Grey Market Tractors

[prus_excavating]

What are grey market tractors? Do they hold up as good as U.S. tractors? Are they less expensive than U.S. Tractors?


Thanks,
Marty

 

[Tractors4u]

Grey market is a term used to describe an item that was built to be sold in one market(or country) and is later sold in another. In the case of a grey market tractor they are usually tractors sold new in Japan and then later imported and sold used in the United States. It has nothing to do with the quality or being illegal. A grey market could be a Buick from the US that is taken to Japan and sold there. The grey market tractors are good quality tractors but they are typically 20 years old and lack support depending on the model you buy or who you buy it from. Because of their age they will lack some safety devices such as ROPS, starter interlocks and safety warning decals. The grey market brands have been major players in the compact tractor field for many years. At one time or another they built tractor for the US brands and as a minmum build the engines for them now.

Yanmar built for John Deere and they still build their 790 and 990 tractor and supply engines for the 4X10 series.

Shibaura built the Fords and provide engines for them and the Case IH tractors.

Iseki built Bolens & White. They completely build the Massey, AGCO and Caterpillar compacts.

Hinomoto before going out of business built the Allis Chalmer and Massey compacts.

Mitsubishi built compacts for Case IH and most recently built the Cub Cadet compacts.

Typically they do cost less than a domestic brand. They are a good tractor value, they are of good quality, but be careful of who you buy from, make sure they can support you and know which models are the best.

 

[prus_excavating]

What about jinma's and other new, low priced tractors?

 

[Tractors4u]

I have never owned a Chinese tractor but I have had quite a number of grey markets. After reading of the problems with the Chinese tractors, if I had to give up my John Deere, I would buy another Yanmar grey market tractor.

 

[kayssupply]

You are not comparing apples to apples when you bring the Chinese tractors into the search. Look close at the Chinese and a Grey. There is a world of difference. Simple economics will tell you that a 20 year old tractor that has a market price of $5000 and a new tractor for $5900 are not of the same quality.

 

[thegreatrandini]

You should be handy if you want a Grey market or Jinma tractor...... If you just need a chore tractor both will do the job. I think Yanmars are the best value........People on this forum can advice you better if u say what you want to use the tractor for, where you will use the tractor, and how often...Are you mechanical? How many acres do you have? Do you want a front end loader?