Looking at buying a Chinese tractor

[sd455dan]

Can't say about the Australian versions of the Fotons, but the US versions are good tractors.

Checking Jack Yuan from China Tractor factory say Hello

as a chineese owner of a chineese tractor this is what he had to say on post 112 of the thread concerning chinese tractors


I think Foton must be the best tractor in China, also its after-sale-service is very good.

let me tell you the Top 10 sale tractor brand in China. YTO, Foton, John Deere, Dongfeng, Newholland, Shifeng, Changlin, Jinma, Changfa, Wuzheng.

I believe his own tractor is listed as a Jinma

 

[sd455dan]

Parts-Parts-Parts

How often will you need them, how hard will they be to get, and how much will they cost. Those are the key questions you should be asking yourself. I've owned several John Deere's, a couple of Kubota's, and an off-brand. The off-brand was an OK tractor but when I bought parts (and everyone will need to at some point), they were absurdly expensive….$50 for a metal pin, $80 for a plastic cap, ….it was ridiculous. This was in Texas, check out the parts issue before you decide.

REALLY ?? parts prices for the items on this invoice were very fair IMHO- purchased for my chinese tractor recently



One more thing if I could only keep one of the 2 tractors under my avatar it would likly be the Chinese one...

 

[jkis]

i looked at kubota, johndeere, massey, farmline, leyland, foton, newholand, and recieved info and a dvd for southwind, i looked for around 1 year, started looking at new tractors, and talking to people around me, everyone i know said stay away from the chinese tractors, they are unproven, in the end i went to one of the bigger tractor places with money in my pocket, on the way there i spotted a foton on special, i drove a few 2nd hand tractors, i wasnt impressed with the tractors and salesman, there was only 3 months warranty on s/h units, i found problems with each tractor, i couldnt pick one up on the day, and would of had to wait till one was ready, so i was driving home, it was late, all day and didnt get a tractor, as i had to drive past the foton on the way home, i went and had a look, asked for a drive, couldnt belive the difference in the feel of the tractor, this motor felt like it had grunt, was quick to pick up the revs, so much beter than what i had tryed earlier that day, we talked a deal, i got the slasher thrown in, it came with 2 years warranty extra hydraulic take off's, free service, the price matched the 2nd hand tractors that didnt have a slasher, they loan't me a trailer to take it home, my mates gave me a talking to, i offered them to try and match me in a paddock and working, nobody took it up, a couple of them said after 4 years, it has proved itself, i checked it is now 6 years, and would replace it with the same brand, i also have a massey 65 that has cost me some $ to bring back into work, i'll mention the only 2 problems i have really had, 1 the slasher gearbox got hot after a couple of hrs, no oil in the box, rung the dealer, they said it would take a week, but if i did the change over myself, they would have a new gearbox, for me within 2 days, the other was the original slip clutch on the slasher wore out, they didnt have the parts, but replaced it with a h/duty bareco unit if i paid $70 towards it, i broke the exhaust manifold, rang to order a new one, the dealer suggested i weld up the broken one, still holding 5 years later, that guy isnt the dealer now more of a friend, and knows how hard i push this machine, when we catch up from time to time, he can't believe just how good it has been, if your unbiased you see things in a different light.
cheers stuart

 

[ssls6]

REALLY ?? parts prices for the items on this invoice were very fair IMHO- purchased for my chinese tractor recently

View attachment 325766

One more thing if I could only keep one of the 2 tractors under my avatar it would likly be the Chinese one...

Those parts seem reasonable but they are not all that way. I stand by my statement, before buying a tractor check out the parts situation. For all I know, in Australia JD parts are eye-wateringly expensive. That would turn me off JD. As long as a tractor has a good reputation in the area and parts are reasonable, then I would consider it seriously.

 

[jkis]

Those parts seem reasonable but they are not all that way. I stand by my statement, before buying a tractor check out the parts situation. For all I know, in Australia JD parts are eye-wateringly expensive. That would turn me off JD. As long as a tractor has a good reputation in the area and parts are reasonable, then I would consider it seriously.

yes same as in the link, mine ain't that pretty
cheers stuart

 

[CalG]

I've been having a good look around the threads here and by the looks of it there are some pretty happy people with what they have. As has been pointed out to me just because its Chinese built doesn't mean its rubbish. I also get the impression that in Australia there is reasonable after sales service for many of the tractors accept for that brand I started looking first at. When it comes right down to it, the after sales service is going to pay a big part in what I settle on.

David

And that is the message of my line "Buy a dealer" , nothing more...

cheers

 

[TomSeller]

........ 5 years later, that guy isnt the dealer now more of a friend, and knows how hard i push this machine, when we catch up from time to time, he can't believe just how good it has been, if your unbiased you see things in a different light.
cheers stuart

I see you have 10 acres and 2 tractors. Can you tell us how you can push a tractor hard on 10 acres considering you have 2 tractors to split the duties? I am not intending any disrespect here, but want to get an idea of how hard this tractor is really worked.

