chinese maybe!!!

[RoyJackson]

Just go read the Chinese tractor forum, and a few other Chinese tractor forums before you purchase one. That way you will have more of an idea of what you are getting into.

This post has been repeated (substance, not verbatim) several times in this thread...and for potential buyers of off brand tractors (Chinese or elsewhere), it's a darn good idea!

 

[Builder]

Well -- John Deere makes tractors there -- and according to another thread they are the "Cadillac of tractors" -- I don't think there are any "American tractor brands" any more are there?

Sure JD is in China, but from what I've read, the tractors they make there are sold in Asia, not brought back here. JD is a world company that originated in USA with plants in dozens of countries.

My problem with buying from a Chinese origin company is they do so much to screw America in so many ways (economically, militarily and politically) that I'd rather give my money to foreign countries that screw us to a smaller degree.

 

[Dargo]

Not having owned one I can't say either way if you have to tinker with them or not. i know on the antiques / classics i own.. once you get them running right.. IE.. fix them right.. they don't need any hand holding. When i want to move hay rounds, I go turnt he gas on on my 1955 ford 850, turn the key, and hit the start button. same for my 54 naa, 55 660, 55 740 and 63 4000, 68 3000 or 75 5000 ( those are the units I currently have regular use for ). As long as the battery is up ( ie.. I've run it in the last few months ).. then they start.. no hand holding.. no didgiting.. just jump on, twist a few knobs and switches and go.

I wouldn't have paind 14K for a non working unit with loader either. I can get a classic ford with loader at that hp for half that money...

soundguy

And you do point out something that is important; just because it was made in China doesn't mean it's junk. They are very capable of building to spec. If given tight tolerances and very specific manufacturing guidelines, they can produce amazingly high quality items. However, when left to produce based on price alone...well, that's where they get the well deserved bad reputation. Since I mentioned I haven't the time to tinker with them, I've never spent more time looking into them. If, however, there was a brand that just needed the fluids flushed and a few manufacturing rough areas corrected but the rest of the machine was on par with the vintage machines you talk of, sure, they could be great workhorses that could very likely outlast their owners. I just don't know enough about the specifics of them and my time has passed where I have time/interest.

 

[RoyJackson]

My problem with buying from a Chinese origin company is they do so much to screw America in so many ways (economically, militarily and politically) that I'd rather give my money to foreign countries that screw us to a smaller degree.

Yep...but "we" (meaning certain people in "high" places, especially one former president whose wife is currently employed) let them screw us...

And, chinese products, at this point in time, have several quality issues. For Wal-Mart and Harbor Freight stuff...throwaway stuff...their quality is acceptable. Chinese steel quality is rock bottom. You get what you pay for. For more durable products, there are better choices.
But, if a person knows what they're getting into and is willing to do their own work and wait for parts...well, then they make their choice.

Speaking of chinese tractors...there are some good deals on Craigslist (York and Lancaster, PA) now. I saw one low hour Farmtrac on CL for well under $5K and I don't think it was a scam.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Most of the major brands of Chinese tractors such as Jinma and Foton if put together properly and fluids flushed along with proper prep they can be a good buy. Where Chinese tractors get a bad name in my experience is when crate units are bought and put together by the owners. A good dealer, not a guy selling them out of a used car lot or a pole barn behind his house is key. My tractor has be very reliable and is dead simple. Its like buying a new 40 year old tractor. Its built much like my Ford 861.

As for parts the major brands are well represented in the US and parts are cheap and quick to get. I have found that the 4 things I have needed like a starter, steering cylinder, thermostat housing, and top link were all in stock and to my door in 3 days. I have waited weeks for parts for my Ford 861 tractor.

