Contents

The Big Grey Area

Safety

Electronic Mailing Lists

Parts & Support

Reader Feedback

"What is a 'grey market' tractor?"

If you shop around for anything larger than a garden tractor, sooner or later you will hear the term "grey market" tractor. A grey market tractor is simply a used tractor, usually a compact diesel, imported from another country, usually Japan. Demand for compact diesel tractors is quite high and grey market tractors are becoming a popular option for an increasing number of tractor buyers. However, there are both advantages and disadvantages to purchasing a grey market tractor. 

The main attraction is that these tractors are usually less expensive than nearly identical made-for-US models. For a variety of reasons -- currency exchange rates, differences in the value of used equipment overseas, low import tariffs, etc. -- used equipment dealers can profitably resell these tractors for less than domestically used machines. By the same token, grey market tractors are worth less when they are traded in.

The main disadvantage to grey market tractors is that the manufacturers despise this practice and are actively trying to stop it.  Manufacturers claim that these tractors are different from those manufactured to US standards, particularly with respect to safety features. Also, although grey market tractors bear familiar trademarks, the manufacturers have not set up the dealer training and parts service networks in the US to support these particular models. So, no support for this equipment is available from the manufacturers or from their licensed dealers.

Foreign models also may not have part numbers that correspond to domestic models, which can make it difficult or impossible to obtain replacement parts. And manufacturers say that safety drawbacks such as foreign language warning labels, instrumentation and operator manuals, lack of ROPS, seat belts and PTO shields make these tractors non-compliant with US safety standards at best, and at worst, unsafe. Also, in some cases dishonest or uninformed resellers are misrepresenting reworked grey market tractors as domestic models. Manufacturers are fighting the inevitable customer confusion that is resulting from their ability to support only certain models of their own name-brand equipment.

On the other hand, independent dealers claim that grey market tractors are mechanically identical to the overpriced so-called "US models" and that a few safety labels, some inexpensive PTO shields and an add-on ROPS and seat belts can easily make them equally safe, as well. They claim to have cross-references for nearly all parts and that manufacturers are unfairly restricting the market by refusing to support these tractor models.

Unscrupulous dealers? Greedy manufacturers? A little of both? The bottom line is, as always, that the buyer should beware. If you choose to purchase a grey market tractor, consider the above issues carefully and make sure you have an independent dealer who can support you for the forseeable future. If you are shopping for a used tractor, be very sure of what you are buying.

Safety

A huge safety risk with grey market tractors is their lack of rollover protection. If your tractor is not equipped with a rollbar (ROPS), adding one is probably the best investment you can make. Start by contacting the manufacturer to find an authorized dealer in your area who can equip your tractor with a ROPS and a seat belt. If the dealer won't help you, contact one of the following:

Custom Products of Litchfield, (800) 222-5463.
Full-Vision, (316) 283-3344.
Saf-T-Cab, (209) 268-5541.

Electronic Mailing Lists and Message Boards

To exchange information with other owners of small (<40HP) compact diesel tractors, join one of the following mailing lists:

• Grey Market Tractor Club. "A valuable source of information and resources for the owner or potential buyers of Japanese grey market tractors."
• Mitsubishi Tractors Club. Information exchange for Mitsubishi and Satoh tractors.
• For topics of particular interest to owners of Yanmar tractors.
• Yanmar Tractor Owners Group. 
• Owners of chinese tractors who want to network with others should join the Chinese Tractor Owners Association (CTOA).

Parts and Support

Popular grey market tractor brands include Hinomoto, Iseki, Kubota, Mitsubishi, Satoh, Shibaura and Yanmar. The following companies may be helpful resources to anyone owning or trying to support any of these grey market tractors.

Note: A tip about tires (thanks to Wayne Foreman at Little Miami Trading Co.): Grey market tractors are often equipped with "rice" tires on 22-inch rims. Replacement turf tires can be difficult to find; however, Firestone is releasing their Turf & Field tire in 9.5 x 22, which should be available from dealers now.

Allied Tractor
New and used Japanese and Chinese tractors, parts and accessories.  13676 York Road, North Royalton, OH 44133, 440-230-1181.

Barnett Tractor Co.
New Market, AL.  256-379-3700, or send email.

Beverage Tractor and Equipment
Rte 1, Box 494B, Stuarts Draft, VA 24477, (540) 337-1090.

Brooks Equipment Sales
127 Mechanic Street, Leominster, MA 01453, (508) 534-5211.

Buccaneer Equipment Company
16125 Florida Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70819, (504) 272-3666.

Crosby Equipment Co.
C&C Warehouse, 6719 Dorr Street, Toledo, OH 43615, (419) 865-7991.

Double A Farm Equipment
Specializing in Yanmar tractors and parts.  685 East Main, Hohenwald, TN, (931) 796-1136, or send email.

Fredricks Equipment Co.
Yanmar and Zen-Noh brands.  110 Smithson Dr., Hartselle, AL 35640, (256) 773-9951.

GD Equipment
Specializing in parts for SATOH and MITSUBISHI tractors. 385 W. Metzler Rd., Ephrata, PA 17522, (717) 859-3533.

Hilliard Equipment
Used Yanmar tractors; website advertises support for other Japanese brands. Dodd City, TX, (903) 583-1908.

Homestead Tractor
Parts for Yanmar, Kubota, Mitsubishi, Shibaura, Hinomoto, Satoh & Iseki. 22311 Bear Valley Road, Apple Valley, CA 92308, (760) 240-1610.

Kenner Farm Supply
Yanmar dealer with access to parts for Kubota, Hinomoto, Mitsubishi, Shibaura and Iseki. 301 8th Street, Lewisburg,KY 42256, (502) 755- 4644, or send email. 

Liberty Equipment & Supply Co.
1620 East Main Street, Liberty, MS 39645, (601) 657-8255.

Little Miami Trading Company
Grey market tractors, parts books, implements and Yanmar parts.  8581 Bindley-Mounts Rd., Blanchester, OH 45107, (513) 877-3000.

OK Used Tractors
201 West "A" Street, Newton, NC 28658, (704) 464-1200.

Sheaffer's Town & Country Tractors, Inc.
Specializing in Yanmar tractors, parts and manuals; also Kelley loaders & backhoes. Email sheaftractor@coiinc.com or phone (815) 284-3226.

SRS Sales & Repair Service
Manuals and parts for Kubota, Mitsubishi and Yanmar tractors.  Box 277, Danville WA 99121, (250) 442-0465, or send email.

Stevens Tractor Co.
Kubota and Yanmar parts. RR 1 Box 32B, Hwy 71 N, Coushatta, LA 71019, (800) 333-9143.

Tag Equipment Distributors, Inc.
608 Cherokee Blvd., Chattanooga, TN 37405, (423) 265-0475.

Torresen Marine, Inc.
Parts for YANMAR engines. 3126 Lakeshore Drive Muskegon, Michigan 49441, (616) 759-8596.

Tractor Company
P.O. Box 729, North Bend, WA 98045, (425) 831-6730 or send email.

Reader Feedback Page - Read what others have to say about their experiences with grey market tractors.

The author would appreciate your feedback on experiences with grey market tractors as well as additional sources for parts & support.