Ok, so whats the deal with the NorTrac tractors?

[coolreinfarm]

Well I bought a Nortrac 254 tractor 12 years ago still have it, it has the original battery, new fan belt and 1 hydraulic hose replaced. Money was very tight at that time and 8500 for a tractor and loader worked for me. The problem I see that people try to use them as bulldozers, digging basements, clearing woods etc. The loader is US made and works well. The downside is nobody works on them period. You have to keep it undercover out of the weather, the gauges and wiring are not weatherproof. The engine will not start in cold weather, has to be heated, I see they put a heater in the lower radiator hose. I bought a Kubota l3240 before I retired at 22000, big difference in the two but the Nortrac did everything I asked of it and I use it in the woods or digging post holes now.

 

[tomplum]

Interesting discussion. I would believe much of what is said in regards that you should plan on taking more ownership of repairs and maintenance. probably more so due to what is dealer support. I didn't buy my LS from an experienced dealer as there really wasn't one near. I don't mind twisting wrenches. Quality of these Northern tractors, I dunno. Let see what their idea of support is come Monday. We are in a world economy even though some have no idea if we really are, how we got there or if we should continue to be. Politics is strange.

One could take note of this statement."There are many Japanese and Korean car brands for sale in USA. None from China, though General Motors has the largest car market share in China." Volvo is a good example. It is owned by Geely, definitely a worldwide player in heavy industries based in China. The S60s we have here were the first to come from China , others have or will follow.

 

[Code54]

I do know around here the resale is terrible on Norrtrac or the off brands, Kubota and Deere is excellent.

 

[Oldpath05]

So i've been looking at the 45XT and the 55XT. These tractors are lower priced than the 30hp Kubota with a loader i was about to buy. I called Northern Tool last night at 11pm pacific time and right away got a hold of an American that spoke English. I was trying to figure out more info on how i can get one with a loader as they dont show them on the website. He told me to call the main customer service on Saturday. I called them and the guy told me how the whole process works. They are assembled and tested in Minnesota. The 45xt and 55xt are new tractors and so may not have all the implements listed on the website. He told me to call Nortracs main number on Monday 952-808-6697. The customer support already seems to be top notch. These guys were very helpful and I didnt expect to get ahold of anyone at 11pm on friday night but i did. Its good to see you can contact Nortrac directly instead of just a random associate for all of northern tool, so there's that.

I need to gather more info on monday, but it seems to me the downside of buying these tractors is mainly about getting repairs done. With a kubota you can just take it to the dealership to get it fixed (i assume) but im sure it would also be very expensive. With the amount of money you save on these tractors, you could buy an entire garage full of every tool you would need to work on these tractors. Personally, I dont like depending on mechanics to fix my stuff when i can learn how to do it myself. If you start fixing your stuff early, you will become a great mechanic in a few years and save yourself a ton of money.

I like that philosophy, an old fashion get-er done attitude. If I was like you I'd buy one as long as I could see it up close and try it out first, when I say try it out, that means bring the tractor up to full temp, then use it for half to one hour moving dirt etc.

 

[MossRoad]

That should tell you all you need to know.

That should tell him all he needs to know. I ain't buying one. Or a Deere, or a Kubota or a New Holland, or any "tractor" for that matter.... :laughing:

 

[freetrapper]

Nortrac, Jinma, Agri Pro, Farm Pro, Foton, plus a half a dozen more are manufactured by the same coumpany who also makes Mahindra, the parts are very available through a dozen places in the states and easy to work on if needed. I would say if you ask around you will find more than one place in your area who works on them if your not mechanicaly inclinded. As for my self I work on my own for the same reason I did not spend 25 thousand on a Kabota or Deere I can not afford being retired to spend that much on a tractor or give someone 25 or 30 dollars an hour for something as a mechanic I can do my self. Tractors I have found out are like trucks if you talk to one person it has to be a Dodge but the other guy won't have anything but a chevy and you will never sell a ford man on anything but a ford, you have to judge your own situation and do whats best for you.

 

[sd455dan]

I have been seeing Northern Tool (Northern Hydraulic) sell tractors under the Nortrac name for 20+ years. They haven't gone away. TBN folks own them. I've never seen one up close- but it reminds me of my Japanese made Shibaura New Holland. I thought it was American made at first. Nope foreign. - I once owned a Datsun - excellent car that became Nissan. I bought a Hyundhi back in the 1990's and have had 4 of them since. Terrific car. Korean made. Each time there were warnings against them. Parts, dealers, etc.