 

[jkis]

tom, it interests me to why you think these tractors are limited to this 10 acres, when i got the 25 it was for my use, people would ask me to do there places, simply because, other people didn't show up, working on neglected properties, overgrown with regrowth, and suckers and rocks, car motors gearboxes and all manor of rubbish, twisting the cutter bar, 5 mins into the 1st job, i welded flat bar to the sides, after breaking to many cutters, i changed to chain, cheaper an i could have plenty of spare, the chain out lasted, the cutters 10x, i thought the slasher gearbox would be the 1st to let go, it out lasted the deck, although i kept repairing that, the tractor was run full revs to get the jobs done, changing gears to suit the terrain and the vegetation, the only kind things did for this tractor was to turn it off, clean the radiator out and give it oil and filter changes, not proud of what i did, and dont feel the need to explain it, but i sure am proud of that little chinese tractor, it looks a mess the mud guards are knocked around the seat has broken down, probably not worth anything in $ now, but it starts and runs ready to go again, is only a couple of months ago, the old 4ft 6"slasher got retired, the tractor now has a 4ft, seems so much quieter now the chains are gone
cheers stuart

 

[TomSeller]

i sure am proud of that little chinese tractor, it looks a mess the mud guards are knocked around the seat has broken down, probably not worth anything in $ now, but it starts and runs ready to go again,

Running a brush hog, if that is what a slasher is, is not really hard on a tractor in my opinion so you must have other things where you use it hard that it stands up to? I don't know of many brands that are "not worth anything in $ now" after only 6 years. Again, I don't mean any disrespect, but this thread is about purchasing a Chinese tractor and yours does not seem to be worked hard, is on a modest number of acres and is not worth anything (your terms, not mine) after only 6 years. Many tractor brands out there hold their value very well and would be worth nearly their purchase price after 6 years on small acreage.

 

[jkis]

tom, it interests me to why you think these tractors are limited to this 10 acres, i dont mind being asked questions, can you give answers too,
cheers stuart

 

[jkis]

tom, have you used chains inplace of cutters
cheers stuart

 

[TomSeller]

tom, it interests me to why you think these tractors are limited to this 10 acres, i dont mind being asked questions, can you give answers too,
cheers stuart

Your profile lists 10 acres. You clarified you have an additional 25. Together they are are relatively small acreage. If you have a Chinese tractor that works loaded up on hundreds of acres day in and day out, that is different than using it on occasionally on modest acres brush hogging.

You can use the big brands day in and day out, all day loaded up. If you are saying these Chinese tractors can do that, I would like to know.

 

[TomSeller]

tom, have you used chains inplace of cutters
cheers stuart

I no longer mow anything I have not seen in the winter when obstacles are exposed. Too many people say there is nothing in the grass, then you find pipes, bicycles, etc. I chopped the top off a fire extinguisher once and the tank shot across the field. That did it for me. So, no, I don't use chains. I have standard blades on all four brush hogs, standard disc mowers for hay, standard knife and hammers on the flail mowers and standard teeth on the old sickle mower.

 

[jkis]

whats your version of, "works loaded up on hundreds of acres day in and day out" for a 25hp tractor ?
cheers stuart

 

[jkis]

I no longer mow anything I have not seen in the winter when obstacles are exposed. Too many people say there is nothing in the grass, then you find pipes, bicycles, etc. I chopped the top off a fire extinguisher once and the tank shot across the field. That did it for me. So, no, I don't use chains. I have standard blades on all four brush hogs, standard disc mowers for hay, standard knife and hammers on the flail mowers and standard teeth on the old sickle mower.

when the job is given to me, i don't have the luxury, of waiting for winter to be able to see, on a lot of the ruff jobs, i have a fence to keep me inside the property and its used as a guide, the scrub regrowth ect are well over the bonnet and the roof at times, i would not have bought a 25hp to be doing these jobs, i don't recommend for people to do them, if you havent run chains, then you can only know what people that have run them can tell you,
cheers stuart

 

[sd455dan]

tom, it interests me to why you think these tractors are limited to this 10 acres, when i got the 25 it was for my use, people would ask me to do there places, simply because, other people didn't show up, working on neglected properties, overgrown with regrowth, and suckers and rocks, car motors gearboxes and all manor of rubbish, twisting the cutter bar, 5 mins into the 1st job, i welded flat bar to the sides, after breaking to many cutters, i changed to chain, cheaper an i could have plenty of spare, the chain out lasted, the cutters 10x, i thought the slasher gearbox would be the 1st to let go, it out lasted the deck, although i kept repairing that, the tractor was run full revs to get the jobs done, changing gears to suit the terrain and the vegetation, the only kind things did for this tractor was to turn it off, clean the radiator out and give it oil and filter changes, not proud of what i did, and dont feel the need to explain it, but i sure am proud of that little chinese tractor, it looks a mess the mud guards are knocked around the seat has broken down, probably not worth anything in $ now, but it starts and runs ready to go again, is only a couple of months ago, the old 4ft 6"slasher got retired, the tractor now has a 4ft, seems so much quieter now the chains are gone
cheers stuart

