chinese maybe!!!

[Soundguy]

I don't think asking them to survive to at least about 4000 hours without significant mechanical failure is out of line. That's a number that is usually an apples to apples for most cut sized tractors. ( higher for UT/AG ).

soundguy

 

[Builder]

I don't think asking them to survive to at least about 4000 hours without significant mechanical failure is out of line. That's a number that is usually an apples to apples for most cut sized tractors. ( higher for UT/AG ).

soundguy

Exactly....why buy a tractor that woun't make it to 3,4, 5,000 hours? My NH has 6,700 hours on it and still runs perfect on original engine & trans. I'd be upset if it didn't go 10,000 hours before significant problems. If Chinese tractors are going to be compared to the likes of Deere in a thread, then they have to last as long, right? If they don't, then they're NOT comparable in terms of longevity. Longevity is a primary selling feature of anything someone buys. If a Chinese tractor costs 30% less than a "quality" tractor, but only lasts 1/3-1/2 as long, then what was saved?

Chevy truck with 1 million miles:
http://wcco.com/local/million.miles.truck.2.651861.html

Chevy truck with 2 million miles:
http://www.bismarcktribune.com/news...cle_f2c75930-e227-5965-b1e9-0752eb12dcc1.html

 

[rjkobbeman]

Exactly....why buy a tractor that woun't make it to 5,000 hours? My NH has 6,700 hours on it and still runs perfect on original engine & trans. I'd be upset if it didn't go 10,000 hours before significant problems.

I think the point was, the Chinese tractors are economical, lower-end tractors. Nobody expects them to go 30k hours. Most owners wouldn't have a problem with throwing them away and buying another if they 'died' after 5k hours. The point is valid. I'm not a Chinese tractor fan, but you can't knock 'em if they only last 5k hours. They aren't built, nor are they priced, that way.

I have been doing some cost/benefit comparison for riding mowers lately. I really love the Kubota GR series mowers. But the thought of buying one at Home Depot for a 1/4 of the price really is tempting for me. I'm sure 4 brand new Home Depot specials will last at least as long as one premium brand.

It is all where your priorities and needs/wants are.

For my "big" tractor, I'm Orange all the way... but for my "cheaper" equipment, I don't want to spend big money.

 

[Soundguy]

builder makes a point. if a unit costs less and performs as long as one that costs more.. then it's a good deal. if it costs half as much and lasts half as long.. it works out to the smae $$ per hour.. and isn't a 'better' deal.

No matter who makes it.. I want it to last..

I get used to something and want to have it around a while..

soundguy

 

[JoelD]

I think the point was, the Chinese tractors are economical, lower-end tractors. Nobody expects them to go 30k hours. Most owners wouldn't have a problem with throwing them away and buying another if they 'died' after 5k hours. The point is valid. I'm not a Chinese tractor fan, but you can't knock 'em if they only last 5k hours. They aren't built, nor are they priced, that way.

I have been doing some cost/benefit comparison for riding mowers lately. I really love the Kubota GR series mowers. But the thought of buying one at Home Depot for a 1/4 of the price really is tempting for me. I'm sure 4 brand new Home Depot specials will last at least as long as one premium brand.

It is all where your priorities and needs/wants are.

For my "big" tractor, I'm Orange all the way... but for my "cheaper" equipment, I don't want to spend big money.

This is a question that many of us run into.

Another thought, one that my dad regularly bring up, is the fact that when you need to use something, you want it to work. A big difference from a low priced machine to high priced can be reliability, not just longevity.

In other words, I had a Kubota tractor with many many many hours on the clock, the machine was over 30 years old. She started every single time, not matter what, she started and worked as intended every single time.

A lesser quality machine can tend to have many little problems, nothing maybe over significant, but that day, when you are in your going to work clothes, and in a rush and just want to jump on and get something down, is the day that less expensive machine will not start, or run into some other problem.

