Grey or Chinese?

[MrFixit]

If you haven't made a decision as of yet I would like to add my 2 cents.

Purchasing a used vehicle (Tractor) has many risks. Purchasing a Chinese tractor also has some risks. But both risks are entirely different. If buying a used tractor I would like to know a few things that I'm sure there is no answer for:

Why is the original owner getting rid of it?
Have all the Lubricants been changes and kept to proper levels.
Has there ever been any failures due to low or contaminated lubricants.
Has there ever been an overheat condition that may lead to warping.
Was the tractor abused by taking on bigger tasks than it was designed for.
Has the drivetrain been stressed because terrain or load issues? On and On...

I have been very tempted to buy a perfect looking grey but I just had no information on it's history. Although the chinese tractors are somewhat new to the US I went with one anyway. Mostly because I know the history of the tractor, it's a virgin!

Tim

 

[LMTC]

Oh, get a grip. While you cannot know the history of any individual grey market tractor, the overall history & performance of the units sold by reputable dealers is nothing short of stellar. The overall history of the Chinese tractors, while seemingly improving slightly, is still not good. Knowing the "history" of a new Yugo didn't make it a good car. The difference in beginning quality levels from a grey Yanmar when new to a new Chinese tractor is more than I can even express. The difference in quality between a used grey Yanmar and a new Chinese tractor is still profound.

 

[Mickey_Fx]

I wish you well with your purchase but from your comments your knowledge on both gray market and Chinese tractors needs to grow.

The grays from Japan are mostly makes from well known manufacturers with well established track records. In Japan there is a financial incentive from the Gov to replace used equipment so there is not much of a market for used products so they are exported. Most of these tractors have spent their life running a tiller in a rice patty for a few weeks in the spring. Not especially hard work. The exported grays have a rating system established to help define the current condition. Also several of these Co's have been making compact models for U.S. Co's for more than 20 yrs. You also may find getting parts are easier for these tracotrs than a Chinese made one.

Personally, I've been to China several times on business visiting various Co's. You can find common designs of products being built by numerous Co's. All the products may look the same buy one Co can be a world class mfgr and the next can be something on the order of a shade tree operation, something you might not want even if given to you. On this side of the pond and if you're not too wise in the area of manufacturing, you won't know which kind of Co made your item until you've have owned it for some period.

Virgin JUNK is not a winner in my book. As I said, I wish you well in your purchase and hope it serves you well for yrs.

 

[rlee6]

Paddy,
I am in the same place as you are, weighing new Chinese against used Japanese. They are about the same in price.

I think we eventually have to make a decision on our own. Hear from as many as you can. Some may be biased for one, and others for the others.

You may want to read EFC's post in the next door (Chinese forum) on greys. I hope you to make a rewarding decision soon.

 

[buppy69]

The price being about the same on a used Japanese tractor and a new Chinese tractor tells you something about their quality right there. The Chinese know what their tractors are worth (the same as a 20 year old grey)!

Eugene

 

[YanmarFever]

Why do Chinese tractors look like they are built like a tank?

The reason is: A heat treating furnace requires A LOT of electricity (my fathers biss.) and in China electricity is in high demand & at a premium $$. Only the govt. has the facilities with the energy required to heat treat in mass production.

So whats the next best thing to do if you are a manufacturer?
You throw more steel at it & hope it wont brake. If you think this is a bunch of bull, test the chinese metal compared to any Japanese or American steel on the rockwell scale, your jaw will hit the floor when you see the difference.
Im not putting down the chinese machines, Im just pointing out why the price is so low, (you get what you pay for)

How many professional mechanics use chinese wrenches ? 0
Why ? because they are not heat treated, they slip & break.

Now there are those people in this world that will settle for a lesser quality because of the price. You usually see them at the repair shops ! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[YanmarFever]

We bought a stainless steel BBQ. at costco yesterday, After we got it home & assembled I noticed a made in china sticker on it. So we fired it up & put it thru all the operations and it cooks great ! nice fit & finish and everything works on it. my shop radio the same (china) and it works great. My car, truck, or tractor is where I draw the line. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[boat_guy]

Just remember this:

The world said the exact same things about the Japanese, Koreans, Indians etc. years ago that a lot of people are saying about the Chinese quality. It is just a matter of time!

Where do you think a lot of parts come from in these new name brand tractors? It isn't Japan!

Boat guy

 

[rlee6]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( ( You throw more steel at it & hope it wont brake. If you think this is a bunch of bull, test the chinese metal compared to any Japanese or American steel on the rockwell scale, your jaw will hit the floor when you see the difference.))</font>

Do you have numbers that you can pass on to me? I mean a real case comparison? I am a metallurgical engineer, in case you wonder why I ask.

China is sending rockets to the space and has atomic bombs. They must have the technologies of metal hardening, precision machining, etc, that they need to make good tractors. I don't know how much the technologies are employed by tractor companies.

I am certain Chinese gears are heat treated. Without heat treatment, there is no way Chinese transmission can last even a few hundred hours of use. Question is how well and accurately it was done.

In my opinion one of the reasons Chinese tools are not hardened is because America does not want to pay $10 for their pliers.

I am in no way advocating Chinese tractors. I don't even have a tractor.

 

[mark777]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Just remember this:......

.............. It is just a matter of time! )</font>

I agree. But their time is not quite here. The reliability, design and engineering for domestic, import and grey market tractors is here and now.

I expect the Chinese to catch up in the years to come.