This is what the OP asked for -people with experience of chinese tractor ownership, (especially those residing in Australia) and you gave him a good description of how the tractor is used slashing (brush hogging) I understand that it still runs well- the most important thing!! and that cosmetically it may be a little challenged That's OK to ... it also sounds like he was interested in the size of tractor you own , another plus...since your's sounds like the right size?

Thank you for posting IMO the post was helpful




As far as buickanddeeres comment ( pay me now or pay me later) IIRC that is from an old advertisement where an owner of a vehicle did not change their oil resulting in massive oil sludge and engine damage---

That statement applies to anyone, who would buy any equipment containing an internal combustion engine- and then run it without doing any maintenance and then complain about it breaking down due to their own lack of following a maintenance schedule...

Hardly the sole territory of chinese tractors-

I will say that IMO Chinese tractors are for people who do their own wrenching, they are simple to work on .. one of the reasons most can be purchased at a considerable savings over a name brand tractor, and although there are tractor dealerships that work on these machines if you plan on having ALL the maintenance AND repairs done by the dealership I would suggest having the dealership provide you with a list of previous purchasers that you can contact concerning the service received.. and verify how long the dealership has been in business and what kind of warranty /service that comes with the tractor (in writing)...

For the OP Good luck in your search, and I hope anyone who has personal experience (good or bad) with the Chinese tractors that wants to chime in still will..

OH- and for everybody I hope it was a GREAT 4TH of July for you and yours:thumbsup:

 

[sd455dan]

Hardly the sole territory of chinese tractors-


This was not meant to suggest that Chinese tractors were (of poor quality) as I said- I own one and think it and other Chinese tractors are in many cases a very good bargain...For me that also includes being a LONG TERM bargain...

It WAS meant to suggest that- the statement of ( Pay me now or Pay me later) - Is about lack of maintenance and that ANY brand of equipment is going to cost the owner money to repair or replace damaged components due to lack of maintenance...

And after re-reading the placement of the post (pay me now or pay me later), it would appear that Bob read it the same way I did- which is to say that you (buickdeere) are implying that if a person does not buy a name brand tractor- Pay me now , the chinese tractor will fail

and therefore have to be replaced by a name brand tractor (pay me later)

My experience has been just the opposite.. bought the 554 for $7000 with the Koyker loader- there is no used- name brand 4x4 tractor with this much power and capability at anywhere close to this price, and I'm sure there are other used chinese tractors that are just as capable and as good a bargain...

2 of my used implements would not be usable had I purchased a new or even used Name brand 4x4 tractor at a higher cost. due to the fact that they would be unable to pick up either the Gannon box blade or 85" tiller let alone the power to run the tiller...

Heck if someone offered to trade a brand new 24 hp John Deere or Kubota for my old Rhino/ Shanghai (not gonna happen) and the name brand could not be sold or exchanged- I would not do it because the small name brands do not have the weight /power to do many of the jobs that the inexpensive used larger chinese tractor can...

THAT is one of the Key benefits of an inexpensive new or used Chinese tractor, upsizing in power and weight... so jobs can be accomplished that otherwise budget constraints - of purchasing to small of name brand would have made impossible... or used up the extra saved money that could have been used to purchase implements. This is of course no concern when (money is no object)



Most chinese tractors are set up with plenty of grease zerks , shims in drive sections and steering components that can be adjusted by removal or addition to keep assemblies in spec without purchasing new replacement parts, so in this sense they may require more effort at (lube) time... I prefer this to- non greaseable life time parts that cannot be serviced..

 

[RonMar]

Thank you SD445dan for understanding.
The topic does remind me of a classic old proverb that goes more or less as follows. Quote" the bitter taste of poor quality lingers long after the sweet taste of low price is forgotten" . Unquote

That is a great quote, kinda makes me think of something you might see over the door of a fancy dealership as you walk in, Maybe in latin It however does NOT describe my chinese tractor experience, and I am pretty sure this same sentiment is held by many chinese owners. My Jinma 284 has been fantastic and with FEL cost me just a little under 1/3 of what a green or orange tractor would have with FEL. This very comfortably allowed me to add brushhog, backhoe, ripper plow, post hole digger, chain harrow and I have built a few things for it such as a grader box and fork grapple bucket for the fel. It is with the impliments that the real work occurs. All totaled, I am probably a little over 1/2 the cost of what a comparable green or orange machine would have cost me without impliments. I have used the green and orange machines, and seen plenty of them broken. When you start engaging the earth, everything breaks eventually. I also do all my own wrenching and fabrication, which puts me in a different class of operator I think. It has been my experience, that the more mechanically savy are usually more sucessfull with just about any machine as they have a better grasp of the machines capabilities and limitations and having used tools, know when a tool is not right for the job... Even knowing that, I have pushed mine quite hard, removing stumps that weighed as much as the tractor, and brushhogging thru small stands of trees and brush well taller than the tractor.