I used to buy Chinese tools, super cheap and did the job, until the time, in dead of winter, trying to change plow blade cutting edge in the snow, when the impact socket split up the middle. Now back to only craftsman tools. I would've gladly spent double the $50 difference that night to not have that socket split.

I've probably been as clear as mud.

Joel

 

[rjkobbeman]

This is a question that many of us run into.

Another thought, one that my dad regularly bring up, is the fact that when you need to use something, you want it to work. A big difference from a low priced machine to high priced can be reliability, not just longevity.

In other words, I had a Kubota tractor with many many many hours on the clock, the machine was over 30 years old. She started every single time, not matter what, she started and worked as intended every single time.

A lesser quality machine can tend to have many little problems, nothing maybe over significant, but that day, when you are in your going to work clothes, and in a rush and just want to jump on and get something down, is the day that less expensive machine will not start, or run into some other problem.

I used to buy Chinese tools, super cheap and did the job, until the time, in dead of winter, trying to change plow blade cutting edge in the snow, when the impact socket split up the middle. Now back to only craftsman tools. I would've gladly spent double the $50 difference that night to not have that socket split.

I've probably been as clear as mud.

Joel

I agree.

On some equipment, down-time is not an option. When I need the tractor, I don't want to deal with "issues". When I need my lawn mower, I am a little more flexible.

All of this is very personal. Depends on a person-by-person, equipment-by-equipment, situation-by-situation basis.

For me, the more expensive piece of equipment I buy, the more I think about better quality and long-lasting. For the lesser expensive equipment, I think more about just buying another one when it wears out. Not only that, but I can buy a new lawn mower in 30 minutes. Buying a new tractor takes much, much longer.

 

[Brad_Blazer]

builder makes a point. if a unit costs less and performs as long as one that costs more.. then it's a good deal. if it costs half as much and lasts half as long.. it works out to the smae $$ per hour.. and isn't a 'better' deal.

No matter who makes it.. I want it to last..

I get used to something and want to have it around a while..

soundguy

Of course there are other considerations but in your example the cheap tractor is the better deal if you consider the time value of money. At 5% interest, a $10,000 loan for 10 years has a monthly payment of $106. A $20,000 loan for 20 years is $131.

 

[doall]

I know I really didn't buy American when I bought my New Holland. But I think I supported more american workers. Not going on a rant here, but I think buying American now is more important than ever and getting harder to do every day. I am not knocking anyone for what he or she bought, just throwing that out there. USA

 

[Turbys_1700]

My biggest concern with a Chinese tractor would be dealer support and parts.

My NH 1720 has only needed filters and oil and I have a good dealer close by.

No Chinese dealers close by.

Eventually, the Chinese will/should get their quality up to USA/Japanese/European quality.

This due, in no doubt, to the influence and guidance of companies like Deere, CAT, MF, AGCO, ect...

 

[Builder]

I think the point was, the Chinese tractors are economical, lower-end tractors. Nobody expects them to go 30k hours. Most owners wouldn't have a problem with throwing them away and buying another if they 'died' after 5k hours. The point is valid. I'm not a Chinese tractor fan, but you can't knock 'em if they only last 5k hours. They aren't built, nor are they priced, that way.

I have been doing some cost/benefit comparison for riding mowers lately. I really love the Kubota GR series mowers. But the thought of buying one at Home Depot for a 1/4 of the price really is tempting for me. I'm sure 4 brand new Home Depot specials will last at least as long as one premium brand.

It is all where your priorities and needs/wants are.

For my "big" tractor, I'm Orange all the way... but for my "cheaper" equipment, I don't want to spend big money.

Problem is, you also have to do 4 purchases, 4 (or more) days of down time to go out buy the tractor, have it delivered, assemble it with Chinese written directions and get back to work. My tractors make me my money. I don't have time to buy/throw away a tractor every few years.

Junkyards & landfills have enough junk in them. We live in such a "disposable" society. What ever happened to buying quality items designed to last a long time?

IMO, it makes more sense to buy something that lasts. If you outgrow/dislike it years down the road, you can sell/trade it in and still get good money towards a new one.