New tractor at TSC

VAChesterfield · Apr 15, 2007

I saw the Minot tractor, a 2WD 20hp model, at my local TSC yesterday. A quick Google search shows that TSC was founded in Minot, ND (a very cold place in the winter BTW) - hence the name, and that the tractor is a Jinma from China.

Check out this link for a photo for a shiny new Minot on the Chinese Tractor Owners Assoc. web site. A nice looking machine IMHO.
Chinese Tractor Owners Association - Photo Album

Before I purchased my TC 30 nearly three years ago, I looked long and hard at the Jinmas. Back then they were rather rough in fit and finish, and the advice I was getting from Jinma owners at the time was "Be prepared to do your own repair work". Since I am a weekend tractor warrior, with little practical mechanical experience, I opted for the TC 30.

That said, the Minot I saw yesterday was a marked improvement over the Jinmas I was looking at 3 years ago. The biggest challenge I see with TSC selling the Minot is the same challenge Northern Tool has with their Jinmas --- where's the service department. Evidently, it's the same place it was 3 years ago when I was looking -- in the purchaser's garage. If you are not a do it yourselfer when it comes to fixing your tractor, I suggest the better part of valor is buying from a mainstream manufacturer that offers service after the sale.

I am willing to bet real money that in less than 10 more years the Jinma tractor family will be every bit as mainstream, and that means solid quality with a nationwide dealer network, as the tractors from India and Korea.

cdhd2001 · Apr 20, 2007

I looked pretty hard at the 20 hp Jinmas (many different names) before making my purchase. Two things persuaded me against the purchase, size (turning radius) and reliability. Not many "good" reviews for chineese made tractors on the internet. I also drew on my experience with a chineese ATV I bought 2 years ago. When it runs it is great, but the reliability is really subpar. I am always fixing it. Yes, it does have a Honda Clone engine, but it is not built to as high of a tolerance as the real thing.

Besides, when you are making payments on a 5+ year note for a tractor, the big brands cost only a few dollars more per month. I decided to pay the few dollars extra per month for a reliable name brand tractor instead of paying a cheaper payment AND paying for repairs.

Just my $0.02.

thingy · Apr 20, 2007

I paid for my chinese tractor cash,,couldn't have done that with a big three or four,,I thought that was one of the reasons to buy a chinese tractor,or yamore or any other used tractor,,you buy it,you don't finace it,,if I was going to finace a tractor of course I would go big three or four or five or six,so..... thingy

johnk · Apr 20, 2007

I am speaking from experience. I bought a new chinese tractor and later a Koyker 160 loader. When the tractor ran,, it ran strong, but often it wouldnt even start. Lot of problems with crude stuff. Bolt loosened on the tie rod under a rubber boot and luckily I was in a field and going slow or it would have been catastophic if I was zoooming down the road. Parts are readily available and will get there quick. Many great dealers on this board that will be of assistance. Not knocking Chinese but just stating I owned one and it was great when running but like Russian roulette if it would be able to work and do the job the next day. I looked at resale value and if I was going to really do a lot of tractoring and in the long run I sold my Chinese one at a loss and got another one that so far has not let me down. The Koyker loader was a nicely built loader and no problems. I'm not trashing Chnese but had my issues with them and looking at the big picture { reliability, resale, and pleasure of operating} I wouldn't buy another. Just my opinion. The price is right, parts are available, and maybe I just got a lemon. I still go to Walmart every now and then. I think in the long run yu get what you pay for. If the prices were high and the performance wan't there they'd be out of business. To each their own... I actually like everythjing so not to offend any country , nation or whatever. Have a nice day! Opinions appreciated...

thingy · Apr 21, 2007

John,you more often than not do get what you paid for,no arguement there,,,but just read on the big 3-6 sites down below somewheres,,they break down pretty often to,,so,,maybe you don't always get what you paid for?
The only thing about most chinese tractors that is bad [considering they do run and work] is you can't take it back to your local dealer and get it fixed,,thats it,,,,we don't have a big chain of networks,,,just talked to Ron who goes by ranchhand,,he is fron eastern va.,,thats 5-6 hours from me,,he,[I think] is my closest dealer.

They cheap,,but they new,,other choice for many is,,buy yanmore,,buy a very used big three,[which you know could break down any min. and it generally does],,or chinese,,I bought one 4 1/2 years ago,got 570 hours on it,it has never failed to start,never broken down,[knock on my sore head again],,so maybe I'm lucky,,who knows,,,etc,,etc,,,maybe my next one will at least be a big 5-6,,but,,it just depends,,kinda thinking of getting another just like mine and having a spare,,thingy