nortrac???????

[BLUEBONNET2]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

 

[SPIKER]

check on them some of these have dual speed PTOs (neutral between the speeds) and a engage and disengage lever that can cause you to think you are in but miss one lever

Mark

 

[BLUEBONNET2]

good evening,

the store mgr assures me everything is covered...he has gone out of his way to make sure all is ok....located in tyler, tx..........he called me three times today...I think its a 6.5 gal. fuel tank....registered 1/4 on the truck, added about 4gal. fuel.....registered above 3/4 on fuel gage..so its close enough for me...clear tank like on bass boats would be great....

pto maybe something easy....just slipped out of gear and the lever is totally free...........

cutter does come with chains....had to add gear lube to the gearbox on the cutter.......

a Vietnamese guy selling a Chinese tractor with an American fel, to an old crazy gringo in east TEXAS.....go figure.........lol.......





got a pretty good parts list for the fel and tractor....however the manual is a c+.........

good luck,
PURA VIDA,
bluebonnet2

 

[BLUEBONNET2]

good morning,

the lights are great....tested last nite at 9.30...really like the rear work lights...

looked at the pto lever this morning, still has about 20" of play, forward and backward....about 8" side to side.....this hour meter is so small, even my reading glass don't help.....gotta use them as magnifiers....


good luck,
PURA VIDA,
bluebonnet2...

 

[BLUEBONNET2]

good morning,

NOW the purchase history............I looked at about 5 brands(Mahindra, JD, cub cadet(yanmar), new Holland, Kubota)...for what I wanted to work with,,,,all about $20000 or more....so I just looked at nortrac on line, also tym, LS,...

looks like almost all the above,,,,MADE IN CHINA>>>>

..checked a few postings here. watched video's on youtube.....about nortrac and foton...impressed.... called the store in tyler, tx(closest one) and decided to drive over and visit....I was quoted FREE DELIVERY by the clerk...............!!!!!!!!!, however, the freight was supposed to be $500....the store mgr made it good.....pulled the trigger......!!!!

I sold equipment for about 20 years, so I had a bit of knowledge about diesels, etc.

25xt with 5' cutter, fel.......13400.......... the request I made was for a Monday or Tuesday delivery(I'm off work)....they call Friday afternoon, said the unit was in marshall, and ask for sat. or sunday. delivery....I called out sat morning, roll back was supposed to meet us at 12 noon,.had breakfast with the driver(nice man)...........rollback didn't show up till 3.30....it was 100 out side....

I was told it was to be delivered on a low boy with ramps.....




so now I sit here with a new tractor with the PTO not working....off to work today....Monday should be fun.......

good luck,
PURA VIDA,
bluebonnet2

 

[zonta223]

Well I have the same model tractor and my wheels are adjusted in to give me minimum tractor width when going through the Vineyard and my valve stems are on the outside. Silly question but have you checked that the wheels are mounted on the outside of the hub?? (mine are on the inside for the above reason.

 

[ArmyPair2]

good morning,

NOW the purchase history............I looked at about 5 brands(Mahindra, JD, cub cadet(yanmar), new Holland, Kubota)...for what I wanted to work with,,,,all about $20000 or more....so I just looked at nortrac on line, also tym, LS,...

looks like almost all the above,,,,MADE IN CHINA>>>>

..checked a few postings here. watched video's on youtube.....about nortrac and foton...impressed.... called the store in tyler, tx(closest one) and decided to drive over and visit....I was quoted FREE DELIVERY by the clerk...............!!!!!!!!!, however, the freight was supposed to be $500....the store mgr made it good.....pulled the trigger......!!!!

I sold equipment for about 20 years, so I had a bit of knowledge about diesels, etc.

25xt with 5' cutter, fel.......13400.......... the request I made was for a Monday or Tuesday delivery(I'm off work)....they call Friday afternoon, said the unit was in marshall, and ask for sat. or sunday. delivery....I called out sat morning, roll back was supposed to meet us at 12 noon,.had breakfast with the driver(nice man)...........rollback didn't show up till 3.30....it was 100 out side....

I was told it was to be delivered on a low boy with ramps.....




so now I sit here with a new tractor with the PTO not working....off to work today....Monday should be fun.......

good luck,
PURA VIDA,
bluebonnet2

:thumbsup: That's the same way they took mine off and made sure I made a video incase something went wrong. The second truck cost 100 bucks and Nortrac paid for it.

 

[BLUEBONNET2]

good evening,

the video's(youtube) of the foton 254(nortrc 25 xt) show front valve stems out side, rear ones inside.....if this is correct, some body's got a tire change fix to be paid for.....not me....my fronts are on the inside.....

good luck,
PURA VIDA,
bluebonnet2

 

[namesray]

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.....?????????



good luck,
PURA VIDA,
bluebonnet2

I once talked with a guy about widening the stance on the front of my tractor, which has a loader, by dishing the front rims "out" instead of "in". He told me that because it has a loader and the strains and pressure a loaded bucket puts down on the front axel, it is better to leave the tires/rims dished "in" as that centers the rim and down pressures over the hub better. That way causes less strain on the axel/hubs then if the rims were dished "out". If there was no loader/front implement, then it would be fine to widen the stance by dishing the front rims "out".

Don't know if this is true, but just letting you know what I was told.

 

[BLUEBONNET2]

good morning,

yesterday was fun....valve stems on the inside for safety....I got the new redesigned dash....nortrac had to many issues with the gages(what I was told)


waiting on call from service group about the PTO....

thanks to all for the replies...we'll keep you posted....

good luck,
PURA VIDA,
bluebonnet2

 

[BLUEBONNET2]

good afternoon,

the pto lever has a small clevis pin assembly....the pin broke loose some how....I recommended grade 8 pins to nortrac.....service guy was here less than 30 min,,,,,!!!!

now with 5.7 hours I'm impressed so far....the little machine display a bit more power than I expected while bushhogging weeds and "stuff" 3 ft. tall...

after a few adjustments by the service guy, everything work properly....he owns a small tractor with acreage........knew right where to go even tho' he never seen a unit like this....

hr was impressed with the draw bar, water hose heater, 4 way hydraulics already plumbed to the rear....

I'm grateful for all the folks at nortrac who helped....

good luck,
PURA VIDA,
bluebonnet2