I bought my TC30 used. I couldn't see paying 8,000 more for a new LS (29hp) that had 600 fewer hours. Nortrack was in the running until I found my tractor on Craigslist. - I stayed away from the pricey green and orange tractors- nice as they looked.

Good luck.

Just checked out the new 55xt tractor the OP mentioned , and guess what engine powers the tractor - a turbo charged inter cooled Shibaura...
The tractor Looks like a Foton which is what has been mentioned replaced Jinma when they added the (XT) to the tractors model #s.
Looks like a nice machine , although they say in 1 part of the ad it has a 12 speed trans for forward and reverse and then list the tractor speeds in each gear and I only counted 8??.
The tractor weights seem all goofed up to. 6210lb for the cabbed tractor and 7983 for a bare tractor...
Other specs that just seem wrong are the front wheel tread width`of 49???? inches and a hydraulic system pump volume rating of 5.5 GPM???

Just guessing- but it sounds like someone entered the specs for a 30 hp tractor for some of the info.

 

[EddieWalker]

I've never seen one in person, but have seen their ads for sale in the Northern Tool catalog, and I've seen them for sale online used with very low hours for half of what they cost brand new.

My thought is there is a reason they are offered for sale used so cheap, and in my experience, everyone who buys something wants to sell it for as much as they can get for it. Selling that cheap tells me they cannot get very much for it. That also tells me there is a reason for selling cheap. I do not want to be the one to learn that lesson!!!

 

[bjr]

I've owned a JM354 Jinma for close to 15 years now and maybe have 3-4000 hrs on it. The only OEM parts I've bought was some wheel lug nuts and a power steering cylinder packing kit and engine fan and top and bottom cooling hoses and a thermostat. I bought basic tractor only NO front end loader. All my attachments are three point. Besides the added cost for the FEL attachment I had read too many stories of the bell housing/transission case breaking from the loader stressing that area of the tractor. I don't think these tractors were mean to go dig dirt with the FEL. If this is what you need to do then go buy a used construction machine and you stand a chance of doing work without a MAJOR break down. It sounds like your in a remote area, so I would suggest a used construction machine over a residential/farmete type tractor. I like my Jinma, but I understand it's limitations as well. I too do my own mechanic repair. bjr

 

[northernsierras]

I've never seen one in person, but have seen their ads for sale in the Northern Tool catalog, and I've seen them for sale online used with very low hours for half of what they cost brand new.

My thought is there is a reason they are offered for sale used so cheap, and in my experience, everyone who buys something wants to sell it for as much as they can get for it. Selling that cheap tells me they cannot get very much for it. That also tells me there is a reason for selling cheap. I do not want to be the one to learn that lesson!!!

I almost bought a used 25hp nortrac for 11k with 55hrs and a FL on it but the guy had sold it just before i could take a look at it. His ad was up for about a month in a non farming area on craigslist. Considering the same tractor new goes for 15k, i would say thats a pretty good sell considering it was a 2010 model. If you see any used nortracs for sale, please post a link, i'd be interested in what they're selling for.

 

[katoomed00]

Nortrac looks like the Komoto (Chinese) brand that I've seem on Craiglist in S. Louisiana.

 

[otlski]

One question for the original poster. Will you be making your living with your future tractor? If yes, buy something else. I have a Nortrac 204 and have had it 11 years. I use it for plowing the driveway, firewood duty, creating trails in the woods; all on my 12 acres. You know, basic landowner use. If my livelihood depended on it working I would get something else.

Mine has always been garaged so it has held up well as far as wiring goes. Repairs have been front driveshaft (plowing), steering linkage (rock in the woods), some broken hardware, fan belt, and probably a few minor things I cannot remember. The wiring is a weak point as well as the various mechanical linkages. Starting below 20 degree F is tough so I run a heater, and oil pan heater, and keep the battery topped off. I go through glow plugs like crazy.

The tractor is unrefined but stout. At 20 HP, low gearing, and 3000 lbs, she had pulled a lot of box blade duty in the rough terrain. The tractor will out work me. Four hours on "Jinny" will have you reaching for the Advil. A more refined tractor likely would not.

Resale value is definitely weak here in CT. Everyone here wants a Deere or Kubota. Now that I am on a better position financially my next tractor will be a Kubota or a Massy.

So will you be using the tractor to make a living? Honestly, I ask that question to myself a lot. If yes, I buy top quality. If no, I might go cheaper.