Chris

 

[Soundguy]

I've heard the same.. IE.. they can build hi quality if you pay for it and give them the specs.

soundguy

And you do point out something that is important; just because it was made in China doesn't mean it's junk. They are very capable of building to spec. If given tight tolerances and very specific manufacturing guidelines, they can produce amazingly high quality items. However, when left to produce based on price alone...well, that's where they get the well deserved bad reputation. Since I mentioned I haven't the time to tinker with them, I've never spent more time looking into them. If, however, there was a brand that just needed the fluids flushed and a few manufacturing rough areas corrected but the rest of the machine was on par with the vintage machines you talk of, sure, they could be great workhorses that could very likely outlast their owners. I just don't know enough about the specifics of them and my time has passed where I have time/interest.

 

[studor]

Sure JD is in China, but from what I've read, the tractors they make there are sold in Asia, not brought back here. JD is a world company that originated in USA with plants in dozens of countries.

That could be true -- they are probably just making the transmission for those tractors in China and assembling them in Mexico or India
Just reinforcing the point that there really is no "American tractor brand " anymore. -

 

[Builder]

That could be true -- they are probably just making the transmission for those tractors in China and assembling them in Mexico or India
Just reinforcing the point that there really is no "American tractor brand " anymore. -

I have found just the opposite in my "foreign" New Holland backhoe. I service it myself and many times find American built assemblies (transmission & driveline is made in USA by Dana/Spicer). The backhoe was assembled in Italy.
My japanese built Kubota has American loader, tires and other parts on it.

I'd doubt JD makes tractor transmissions in China.....

 

[Builder]

I've heard the same.. IE.. they can build hi quality if you pay for it and give them the specs.

soundguy

Problem is, most of the time, they don't. That's why Chinese has a bad rep.

 

[studor]

I'd doubt JD makes tractor transmissions in China.....

There you go with that doubting thing again -- read their website -- you will find all kinds of information about where they do things -- including making trannys in China and assembly of tractors in Mexico. They don't actually make anything in Canada any more -- guess they would rather deal with countries that screw the U.S. Although not as revealing you might also look at the Dana site -- they must be doing something in those 26 countries(including China).
And by the way, my Chinese tractor is made by an Indian owned company with an American loader.

 

[Heywood Jannockitov]

The 4wd front axle on my 2 year old JD 5425 is made in China. I can only hope that it has been built to a high JD quality specification and subjected to a rigorous QA process that ensures no sub-standard parts from any of their suppliers, wherever they may be located got installed on my tractor.

 

[Builder]

The 4wd front axle on my 2 year old JD 5425 is made in China. I can only hope that it has been built to a high JD quality specification and subjected to a rigorous QA process that ensures no sub-standard parts from any of their suppliers, wherever they may be located got installed on my tractor.

Then I stand corrected. I guess JD is using major components made in China. I also remember seeing someone post that their small Deere FEL was made in China.

 

[Builder]

There you go with that doubting thing again -- read their website -- you will find all kinds of information about where they do things -- including making trannys in China and assembly of tractors in Mexico. They don't actually make anything in Canada any more -- guess they would rather deal with countries that screw the U.S. Although not as revealing you might also look at the Dana site -- they must be doing something in those 26 countries(including China).
And by the way, my Chinese tractor is made by an Indian owned company with an American loader.

Thanks for setting me straight! :thumbsup:

I will say my dana Spicer transmission says "made in USA" on it.
Haven't found anything made in China (yet) in my Kubota except the Panasonic radio & speakers and some lights.

 

[Soundguy]

I'd wager some of the other electrical components are..

soundguy

 

[studor]

I'd wager some of the other electrical components are..

Nah -- probably Taiwan (the other China) or Singapore -- not sure Japan does much with China.

 

[traktorz]

* Electrical components - lots of the energy saving light bulbs for the Swedish market are made in China.

* Electronic components - my Sony Ericsson (a Japanese-Swedish Company) mobile phone is assembled in China.

* Optical components - The Japanese Camera manufacturer Olympus is assembling all their cameras in China, however their more expensive camera lenses are manufactured in Japan.