I think SD445dan's last comment is spot-on. These machines are better suited to someone who does their own work. Are they fancy or have hydrostatic drive? no... Are they capable? Yes, very capable... From a personal standpoint I could break mine in half tomorrow, and I would go buy another bare tractor in a heartbeat and still be money ahead of the orange or green one WITHOUT any impliments... Heck, IF I had invested that difference, I could probably buy 2...

So here is my quote, don't recall hearing it anywhere before so I am going to claim it as my own

Sometimes a well chosen bargain shines like the stars in a clear night sky.
Ronmar 7/5/2013

Buickanddeere, do you even own a chinese tractor?

 

[Rich Waugh]

If I had 1600 acres to keep under cultivation I'd probably have the money to buy a big turbo Deere or Ford and might even do so. However, I have about 40 acres I maintain, mostly mowing and some fair bit of dirt work for rads and drainage work, and there are NO tractor dealers of any stripe where I live. Given my circumstances and low budget, my only options were a used machine of dubious history with no dealer support or a Chinese crate tractor and I become my own dealer/mechanic. I chose the latter and have never regretted it. My 30hp Jinma outweighs and outworks the Kubota of similar class, based on side-by-side comparison while actually working. (In fairness, that Kubota with the hydrostatic drive was easier to operate.) My investment, counting my time to assemble and prep at $60/hr came to less than half the price of a comparable-sized New Holland and 1/3 the price of the Deere. That enabled me to immediately purchase a bush hog, box blade and tree chipper. Assembling and prepping the machine myself taught me a great deal about it and I've had terrific technical support from three different Jinma tractor dealers in the States and never a problem if I wanted parts.

I have to note here that the relatively low level of mechanical sophistication of the Chinese tractor (as compared to newer "brand" names with hydro, electronics, etc) is a significant advantage to me, since my mechanical background is more than a little outdated these days. (grin) I am pretty good at improvising and modifying and have extensive equipment for doing so, which fits in nicely, too. I wouldn't recommend my method to everyone, but for many it is a nice fit and they, like me, are happy owning Chinese tractors.

I also own a fairly large number of Chinese, Taiwanese and Indian tools like milling machine, band saws, welders, plasma cutter, grinders, generators, drills, etc. I have good experiences with them because I am careful to examine them prior to purchase so I know what I'm getting. The Chinese can and do make high-quality tools - but they mostly get their reputation as junk from the Harbor Freight low-buck stuff that they manufacture to meet a specified price point, and those are mostly NOT what I buy. I do make my living with my tools, including my tractor and implements, and junk tools are not cost-effective in that regard.

People who don't have the ability or training to examine a piece of equipment and determine its capabilities really shouldn't try to save money by buying cheap stuff - they're better off in the long run paying the premium to get the brand name stuff from a dealer who has great warranty support. You have to go with your strengths.

What I'm saying here is that owning a Chinese tractor simply is not for everyone. if it works for you, then it can be a great value. But if it doesn't, if you're not prepared to do what it takes, then you're probably better off with a brand name and a good dealer. There's room for everyone in the market, and there are no absolutes as to what is right or wrong. But dismissing any tractor out of hand simply because it is Chinese or Russian or Italian or American is shallow, knee-jerk thinking that benefits no one. We live in a world economy (whether we like it or not), and the rest of the world isn't going to go away just because we dismiss it - in fact, a large percentage of so-called "American" tools and equipment are now made or assembled overseas, or made from parts from overseas. The lines get blurrier every day.

What I take issue with is someone with no personal experience whatsoever with Chinese tractors coming onto a forum specifically for Chinese tractors to gratuitously bash them. That serves no useful purpose whatsoever. Now, if someone like Greg G., who has owned and operated three or four Chinese tractors over several years and now has a John Deere, were to offer his opinion of their relative merits, that would be useful information to a prospective buyer. The difference is obvious, if you think about it. It all comes down to motives and qualifications.

 

[TomSeller]

Out of curiosity, are the Chinese engines held to the same emissions standards the larger name brands are held to? I don't know if I have seen that addressed. With everyone saying they are so simple, I wonder how that comes into play. One of the reasons I stay with older tractors is simply so that I can work on them.