Buying fOTON 404

[drdage]

Anyone have experience with the Foton 40 hp or 25 hp units? How about spirit loaders? I am thinking about purchasing. I was loooking at Kioti as well but would like to spend less $. How much mechanical ability should a chinese tractor owner have?

Paul

 

[bluechip]

Because we sell both, Farmpro (foton) 40HP and Kioti, I feel qualified to tell you that there is no comparison, either in price or features/fit/finish and overall quality of the tractor. If you will use your tractor 100 hours or more per year and can afford the extra money for a Kioti, I would suggest that you go that way, but if you need to save some money and only use a tractor 50 or 60hours a year or less, a Chinese tractor will be fine. The amount of mechanical ability a chinese tractor owner needs is directly related to the distance and qualification of the dealer(if any) involved. We have many successful non-mechanical owners of Farm PRo tractors in our area because we do the maintenance and repairs in our shop as needed, but I talk to owners on the phone of many brands that have frustration at being in over their head with no local support. These boards (this and CTOA board especially) are invaluable to some of these owners. Farm PRo tried the 25HP foton and I saw a lot of them in the boneyard when I was there. could be problem tractors or problem getting parts, but it made me wonder...It is a good looking tractor, a little lighter than the Jinma, like a JM204 only with the 25HP engine. I like the FT404 but am undecided about the FT254, I think there are better tractors out there personally (like a KAMA TS254C! which by the way is the brand I am selling

 

[Affordable]

We sell the Jinmas and Fotons ,I agree with Chip on the smaller Fotons.We bring in the 40 hp and up on the Fotons,they are alot better quality,fit and finish.If you are wanting to save some money and have a little mechanical ability look hard at the Fotons.We have alot of Foton parts and bring in more monthly.We stock the FT404 with a shuttle shift,2-valved remotes,I'm not sure if Farmpros version has the shuttle or valves maybe Chip can answer that.We are putting Koyker loaders on them,nice looking tractor,great value

Tommy
Affordable Tractor Sales

 

[bluechip]

The Farmpro version has what I beleive some Kubota dealers refer to as a "semi shuttle" on lever is 4 speeds, another is H-L-R, it is not a straigt line shift form F to R and you may change ranges as R is clsoer to L than H. Tommy, Do yours have the shuttle lever up by the steering wheel? I have been curious about this since I have seen some fotons, even the 824 advertised with shuttle.

 

[Affordable]

Chip ours have a shift lever and handle coming thru the right floor board with in a comfortable arm length to shuttle with. It's very nice and easy to operate
it has F -N -R .The customers love it.You can do the shuttle .throttle,loader control all with your right hand and drive with the left.

Tommy
Affordable Tractor Sales

 

[rdbigfarmboy]

I have about 320 hours on a rural King foton 404. It is a great little tractor.

 

[drdage]

Thanks for the info. Anyone know much about the Spirit loaders? I understand that they are from Spain.

Paul

 

[Affordable]

Spirit loaders are made in Wi.,I have seen several,worked on a few.I think Koyker makes alot better product for about the same money.

Tommy
Affordable Tractor Sales

 

[drdage]

Thanks for the info. Rdbigfarmboy, what if any problems have you had and did you change fluids immeadiately after delivery? How is the warranty support and how was your experience purchasing from Rural King?

Paul

 

[crazymike]

The FT404 is a fantastic tractor.

We had a demo model in that we used to bring in hay wagons, rake and scatter hay, shuffle grain wagons, pull a 10' cultivator, harrow, loader work, bush hog, etc...

The only glitch we had with the tractor was one starter wire routed too close to the exhaust.

If you are looking for one in Ontario, Canada, I might still have a static display demo left over from a farm show. 40hp w/ cab

I can't say enough good about the Foton tractors. I highly reccomend them.

 

[crazymike]

Thanks for the info. Rdbigfarmboy, what if any problems have you had and did you change fluids immeadiately after delivery? How is the warranty support and how was your experience purchasing from Rural King?

Paul

Personally, I recomend checking for adequate fluid levels first. If everything is good, give the tractor a good burn in period. 1-2 hours. Vary the RPM, run the tractor around, run through the gears, hi/lo 4wd. Then do your service and change all the fluids and filters. (your foton should come with all the spare filters) This will get most of the filings, etc... off all the castings.

