Korean built Tractors

[Anonymous Poster]

I have been reviewing the specifications of the Korean built tractors, Kioti, Long, Branson, Century, Mahindra, and Scorpion. It appears that their specs and pricing are very similiar. However, the Scorpion tractor offers both a Kubota engine and a John Deere engine in their models. The other tractors are equipped with Korean built engines. Can anyone comment about the quality comparison between Korean built engines vs Kubota and John Deere? It seems as though the Scorpion tractor has to be a better value for the money.

 

[motelman]

What John Deere engines, Doesn't Yanmar make all of JD's CUT engines?

 

[Woodbeef]

What deifference does it make? I've never heard of any more problems with Korean engines vs. Japanese. Cummins signed a deal with Kukje of Korea earlier this year to buy engines from them.

 

[JohnMiller3]

<font color=blue>...Scorpion tractor offers both a Kubota engine and a John Deere engine in their models...</font color=blue>

This may be the same Millennium tractor that changed their name recently...

Do a search on TBN and you'll find numerous posts and pictures... I don't have any work experience with this unit... but I sure liked what I saw... the Kubota and John Deere powerplants offered just make them that much nicer... /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

(the JD units are the PowerTech's ~~50hp, not Yanmar's)

 

[btractco]

Century has Yanmar engines in some models. Yanmar has built engines for John Deere for years. Zetor has built tractors for Deere and Kukje builds tractors for Deere for Asian market. As was said Kukje will be building Cummings and there engines are as good as Kubota in my opinion and I don`t think there is any diesel engine that beats Yanmar for starting etc.

 

[markie61]

I've been doing the same comparisons of KOREAN tractors, as well. I'll share what I've learned:

Kioti (Daedong) manufactures their own tractors with their own engines and controls their own distribution - the same business model Kubota uses.

I'm not sure who actually builds the Korean tractors for Long (I saw it on another post, but can't find it), but they use both Kioti/Daedong and Mitsubishi engines for the Landtrac (Korean series) and are built for Long Agribusiness who distributes them.

Kukje builds tractors for both Century (AMJAWA) and Branson using Kukje and Yanmar engines with distribution handled by their respective importers.

Tong Yang (TYM) builds Mahindra using Kioti/Daedong engines and Scorpion (formerly Millennium) using Kubota and John Deere engines (hecho en Mexico??). My understanding is that Tong Yang handles Scorpion/TYM distribution in the west directly and Decker & Co. handles distribution in the east.

I have driven everything on this list, except the Tong Yang products and they appear to be world-class quality close to, equivalent to, and even exceeding what I have seen in the big three. I expect the TYM's to be up there too. My feelings are as follows:
The Longs have the most standard equipment.
The Kiotis have the most standard equipment for the price.
The Kukjes are the most affordable.
The TYM's seem to fit in with the Kukjes and Kiotis.

IMHO, these are all worthy pieces of hardware, but that is just one piece of the puzzle. I think the deciding factor will ultimately be the dealer. One brand I am seriously considering has a dealer that is selling out of hand-made buildings in the middle of a farm field. Another dealer for a lesser known brand operates in a converted auto showroom with a four bay repair shop. The guy in the pasture has a slightly better price, but the guy with the service bay has a hoist to crack open the tractor if necessary. Who is going to get my business? I still don't know.... But, I feel that organizational support BEHIND the product helps you find the VALUE you get for your money. I'm hoping this thread will help me make some decisions, too.

JMHO, but I want to share AND learn.

Mark

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I have a brand new Mahindra 4110 model with Daedong engine and XSMN system. Have about 15 hours on it, and it works swell. Have called my dealer about different ideas and he gets right back with the answer and the name/phone number of who he talked to at Mahindra. The dealer can make or break a nice tractor sale. I also tried almost all of them out there. The big three are just too expensive considering the dealers here in the north east just won't deal period. Mahindra, and their only dealer available right at this moment is the one who won out. I am happy with the tractor, the dealer, and especially the long arm instant support offered by Mahindra.

 

[Woodbeef]

LG builds the Long Korean offerings.

Yep,I think Mahindra is very serious about becoming a major player in North America!!

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I believe that only a couple of Mahindra models are built in Korea, the rest are built in India.

Ben in KY

 

[markie61]

Yep - the Mahindras that end in "10" are Korean-made.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I've been selling tractors for a couple of years. I now just do it part time for a friend who is a very successful dealer of several brands. Of the units you discussed we sell Kioti, Century, Mahindra, and the Tong Yang manufactured Millinium or Scorpion. Also we sell Masseys. A year ago I was in the market for a 25-40 hp compact myself. Having access to all these machines and the customer feedback and also a best friend living adjacent to me with a new John Deere 4400 I had more data than anyone I know buying a tractor. What did I choose? The Millenium T390. Though a little more costly than any of the others we sold the decision came down to Mahindra 4110 or the Millenium T390. Both tractors are manufactured by Tong Yang in Korea. If I were buying today and was dependant on company financing the decision would be easy due to Mahindra's attractive rates which are as good as any in the industry. However, that was not the case for me so I chose the Millenium T390. The tractors are for all practical purposes identical except for the engines. The Mahindra uses a Kioti engine and the Millenium uses a four cylinder engine. Though the Mahindra is also a four cylinder it is not direct injection fuel system making it necessary to glow the engine before starting at most temperatures. Also, the Kioti engine is much louder. The Kubota is direct injection (not necessary to glow except in extreme cold) and it is so quiet that many people think its a gas engine. In my opinion the Kubota is also stronger even though it is rated 2 h.p. less. The Millenium also has duel remote hydraulics where the Mahindra has single as standard.

