Are chinese tractors worth the $$$$$ ??

[HAMMERJAMMER]

I am now in the market for a tractor. I just bought a small farm and have about 7 acres. I mostly use it for horses. I will be needing to bushhog a few places and maybe even do some hay work and a little plowing. Nothing major most jobs will be light.

I have been looking on the net for a while at the chinese tractors. They seem like such a good deal.

From what I gather. The jinma's, Nortacs, and farm pro's (and a few other names they go by)are basically the same tractor fixed up a little different according to the dealer that sells them.

Are any of these brands better than the other? The nortracs seem to have a little more to offer for the price. I haven't looked at these tractors up close yet. I am gathering all the info I can before I even look at them because a dealer is about 40 miles away.

I have read on here that they're good if you don't mind turning a wrench. Well I don't mind turning one on small things like hoses or minor electrical stuff but I hate to work on major problems.

How long have these things been around? I guess a better question is how long should I expect one to last if I treat it well? Would I be better off to go with a grey market tractor?

I know I have asked a lot of questions here but any input would be greatly appreciated. Price is a major factor and I don't want to screw up on my first tractor. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[greg_g]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( _Are any of these brands better than the other?
_How long have these things been around?
_how long should I expect one to last if I treat it well?
_Would I be better off to go with a grey market tractor?)</font>
_Dealers have a natural tendency to tell you what they think you want to hear. And I'd venture that most buyers have never owned more than one "brand" of Chinese tractors. FWIW, I got rid of a Jinma in favor of a KAMA. But my KM454 would likely be too much tractor for your 7 acres. You might be interested in looking at it's little brother - the Taishan.
_There have been a smattering of Chinese tractors in America for many years. The big influx you're now witnessing only began within the last five.
_Indefinitely
_I've seen a number of gray market dealers replacing their stock with Chinese tractors. I think this observation should speak for itself.

I can agree that "price is a major factor", but I respectfully suggest that price is secondary to dealer support. Get some assurances from a dealer first, ideally in writing. Once comfortable that a dealer is going to treat you (and your tractor) right, pick from what he/she has to offer. After all, the alternative to (possibly costlier) GOOD service after sale
is (cheap) mediocre service after sale - or worse yet, none at all.

//greg//

 

[DIYGuy]

The other side of the coin is to believe up front that once you get your tractor home, you're on your own. I bought mine eyes wide open assuming that it was "as is" and I owned every problem to come along. It's my 1st and only tractor and so far, one of the best purchases I've ever made.

Mine has 75 hours now and has already paid for itself. I did the assembly myself and had a few issues with fuel. (Most if not all created by me during assembly) I also paid less than I would have paid at a dealer. There are several long established Chinese Tractor dealers out there, and a few nationals.

Parts are available. There are many US equivalents, and generic fluids found at NAPA and Walmart work just fine.

Parts will wear out just as often as with any machine, but properly taken care of, it will last a long time.

I haven't had to perform any major repairs, and to put things in context, most turn to the net only when they have issues that they can't resolve themselves. So the problem to praise ratio is pretty high given that the net is the primary source of technicl info for Chinese Tractors.

For every horror story you read, there are many more folks who have had no issues.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Let me first start out by saying that I own a Kubota, a New Holland, a Ventrac and a Cub Cadet. Also let me state that I do not fix tractors but I can handle some of the minor stuff. Also let me state that I buy tractors that I can get good service on from someone who can bail me out when I get in over my head, so if the tractor is broke down in the field and I am in knee deep doo doo, they will come haul it out, take it in, repair it, and return it to me.

So all those disclaimers out of the way, I would encourage you to look into your own abilitites. It has been documented many times that the Chinese tractor dealers are typically sales dealers not service dealers. That is not always true. But if your dealer is not going to fix your machine, then you better be able to in the event that you do something. If you are capable, then they are worth looking at.

