include Kubota, Deere or New Holland because conversations with local owners and some past experience told me that they were good machines, but in this size tractor they were a lot of money. I eventually narrowed it down to MF, IH Case, Mahindra, Belarus and Kioti. As I began to price tractors I realized that I wouldn't be able to get a loader and tractor for less than $35K and that included accepting a tractor of less than 80hp. After further investigation I narrowed my choice to MF471 and the Mahindra 7010 Cab. I look over both tractors and was able to get the MF dealer to agree to $34K. I was willing to spend that much but I recalled seeing the Farm Pro 7020 and 8020 tractors and decided to do more research. I varified that the engine was a Perkins (design) model 1004-4T and that the machine woould meet my requirements. So I started looking for a tractor. After about 4 quotes I found a dealer that gave me a delivered price of $26,000 with a Koyker 310 loader. I bought the tractor.

When it arrived I went over every inch of the machine and have to say that it is much more refined than I had anticipated. After 3 hours of use I can say that it is everything I expected and more. Everything worked (accept the detent on the hi/lo beam switch for the headlights) and the tractor preformed better than expected. The warranty on the tractor is 2 years (for me, I'll never meet the hours limit) and I'll keep posting my experience.

One last comment....the turbo diesel in this tractor is a great engine, responsive, and powerful. One thing I did notice, many of the "name brand" manufacturers get their HP ratings at up to 2700 rpm. This tractor output is rated at 2200...a plus?

rdbigfarmboy · Oct 15, 2005

I have similiar experience to yours. I recently replaced 2 Belarus tractors and a Ford with 2 Fotons (Tractor King from Rural King) I have nearly 200 hours on each machine. They are very good well built tractors. I run the 40 Hp on Grease, but not the 70 due to my supply of grease. I am very happy with both of these. I paid $7000 for the FT404 and $15300 for the FT704.

Soundguy · Oct 16, 2005

( My shopping list didn't include Kubota, Deere or New Holland ...., IH Case, .... As I began to price tractors I realized that I wouldn't be able to get a loader and tractor for less than $35K and that included accepting a tractor of less than 80hp )

I'm not going to hijack your thread with a big message.. nor am I gonna bash chinese tractors.. I will point out that your statement about not finding a 'big 3' model in the stated range is a bit off though...

As I pointed out in the other sub/thread.. you can get a larger, NH tractor ( 80 pto.. ?? engine), with options mentioned ( loader / cab / ac ) for 35K...

Took me all of 3 minutes to find that one. 2 more minutes found a JD of similar features ( plus more ) for 39k ).

Also.. just for info.. Case.. and NH.... same company.. that's why it's called CNH ( Case new holland.. ).

Soundguy

n4807g · Oct 16, 2005

Thanks for the input....I just sold my Belarus 572 for $6,500. I was going to keep it but after putting some time on the 8240 I'm quite certain it will be a reliable tractor. I bought Belarus 572 in 1992 with the Belarus loader for $12,500. Not bad resale price. I was pleasantly surprised when the Farm Pro 8240 arrived. I was expecting a much rougher machine. Quite well finished. I crawled all over a MF471 and frankly the quality is about the same. All the machines (Foton, Euroleopard, Farm Pro) are made by the same manufacturer: www.fotonhi.com. I don't know if the Kama's and Jinma's are made by Foton.

Good to hear your pleased....lot of $ saved.

n4807g · Oct 16, 2005

Oh...didn't know that about NH and Case are the machines made in Turkey? When I looked at the MF471 the dealer also sold Case. It looked like a good machine, he said they were made in Turkey.

What I've found about tractors is everyone does have a favorite. I suppose there are a lot of people that know a lot more about tractors than I do. I don't remember when Kubota was first introduced to the USA but I'm sure the intial reaction was not much different to the reaction many have over the Foton series. I have dealt with the Chinese in my business since 1987, it would be a serious mistake for anyone to assume they won't continue to improve the quality of their tractors. People often assume they make inferior products because they're somehow backward. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact most of their factories are modernized and updated, they have state of the art tooling. I guess only time will tell how well they'll do.

Thanks for correcting my error on the NH and Deere pricing.

Dargo · Oct 16, 2005

I think you'll be very happy with your purchase. About 4 months ago I was very seriously considering moving up to a slightly larger tractor. I did test drive for nearly an hour a Foton (Tractor King) 70 hp tractor with the Perkins engine. On that same day, I test drove a 65hp tractor from another smaller manufacturer that is very highly spoken about on this website. There was nearly $7000 difference in the price between the two!! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

As far as the feel, overall quality, weight, and apparent strength, I'd call the two a toss up. Saving $7000 dollars made it a "no contest" if I was going to make the move. I ended up staying with my current tractor, but if I hadn't, I would have definitely have gone with the Tractor King. Good luck to you with it!! Be sure to give updates on how your new beast performs. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

JINMA224XR · Oct 16, 2005

As I began to price tractors I realized that I wouldn't be able to get a loader and tractor for less than $35K and that included accepting a tractor of less than 80hp. I narrowed my choice to MF471 and the Mahindra 7010 Cab. I was able to get the MF dealer to agree to $34K. I was willing to spend that much but I recalled seeing the Farm Pro 7020 and 8020 tractors and decided to do more research. I varified that the engine was a Perkins (design) model 1004-4T and that the machine woould meet my requirements. So I started looking for a tractor. After about 4 quotes I found a dealer that gave me a delivered price of $26,000 with a Koyker 310 loader. I bought the tractor. 

Hey N4807G,

Now that's what I'm talking about: Spend less and get More!

Everybody should be congratulating you on the approximately 10 thousand dollars, that you saved.

But I can understand that the one's that "Paid More and Got Less", are irritated about your purchase of such a fine powerful Machine.

Heck, for that matter, I would be irritated and jealous as well, if I had paid more and got less.

But in my purchase as well as yours, I looked at all of them, and I figure that I saved about 5 thousand on my little Jinma224 tractor.

Just make sure that you check all of your fluid levels, to make sure that you have lubrication for the gears and bearings. Don't trust anybody else, when it comes to this, especially in the beginning.

The Phylosophy: Spend More and Get More, works great, if you have lots of excess money. My Phylosophy has and still is, " Spend Less and Get More", still works well for this poor country boy.

Now you can put the 10 thousand dollars, that you saved, into the saving's account, use it for equipment purchases, or that Boat that you have had your eyes on. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Get your tractors running &
Have a nice day,
Joe /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Soundguy · Oct 16, 2005

( But I can understand that the one's that "Paid More and Got Less", are irritated about your purchase of such a fine powerful Machine )

Hmm.. I re-read the 8 messages in this post.. and couldn't find one that stated /implied they were iritated about the posters money savings.. perhaps you could point out which message in question that you are refering to??

thanks

soundguy

n4807g · Oct 16, 2005

This is true. Actually I'm two tractors to the good. When I bought the Belarus I went nuts trying to find a tractor of that size with a cab for less than $25K. So I saved about 12K on the 1st purchase add the 10K and I'm up about 22K.

The turbo Perkins on this tractors is a great engine. I wasn't concerned about maintenance on the Belarus and this tractor is far and away more refined. Thanks for the input and advice.