How to Choose a Satisfactory Tractor

There are over a hundred tractor brands on the market, with numerous models, complex configurations, and widely varying prices. Even industry insiders sometimes find themselves confused, let alone users. So how do you determine the quality of a tractor when purchasing one, and what factors should you consider to buy a tractor that is of good quality, economical and practical, reasonably priced, and suitable for your needs? 1. Visit existing tractor owners This is crucial. Before buying a tractor, be sure to visit several experienced users who have purchased and used tractors. They know best the performance, quality, service, parts availability, and income situation of the tractors they use, and they are also well informed about how tractors of other brands perform in local operations. Humbly seeking their advice will benefit you greatly. 2. Visit users who use tractors for field operations After large grain growers and agricultural cooperatives have used tractors for operations such as rotary tillage, plowing, and straw returning, they will have an objective and fair evaluation of the tractors used. Through visits, you can learn the real situation regarding operation quality, work efficiency, breakdowns, and waiting time after failures. 3. Observe tractor operations on site Pay close attention to tractors working locally, noting which brand is most common, which model is most numerous, and which brand and model are most favored by drivers and growers. Go to the work site to observe actual operations, and communicate more with drivers and growers to understand the real working conditions. Gold cups and silver cups are not as good as the reputation among the people — word of mouth is quite authentic and reliable. Never buy a tractor with a poor reputation. 4. Choosing the tractor manufacturer After the above three steps, you will already have a preliminary understanding of tractors. When choosing a manufacturer, note that there are too many tractor manufacturers today — which one should you trust? It is recommended to choose manufacturers of major brands. Tractors from major brands are generally satisfactory in terms of product quality, after-sales service, and parts supply. 5. Choosing tractor horsepower The trend toward higher horsepower is very obvious. Based on tractor sales data from 2017 and the second half of 2018, models such as 1804, 2004, and 2204 are becoming increasingly popular and are becoming mainstream. However, the specific model purchased should be matched to local conditions, including field size, contiguity, and specific operations: the tractor size should suit the local field size, concentration, and operation requirements. If fields are flat, large, with small elevation differences, and deep loosening and moldboard plowing are common, choose a larger model; if fields are small and scattered, choose a medium or small tractor. Otherwise, the efficiency of a large tractor cannot be fully utilized, while a small tractor has low productivity — both wasting fuel and failing to meet the demands of fast operation during the busy farming season. 6. Choosing the tractor chassis size Currently, manufacturers pursue high subsidies and high profits, while users pursue low prices and high horsepower. Tractors of the same horsepower come in large-frame, medium-frame, and small-frame versions. Small-frame tractors dominate the market because of their low prices. Take the 504 tractor as an example: a certain brand offers three versions — the C-type 504, A-type 504, and D-type 504. The C-type 504 has a minimum operating mass of 1820 kg, the A-type 504 has a minimum operating mass of 1160 kg, and the D-type 504 has a minimum operating mass of 2145 kg. Heavier tractors are definitely large-frame, while lighter ones are small-frame, and the price difference between large-frame and small-frame tractors is enormous. If you are doing heavy-load traction work, be sure to choose a large-frame tractor, otherwise the chassis is prone to problems; if you are doing medium or light load work, a medium or small-frame tractor is acceptable. The simplest and most effective way to distinguish large-frame from small-frame tractors is to check the minimum operating mass on the nameplate. 7. Choosing the engine manufacturer The engine is critical to a tractor — it is the power source of the entire machine, and the working environment is harsh, so the engine matched to the tractor must be of good quality. When purchasing a tractor, be sure to check the engine it is equipped with. It is recommended to choose engines from major brands, such as Yuchai, Weichai, Changchai, etc. If it is equipped with an obscure, unknown brand of engine, it is advisable to change it. 8. Choosing between four-wheel drive and two-wheel drive tractors Tractors come in four-wheel drive and two-wheel drive versions. Four-wheel drive means all four wheels are driven, with the front wheels also powered. The obvious difference is that the front tire tread pattern is the same as the rear tire tread pattern, and the front tires are larger than those on two-wheel drive tractors. During normal travel, the front drive should not be engaged, otherwise it will cause tire scrubbing; it should only be engaged on soft ground or during heavy-load traction operations. Engaging the front drive during normal plowing works very well. Four-wheel drive increases tire friction with the ground, reduces wheel slip, plows quickly, and lowers fuel consumption; with two-wheel drive, tires slip severely and fuel consumption increases. The fuel consumption difference between two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive of the same brand and horsepower is small, but the overall weight of a four-wheel drive tractor is heavier and the price is higher than a two-wheel drive. 9. Choosing the tractor PTO speed Using the tractor PTO to drive implements is one of the most widely used applications on tractors, such as rotary tillage, straw returning, and powered harrowing. However, problems often arise from speed mismatches, resulting in improper implement matching, low work efficiency, poor operation quality, failure to penetrate the soil, and inability to pull the implement. Therefore, choosing the PTO speed is very important. Tractor PTO speeds include 540 rpm, 1000 rpm, 760 rpm (720 rpm, 760 rpm, 850 rpm, etc.), and synchronous speed. 540 rpm and 1000 rpm are international and national standards, while 760 rpm (720 rpm, 760 rpm, 850 rpm, etc.) are manufacturer standards. PTO speeds on domestic medium and large horsepower tractors are generally dual-speed, with dual-speed power take-off options such as 540/1000 rpm, 540/760 rpm, 760/1000 rpm, and 760/850 rpm. In actual PTO speed use, 1000 rpm is generally used less frequently, so when selecting PTO speed, 540/760 rpm or 760/850 rpm is usually chosen. 10. Choosing after-sales service for the tractor Purchase tractors through regular agricultural machinery dealers. Be sure to understand the brand reputation of the model and the after-sales service capability of the manufacturer. Never buy tractors of inferior quality or those without guaranteed after-sales service. The model selected should be one that has been tested and demonstrated locally, proving reliable in quality and performance and suitable for local use. If after all the above methods you still cannot decide which tractor to buy, and you are afraid of being cheated, you can find an experienced old agricultural machinery hand to help you inspect and distinguish on site.