Lovol TB554 Long Term Review - Are Chinese Tractors Worth Buying Yet?

After spending 2 years and 157 hours with this "new design" 4wd 55hp Foton-Lovol utility tractor made in China, it's time for a review. This tractor is on the same chassis as the TB404, TB454, and TB504 (I believe it's really designed as a 45hp chassis, it seems smaller than most 55hp tractors). It is also identical to the Northern Tool Nortrac 45XT and 55XT tractors. If you're curious about buying one of these, check out this video.

[mickflynn]

I am a retired CDN expat living in remote SE Thailand . I bought a Tavol 704 directly from China. I dumped my Kubota.(no front end loader or backhoe available in Thailand). The container was supposed to leave China today. I will review this whole process from the start so you can compare if you like.

[ericemmanuel]

Dude thank you for sharing your experience with this tractor. Its a nightmare. You saved me alot of headache.

[andrewkmac]

Not an exaggeration...but I had a deal in place to get a 554 and saw this review...I'm going to pay more for the peace of mind of a Kubota.
Thank you! You saved a bad decision.
Where have you been for my first 40 years!!

[kdegraa]

I was considering buying a Chinese tractor. We looked at a few of them. In the end we decided against it and spent the extra money to buy a Kubota. After watching this video I’m glad we did. It cost more money. However we got a zero percent finance deal and the resale value on tractors similar to ours high. I’ve seen a few second hand Kubotas around ten years old with up to 1000 hours and the price is within 10% of what we paid for ours. So I think if it’s looked after & not abused it should be a good long term investment.

[stevangucu]

Western manufacturers of tractors have advanced so far with electronics, precise transmission, good cabin it rose price of all tractor in line from 80-150 hp. People in East Europe need tractors to replace older ones, but their options are 10-20 years old used tractors which usually require transmission and electronics overhaul. That is where Chinese tractors fill the gap. In my country YTO has a pretty good reputation for being reliable and powerful tractor with simple analog FIat mechanics. We bought new YTO 1304 (130hp) it had few assembly problems like hoses leak from cabin, and a faulty low pressure pump but technicians from representative firm Agrovojvodina took care of that in one day.

It would be great if Western Manufacturers had a line of quality analog tractors for poorer markets with nice cabin, but for now Belarus and Chinese tractors are filling that spot.

[Jerram]

Good review. In Aus they sell these things at what sounds like an expensive price for the issues you’ve shown. Generally you can get a Kioti for about 10% more and a Deere or Kubota for 30% more. Worth the extra.

[jessebimbo]

I like how Frank you are talking about your experience with the tractor I’ve just recently discovered the tractor and was thinking about purchasing one directly from the manufacture it’ll be great if you could go into more detail about the purchase that would be great thank you

[MindoroFarmLife]

Great review...I just found it.... we're looking at Chinese alternatives to Kubota here in the Philippines....Seems like many of the issues are related to the engine swap to meet Canadian EPA regs....and the half-assed bastardized conversion....but I wonder how others have found the performance of the original engine...

[TheOriginalLars]

Thankyou for this review, not looking at this brand anymore!

[oBseSsIoNPC]

Well, the review is thorough and to the point, good job and thanks for taking the time to showcase this brand. I expected nothing less and no more than what you have shown. If you looked up just a handful of quality components, you will find that $15, 000dollars is just impossible to make a tractor for. And so it shows with everything that matters :(
I am a JD nut, but I am absolutely impressed with Kubota. They too have external pumps, great warranty and use the quality parts in the right places.
Never buy JD, they are engineered worse and worse every year, while prices are going up.

[magnusjsvensson]

I guess the thing with this kind purchase is to get away cheep! Its clearly a risk! If your willing to take it, you could be lucky and you could be unlucky! Depends on what your are going to use it for and how much! It looks pretty solid !
M

[williamsickner]

1953 Ford Jubilee had the same hydraulic pump setup.

[ricstephens]

Buy some lucas hydraulic oil booster for those leaks. Also checkout their trans additive. I have a china 55 hp 4x4 backhoe and the lucas stopped the only leak I had.

[IsambardKingdom]

Think you will find that hydraulic tank is just a surge tank there is also hydraulic oil in the compartment on top of the transmission that this tank connects to - letting the oil level down a little in that upper tank won’t be a problem.
I have a Chinese tractor that doesn’t have this surge tank - you just fill the top compartment to a little over 1/2 full - never a problem.

[IsambardKingdom]

Have you checked the relief valve settings before whinging about the hydraulics being weak - sometimes just a few hundred psi can make a big difference!

[JamesHGroffSr]

I already made a comment on Jinma tractorsI had an injector go out on me on my 2425 had a five foot bush hog on it and it still had the mussle and power to get done.Well anyway i pulled all injectors out and number three cylinder in back would not atomize'I checked the fuel pump and found out the spring that makes the plundger return waa broken i replaced it with a simler common hardware spring cut it to length with cutweel put it back in fuel pump and fired it up, sureas hell i was back in bussiness'When i ordered oil filters i also got three new original Jinma springs'I do not like to bust on tractors they feed people and do enormess amount work'If they dont work it is usually something very simple or the operator has not educated himself on the manufactors manuals?

[scottthompson]

Do you still have this and have you replaced any more filters aside from the engine oil filter? I'm trying to find fuel and hydraulic filter in a USA market.

[JamesHGroffSr]

Go out and buy a Jinma.I have two of them, one is a 2524 with creeper gear nasty critter ALL POWER the other is 2824 with shuttle shift hate it but is was a good deal if i had it to due all over again i would check the speeds just make sure you order creeper gear trans.I trying to see if i can purchase a transmssion for it with creeper gear and change it myself.Purchased mine from Affordable Tractor in Texas about twenty years ago.Love them three cylinder diesels.They are made to be repaired in the field.

[TheDustbinofHistory]

I just bought a 2007 404 at auction for $3, 700. It appears to be in new condition with no signs of use. We'll see how that works out. I'm going to change the oil now. Thanks for the tip. It's totally different from my Farmtrac, which is basically a legacy Ford made in India. Again, a clunky transmission with no synchronizers, but no real problems. Foton is a heavier-design. Probably something to do with Stalinism.

[martinbartlome]

Hello there,
Pretty full description. I'm also looking for those kinds of farmer machines for technical reviews and see if there are compatibilities with common US or Europeans machines.
I'll greatly appreciate if you could let me know where you purchased it for me to go and get one.
Cheers.