Hi Larry,
Well it kind of depends on if you are looking to buy used or new. While a lot of people "look down" on grey iron, or foreign made tractors, the simple truth of the matter is that not everyone can justify or afford the "proper" brand names.
For me it was the need for a tractor to replace my failing/limited ability antique with something I could move snow and a little dirt with as well as have a backhoe for the upcoming septic system project. Some suggested buying used "real" equipment or renting. My experiences renting things were never good and anything used in my area was too expensive and too big for my needs. It was then that I started exploring the Chinese tractor options. That was 2006. At that time there were few real dealers in the US and the primary method of acquisition was to send your money to an importer who would then hold it until he had a container full then send the $$ to China with an order and wait for the good graces to actually produce the tractor that was ordered. Oh, by the way you were responsible for getting it off the dock when it arrived. NOT for me.
I found a dealer on the west coast that had equipment in stock, a parts and service department and a decent reputation. I bought a tractor, front end loader, and backhoe all brand new in the crate and had it trucked to me in North Dakota. I did lots of research ahead of time and the dealership was helpful in finding information about how to assemble and service the equipment. I now have over 750 hours on the tractor and consider it one of the best investments I ever made. It has not been completely trouble free and I have done all the maintenance on it since new including several modifications/upgrades. The no name Chinese battery that came with it lasted 9 years before it showed any weakness. I don't expect the domestic replacement to go near that long.
As with any piece of equipment there is ongoing care beyond just oil changes that must be performed. Things like clutches and brakes have to be adjusted. The lubrication must be kept up with if you expect any kind of service life from anything that moves. Monitoring of fluid conditions and actions needed to keep on top of that as well as belts and hoses.
Things to keep in mind:
If you are a decent mechanic there is no reason you can't take care of a Chinese tractor. They are simple and fairly tough. Sometimes they appear a little crude, but if you recognize them for what they are there is no reason you won't get your money's worth.
Hoses and hydraulic fittings may be any one of a number of styles and some are rather hard to find. On my tractor I have a mix of SAE English, DIN Metric and plain metric banjo fittings. Light bulbs and switches can also be "odd ball" and you may wind up converting to more readily available items.
The wiring is barely adequate and is sometimes poorly made. Electrical system is my forte' so that means nothing to me except a change to make it better. Not everyone is comfortable working on electrical stuff
ALL of the fluids in my tractor were Chinese crap. I followed the advice I found online and from the dealership and drained and flushed everything before I even put the battery in it. Additional up front costs for sure but I am absolutely convinced it was the right thing to do.
If you don't want or can't do medium level maintenance then you need to limit your purchase to equipment that has dealerships nearby whether you buy new or used. If you are comfortable doing things yourself then about all you have to do is decide new or used and where to buy. If you buy used, learn as much as you can about the history of maintenance and use. Storage, condition and documentation all figure into the price.
Keep in mind that a few manufacturers produce the vast majority of brand names. Jinma is one of the larger base manufacturers. They have a history of using different engines in the same model of tractor. Some of that has to do with EPA approval over the years.
If you find one in particular that you have questions about just post them here and someone will try to answer. Include, Make, Model, Year and if possible engine make, model and year as well.
