@sd455dan those Rhino's seem like they've done right by you; would you say they're among the better utility tractors imported from China?
You asked so....
I am biased, My dad actually bought the Shanghai/Rhino and tiller new in 1993, and when he passed I bought it/inherited it from the trust, but I also used to run it for him when I had time or he had bigger jobs or was out of town over the years. I used to tease him about buying this goofy China tractor instead of a Case or John Deere since I also did most of the maintenance and repairs over the years and he had Case equipment before.
If there was a problem we would joke about being "Shanghaied" by a tractor
Heck he even hired my wife to brush cut mow different properties with it ~ 60 acres in her spare time. Nephew's also operated it as well snow blowing properties using a standard 84" rear facing blower for more than two decades as well, before I bought the newer forward facing inverted blower.
It is definitely a physical tractor to run with a non synchro 6 speed.
That said,
Yes it has been a Very good tractor,
Little stuff like electrics (fuses) and quick connections were somewhat flaky, but the machine itself is Very stoutly built. Weighs more than say a Kubota M 7060 with cab and will maybe lift more.
If there is a more capable tractor for less money I would be surprised. These 504 and 554's have some impressive basic specs and came with these Options included:
basic tractor weight before wheel weights, FEL, or ROPS 5200 LB
wheel weights ~ 800lb
front axle outer hubs mounted in double shear, use 13" ring gears, and 4.7"OD outer bearings for support
MFWD with diff lock, 14.9" x 28" rear R1 20" x 8.3" fronts
1000 or 540 RPM PTO speeds
3 point- Cat 2 with Cat 1 adapters
South Dakota built Koyker FEL's with front engine cradle mount and trailing supports mounted to rear axle. ( once
lifted 83 40# bags of wood pellets on two stacked pallets) using forks, then drove forward down a hill and drove up and onto my tilt trailer carrying the stacked pallets.
203 cubic inch low 2000 RPM long stroke direct Injected engine, Shanghai put these 203's into some boats, and they were tested and rated at 70 HP but at a higher RPM.
3 Hydraulic Pumps-
5 GPM 3 point scotch yoke pump in transmission
11 GPM for FEL with Power beyond
5 GPM power steering gear pump.
Power beyond included with 2 remote valves by USA Cross MFG - will keep the loader lifted for weeks.
As pictured with the 1275lb. snowblower it tips the scales at > 8Klb.
suspension seat
Power assisted steering
Canopy / ROPS
Horn, High and low beams, rear work light, Brake , marker, and front and rear turn signals
When the opportunity showed up to buy the second one for about $3500 with a spike harrow drag and an 84" Schulte conventional snowblower that had been sitting decades I jumped on it. Can't buy the same Koyker FEL new for that.
Parts in the future could be problematic, Farm Boys in Tennessee disappeared in 2020, but parts I have needed have been bought through alibaba since.
These Shanghai Tractors were very popular in the China Homeland and accounted for 75% of the 50-75 HP volume for a few years.
Shanghai quit building tractors in the mid 2000's but if a person wants a new MG EV or drives a Buick Envision SUV it is built by the same Chinese Company STEC- Shanghai Tractor Engine Company / SAIC - Shanghai Automotive Industry Company
Anyway it has been in the family and was used commercially since 1993- 2010. It also has lived outside through most of it's life, I have a spot in the barn for it now.
Sorry for the long post but you asked, and Yep feel blessed, and a connection to my dad working it or even working on it.