As a side note, I believe all of these tractors top the John Deere in just about every category. Weight, handling, quality (I don't like plastic lawn mowers, so I certainly don't want a plactic tractor). My neighbor paid about $4K more than I paid and got a thousand pounds less tractor and mine kicks his but in everything we try to do together with the tractors.

 

[JohnMiller3]

<font color=blue>...The Kubota is direct injection ...</font color=blue>

I've seen the T-390 and it is one sharp unit, but the powerplant in it was a Kubota V1903... with indirect injection... same as the "L" series...

A few years back in the Kubota "M" series, I believe they were all DI and just great performers... but now they are indirect injection except for maybe the big boys (80-100hp)...

 

[Buster57]

I have a TYM dealer/distributor two miles from my house. He used to sell JD stuff (I bought my 318 from them) and now is independent. He has over 100 tractors in inventory.
Depending on the model, the TYM has Kubota or John Deere engines in them. If I was looking to buy a new tractor, I would certainly look very hard at the TYM products. They are very impressive!
Most of the models I saw had GST type transmissions, however, I am positive they come in HST as well.
Definitely worth checking out!

 

[JohnMiller3]

Hi Bob,

What is the "brand name" they are selling those units by...?

What is the distributor's name?

I've seen a few of the units and was extremely impressed with the fit and finish... and of course the JD and Kubota engines were a big plus...!!

The last I heard... HST was suppose to be available this past summer... but never seen one released... I think when this unit has the HST ready for market... coupled with the Kubota engine... it will be a hot number... /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[Buster57]

Hi John,
The name is TYM. They are deep purple and look great.
I wish I owned one of their smaller units but they make really big tractors (45 H-P is big to me) as well.
The distribution center in Oregon is Sherwood Tractor and Rental.
I will put the contact information on the dealer locator.

 

[markie61]

TYM tractors are sold in two ways in the US:

In the Western US, TYM distributes direct to its dealers. If you go to the Korean website at <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.tym.co.kr/tongyang/html/e_main2.html>http://www.tym.co.kr/tongyang/html/e_main2.html</A>, there is an email link for Mr Robert Mullett. You can ask him where the closest dealer is.

In the Eastern US, distribution is handled by Decker and Co. at 1-800-800-6955 and are marketed as the "Scorpion" brand. You can call them for the dealer closest to you. They do not have email or a website yet.

If a TYM/Scorpion dealer is not that close, remember: the Mahindra "10" series is built by TYM using Daedong/Kioti engines (which are VERY similar to Kubota's engine specs.) You can get a good idea of fit/finish/user interface/etc. if a Mahindra dealer is closer and then pursue the TYMs if you like what you see.

BTW, all the TYM-built tractors I have seen pictures of are <font color=red>red</font color=red> (Mahindra, Scorpion, and TYM.) I would LOVE to see a <font color=purple>deep purple</font color=purple> one! The closest I have seen are the Long Agribusiness Landtracs which are kind of "cornflower purple." My wife likes that color...might make getting a tractor easier...../w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif.

Mark

 

[Buster57]

I will take a picture this weekend and show everyone.

 

[markie61]

Here's a scan of the Scorpion tractor brochure cover. You can see the TYM logo right between the headlights.

 

[markie61]

Buster:

Your wish could come true.....

The smallest of Scorpions is the T300 with a Kubota D1503 3cyl 30hp engine and 2798lbs. And TYM's website says this is available from TYM with an HST.

The details:

The specs on Scorpion's literature have the trannys as 12x12 synchroshuttlles on the 30&40hp models and 16x16 on the bigger ones - no word about when (or if) HST would be available. However, TYM's website lists the T330 as the same tractor as above with an HST.

I tried to scan in the specs from the Scorpion, but they looked horrible! So, here is a synopsis:
T300, with 'bota D1503, 30hp, 12x12, 2798lbs
T400, with 'bota V1503, 40hp, 12x12, 3759lbs
T450, with 'bota V2203, 45hp, 16x16, 3741lbs/Cab 4266lbs
T580, with John Deere 3029D, 58hp, 16x16, 4740lbs/Cab 6393lbs

Hope all of this is helpful
Mark

 

[Anonymous Poster]

The T390 is direct injection. I own one and was able to start it at 25 degrees without glowing it. I also work part-time at a dealership that sells about 5 brands. I liked the T390 better than anything I've been on which includes John Deere, Kubota and Massey.