 

[northernsierras]

One question for the original poster. Will you be making your living with your future tractor? If yes, buy something else. I have a Nortrac 204 and have had it 11 years. I use it for plowing the driveway, firewood duty, creating trails in the woods; all on my 12 acres. You know, basic landowner use. If my livelihood depended on it working I would get something else.

Mine has always been garaged so it has held up well as far as wiring goes. Repairs have been front driveshaft (plowing), steering linkage (rock in the woods), some broken hardware, fan belt, and probably a few minor things I cannot remember. The wiring is a weak point as well as the various mechanical linkages. Starting below 20 degree F is tough so I run a heater, and oil pan heater, and keep the battery topped off. I go through glow plugs like crazy.

The tractor is unrefined but stout. At 20 HP, low gearing, and 3000 lbs, she had pulled a lot of box blade duty in the rough terrain. The tractor will out work me. Four hours on "Jinny" will have you reaching for the Advil. A more refined tractor likely would not.

Resale value is definitely weak here in CT. Everyone here wants a Deere or Kubota. Now that I am on a better position financially my next tractor will be a Kubota or a Massy.

So will you be using the tractor to make a living? Honestly, I ask that question to myself a lot. If yes, I buy top quality. If no, I might go cheaper.

No the tractor wont be used in a way that i will rely on as a primary source of income. I called a John Deere dealership and asked a guy there about Nortrac/Chinese vs John Deere and other well known brands today and he made the same point as you. He told me the truth is a lot of people depend on the tractor for their business and cant have the equipment down for long periods of time. Large construction companies and industrial farm operations are their primary customers because they have the ability to repair their equipment quickly and parts are usually available on hand. It makes sense. Like other people have mentioned, if you are the kind of person that doesnt know how to change the oil in your own truck chinese tractors would definitely not be for them.

I think most people are concerned about quality and the availability of parts and manuals. At the price nortrac is selling their tractors for vs john deere, naturally it makes me suspicious. What was your experience with manuals and parts availability?

 

[Tractor Seabee]

8 years ago when I was looking at used tractors I saw one down the street that had sat in the guys front yard for 2 years that I knew. Went and asked him if he was selling it and asked questions. It was a five year old JINMA 40 HP or so, he was not sure any more. He said 3 years before it wouldn't start anymore. He had no manuals and said he could not find an after market shop manual. There is no dealer within 300+ miles and every shop he asked for help, as soon as he said it was a JINMA, they said, sorry we cannot help you. He had no way to get it to the dealer down in N OR except pay somebody.

He said I could have it for $4000. The battery was dead, mice nests and gnawed wire everywhere, engine oil looked like milky black goo, tires were flat, and no visible hydraulic oil. I am a pretty good mechanic but saw this as a bad deal. Offered to load it up take it to the scrap yard and split the return scrap value. He said no. 4 years ago it was still there. Haven't looked since, maybe I should, he may be ready to scrap it. If I fixed it, would probably not be able sell at a small profit.

Ron

 

[sd455dan]

8 years ago when I was looking at used tractors I saw one down the street that had sat in the guys front yard for 2 years that I knew. Went and asked him if he was selling it and asked questions. It was a five year old JINMA 40 HP or so, he was not sure any more. He said 3 years before it wouldn't start anymore. He had no manuals and said he could not find an after market shop manual. There is no dealer within 300+ miles and every shop he asked for help, as soon as he said it was a JINMA, they said, sorry we cannot help you. He had no way to get it to the dealer down in N OR except pay somebody.

He said I could have it for $4000. The battery was dead, mice nests and gnawed wire everywhere, engine oil looked like milky black goo, tires were flat, and no visible hydraulic oil. I am a pretty good mechanic but saw this as a bad deal. Offered to load it up take it to the scrap yard and split the return scrap value. He said no. 4 years ago it was still there. Haven't looked since, maybe I should, he may be ready to scrap it. If I fixed it, would probably not be able sell at a small profit.

Ron

Gee the guy couldn't find manuals - took all of 5 seconds to find circle G or Affordable using search or better yet from the sticky at the beginning of the chinese tractor forum. Farm boys probbably has them to.

Most chinese tractors don'i have a (regular) service manual... They usually are sold with a parts manual, an operators manual and an engine manual.
If that is not enough information to do repairs then they should probably not buy a chinese tractor to begin with.

Judging by your description of what the oil looked like- sounds like the owner would have been WAY over his head just adding oil- let alone a complicated procedure like changing it...

 

[fidowanttobe]

Gee the guy couldn't find manuals - took all of 5 seconds to find circle G or Affordable using search or better yet from the sticky at the beginning of the chinese tractor forum. Farm boys probbably has them to.

