reliability question, historically

rlee6 · Jan 24, 2006

I am considering Chinese 25-30hp 4wd with loader. It is about the same price ($8k-10k) as grey Japanese with loader and same hp, but the greys are 1000 hours and 20 years old. (I should say I am considering both.)

Chinese tractors must be of decent quality. I have not seen a Chinese tractor owner regretting the purchase. If I buy a Chinese tractor, I believe I will be satisfied for the first few years. But will I be happy 10-15 years down the road? How long have Chinese tractors been around?

Thanks for your comments.

Wayne_Freeman · Jan 24, 2006

Considering the popularity and wide distribution of these tractors I believe replacement parts will not be an issue. The life of the tractor I believe is directly proportional to how the operator uses or abuses his machine and how faithful he is with timely upkeep and repair. I live on the coast of South Carolina and am an avid boater. My particular brand of boat has lasted me 12 years and going while other owners have trashed the same boat in five years. The only difference is I know how the boats were handled on the water and in the garage! The Jinma should serve you well.

Scozz · Jan 24, 2006

Beware of the hours on that grey .... 1000 hrs for a grey tractor is highly unlikely.

3RRL · Jan 24, 2006

rlee6,
I think you'll be happy with a new Chinese tractor. They're getting better every year with more parts and dealer service than ever. The tractors themselves are well built and are a lot of tractor for the money. I've been very happy with mine, finding that it does everything another brand does with the added cost savings to boot.
As far as your statement "( But will I be happy 10-15 years down the road?)" that is a loaded question...
You can apply that to anything you buy...your car or whatever, even your house for that matter. You'll just have to decide if it keeps doing what you want just as with those items.

zogman · Jan 24, 2006

Do you know of any Kama dealers in SC?

gunslinger101 · Jan 25, 2006

Everything breaks even us humans, depends how well you care for the machine and yourself for that matter. Nothing is 100% trouble free, but to answer your guestion, I have had less problem with a Jinma 354 than I have had with a Japanese made John Deere.
From what I have been told the Chinese tractors have been imported here for about 15 years, from then to now there has been vast improvement in the tractors made in China

rlee6 · Jan 25, 2006

Thanks for all the replies. I still haven't decided yet which to buy. Let me ask you one more question. It was stated that the quality of Chinese tractors improved in the past. Do you mean 2006 Jinmas are better built than 2003 Jinmas? Or are you referring to swivel chairs, curved hood, etc? Thanks.

By the way, I don't know how reliable hour meters are on 20 year old greys, but I see 1000 +_ hour tractors. As you indicated, who knows if the cable was damaged until the tractor was bought and repaired here in the US? It's another risk of buying a grey.

Tractors4u · Jan 25, 2006

( Beware of the hours on that grey .... 1000 hrs for a grey tractor is highly unlikely. )

Why?

slowrev · Jan 25, 2006

Depends on where the grey came from. If it is one of the rebuilt/refurbished ones from SE Asia then it is a good possibility it would have far more actual hours on it than 1000. Those people tend to use stuff up and not just trade it in every few years for a new one.

Just my observations and opinion though. Your mileage may vary.

Ben

Tractors4u · Jan 25, 2006

I am well aware of the Vietnam refurbs and how they replace the hourmeters as part of their refurb. It has been my experience in the 10 years that I have with the grey markets is that 1000 hours or less is average for the greys. The smaller the tractor the less hours. The exception to this was a Hinomoto C144 that I had that showed 1200 hours which is a lot for a tractor that size from Japan. When you get into the larger models, they will have more hours. I have seen two with extremely low hours, pulled from the shipping container. One was a YM1700 with 126 hours and the other was a YM1610 with 6 hours. With both these tractor you could tell by looking that they were original hours. No these are not typical of grey markets, but if you are knowledgeable enough you can look at most tractors and determine whether that 600 hours showing on the meter is really 600 hours or 1600 because the 3 digit hour meter has already rolled over the 999 mark. The way the Japanese use their tractors, they just don't accumulate a lot of hours. Having under 1000 hours is not unusual and that is why I have a hard time understanding why these refurbished tractors need an engine overhaul unless they are starting out with dogs.