But also look at them very carefully in terms of price. Many people have found that to equip a Chinese brand machine they way they want it equiped actually raises the price high enough that the Big 3 machines can be cheaper. For example, if you need turf or R4 tires, many Chinese tractor dealers will charge you for an extra set of wheels/tires. So please very carefully price out the machine they way you need it, with the implements you need. Then go price out a comparable value machine from Kioti, JD, NH or Kubota. Factor in the 0% financing that some of these companies are giving to finance their tractors and then see if the price difference is worth it to you. Only you can decide that.

Many people on TBN seem to really like their Jinma/Farmpro/etc machines. They must perform well enough to gather their following of supporters. I simply encourage you to prove that there is an overwhelming price differnce based on an apples-to-apples comparision with features speced out the way you need them.

 

[SteveM]

I will only post because you mentioned gray market, and I have a bit of experience there.....if I had to choose between chinese and grey market, I would be stuck /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif because if the grey market tractor was honestly represented, never abused, I think it would provide a trouble (and practically maintenance) free ownership experience. I have had a handful of 20-30yr old japanese compacts and they just run and run, with nothing but fuel and an annual oil change. That being said, many gray market tractors are not honestly represented, but are abused junkers that have been nicely painted. I almost bought a 24hp mitsubishi 4wd from an importer- all redone nice and shiny. Last minute, my gut says 'no'. I almost fainted when I found out a month later that a primary shaft in the tranny cracked, and the new owner was stuck for months trying to find the part - with no operating tractor. Ended up costing him 800 bucks. I would be sick over something like that, and my wife.....well let's not go there.

So unless you can be SURE that a gray market is a good unit, I would go chinese so at least you know where you are starting from. But expect some 'quality control' type repairs after the first handful of hours.

 

[Soundguy]

A question for you. What size are you looking at.. and just how much plowing are you planning on doing. Unless you get the larger end of the jinma ( 354.. etc ) you are probably going to be limited to a 1 bottom plow.. with a 2 bottom plow for the 30ish hp machines. These have no draft control like many antiques do... Draft control makes plowing so much easier... that said.. lotsa people plow with small machines.. and no draft control.

Soundguy

 

[goatman]

I just went through a similar decision issue. I had a Iseki 2300 4wd and was pleased until I coulded get the Pto to work.. Couldn't find any dealers here with exp on these machines.. I started loking at Farm pros and the closest guy here does do maint on his machines and has good parts supply.. And I would have gotten one of his machines BUT he wouldn't take trades.. Needless to say after about a hundred dollars of adds in the local papaers and several almost sales(I told all potential buyers about to PTO) I figured I was stuck.. Then New holland had 0% for 48 months and I shopped around and found a dealer TARHEELS TRACTORS in NC who would take a trade of my tractor, and we settled on a price and I bought a TC30 for equal or less than some of the prices I saw of Farm pro's 30hps. So before you decide make sure its in your best interest and you have a dealer that will be able to help you with parts and maint...Just my two cents worth.. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[HAMMERJAMMER]

I'm not going to be doing much plowing. I was just going to make a small garden for the family is all. I don't even know what draft control is. I am figuring on a 20 hp model. I think it would be plenty for all I am planning to do.

I mentioned hay work too. Nothin major with it either. I have a freind and we pull our resources and cut a few feilds for neighbors to get the hay for free. He would be doing the bailing with his tractor. I would probably just be pulling a rake or trailer.

Thats about all I would be doing except for bush hogging or using a box blade.

 

[DIYGuy]

Based on your description, then a 224, 254, or 284 would work just fine. As for pulling a trailer, I pulled my fully loaded sprinter van up my driveway this past winter.

I pull a 48" blade with my 224, if you wanted a bigger blade, then a 254.

 

[Soundguy]

For a small garden plot I wouldn't bother with a plow.. I think a disc would be fine.. Just add a bunch of weight, and hit it a few times. If you have the money.. a small roto tiller would work well for small plots too... though rototillers are a bit pricey.

Soundguy