Any Commercial Users of Farm Pro Tractors?

Chechnya · Apr 23, 2004

"Besides that, it only comes in 2wd."
Why would you need 4x4 to grade? Some people say they need 4x4 to grade in sloppy clay mud but i say you use a front end loader or a mini track hoe.

"Is that the new.. "
This is a 98' model from a Houston Lansdowne. Also i was posting this as a reference only.

"What is your knowledge.. Where did he.."
All im doing is trying to help this professional from making a big mistake. Sure if you want to have a weeks worth of downtime trying to get a part than get a chinese tractor.

Yardscaper · Apr 25, 2004

I understand where Chechnya is coming from. I have been in this business for quite a while and have owned a number of machines. Right now we run 2 Power Trac machines and a Caterpillar mini track loader. I have owned a Belarus Tractor (JUNK!) in the past and was just wondering how these chinese models were holding up for professionals. To be honest, not trying to start any brand wars here, but I have owned 2 John Deere Tractors (a 770 and a 1070) and never had any problems with them. I replaced one battery between the two of them with combined hours of 2300. I am just curious as to who is buying them, for what purpose, and how well are the chinese models working. This tractor would not be a primary tractor for us, mostly just a once in a while back up when we have more employees wanting a machine than we have machines. Light grading and brush hogging is about all that this chinese model would see. Thank you for your replies thus far. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Chechnya · Apr 25, 2004

Most of the people who buy chinese tractors own a few acres of land and use it to do projects around the house(most notably barns). I could see using a chinese tractor only as a backup but nothing too active. Light grading and mowing would be alright i suppose but not too much of either. The reason why John Deere and other tractor companies have better products is because they spend alot of money to build a better product. I e seen that first hand with my Kubotas and new holland. But like i said parts will be a big issue. But i can see it happening.

DIYGuy · Apr 25, 2004

Stop the lies about parts. You can get parts from Northern, Farm Pro, and JinmaParts.com. What chinese tractor do you own that you can't get parts for? If you don't own one, then go away.

All of the filters and hoses have american cross references.

The only things you give up with a Chinese tractor are fit, finish, hydro, and a beer holder.

Chechnya · Apr 26, 2004

Thats fine if you want to wait 2 weeks for a part of pay premium for shipping. I like the fact that i can drive 30 minutes away to Lansdowne-Moody and get something i need. If my tractor breaks down(which it usually doesnt) i can send it off to get repaired but the closest Jinma dealer is 100 miles away.

greg_g · Apr 26, 2004

I think the point Mark is trying to make is that this is a Chinese tractor forum.

That means questions/answers/opinions about Chinese tractors, from and among people that actually have hands-on experience. Who better to know the capabilities and limitations? And I'm reasonably sure you wouldn't be pleased with a Chinese tractor owner stirring the pot in your mainstream tractor forums.

If an owner of a Chinese tractor also has a NH or a Kubota or a JD or whatever, then I'd say it's fair to make comparisons. But if you don't own - or haven't ever owned - a Chinese tractor, I would respectfully suggest your time might be better spent in the NH or Kubota or JD or whatever forum.

//greg//

Chechnya · Apr 26, 2004

Hmm. Thats odd. I don't ever remembering telling anyone of my Chinese tractor experience. Do you think id be spouting off like i am if i didn't?

My best friend owned a Jinma 204 but recently sold it for a name brand. I know a little about diesel engines and mechanics so i offered to help a few times when it broke down. First is when he was doing dirt work and when he raised his box blade the lift arm broke so we ordered one and it did take 2 weeks without premium shipping. I admit the box blade was heavy but well below the lift capacity for the 3pt. and did not hit anything like a stump or rock. Next was a motor problem, kept pluming out smoke and didn't run right so i checked each cylinder and fixed the problem. He may of gotten a dud but this sucked. It was hard putting it into a gear too. I'm used used to my GST i guess.

greg_g · Apr 26, 2004

Well no wonder Chech. Problems like that are what forums like this are for. If your friend had warranty parts replacement issues, that was between him and the dealer. Certainly not indicative of any universal "Jinma problem". Case in point, I have two JDs, and a dealer just 9 miles away. Almost every time I need a part, I have to make a 2nd trip - to go get it after it "comes in on the next truck". Yet I'm sure they are not representative of all JD dealers. I find getting Jinma parts on the internet to be quite painless - and definitely no slower than the local John Deere dealer.

The lift arm problem was almost certainly self inflicted, as the 204 only has a Cat 0 hitch - with only a very light duty 742 pound rating. Small wonder a box blade only took out a lift arm. The black smoke is a common issue, often caused by an over-stressed hydraulic pump demanding more power from an already full throttle engine - and/or air/fuel impurities. A little common sense and clean fuel/air/injectors may have made the whole picture look different.

And for goodness sake, if the closest John Deere or New Holland dealer was 100 miles from me - I wouldn't buy a JD or a NH either. Use some common sense man. Telling YardScraper not to buy Chinese based upon some friend's dubious experience with a 204 - pretty much makes the point that Mark and I are trying to get across. Stay with what you know.

//greg//

Soundguy · Apr 26, 2004

I'll add my .02 here. I'm a chineese tractor 'watcher'. I've almost bought a couple times.. but have driven a few to demo them.

Concerning the 3pt lift.. 7xx pounds is decent for a small tractor... Lots of the compact JD's have teensy lift specs for their cat 1 lifts... Also.. my old Ford N-series tractors could only lift about 800# on the lift befor ethe front end came off the ground.. and even with front weight.. weren't much good over 900#.

Also.. at many of the farm pro shows i go to.. the economy tractors have had cat 1 ends welded onto the lift arms... I guess that is a common practice.. and a source for some problems mentioned here..

I started looking at them back before I had an 8n.. and at their farm pro price.. 3400$ was just a tad more that I would pay for a 50 year old tractor.. though arguable the N might do more work in some areas.. like plowing.. etc..

For parts.. funny enough.. I find it easier ( and cheaper ) to order my 50 year old ford tractor parts from the internet than from the NH dealer!

Soundguy

Soundguy · Apr 26, 2004

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Belarus Tractor (JUNK!) )</font>

That's russian right?

I've seen a few larger ones in my area.. say 50hp or more.. they looked pretty heavy duty...?? and well built??
What were your issues with it?

Soundguy