Under 5k tractor possible?

[Steve C]

I bought a 2005 Farm Pro 2425 Ag Tires, with 50 hours on it for $4000. It came with a 5 foot brush hog, a 7 foot rear blade, a cultivator, and a 1500 lb cement filled lawn roller. Farm Pro is not the greatest tractor in the world, but the 4 wheel drive is a blessing, and the 12 forward gears are pretty easy to live with along with the 3 reverse speeds. The power steering is great. I have since purchased a 72" 3 point tiller and a 30" dirt scoop. This little tractor seems to work fine with these tools. The ROP is nice to have and the roof keeps the sun (and the rain) off my head. In the past I have spent many hours on a ford 8N (and prayed for power steering) but this little tractor seems to do a lot more work with a lot less effort and it just seems to sip the diesel fuel. The brakes are bad and the foot room is sparse. The 3 point has not hesitated to lift anything I have been able to throw at it. The 4 wheel drive is very handy when using the dirt scoop, this thing can dig! It has no resale value but it is a lot of machine for slightly more that the cost of a good lawn mower. I expect that at some point I will have to work on it, after all it came with a full set of service tools and spare parts like head gaskets and a large selection of o rings and other gaskets packaged in a tool box. The manufacturer must think that they will be needed, but so far I am very happy with it. It is crude when compared to a Deere or a New Holand, but for the $10,000 price diference for a low hour 25 hp 4 wheel drive tractor, I can put up with a lot of crude. If I earned my living with this thing I would own something different, but I am just playing with it on my little 6 acres. It seems to push dirt around as good as anything.

 

[LBrown59]

Not sure what the Grey Market tractors are or where to locate a dealer. Are these "chinese" made tractors? Ill google it and see if I can find out more.

They are tractors not approved for the US market.

 

[Soundguy]

Spek, check the Atlanta craigslist. In a 3 week period you will generally be able to find what you want. Have not looked in person but as of late there have been quite a few nice looking 8n fords for under $3000. There was one one owner 50 something that really looked nice for I think $3500.

heavy equipment trader in georgia has a ford 3000 for 4999$ for sale now...

soundguy

 

[Steve C]

This tractor was originally purchased new from Homier in Indiana. I am the second owner. The man I bought it from was 81 years old and his wife won't let him play with tractors any more since he has a tendency to fall down now and again. I don't know anything about approved or not approved tractors. I don't understand how a large company like Homier could get away with selling them if they are not approved. I think there is a problem with some of the newer larger chinese tractors being "not approved" but I thought the smaller ones were O.K.

 

[Steve C]

oops.....I need to pay attention...you were responding to Speck about "grey market tractors".... disregaurd my last post

 

[Soundguy]

In any case.. it's not approved or approved. grey market units were simply designed for a market other than our domestic one... and were then imported.. etc.

soundguy

 

[dgl24087]

Here's one in VA:

I am selling a early 1970'S 135 series massey ferguson tractor with 3 cyl. perkins diesel engine w/manual steering ONLY 2,200 HRS. Included will be a 5 ft. bush hog, snow blade, and 12 in. double bottom plow. Tractor runs and performs well. Will start in cold weather without the use of any starter fluid. Call 540-312-4820

 

[Diamondpilot]

I have to put in a second nod for the Farm Pro which is really a Jinma. I have a 28 HP version of the tractor and got mine new in 2003 for $9000 out the door. It has a FEL that will out lift my neighbors 50HP JD and also came with a 5' King Kutter finish mower. I have a Ford 861 which is something like 48 HP and the Jinma will out work and out pull it all day long. The only place the Ford shines is running a bush hog. The mower was actually the only junk part of the deal. I replaced it after selling it on Craigs List with a 6' Caroni that has been trouble free for 3 years now. The tractor itself has only need a new starter and one hydraulic hose replaced in 600 plus hours I have on it.

Don't get me wrong, the old Fords and like will last for ever but so will my Jinma. Its dead basic, and a true workhorse. For your money you can get a more modern tractor with a diesel engine, power steering, strong hydros, and 4 wheel drive.

Chris

 

[bjr]

I've a 5 yr old Jinma JM354 that's done good, No FEL or Backhoe. I just use 3 pt attachments. I did replace some lugnuts once and I got them from Jinmaparts.com. It was a crate tractor I put together and back then I gave $6300 for it. bjr

 

[Soundguy]

Don't get me wrong, the old Fords and like will last for ever but so will my Jinma. Its dead basic, and a true workhorse. For your money you can get a more modern tractor with a diesel engine, power steering, strong hydros, and 4 wheel drive.

Chris

I'm not gonna cut the jinma down.. but.. do you think you will be able to hit tractor supply in 50 years and buy parts for it? Parts availability down the line is a big part of tractor lifespan...


soundguy

 

[tommu56]

They are tractors not approved for the US market.

Approved is not an issue
They are built for sale in a country other than the us and are not supported over here for parts and service.

tom

 

[archerm3]

I'm not gonna cut the jinma down.. but.. do you think you will be able to hit tractor supply in 50 years and buy parts for it? Parts availability down the line is a big part of tractor lifespan...


soundguy

well that's true with just about anything at TSC, except for basic tuneup parts for 8N's, isn't it?

 

[Foton404]

They are around. I bought a '63 Ford 4000 (similar to 961) at a farm equipment sale for $2600 that was in very good shape. Motor is strong..no smoke... good oil pressure..new rear tires...new alternator (converted to 12v). There was surface rust on the hood and fender tops that I repainted, which is incredibly easy to do.

It was true luck since I did not go to the sale to buy this tractor. Farm sales or equipment sales are a good bet. Deals can be had, depending on the buyer audience. At this particular sale, small tractors were not hot items. All of the 7 or 8 tractors brought less than $4500. None of these units were junk. The next sale might be a pricier.

