nortrac???????

BLUEBONNET2 · Jul 15, 2014

good morning,

is nortrac made by foton?.............

just asking........no flames pls.........I just pulled the trigger on a nortrac 25 xt.....will kep everyone posted........

BTW....northern tool mgr's have a meeting at headquarters on aug 4........3 days ....I was told.........

good luck,
PURA VIDA,
bluebonnet2

Affordable · Jul 15, 2014

Yes it is a Foton,and they are using Koyker loaders. We can help you with parts after your warranty is over with. We work with Northern tool also to help when they are out of some parts

Tommy
Affordable Tractor Sales
"Your Jinma Parts Superstore"
Home of compact Jinma, Foton, and Koyker Tractors and Parts, Wood Chippers, Backhoes - Affordable Tractor Sales Company

BLUEBONNET2 · Jul 19, 2014

good morning,

well, there must be 100's of video's on youtube concerning foton's mfg. process and tractor use world wide.......to bad youtube doesn't have translation..lol

having said that, I wish northern or someone had a video of northern's facility and process when they check out and assemble these units,

I would provide a checklist for the customer when I sold equipment a few years back.....

I think it would help sales, because I've NEVER bought anything like this without a demo ride or at least a walk around...I sure hope they provide a check list upon delivery..........we'll see!!!

I will tell the purchase history upon delivery.......Nortrac 25 xt with loader and 5' cutter..........

I research a lot of "stuff" before pulling the trigger..........

machine looks simple enough to work on at home.........

good luck,
PURA VIDA,
bluebonne2

s219 · Jul 19, 2014

I saw one about a year ago and was not impressed -- the fit and finish was horrible. But that said, it's probably about right for the price range.

BLUEBONNET2 · Jul 23, 2014

good morning,

had a very nice visit with Tom(tractor mgr.corporate), at nortrac yesterday, for about 20 min.......very open for phone contact..........told me if I had any isssues, to pls. contact him direct.......

nortrac is working on a number of issues, presently and the future, including store mgr's training, deliverys, demo unit at stores, video's, etc..........

looks like they are in bed with foton for a while, says the relationship and QC is top priorites....he has been to foton(china) a number of times.. likes what they are doing for nortrac.........

delivery dispatcher call yester day for delivery plans.......

good luck,
PURA VIDA,
bluebonnet2

namesray · Jul 23, 2014

I too have looked at the nortrac's (website and catalogs only). Called northern tractor multiple times and asked tons of questions. learned a lot, but not enough for me to buy one without seeing them first. They seem ok for the average joe, but I question nortrac/foton's longevity. All most all of the "customer ratings" are good, but none of them seem to use them extensively, like more then 50 hours a year to say. I can easily put 300 hours a year on one, use almost everyday, and that is where I wonder if they would fall short. Stuff like seals, bearings, electrical etc... I strongly question over the long term.

Don't get me wrong, I would love to see one and give them a try, but no stores with in 300 miles of me that have them and no way to demo one.

Nortracs use to be Jinma=china 20-50hp. the upper horse power which were foton's=china also 70-82hp. Northern told me they had far less problems with the fotons, so they went with all foton around year 2009 about. There are more jinma's out there for parts and so, but I think foton is slowly catching up. Like "Affordable" said they can help with parts if northern fails. There are a few other china parts places to, so parts are around if "you" can do the work yourself, or have a repair facitliy near by that will do the work.

Bluebonnet2, let us know what you think of your 25xt. I am interested in the 25xt or 35xt and would love to hear an actual owners opinion. good luck with your nortrac.

SPIKER · Jul 23, 2014

My neighbor has a Foton and likes it I think his is 30 or 35hp 4x4. I have a 284 Jinma and the two are both worked pretty good. I do a lot more Bulldozer type work vs his is mostly mowing. I have 4x the acreage and lots of woods and creek to deal with but he has used his to help when mine was not powerful enough to handle it or when the floods washed in extra gravel (we put it into his drive.)

both are good tractors for the price and I do think the Foton is a bit above in fit/finish but mine is also 8+ years older.

Mark

ArmyPair2 · Jul 23, 2014

Yes it is made by Foton. I have the 40 XT with FEL and BH and next month it turns 1 year old. Up to this point I have not had any problems with it but one self inflicted wound that was a easy fix. It's just like all equipment that you need to stay on top of preventive maintenance. When it comes to filters and lubes my auto part stores carry what I need when they cross reference.

If I do need parts and if Nortrac does not have it, there are online stores like Affordable and a few others that are out there and yes I do have Affordable's site bookmarked. So far the tractor has done everything I needed to do as far as clearing land. Now if there was a downside owning this tractor I would give the manuals a big fat C minus and they should fire the translator.

When we was shopping for a tractor we also read about the 25 XT and almost pulled the trigger but for my land I would need more power and lift so I went with the 40 XT.

BLUEBONNET2 · Jul 26, 2014

good afternoon,

well after all issues with transport....I got it.....most everthing checked out EXCEPT......!!!! no gages.....like the video!!!!!!!!!!

all liquids were OK.........started right up...........levers are tight....2.2 hrs on the SMALL hour meter.....added 4.5 gal fuel,,,,registers 3/4 on the fuel gag..

engine mfg date 12-2012 ?????????????

cut for about 20 min....then the PTO lever quit....!!!!!!!!!

will have a few words with nortrac Monday..........

impressed with fel, overall appearance, cockpit, lever locations....metal hood and fenders,,,,got a few tools, and the little tool box on the fender ratteles like crazy...4 way hydraulics plumbed to the rear by the seat.......did not try 4wd yet....shuttle shift tight(its new..lol) very good seat...

any one reverse the wheels on one of these,,,,,the valve stems(they have protectors) are on the inside and it looks like it would add about 4" to the overall width.....?????????

will keep you posted............

good luck,
PURA VIDA,
bluebonnet2

namesray · Jul 26, 2014

BLUEBONNET2 said:
good afternoon,

well after all issues with transport....I got it.....most everthing checked out EXCEPT......!!!! no gages.....like the video!!!!!!!!!!

all liquids were OK.........started right up...........levers are tight....2.2 hrs on the SMALL hour meter.....added 4.5 gal fuel,,,,registers 3/4 on the fuel gag..

engine mfg date 12-2012 ?????????????

cut for about 20 min....then the PTO lever quit....!!!!!!!!!

will have a few words with nortrac Monday..........

impressed with fel, overall appearance, cockpit, lever locations....metal hood and fenders,,,,got a few tools, and the little tool box on the fender ratteles like crazy...4 way hydraulics plumbed to the rear by the seat.......did not try 4wd yet....shuttle shift tight(its new..lol) very good seat...

any one reverse the wheels on one of these,,,,,the valve stems(they have protectors) are on the inside and it looks like it would add about 4" to the overall width.....?????????

will keep you posted............

good luck,
PURA VIDA,
bluebonnet2

Thanks for the post and documentation of how the tractor arrives from northern tools/tractor. Northern should pay you for this, as it is to this point the most informative info I have seen from an actual owner.

Sounds like they are getting cheap, as northern advertises "all tractors arrive FUELED UP and ready to work". If I understand your post correctly, YOU added 4.5 gal and it still wasn't full?.

So sorry to hear the pto quit working. Let us know how that turns out.

Thanks again and keep on updating.