Farmers Suffer from Choice Paralysis When Buying Tractors—Better to Rely on Yourself Than Others. Here Are Key Considerations for Selection.

Agricultural production cannot do without tractors. Now that the weather is warming up and the epidemic has come to an end, many farmers have already begun preparing for spring plowing. To improve productivity, some farmers choose to purchase new tractors. Buying new machinery is generally a good thing, but for villager Li, it has become a dilemma. Although Old Li is a seasoned grower and no stranger to agricultural tractors, when it comes to actually buying a new tractor, he doesn't know much about how to make the right choice. Due to technological advances, there are now many different types and models of tractors, leaving Old Li at a loss as to which one to pick. Moreover, he doesn't fully understand the mechanics, so he decided to seek advice from two agricultural machinery experts. Finding one person was fine, but the two experts he consulted had conflicting opinions—one praised one brand, the other praised another—leaving Old Li even more confused. He visited the agricultural machinery market several times but still couldn't decide which one to buy. In fact, to make a quick decision, you just need to keep the following points in mind, and you won't have to agonize over it. I. Factors to Consider When Choosing a Tractor 1. Budget When selecting a tractor, you should act according to your means and consider your budget. You also need to think about whether the tractor will be used for personal use or commercial services, for transport or field operations, as these factors determine which model to buy. If it's for harvesting, rotary tillage, or specialized transport, you should also do some research on market availability to avoid economic losses. Additionally, consider whether the supporting equipment can meet local agronomic needs. 2. Brand and Local Market Presence When choosing a tractor, consider models produced by large enterprises or those with a high local market presence. Such manufacturers have good reputations and have established comprehensive after-sales service systems locally, so you won't have to worry about delays in parts supply or unavailability of "three guarantees" service personnel. Priority should be given to tractors bearing the Ministry of Agriculture's "Agricultural Machinery Promotion License" mark or those that have passed "Agricultural Machinery Product Quality Certification (i.e., CAM certification)"; if not, it's best to purchase cautiously, as the quality of such products may not be guaranteed. 3. Cost-Performance Ratio Purchasing a tractor is an investment for farmers, so whether it's worth buying is a key consideration in terms of cost-performance. Many farmers only look for low prices when buying a tractor, feeling happy for a moment, but then back home, the product often has quality issues, and the three guarantees service cannot be ensured. Buying a low-priced tractor with slightly inferior performance, even with good after-sales service, will still waste some effective working time; after the warranty period, service and repair costs will increase, and work efficiency will be low, making it not worth the loss. 4. Type and Model Agricultural tractors come in three types: walking tractors, wheeled tractors, and crawler tractors; by power, they can be divided into large, medium, and small tractors. Among these, walking tractors are mostly small tractors, so they are generally used for small-plot agricultural production or short-distance transport, and are more common in rural areas of the south. Large wheeled tractors have high output power and work efficiency, making them more suitable for use on large-scale farmland, where their effectiveness can be better realized. When the workload is heavy, especially with more transport work, you should choose a four-wheel tractor with high power; conversely, you can choose a walking tractor or a small four-wheel tractor. II. Precautions When Buying a Tractor 1. Check the production date and don't buy one that was manufactured too long ago. 2. Request the user manual and warranty certificate (card); carefully check whether the data on the machine nameplate matches what's stated in the manual; carefully check whether the official seals on the warranty certificate (card) are complete; whether the warranty unit clearly specifies warranty terms and content; whether the easily worn parts provided with the machinery are carefully checked and verified; and whether the random accessories and tools match those listed in the product manual. 3. Request "one invoice and two certificates" so that you can claim compensation according to relevant regulations if quality issues arise later. The one invoice refers to the sales invoice, and the two certificates refer to the product qualification certificate and the three guarantees certificate. These are important documents stipulated in the "Regulations on Repair, Replacement, and Return Liability for Agricultural Machinery Products" issued by four departments, including the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection, and Quarantine. III. Checks Before Buying a Tractor 1. Appearance When buying a tractor, choose a model that is attractive and elegant, carefully inspect the paint finish to see if it's evenly glossy, and also pay attention to any scratches; if buying a tractor with a cab, also check the cab's doors, windows, and glass for any damage or malfunction in opening and closing. Check all welded parts of the tractor to see if the welding is firm and neat; all connecting bolts should be tightened; check whether there are any oil, water, or air leaks in various parts; check whether the tire quality meets requirements and whether any parts are missing or damaged; check whether safety protection devices, warning signs, and lights are complete and effective, whether each control area has clear markings and symbols, and whether each dangerous part is fitted with a protective cover (device). 2. Diesel Engine The power core of a tractor is the diesel engine, and its quality affects the tractor's performance, so when purchasing a tractor, you must carefully inspect the specific condition of the diesel engine. First, check the starting performance—after filling up with oil and water, it should start easily and quickly at room temperature. Next, perform a no-load operation check of the diesel engine. After starting, carefully check whether all related instrument indicator lights are normal, see if the engine runs smoothly and steadily, and also check the exhaust smoke from the exhaust pipe—normal engine exhaust should be light blue-gray. Finally, check the acceleration performance; if the diesel engine accelerates responsively and decelerates quickly, it indicates good acceleration performance. 3. Chassis The chassis is the support body of the tractor; it not only affects driving maneuverability but also relates to personal safety. Key aspects to check include: the steering system's steering gear assembly and steering tie rod ball joint assembly should be properly adjusted, with correct left and right steering turns, steering radius, and toe-in adjustment, and steering should be light and flexible with no sticking; braking should be easy, quick and stable, safe and reliable; the clutch should disengage quickly and completely, engage smoothly and reliably, gear shifting should be easy and smooth, gear meshing should be safe and reliable to prevent gear dragging, jumping, or jamming, and operation should be normal with no abnormal noise; the front axle should have no abnormal noise during operation, no pulling or wobbling, and the front and rear wheel rims should not wobble. 4. Hydraulic and Auxiliary Systems The hydraulic system is the main mechanism for working with agricultural implements, and its performance is also very important. First, hydraulic operation must be light and flexible, and all hydraulic components and oil pipe joints should be securely connected with no leakage. 5. Lights and Instrument Devices Since electrical and instrument components are not covered by the three guarantees, and lights and instruments are effective facilities for ensuring tractor safety, they must be carefully inspected. Check whether the front and rear headlights, turn signals, brake lights, electrical instruments, oil level gauge, and odometer are complete, firm, and reliable, and also carefully inspect the wiring to see if there are any open circuits or short circuits, and whether each circuit switch is sensitive and safe. For farmers, buying a tractor is a major event. If you don't buy well, it won't just affect the driving experience but also agricultural production. As the saying goes, "Better rely on yourself than on others." If you want to buy a tractor, you should still equip yourself with more relevant knowledge.