Is My Neighbor Correct?

[Porkie]

QUICK ANSWER TO YOUR NEIGHBOR: They are ALL foreign. Sub compact, compact and utility all interchange engines from ALL foreign sources. Some either paint it their colors or put on their decals or put their platform on another mfg's frame. The large-big buck tractors seem to have more American sourced parts.

Just because it's painted: Green, red, blue, orange or black, doesn't mean a thing and a buyer has to really research to get to the bottom of who makes what and where. Made in America doesn't mean what it used to, in this global economy.

Sam

 

[ctgoldwing]

I was talking to my neighbor about buying a tractor.
He stated that that buying foreign tractors may be cheaper, but the costs of parts will be greater. Therefore I should look out for that.

His statement reminds me of the time I bought my first (of 2) Honda Goldwings - a large Japanese made (actually made in Marysville, Ohio) touring motorcycle. A good friend was trying to convince me to buy a Harley. He used the same argument ie maintenace / repair costs were going to be very expensive compared to the Harley.

Time goes on. I had to listen to him tell me about his $900 service checkups every year (wtf - its a V twin, what is there to service?). He made some serious noises when his cam shaft broke.
I, on the other hand, changed my oil & filter every 3K miles myself and did only the maintenace that was necessary - air filters (every 30K), spark plugs (every 60K), etc. I sold that bike with 150K miles on it. I never had a mechanical failure of any kind and I never added oil between changes.

I guess the point is that it depends on the manufacturer more than the country of origin.

 

[Verticaltrx]

Overall I'm pretty impressed with the parts distribution that Kubota has, it's not as fast as JD, but pretty good. Only once did I have to wait a long time for a part and that was a steel hydraulic line for my B3200. It had to come from Japan and took 3 weeks to get here (I think it was literally coming over on a boat). Other than that I've had good experience, usually all parts come in about 2-3 days at most.

As to the cost of parts, some of them are kinda high, but I'm also impressed at how cheap others are. I tore the whole fuel filter assy. off my B3200 on a stump and figured it would be a $100+ repair. Get to the dealer and the whole assembly was only $23.

With all that being said, it's still not as cheap or easy to get Kubota parts as it is to get parts for my 57yr old Ford tractor. You can get parts for those tractors at almost anywhere, Tractor Supply, NAPA, Agri-Supply, most tractor dealerships, online, mail order, and ofcourse directly through New Holland.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

Do they build engines and frames or just assemble components?

engines and transmission assemblies are done in japan, but thats it. The frames, sheet metal, 3pt parts, rops, etc are all done here. KMA is not just a final assembly line like virtually every other compact tractor. There is a final assembly plant for M's a few miles away.

I actually posted a link to a video of both plants on our website. But the TBN censors took it down.

 

[LBrown59]

I was talking to my neighbor about buying a tractor.
He stated that that buying foreign tractors may be cheaper, but the costs of parts will be greater. Therefore I should look out for that.

What brand of tractor does your
neighbor have ?

 

[JDGREEN4ME]

Time goes on. I had to listen to him tell me about his $900 service checkups every year (wtf - its a V twin, what is there to service?).

Not to start an argument but if I was your friend I would be looking for another dealer. Maybe my brother is just lucky but he has run Harleys for over twenty years and he has never come remotely close to paying "$900 dollar" service check ups.

 

[TripleR]

Not to start an argument but if I was your friend I would be looking for another dealer. Maybe my brother is just lucky but he has run Harleys for over twenty years and he has never come remotely close to paying "$900 dollar" service check ups.

Me either and my 89 Harley is still worth more than I paid for it. I won't dispute the overall reliability of Goldwing or Harley.

 

[rocknrod]

Amen - I own a FLHX and have NEVER paid so much for service. Sounds like a. paying too much and b. Bad service if things are breaking.

My neighbor owns a Kubota and an old Cat D8.

 

[Soundguy]

hard to find an american made, owned by an american co, assembled here with non imported parts.

might be 1.. but not alot..

soundguy

I was talking to my neighbor about buying a tractor.
He stated that that buying foreign tractors may be cheaper, but the costs of parts will be greater. Therefore I should look out for that.

 

[rjkobbeman]

Me either and my 89 Harley is still worth more than I paid for it. I won't dispute the overall reliability of Goldwing or Harley.

I have a 1960 FL and a 1992 Yamaha FZR1000. (Both for sale by the way.)

Completely different animals.

Harley went through some really, REALLY, bad years and the Japanese can really build some reliable machines (cars, bikes, TRACTORS, etc.).

I would never get into a match over reliability between the two. I like both, but each have their purposes.

I had a 1998 FLSTC and loved it. Will probably buy a new Harley when I get caught up on other things (have a 3 and a 9 year old).

When it comes to motorcycles, I buy based on what fits me and what I like... and less on what is the smart buy. My tractor may be "somewhat" of a toy (not 100%... but a "little") but I still bought based on price/features/reliability/etc. Motocycles are 110% toys to me (I don't rely on them for anything but pleasure.) When I buy my next motorcycles, it will be what my wife and I want and could care less if it was sensible.

Having said that, Harleys are actually quite reliable now and don't leak oil like they used to. :thumbsup: