Korean tractor dilemma

[IndyIan]

We ran a 60" brush hog. But the majority was with a 72" sickle bar mower.

I find sickle bar mowers interesting as they take hardly any hp. I could zip around with a 9' haybine in mid range with my tractor and the only thing slowing it down in heavy grass was how fast the rollers could get stuff through without clogging...
I never see one in good shape for reasonable money or I would try one.

 

[Dftodd]

I find sickle bar mowers interesting as they take hardly any hp. I could zip around with a 9' haybine in mid range with my tractor and the only thing slowing it down in heavy grass was how fast the rollers could get stuff through without clogging...
I never see one in good shape for reasonable money or I would try one.

Yeah, they are definitely hard to find.

The one my dad used was originally mounted on an old Farmall A, and was probably purchased with my great uncles A to maintain his fields

It was already old when I was a kid

But a packet of teeth were readily available at the ag store in town when they needed replacing.

It was still being used every summer back around 2,000. Pretty sure he sold it to his neighbor along with the wood splitter when they sold the farm and moved to Arkansas.

 

[JeepHead]

Last year when I purchased my tractor, I had full intentions of considering one of the cheap Korean made tractors. I had been talking to a TYM dealer and mentioned that to someone I know that is a tractor mechanic. He highly suggested that I do my research before I made the purchase and explained his experience with them (which was not good). So then I took a step back and researched like crazy everything I could find out about all of the different brands of Korean made tractors. I even discovered some of the big-name brands were selling rebranded Korean tractors that they slapped their own name on. Ultimately, I put more value on the end product, including future support years down the road, than I did on the initial cost or “bang for buck”. I wasn’t willing to save a few bucks now that could potentially cost me much more in the future. There is a reason why I chose a Honda Rubicon ATV over a new CF Moto for thousands less, too. I chose a Kubota because I felt it offered the best value for my $. I would make the same choice again tomorrow.

 

[ArlyA]

I agree, tractors and other machines are not made with the quality.

 

[caleb90]

I have pretty much made up my mind, that when i get my tractor back. I will be putting it up for sale, will end up buying a used name brand unit. I made out ok when i traded my tym in, paid 23g for it and put 75hr on it and did alot with the backhoe. I got 20g for trade in, for the amount i had used it i felt like i broke even on the deal. See what happens with this tractor when i go to sell

 

[JeepHead]

I have pretty much made up my mind, that when i get my tractor back. I will be putting it up for sale, will end up buying a used name brand unit. I made out ok when i traded my tym in, paid 23g for it and put 75hr on it and did alot with the backhoe. I got 20g for trade in, for the amount i had used it i felt like i broke even on the deal. See what happens with this tractor when i go to sell

When did you buy it and sell it? If you purchased it pre-covid and sold after the massive price increase, that could play a huge part in what you got out of it used. I bought a new Jeep before covid and sold it during covid for more than we paid new.

 

[rumwrks]

Yeah, they are definitely hard to find.

If you look enough you can eventually get "lucky". I recently snagged an old Massey 7' in.. well.. I'll be honest it's not in super great shape but it is, I believe, very recoverable. But it was only $175 and it was less than 10 minutes drive away so it definitely followed me home. Most of the rust is on the bar with only a little on the lower moving bits so it's getting a periodic acetone/transmission fluid bath over the winter in anticipation of being able to pull out the bar and replace the cutters in the spring. I'm hoping with a bit of grease, new set of cutters and a couple replacement guards it'll be good to go, we'll see how it looks as I get things freed up.

For the OP's question.. There are definitely trade offs.. and some of the Korean tractors are better than others (even within a given manufacturer). I recently ordered a Branson (Tym) 5520H to be a big buddy to my little bota that should be on property next week. I also looked at a Kubota MX and a used grand L and some other used MX and M series. I'd have bought the older used grand L if the seller hadn't skeezed me out, it was objectively a smoother/nicer tractor. I also looked hard at some of the other second tier offerings and felt the 20 series Branson had relatively low complaint ratios, and generally historically "not bad" build quality (most of the complaints were things I could mostly live with). It was a cost/benefit trade off and I'll see with time if I made the right call or not.

There have definitely been missteps by the majors as well, the original Kubota L3301 is a good example, I'd never buy one of those the DPF/engine sizing is bad and they have a lot of clogging problems. Similarly if you're looking at a used Deere 1023/1025 you better make sure the front axle has been fixed.

I also preferentially wouldn't buy a Deere at this point due to their anti-consumer stance on right-to-repair. This is both a political point and not.. I generally prefer working on my own equipment when possible because I know what's been done and I don't have to fine tooth someone else's work afterwards to make sure they didn't mess it up - yes I have trust problems, but also I've been burned by yahoos who didn't fix things right as well from shops I thought I could trust.. I suppose if you only use stuff in warranty and only go to the dealer.. but I'm a drive it until it dies person). I've also found some disturbingly loose bolts and missing parts on my little Kubota. I DID buy the bota used but the PO wasn't exactly what I'd call a mechanic so I'm 99% blaming his dealer for doing a half-assed job on servicing it...