I think nothing of driving 150 miles to a sale which include listings of interest. Watch for local listings or postings. This holds true for attachments or other equipment as well.

There are other web sites: inronsearch.com and tractorhouse.com are interesting to get ideas.

 

[Soundguy]

well that's true with just about anything at TSC, except for basic tuneup parts for 8N's, isn't it?

N parts that I can remember off the top of my head that they carry:

carb, manifold, manifold gaskets, fan belt, radiator, pan seat, water pump, starter, starter drive gear, generator, steering wheel, fuel tap, radiator felt pad.. radiator cap, spark plugs, points, cap, wires, condensor, wire harnes old and new model, breather cap, sump drain with screen, thermostat, gauges, key switch, ignition resistor, lugnuts and studs, front and rear, pto cap front and rear rims, axle seals for the 9n/2n models, petcock for engine, fuel line elbow with screen, trans shifter handle ball, engine and trans oil dipstick, oil filter element, rear mount drawbar bracket using pto and shroud holes, front grill, carb rebuild kits.

Naw.. not many parts..


soundguy

 

[Steve C]

I think that with more than 2 billion people to feed, the chinese arent going to stop making these cheap little tractors any time soon. Most of the replacement parts I have been buying for my ford escort and GMC trucks are made in China. I would expect that in 50 years if you want a part for a ford 8N it will be manufactured somewhere other than in the good old USA. I don't like it but "world wide" Corporate leaders strive to keep the stock holders happy at any cost. And since they are usually very large stock holders themselves they do whatever it takes to make the largest profit. If that means buying a refinery and shutting it down to reduce capacity to drive up prices they will do it. If they can get your tractor parts sand cast on some beach in the Indian ocean by guys without shirts or shoes, they will do it.

 

[Soundguy]

I don't doubt chinese tractors will still be being made in 50 ys.. what i doubt is the parts yo need for a 50 yr old one will still be made. Heck.. in the last 10 ys didn't they already discontinue a 2 cyl engine?

soundguy

 

[MESSMAKER]

I don't doubt chinese tractors will still be being made in 50 ys.. what i doubt is the parts yo need for a 50 yr old one will still be made. Heck.. in the last 10 ys didn't they already discontinue a 2 cyl engine?

soundguy

A MF 135-145 or a Ford 2000-3000 can be had for that. I don't know if they are any tougher than an 8N but they are more comfortable and modern. You can do a lot of work with one.

 

[jas67]

I'm not gonna cut the jinma down.. but.. do you think you will be able to hit tractor supply in 50 years and buy parts for it? Parts availability down the line is a big part of tractor lifespan...


soundguy

Soundguy -- can you buy parts for your New Holland at Tractor Supply? I know that with the exception of very basic 3PH parts like pins a top links, I can't buy parts for my Kubota there.

They do have some parts for olrder gas-powered tractors like the Ford 8N's, but that is about it. There are just too many different tractors out there for them to carry parts for all of them. For that matter, even Messick's has had to order many of the parts that I have needed for my Kubotas.

My point, and the point of other posters, is that parts availability at TSC is probably isn't a good benchmark. The benchmark should be, will parts be readily available at a local dealer, or some online source.

For example, Hoye Tractor (and I'm sure others) is a great source for parts for Yanmar tractors that are 20-30 years old, both officially imported, and grey-market.

Personally, I'd be more concerned about the quality of anything coming out of China, vs. Japan or Korea. I would certainly stick with one of the more major manufactures, vs. a Jimna, or any of the other Chinese-built units.

I know that from my research into some of the Chinese-made clones of the single-cylinder air-cooled Yanmar diesel engines, many reviewers stated that they needed to disassemble the engines, and clean sand our of them, and some even had to touch-up on the machining work, before they had an engine that would run well, and not destroy itself prematurely (due to the sand). They also commented on loose/improperly torqued fastens, such as head bolts

Brands that I would consider, based on my research of this and other forums, and also word-of-mouth (in no particular order):
Kubota
John Deere
Ford/New Holland
Case/IH
Allis Chalmers
Massey Ferguson
Yanmar

IMHO, I think your money is much better spent on a good-condition used tractor of one of the above brands (I'm sure there are several other's I have omitted) vs. a Chinese tractor.

That said, if you do go Chinese, the Jimna seem to be better known, and you'll probably find more help on this and other forums than with some of the others.

 

[cowboy357]

Seems to me everybodys worried about the availability of parts for the grey market tractors except the ones that own them . For the Money I have in My Isekis & the lil yanmar I just got. I,ll take my chances .

If something is not repairable & I have to scrap them for parts , I will still get My money back in good parts alone . But after 10 years or so of dailly use , several hours a day , at least 300 out of 365 days a year . I haven,t bought or needed a part yet that I couldn,t find or repair .

There aint no intrest when You pay cash either . 5 or 6 k is a heck of a lot better then the 20 to 40 k some spend just for a play toy. I use Mine . .

Most Posts in the Iseki forum , are people thats thinking about buying a used one , Only to be scared off by the ones that say You cant get parts for them. Unlike the High dollar tractor forums That are constantly talking about talking about their stuff breaking down .

Just an observation from a Cheapskates point of view . If I cant pay cash I dont buy it . I,m only talking about the ones that need a decent tractor for personall use .

You Folks that make a living using them , Its understandable You need a good dealer/parts supplier , as well as a warranty & name brand , Thats Your bread & butter . But to advice someone to go into debt , Just because of zero intrest deals is just bad advice IMHO . Thats one reason the economy is the way it is . Bob

 

[KennyV]

Bob ...
I have seen it stated in other ways, but I do believe you have clearly stated what should be obvious.
On this you are absolutely right. KennyV.