Chinese Tractors Aren't Worth the Risk

[EFC]

Re: this subject

Brent, your right there isn’t a big 3 model built specifically in China but a fair amount of the components that go into the tractors are. I think it is smart business to be looking for better cheaper ways to build your product so I don’t blame them for buying Chinese components. I sell Chinese tractors but I don’t see the horror stories I have read about here. I drain all the fluids out after initial break in but I do it to look for problems. I have been satisfied with the grade of the bolts and washers I have seen. When you buy a tractor made in China you are buying a brand new 20 year old tractor.
Numerous brands and 15 years worth of problems are being mixed together to come up with a final conclusion. There are many different grades of Chinese tractor; they are not all the same. China is not competing with the big three, they don’t have to. There is just a huge group of people that would for whatever reason never buy a new JD or Kubota. That is the market they are shooting for. I initially bought a grey market tractor not because I couldn’t afford a new JD but because I have many other priorities in life that are FAR more important than tractors like a retirement fund so I can retire before I'm to old to enjoy it or a college education for my son. I did not use my tractor to make a living so the absolute best wasn’t required. I just think there has to be a tractor for every level of buyer, we all have different priorities and tend to be purists about a thousand different things. I hope china doesn’t waste time on fit and finish and I pray that they stay away from hydrostatic transmissions and seat warmers ect because it never stops and neither does the inflation of the price. From my experience my average buyer doesn’t give a hoot what it looks like they just want it to run when they put the key in and to retire the wheel barrow (and aching back) to its rightful position as a backdrop for target practice. I would pay real money to take four guys from each corner of this country and put them in a room and tell them to come to a consensus on what is the best tractor that makes the most sense to buy. You would never get consensus in a million years if they didn’t actually kill each other before it was over. I would think the real tractor purists would be ecstatic about all the different brands and models they have to choose from these days. That is what this awesome country is about…freedom to choose what is best for YOU and fits YOUR needs.
This reply was not directed at Brent, he sells good tractors for a good price. I was just replying to the thread in general. /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

 

[Tractors4u]

Re: this subject

Thanks for the valuable reply Buck. That is what this forum is all about. I just hope your comment about hydrostatic trannies doesn't start something bad. I have expressed my dislike (which is just a personal choice) for hydrostatic transmissions in the past and was flogged for it. Just like the Chinese tractors, hydro is for some people and not for others.

 

[MikeStuart]

Re: this subject

One thing that should be noted here is that many different products from China have many different grades of quality. The Chinese tractor manufacturers are similar to American manufacturers in that many parts come from the lowest bidder. Having said that, the factories build a much better tractor than in the past. Only in the past year or so have thngs like cosmetics and leaks become important to the Chinese. I'm not trying downplay this, these are important parts.

The core tractor is almost entirely manufactured at the plant, while bearings, electrics, hoses, and fasteners are bought elsewhere.

The things on our list come from years of experience. The Chinese didn't go cheap on bearings, gears, and shafts, but they did go cheap on electrics, paint, and hoses. The Chinese would not upgrade those things, so we did.

Now the Chinese are using better small parts. Many of the tractors that we do all those things to probably don't need it, but we do it anyway because one bad one can ruin an entire potential customer base.

There is a difference between a cheap Chinese part and an expensive Chinese part. Just like there is a difference between a ribeye at a steakhouse and a ribeye at a truck stop. They both come from American cows(usually), but the manufacturing process is different. Just because its from China doesn't make it cheap and weak.

 

[Redfisher]

Re: this subject

<font color=blue>Again I am not trying to tick anyone off or get into a tinkling contest, all I am doing is looking for answers that will provoke me to buy one. The price difference is just to great to ignore.</font color=blue>

Of course not. We have not done any of these things you think must be done because you read it somewhere on the net, on our Jinma and it runs great and no one has ever said they are as good as a bota,But I can tell you it can do anything our 45hp 2 year old bota that was stolen could do,Just not as pretty.Any how no one is telling you to buy one anyways. Most of us are happy with our's and thats all that counts.Oh i'm not trying to tick anyone off /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Have a good one

 

[Tractor_Barn]

Re: this subject

Redfisher...The Leafs gonna pull it out tonight? I'd love to see them make it to the finals along with the Wings. An original 6 final.