* And our tractor, a Chinese Foton is manufactured in China too. The native engine is based on european technical consultations from Ricardo UK Ltd and Austrian AVL Company, the 490B series diesel engines are jointly developed by Zhejiang Xinchai company and Shanghai Internal Combustion Engine Research Institute.

I don't have any complaints at all on any of these items, in fact they all met and exceeded my expectations.

If I had the budget, I wouldn't buy the tractor we did choose last year. Rather I would want the Finnish-Swedish VALTRA, since that is a target tractor for forest use in the Nordic. Unfortunately, we don't have a budget for a new Valtra tractor.

So the next best option for us actually was and still is a brand new Chinese tractor with warranties. One year later, this has been a positive experience, and what I mentioned earlier, it certainly has exceeded our expectations. Snow plowing in -27 ºC wasn't a problem during the last Nordic winter. The benefit of a loader with a big bucket, good pulling power with a remarkably good and lean engine, makes it a "Highly Recommended" as a summary.

The next thing to add is a backhoe, for use with reparing a forest road and replacing some broken road pipes.

 

[sweettractors]

* Electrical components - lots of the energy saving light bulbs for the Swedish market are made in China.

* Electronic components - my Sony Ericsson (a Japanese-Swedish Company) mobile phone is assembled in China.

* Optical components - The Japanese Camera manufacturer Olympus is assembling all their cameras in China, however their more expensive camera lenses are manufactured in Japan.

* And our tractor, a Chinese Foton is manufactured in China too. The native engine is based on european technical consultations from Ricardo UK Ltd and Austrian AVL Company, the 490B series diesel engines are jointly developed by Zhejiang Xinchai company and Shanghai Internal Combustion Engine Research Institute.

I don't have any complaints at all on any of these items, in fact they all met and exceeded my expectations.

If I had the budget, I wouldn't buy the tractor we did choose last year. Rather I would want the Finnish-Swedish VALTRA, since that is a target tractor for forest use in the Nordic. Unfortunately, we don't have a budget for a new Valtra tractor.

So the next best option for us actually was and still is a brand new Chinese tractor with warranties. One year later, this has been a positive experience, and what I mentioned earlier, it certainly has exceeded our expectations. Snow plowing in -27 ｺC wasn't a problem during the last Nordic winter. The benefit of a loader with a big bucket, good pulling power with a remarkably good and lean engine, makes it a "Highly Recommended" as a summary.

The next thing to add is a backhoe, for use with reparing a forest road and replacing some broken road pipes.

My experience boils down to this: The Chinese have the capabilities to mfgr good equipment, however, the German, American, Japanese, etc QC people need to stand over them 24/7. If you leave them to their own devices, they will shortcut quality for # units off the end of the line every time. Ken Sweet

 

[studor]

Optical components - The Japanese Camera manufacturer Olympus is assembling all their cameras in China, however their more expensive camera lenses are manufactured in Japan

.

Thanks Traktorz I was just joking about the Japanese - China thing -- I did not know about the Olympus thing though. Japan was very quick to export "dirty "industries to other Asian counties but maintained a lot of the other stuff in country. Now just about any consumer product has something made in China

the German, American, Japanese, etc QC people need to stand over them 24/7. If you leave them to their own devices, they will shortcut quality for # units off the end of the line every time.

I think in most cases they follow instructions very well -- if you specify cheap and fast you get it. If you specify high quality and fast you get that. Like everywhere else in the world you never get all three (fast, cheap and high quality)

 

[Dargo]

The 4wd front axle on my 2 year old JD 5425 is made in China. I can only hope that it has been built to a high JD quality specification and subjected to a rigorous QA process that ensures no sub-standard parts from any of their suppliers, wherever they may be located got installed on my tractor.

You must have a special order unit. I happen to have 2 JD 5425 4wd tractors in my barn right now, one about 5 years old and the other about 2 years old, and neither have a front axle made in China. Axles seem to be a product that the Chinese have had issues with. You can look at the label I just took a picture of on a JD 5425 and it clearly is made in Italy. You sure "China" on your tractor isn't spelled "Italy"?