Foton tractors?

Dirtslinger · #1 07/25/08, 01:23 PM

I did a search with just one result here.
There is one for sale locally, a 45 HP 4WD model. Sounds like a few years old and under 10 hours on it. Which doesn't make sense so I need to check that.

Interested in hearing any experience with Foton's! Thanks.

Windy in Kansas · #2 07/25/08, 01:39 PM

And your local dealer is how far away in case you need parts?

Unless you consider tractors to be disposable items when they break I'd stay away.

Sorry, just opinionated with no experience with them.

Dirtslinger · #3 07/25/08, 01:45 PM

I don't know where the dealer would be. Often they come pick up for service from there though, but will look into that.
This is for my personal use and not going to be worked like a "real" farms. It'll be snow clearing, hay moving, manure cooping, brushcutting, etc. 5 hours a week is realistic. Will save a lot of hand labor though!

Scrounger · #4 07/25/08, 02:23 PM

It's a Chinese brand. I know the newer ones are built pretty good and have a good reputation. I'd bet the 10 hours is a misprint.
It should be fine for what you waht to do with it.
The new neighbor has a Jinma (Farm Pro) that he likes real well.
The Chinese machines are getting better all the time.....

scorpian5 · #5 07/25/08, 02:23 PM

Unless its for yard work and even then there better be place to get parts within a short distance. There has been alot of talk about the offbrand tractor dealers going under and leaving a gap making parts and service hard to find.

FL.Boy · #6 07/25/08, 02:45 PM

This question on china tractors come up a lot. Everyone thinks parts are hard to come by which is just not 100% true. I have a 2003 farm pro and i put about 5 hours a week on mine. There's two or three sites that i know of that i can order parts from and have them here in a week or two. Most parts like starters and alternators, belts and hoses etc. i can get at the napa auto parts down the street using cross over numbers that i found on the Internet. I got a almost new 25hp. 4x4 tractor with 135 hours on it with a front bucket, bush hog, box blade, forks and some extra parts for what everyone was wanting for a piece of junk tractor that was 30 years old i would not change a thing.

Also i think the china made tractor are going to sell better because when you can go buy a NEW 55 hp 4x4 tractor with a cab ac/heat and radio/CD player for $16,000 and besides most everything is made in china now anyways.

Dirtslinger · #7 07/26/08, 01:29 AM

Thanks for the tips.
Now does anyone have one of these, or have a buddy with one? I can't seem to find any "actual" experience with the Foton.

Quint · #8 07/26/08, 02:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FL.Boy

I got a almost new 25hp. 4x4 tractor with 135 hours on it with a front bucket, bush hog, box blade, forks and some extra parts for what everyone was wanting for a piece of junk tractor that was 30 years old i would not change a thing.

This is what I find when I go looking for a tractor. Any older piece of equipment that will suit my needs is beat to death and selling for waaaay more than it should be.

It's really difficult to spend 20 grand on used tractor that is old, used and not really everything you're looking for when you can buy a Chinese tractor form Northern Tool or the farm store with 40 HP, a front end loader and a couple of attachments for several thousand dollars less. The Jinma I looked at while a bit "rough" as far as paint and cosmetics went looked quite sturdy. The much more knowledgeable fellow I had with me, a tractor mechanic for about 40 years said it looked to be about the quality of a tractor built here in the 70s or so. A bit rough but quite ruggedly built. Yeah I'd like to have a new JD 5003 series or 5105 or NH or Kubota or something but wow the prices. Are they really THAT much better for regular utility work on the farm? end loader work, brush hogging, digging post holes, dragging smaller implements around etc?