Most chinese tractors don'i have a (regular) service manual... They usually are sold with a parts manual, an operators manual and an engine manual.
If that is not enough information to do repairs then they should probably not buy a chinese tractor to begin with.

Judging by your description of what the oil looked like- sounds like the owner would have been WAY over his head just adding oil- let alone a complicated procedure like changing it...

My friend just bought a 150HP CIH tractor that must have been owned by this same guy!! In Sturgis SD I found a guy using an older Jinma that had been beat to $%*t! Tires were completely bald, gauges and hood missing, but it was still pulling logs. The guy was quite the character, but told me he hated it at first and was gonna run it in the ground till it died, then he smiled and said "But the da#@ thing won't give up the ghost". All depends on the owner.
I bought the Nortrac manuals for my Jinma as the actual Jinma manuals are very vague. Very happy with them.
Give Affordable Tractor, Circle, or Ranchand a call. Honest guys that will give it to you straight and might even get you a better deal than Northern.

 

[northernsierras]

Got a hold of someone from nortrac this morning. From 2000-2010 the tractors were Jimna. The tractors past 2010 are foton. Northern tool website doesnt list the repair centers for these tractors but according to the guy I talked to there was a couple repair centers in the nearest big city to me which is surprising. He said it comes with a detailed repair manual that lists every part and how it goes on. When i asked why nortracs tractors are so inexpensive compared to other brands he said because the other brands use a lot of fancy stuff like hydrostatic transmissions and electronics. He said these tractors are very basic and designed to be easy to work on and use similar designs from back in the 60's and 70's. Also said the 55xt and 70xt are new tractors that just came in and they dont have loaders yet because they're currently being designed by a company called koyker. He said all the parts for repairs are readily available from northern tool.

 

[Bob Rooks]

One question for the original poster. Will you be making your living with your future tractor? If yes, buy something else. I have a Nortrac 204 and have had it 11 years. I use it for plowing the driveway, firewood duty, creating trails in the woods; all on my 12 acres. You know, basic landowner use. If my livelihood depended on it working I would get something else.

Mine has always been garaged so it has held up well as far as wiring goes. Repairs have been front driveshaft (plowing), steering linkage (rock in the woods), some broken hardware, fan belt, and probably a few minor things I cannot remember. The wiring is a weak point as well as the various mechanical linkages. Starting below 20 degree F is tough so I run a heater, and oil pan heater, and keep the battery topped off. I go through glow plugs like crazy.

The tractor is unrefined but stout. At 20 HP, low gearing, and 3000 lbs, she had pulled a lot of box blade duty in the rough terrain. The tractor will out work me. Four hours on "Jinny" will have you reaching for the Advil. A more refined tractor likely would not.

Resale value is definitely weak here in CT. Everyone here wants a Deere or Kubota. Now that I am on a better position financially my next tractor will be a Kubota or a Massy.

So will you be using the tractor to make a living? Honestly, I ask that question to myself a lot. If yes, I buy top quality. If no, I might go cheaper.

You should check out the Yanmar, Caterpillar, Gehl, Terex, Case, etc forums for people that use these machines to make a living with. Each top domestic brand has it's issues. They all do. It's a fact of life.
As an aside, I have used my dozer commercially quite a few times. No problems.
There is a lot of tribal superstition based solely on nonsense, and even more subconscious prejudices when it comes to tractor favorites.
Check to see where Masse Ferguson are made now. Here's a start.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...ractors-manufactured-different-countries.html

 

[Oldpath05]

Looks like a nice tractor to me and it's engineered for years of trouble free use, what more could you ask for except for a quick detach bucket and a 5 yr. money back guarantee like Mahindra offers.
NorTrac 35XTC 35 HP 4WD Tractor with Front End Loader - With Hybrid Tires - YouTube

 

[otlski]

I think most people are concerned about quality and the availability of parts and manuals. At the price nortrac is selling their tractors for vs john deere, naturally it makes me suspicious. What was your experience with manuals and parts availability?

The Nortrac parts manuals were good. For repair info I search internet sources and gleen what I can. I have had zero issues with parts. Tommy at Affordable Tractor has stocked everything. I think that my biggest long term issue is when something major goes wrong and I am either in over my head or I cannot commit the time to make a cost effective diagnosis, in either case I would be tempted to replace the subsystem (such as say the tranny=expensive) rather than tear it down to replace parts (=cheap but time consuming). If there were viable repair dealerships, I would have a third option.