 

[Woodbeef]

Re: this subject

Yep,that would be a good one!! The "Deadthings" vs. The"Makebeleafs"!!! Too bad Strohs left Motown!!

 

[Tractor_Barn]

Re: this subject

I miss Stroh's too. I made alot of $$'s in the 70's bringing Coors back to Detroit and taking Stroh's back out west. I never cared for either.

Vince

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Re: this subject

Sorry John I don't know where the Steve came from. My mind is not good anymore, guess its shot like everything else. Anyway to answer your question or rather statement about a Chinese Tractor and a Bota, in order for me to use it I almost have to have the hydro transmission. At least it would be the easiest to convert to hand controls. I was thinking about the Chinese tractor as a backup and grass cutter for my wife and daughter to use. Thank god for those hydro transmissions for some of us they are close to perfect. Anyway I have a ten acre lake that I am reinforcing the banks with concrete rubble. I can have the contractors drop most of it where I want it but there is always some final shifting and filling in low spots. For the really big stuff I just bug them till they bring in the heavy equipment and move it where I want it. When I say big stuff I am talking about concrete steps and slabs 6'x6'x6-8" which I get alot of. Ok enough about that at least you know where I am coming from.
At this point let me reinterate that I am not knocking Chinese tractors just trying to get some facts. And to answer another statement yes I have never even seen one up close and personel. The only place I have gotten my information is over the web. I would love to see one and I am willing to travel. I live in central Illinois and before anybody starts anything I would rather be living in LA (Lower Alabama that is) but the wife is from here sooooo. Anyway some questions got kind of glossed over so I will try once more and add just two new questions.

1. Is there any service (shop) manuals for these tractors besides the owners manual?

2. Is it true that the washers and electrical systems on these tractors are fine as is?

3. Now this question is not exactly for you but for the whole board "what are the good tractors the not so go and the bad ones" I realize that they are just like American stuff and I hate to use cars as an example but there are differences in just about everything that we buy. Again having never seen one or personally nor know of anyone that has one, what do I do to judge these tractors, the web is my only source of information? Its not like you zip down to the local tractor dealer and get the information. What did you guys use to evaluate what you bought or did you just buy it and cross your fingers and hope for the best? I am not trying to be smart here, again I am trying to learn. From previous posts I have been told there are good ones and not so good ones how do I sort them out?

4. Is there any kind of 10 year support like they have for cars with these tractors as far as parts go? My reason for asking this is that the Chinese are trying to go western and well my concern is how much would a western investor be out if they just closed the doors on an engine or transmission plant. I would think we would be back to the Yugo days then. Has this happened to date?

5. Now my ignorance is really going to show by this next question. How long have they been exporting tractors?

I cannot stress this enough because you guys who own these tractors and take offense when someone appears to be knocking something (and rightly so) you believe in, but I AM NOT trying to stir the pot. I am just looking for answers. If there are none thats fine.

Well I lied and asked more questions than I said I would. Sorry about that guys. Again I appreciate your honesty and advise.

Oh I am not going to register until after I buy my bota because of a pricing questions. I will be registered before the week is out though.

 

[JohnS]

Re: this subject

Maker,

From your needs statement, I think that you are best not to look at any Chinese tractor, or for that matter any gear tractor. Hydrastatic drive is the way to go, for having your wife and children operate the tractor. There are plenty of threads on TBN that deal with this subject. Also, sounds like you may have some physical limitations, that you would want a nice open deck and a limited amount of levers and controls. No sense having a tractor, even a back-up one, that is difficult for you to use. If I have this wrong, I apolagize in advance. I mean no dis-respect.

If you absolutly feel that a Chinese tractor is still a possibility, it is time for you to discuss with the individual dealers you would be considering. You are armed with more than enough info, to have meaningful discussions with dealers. I could guess on some of your continued questions, but my answers could be way off and be incorrect for the dealer you may consider purchasing from.

 

[EFC]

Re: this subject

Maker, it would be inappropriate for us dealers to say what we decided was a good and bad tractor on this board. Each dealer has a different level of tractor that they are comfortable selling. If you had a Ford, Chevy and Dodge dealer on this thread and asked who sells the best quality truck you know what would happen....... Please feel free to email me and I will answer all your questions according to what we sell and I am sure the other dealers would also. You will get different answers to your questions on different brands. John S is right, if you have the means and the need for a hydro then get it you won’t be disappointed.