If you don't do this little burn in first and just change the oil, your new oil will be quickly contaminated with all the filings from your new engine. And then you will probably need to do another service.

The only other thing I reccomend with the foton, and any chinese tractor is get a few cans of rust proofing. Do your undercarriage, 3PH, etc.. any external. They are prone to surface rust. Although basicaly harmless, it looks bad. This is due to a poor priming process during paint. Something we have been trying to work with foton on.

 

[drdage]

I have been looking at purchasing through Ruralking in Il. They are telling me that their latest stock of 404's are 4 cylinder units and the hoods are about 7" longer then the 3 cylinder models. I talked to a dealer out of Ia who said that these 4 cyl. were a short run and about to be discontinued. Anyone else Know anything about the 3 vs 4 cyl situation?

Paul

 

[jwnge]

Anyone have experience with the Foton 40 hp or 25 hp units? How about spirit loaders? I am thinking about purchasing. I was loooking at Kioti as well but would like to spend less $. How much mechanical ability should a chinese tractor owner have?

Paul

The Spirit Loaders have been made here in Waupaca Wisconsin. They were a Jinma Dealer and had jinmaparts.com. They were also where I bought my Mahindra 2015 and were excellent dealer till he decided to just manufacture loaders. He no longer sells Jinmas or Mahindras. He seemed to be very proud of the Spirit loader.. John J

 

[crazymike]

I have been looking at purchasing through Ruralking in Il. They are telling me that their latest stock of 404's are 4 cylinder units and the hoods are about 7" longer then the 3 cylinder models. I talked to a dealer out of Ia who said that these 4 cyl. were a short run and about to be discontinued. Anyone else Know anything about the 3 vs 4 cyl situation?

Paul

The 50hp units are all 5 cyl

None of the 40s we have got have been 4 cylinder, but it doens't mean it's not an option.

Keep in mind, if you go with a north american loader, it may require you shipping the tractor for a refitting if the dealer hasn't done so already.

 

[rdbigfarmboy]

Mine care from Rural King and were pretty well preped.
Recently the brake light and safety start switch both are under the floor plate have shorted. The design of the switch is not water proof and moisture has shorted both.
Otherwise no problems.

 

[crazymike]

edit, my post had a typo, I meant 4

 

[Dargo]

My local Rural King just got in a new 70 hp Foton cab model and it looks completely different from the 70 hp model they had last year. The new unit is a vast improvement and the fit and finish are so much better I can't believe it's the same company! Has anybody bought one of those and put a Koyker loader on it? If I could get a good deal on R4's for the 70 hp Foton cab unit and a decent price on a powerful Koyker loader for it....man, it sure would be a lot of tractor for the money!! I'd love to hear if anyone has used such a thing; whether it's an individual or dealer.

 

[3RRL]

I saw those pictures too of those larger 70hp+ Fotons. They remind me a lot of my 55hp Kama only way nicer and with a cab.... more like pictures of the 80 to 100hp Kamas I saw. But the drive train and beefiness are very similar looking. The new Fotons sure are good looking with great fit and finish to my eye.

 

[crazymike]

My local Rural King just got in a new 70 hp Foton cab model and it looks completely different from the 70 hp model they had last year. The new unit is a vast improvement and the fit and finish are so much better I can't believe it's the same company! Has anybody bought one of those and put a Koyker loader on it? If I could get a good deal on R4's for the 70 hp Foton cab unit and a decent price on a powerful Koyker loader for it....man, it sure would be a lot of tractor for the money!! I'd love to hear if anyone has used such a thing; whether it's an individual or dealer.

we have sold a few with north american loaders and now have sold some with tool carriers and plows for commercial use.

In the spring we should be getting in the 125 HP models and hope to fit with duals and a quick attach loader.

 

[Foton404]

I have a Foton 404 with about 130 hrs that I upgraded from a 254a this year. I have a 40acre hobby farm and commercial mowing business. One job is a 70 acre business park, and the 404 is a workhorse. I average 0.8 gph with a 9' sickle mower. So this efficiency and economy translates to profit. The 254a with a 5' deck just wasn't cutting it, so to speak. For it's size it's a beast. Compare the castings on the 404 with the larger Fotons and it is apparent. Really a remarkable tractor for the price. Would I recommend it,..absolutely.