Are you MORE likely to have problems with a second tier tractor? Possibly.. in either case I'd be looking at models a couple years old that have had more of the kinks worked out and were you can get actual in-use reviews..

 

[TractorTYMe]

If you look enough you can eventually get "lucky". I recently snagged an old Massey 7' in.. well.. I'll be honest it's not in super great shape but it is, I believe, very recoverable. But it was only $175 and it was less than 10 minutes drive away so it definitely followed me home. Most of the rust is on the bar with only a little on the lower moving bits so it's getting a periodic acetone/transmission fluid bath over the winter in anticipation of being able to pull out the bar and replace the cutters in the spring. I'm hoping with a bit of grease, new set of cutters and a couple replacement guards it'll be good to go, we'll see how it looks as I get things freed up.

For the OP's question.. There are definitely trade offs.. and some of the Korean tractors are better than others (even within a given manufacturer). I recently ordered a Branson (Tym) 5520H to be a big buddy to my little bota that should be on property next week. I also looked at a Kubota MX and a used grand L and some other used MX and M series. I'd have bought the older used grand L if the seller hadn't skeezed me out, it was objectively a smoother/nicer tractor. I also looked hard at some of the other second tier offerings and felt the 20 series Branson had relatively low complaint ratios, and generally historically "not bad" build quality (most of the complaints were things I could mostly live with). It was a cost/benefit trade off and I'll see with time if I made the right call or not.

There have definitely been missteps by the majors as well, the original Kubota L3301 is a good example, I'd never buy one of those the DPF/engine sizing is bad and they have a lot of clogging problems. Similarly if you're looking at a used Deere 1023/1025 you better make sure the front axle has been fixed.

I also preferentially wouldn't buy a Deere at this point due to their anti-consumer stance on right-to-repair. This is both a political point and not.. I generally prefer working on my own equipment when possible because I know what's been done and I don't have to fine tooth someone else's work afterwards to make sure they didn't mess it up - yes I have trust problems, but also I've been burned by yahoos who didn't fix things right as well from shops I thought I could trust.. I suppose if you only use stuff in warranty and only go to the dealer.. but I'm a drive it until it dies person). I've also found some disturbingly loose bolts and missing parts on my little Kubota. I DID buy the bota used but the PO wasn't exactly what I'd call a mechanic so I'm 99% blaming his dealer for doing a half-assed job on servicing it...

Are you MORE likely to have problems with a second tier tractor? Possibly.. in either case I'd be looking at models a couple years old that have had more of the kinks worked out and were you can get actual in-use reviews..

The TYM 5520 is an awesome tractor, if I decide to upgrade I might go for this from my T474 with 534 trouble free hours. The Kukje engine is simply awesome due to its mechanical injection and simplicity. The T474 is paid off in a year, so I think I will just keep it around for the forseeable future.

 

[kozal01]

I think its a bit unfair to lump all korean tractors into the same boat. I own a Kioti 25 hp compact but I am not a brand fanboy, I looked at all the big names I could see in person and compared specs, weight, price, ergonomics, build quality, parts/ dealer support among other aspects. I got WAY more tractor for my money from Kioti than JD, Kubota and even LS and I laughed at the build quality of some of them, the LS looked so cheap and not as heavily built as the Kioti. (they were next to each other on the lot, night and day difference) TYM/ Branson had some decent specs, price was ok but the dealer was far away and I didn't like the ergonomics and features. JD can shove it with their proprietary quick change BS and dismal lift capacity, Kubota was nice and looking at the castings, welds and general build quality it was not any better than I could see with the Kioti and it had less capacity, weighed less and was way more expensive. I refuse to pay a massive markup to get a "brand name" for some perceived reliability difference or status related to a brand. I know dealer support is big and locations vary per region but I would pass two Kioti dealers many miles before I get to a Kubota or JD dealer and I have had no issues getting parts for my Kioti. At the end of the day though, everyone's results will vary so you have to do what works best for your situation. I just know that if I had to do it again I would buy another Kioti in a heartbeat. Put 100 hours on mine in just over a year and besides a 24 hour stay at the dealer for an injection pump adjustment its been flawless. Luck of the draw I suppose.

 

[tradosaurus]

So im 2 for 2 on korea tractors being lemons. Tym first and had issues right at 9hr, wanted a bigger tractor and the tym put a bad taste in my mouth. So i went with ls the second time around, this one made it 49hr before going back to the dealer. The ls will have to be split and i expect for it to be gone 3 months at the least as it needs a new hst pump. I could keep it, but im the type of person that when a piece of equipment or vehicle fails that bad or needs that much work. I would never trust it and would continue to have resentment over it. So that being said i will most likly sell when i get it back and buy new. I really like how the korean tractors get you more for the money, and they really do out pace kubota john deere and massey in the loader department. But im really getting tired of messing with them due to subpar quality. Do i try for lucky #3 and get a kioti to replace the ls , or do i buy a used kubota or massey and live with the weaker loaders and deal with the crappy loader joy stick location?

I'm not sure this is an accurate statement. I believe Kubota sets the hydraulic pressure to keep people from lifting more than is safe.
Also with the right amount of ballast a Kubota will perform just as well as any other brand.
Buy once. Cry once.