Foton, Anyone own?

[tangstang79]

Just wondering what your thoughts are on a Foton? I'm looking to purchase in the next 10 months and just looking at my options? It would be used maybe 2-3 times a week. 1 day to mow and the other 1-2 for misc stuff around the house. Looking for somthing in the 30-50hp range mostly considering the 404 with the cab, heat/ac FEL and hoe.

 

[zonta223]

Just wondering what your thoughts are on a Foton? I'm looking to purchase in the next 10 months and just looking at my options? It would be used maybe 2-3 times a week. 1 day to mow and the other 1-2 for misc stuff around the house. Looking for somthing in the 30-50hp range mostly considering the 404 with the cab, heat/ac FEL and hoe.

I have an FT404 (without cab), Had it 12 months . found it to be a great tractor. All my friends are amazed at what my "little" tractor compared to their tractors with a lot more horse power. Now getting requests from them to loan my tractor as its a lot easier to run in wooded country.

 

[tangstang79]

Thanks. Ive been considering one of these since I can get one of these new for a little more than i can any older used 15yr old of the major brands around my area with the options I'm looking for.

 

[tangstang79]

anyone else own one?

 

[jimogeek]

I've got one of the smaller tractors, a 2006 Foton 250a with a front end loader. It's a fantastic little tractor, handles a 72" finishing mower just fine and the loader is essential for the type of work I do. I only use it a few hours a week doing chores around our mini-farm, cutting a few acres of grass and doing odds and ends and so far no problems. I just had an overheating problem, but was just low on coolant. Flushed the system, added new diesel specific coolant and now the needle stays at 60c when running for over an hour at 2200 RPM fully loaded cutting grass.

 

[tangstang79]

So far they sound to be a decent "hobby" tractor. Thats about all i want it for. Digging some small ditches, moving snow, mowing and so on.

 

[jimogeek]

Then this tractor is perfect. I think it's pretty darn heavy duty, but it is unrefined. I'm the type that appreciates simplicity and ease of maintenance over fancy, especially on something that by its very nature you'll abuse.

 

[Rich Waugh]

That's why I like Chinese tractors in general - simple and robust, for the most part. Old enough technology that I can almost understand most of it, too. (grin) I've found that my Jinma 30hp is far more robust and heavier than the higher end tractors, too. Not sophisticated, just sturdy and dependable. If you understand and accept that the quality control at the factories isn't as diligent as it could be, then you simply go over your new tractor and tighten everything and check all connections and joints and put in all new high grade fluids and you should be good to go. And when it does break, which it will since that is the nature of heavy equipment, it is easy to fix it yourself and the parts are reasonably priced.

 

[succor]

I've got a 2007 foton 254; great tractor! Do your regular maintenance and you will not have very much trouble at all. Got 350 hours still runs like new of course. Great all year around tractor!

 

[greg_g]

Since the late 90s I've owned Jinma, KAMA, TaiiShan - and wrenched on Foton. My impression is that Foton is the superior machine

//greg//

 

[jkis]

i have the foton 250a has done a lot of work and still ready to go, after buying mine, i have notice there about 1/2 price on ebay with 100 or 200 hrs on them, kick myself for getting a brand new one, could of had 2
cheers stuart

 

[coondle]

I bought a 504 Euroleopard which is a rebranded Foton 50 ehp Roll frame and sunshade 4 unequal WD Very Very happy except paint is noy good
Chinese brand engine it runs my NH square baler to the balers limit in hilly country and NH recommend 80 ehp min
I have run my Bale Bandit with it a challenge on very steep hills even ballasted and Bale Bandit needs min 90 hp but the bandit has its own pto driven hydraulic power pack as hydraulics do not give 92 litresPM at 2500PSI
It pulls a 7ft grader blade in loamy country and I can fill the blade Bought it secondhand with 192 hrs on clock f0r under half new price now around 1300hrs
Only problem a new bearing for the shaft driving the front wheels Bearing and two seals (one to keep oil in and outer around other way to keep dirt out) cost $27.00 but I put new oil in transmission $200.00
So happy I bought a 604 with 122 hrs for less than half price, equipped with level lift front end loader a perkins 1000 series 4 cyl made under licence
Fantastic it runs the bale bandit better than the 504 and as fast as i expect the bandit to go
Handles the 1/2 tonne packs with ease and pulls my 2000litre 18 metre boom spray reasonably well a bit slow up steep hills when full but soon learnt to do those paddocks when not so full
Have had a clutch problem the previous owner was quite aged and apparently traded it due to inability to manage a heavy clutch so unsurprisingly at approx 700 hours clutch plate worn out
Not easy to get a replacement so refaced it
At 780 hrs clutch failed again this time friction material stripped off clutch plate on one side
Very close inspection showed pressure plate dished toward centre by approx 1.9 mm
Sooooo machined plate and flywheel resurfaced clutch plate with material giving some 187 thou total thicker and bonded and riveted not just riveted (a belt and braces approach) cost of that total under $500 net
Now reassembled and about 40 hrs done with fingers crossed
Could do with more hydraulic capacity ie FEL a bit slow on lifting but again VERY VERY happy
All of this about $40 cheaper than some other well known brands albeit a sunshade rather than a cab
No hesitation to buy another if needed price power and performance TOPS gave best bang for buck
I also have a Jung Liang (unsure of spelling) industrial front end loader 10Tonne 125 hp class 1.7cu metre bucket Deutz motor under licence and very happy for my farm use again bought secondhand with 117 hrs
Anything else for the price of that class I was looking at a 15000 hr machine ready for a full rebuild

 

[Chris D]

I have a 404 Foton here in Australia and have had it for 5 years. They are a good, simple and honest machine. Make sure that you change all oils soon after you get it, particularly the oil in the transmission and final drive (one in the same). The as - delivered oil is sometimes of poor quality and the tractor will benefit from a reputable oil. The submerged brakes will squeal a lot less for instance when it gets a bit warm. Chris

 

[Madmac74]

I have a 2009 254 foton , and I bought it with 200 hours . It has almost 1000hrs on the clock now and those are hard earned ones . I own a business providing compact tractor services with 8 different attachments ; loader ,rototiller, boxblade,backhoe,posthole digger, single bottoming plow, middle buster plow and 3 point reciever hitch. I'm a professional Heavy Duty Eqiupment Mechanic and I've worked on everything from underground mining machines to 400 tonne heavy haulers,and everthing inbetween, I 'm so impressed with this little Foton that I'm going to try to become a dealer .:

Parker @ PHM Services

 

[PAUL161]

I have a 604 I bought in 2008 and it's a very nice tractor. FEL and detachable back hoe. It was $15,000 less than a JD with the same options. Since it is stored in the barn when not in use, it looks almost as good as when it was new. Very powerful, 16 speeds forward and 8 in reverse. How many speeds do you need in reverse! It was a very good buy and gets used quite a bit! PJ