foton tractor pics

[Bob_Skurka]

The reason i posted the message ( to get the pic of a foton ) was because someone in another thread said that my tractor was a a blue foton with NH decals. I wanted to see some pics for comparison. As it turns out.. I can't see how someone would have made that connection.. they are 2 completely different looking tractors... fenders and op platform are 100% different.. Nose is different.. headlamp arangement is different.

Chris, you must be blind, I need to let you borrow my tri-focals because that Foton looks just like a 7610 if I squint just right and tip my head to the side at the proper angle. But what I don't understand is why you have a FarmTrac as your avatar, I thought you were a Ford guy?

 

[Soundguy]

As I said before.. the pics I saw.. the fit/finish looked pretty decent.. not what i expect for chinese unit. i wonder if the size has anything to do with it.. I.E. . machining process is easier on larger material / castings.. etc. ( ? )

Soundguy

 

[3RRL]

As I said before.. the pics I saw.. the fit/finish looked pretty decent.. not what i expect for chinese unit. i wonder if the size has anything to do with it.. I.E. . machining process is easier on larger material / castings.. etc. ( ? )

Soundguy

Chris, I don't think so.... I'm a machinist and IMO, that would not make the difference. Plus I have a Kama 55hp (bigger yet). The castings and engine, tranny housings and rear/front axle housings and such look the same or similar to mine. That is not where the difference lies. It's in the "fit and finish"... the fit and finish on my Kama is not nearly as nice as on the Foton, from what I can see on the pictures. I think it's just a nicer tractor. The cockpit, shifting levers and instrumentation is nicer. Lots of good features on that 40hp 4wd tractor and it's still what....just over 10 grand brand new? What a deal.

 

[Soundguy]

Big time.. ( good looking tractor and a good deal ). And at that price.. it surely looks like it could compete with the nortrac 30hp model, and win all the way around.

So, in your opinion.. it has better hand fitting, vs manufacturing process? I wonder what that does to the actual cost of the machine.. I.E. I wonder how that extra 'finesse' on the paint, chrome, plastic and op platform layout effects their bottom line, or profit ont he machine.

Oh and to BobS.. Hay.. them farmtracks look nice.. Same old ford thousand series designs.. got some horrible purpleish paint though!

Soundguy

 

[3RRL]

Big time.. ( good looking tractor and a good deal ). And at that price.. it surely looks like it could compete with the nortrac 30hp model, and win all the way around.

So, in your opinion.. it has better hand fitting, vs manufacturing process? I wonder what that does to the actual cost of the machine.. I.E. I wonder how that extra 'finesse' on the paint, chrome, plastic and op platform layout effects their bottom line, or profit ont he machine.Soundguy

I can't answer the first part of that question 'cause I haven't tried one yet....I can only guess at it. Maybe a dealer who carries them can comment on that? But just from the "looks" of it, there is no doubt about the finish.
IMO, there has to be an extra cost for the "extras". On the other hand, once a company has molds and dies built to make their "shape" part, those parts are produced (pretty much) for the same price as another shape. That goes for machining too,...drilling and tapping is drilling and tapping etc. Only difference is the initial cost of the tooling...amortized over part/product life. So THAT cost should be minimal. From pricing I've heard, there is not that much difference. How they do it... the extras...I dunno??

Nevertheless, it sure is a nice tractor. If the guts are as robust as on my Kama, I'd buy one in a heartbeat. As a matter of fact, I told a friend who posts here to buy one if he had the chance. It was a choice between reccomending the Kama or the Foton. I told him the same thing, how impressed I am with my Kama as a workhorse, but the Foton just looks like a much better "fit & finished" tractor with more amenities and ergonomic styling.

 

[Soundguy]

I've not used a kama or foton.. but have had a few miutes of drive time on jinma. The kama also look better than jinma. And Foton looks like a main brand... really.

<From pricing I've heard, there is not that much difference. How they do it... <the extras...I dunno??

Hmm.. nearly identical price .. It does make you wonder... Hopefully it is just a price spread out over mass number issue.. and they didn't go cheap on the internals to make up the price... though... How much cheaper can you go from chinese internals??? stone gears? ( big grin ) no offense to any chinese stone masons..

Soundguy

 

[crazymike]

Foton has more technology available because they are a massive company. They are a very large manufacture of buses, cars, suvs available to the mainstream chinese public.

Addionally they make heavy duty construction equipment. They amke Changlin wheelloaders, rollers, graders, etc... These are full size wheel loaders with available cummins engines, deutz engines, ZF power shift transmissions, etc... Equal quality to any north american loader but at a fraction of the cost. (minus all the bells and whistles of a North American loader)

The fotons fit and finish do leave something to be desired. They are by no means perfect. Their smaller tractors have poor cabs. They have an ongoing issue with perkins regarding their larger HP engines. There are a few quirks to be worked out on some models such as poor routing of hydraulic lines and wiring, but all in all it's a great tractor. I say this not only as a dealer, but someone who is using one day in and day out on my own farm.

However, they are relatively new to the north american market and more than eager to fix any problems. Every shipment the fit and finish gets tighter and more options become available.

 

[rdbigfarmboy]

The fotons do look a bit like the newer NH models. The local dealer doesnt have any plain NH models all they have are loaded models. I would suspect fairly similar looking at manual transmission models.
Best I remember Case and NH are owned by some Italian company that is global. The older Ford like New hollands were still made in India or Pakistan. I think they still make the same ones today under another label. I like the Indian Ford good heavy machine. I think somebody called Equuipment king somewhere in Georgia had some larger Fotons.

 

[shvl73]

The older Ford like New hollands were still made in India or Pakistan. I think they still make the same ones today under another label. I like the Indian Ford good heavy machine.

I think it's Escorts in India and I believe they still make some models for Farmtrac

 

[mudcat]

At first glance I thought the picture was of a newer NH.