Buying Guides
TYM and Branson Tractors: Lineup, Reliability and Who Should Buy One
TYM retired the Branson name on January 1, 2023. Here is what TYM told Branson owners, the six series lineup, the warranty, T25 fluids and who should buy one.
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Two tractor brands became one on January 1, 2023, when TYM folded Branson into its own name. TYM tractors are Korean designed machines with final assembly in Rome, Georgia. The Branson badge now lives on mostly in used listings and on older machines.
TYM had owned Branson’s maker since 2016, so the change was a rebrand more than a takeover. That still leaves two groups of readers with the same worry. Branson owners want to know whether parts and warranty support survived, and new buyers want to know if a brand with a smaller dealer map than Kubota is a smart purchase.
The short answer is yes for most owners, with one condition: a good dealer within reach. The machines get steady praise for value and features. The complaints cluster around dealers, parts waits and warranty handling.
The short version
- TYM acquired Branson’s maker, Kukje Machinery, in 2016. The Branson name was consolidated into TYM on January 1, 2023.
- TYM’s 2022 owner FAQ said Branson service and warranty stay the same. Branson dealers became TYM dealers, and Branson and TYM parts are not interchangeable.
- TYM’s US site lists 48 tractors in six series. They run from 21.5 hp sub compacts to 127 hp utility models.
- TYM’s warranty page gives 72 months or 3,000 hours of powertrain coverage. That covers 20 to 70 hp tractors in non commercial use.
- The T25 manual calls for API CJ-4 or higher engine oil and GL-4 transmission fluid. The first fluid service is at 50 hours.
- Buy one if a good TYM dealer is close. Skip it if the nearest dealer is a long haul.
Who is TYM? From Tong Yang Moolsan to TYM North America
TYM is a South Korean company founded in 1951 as Tong Yang Moolsan. It has sold tractors in the United States under its own name since 2004. Its corporate history page lists the 1973 stock listing and Anyang factory, and the 2021 name change to TYM Corporation.
The US arm, TYM USA, opened in Wilson, North Carolina, in 2004. In 2016 TYM acquired Kukje Machinery, the Korean maker behind the Branson brand. TYM’s timeline then lists a 2022 merger with Kukje Machinery Corporation and a 2023 launch of TYM North America.
Those are two different events. The 2022 item is the merger of the Korean parent companies. The January 1, 2023 date is when the US sales companies, TYM USA and Branson Tractors, became TYM North America.
TYM’s merger release is dated January 25, 2023, from Rome, Georgia. It quotes the chief executive saying the products formerly produced by Branson and TYM USA are not going anywhere. You can read it on TYM’s newswire page.
TYM’s home page now promotes a 75th anniversary, which fits the 1951 founding. The company has decades of farm machinery behind it, even if the US brand name feels young.
What happened to Branson tractors?
Branson tractors did not disappear. The brand name was retired on January 1, 2023, and the Branson lineup kept selling under the TYM badge. TYM’s own lineup article says the two product lines were fully integrated under one brand that month.
TYM explained the change in three pages it published in 2022. There was an owner FAQ dated August 10, 2022, a dealer page from the same day, and a merger announcement page. Those pages are gone from TYM’s live site, but archived copies still read clearly.
Everything below comes from them. Treat it as TYM’s stated policy from 2022, and confirm today’s details with a dealer.
Branson dealers and service
TYM told Branson owners to keep visiting their Branson dealer for the time being. It said Branson tractors would soon be sold and serviced at all TYM dealerships. The dealer page said current Branson dealerships would become TYM dealerships, with rebranding support.
The merger announcement page later put it in the past tense. All Branson dealers have become TYM dealers, it said, and the full TYM network can service both lines. The January 2023 release added that staff from both companies were combined to improve service and parts availability.
Branson warranty after the merger
TYM’s owner FAQ said your current service and warranty will remain the same. Service records would be logged and processed the same way. The dealer page said warranty policies and processes would not change, and outstanding orders would be filled at the same prices.
TYM’s current warranty page does not mention Branson by name. If you own a pre 2023 Branson, ask a TYM dealer to confirm your remaining coverage in writing. Have your serial number ready.
A warranty runs from the original delivery date. Most Branson bumper to bumper terms have now expired, so only the longer powertrain terms are still in play.
Which Branson became which TYM?
TYM has published no model by model cross reference. The FAQ said the Branson lineup would stay the same rather than be renamed. TYM’s US product page now lists number only names such as 2610, 3015, 4815 and 5520 beside T prefix names like T25 and T474.
The number only models look like carried over Branson numbering. TYM does not say so, and we could not confirm it.
Do not assume a Branson and a TYM with similar numbers are the same machine. Owners who have compared pairs such as the T474 and the 4815 report different lift, PTO and weight figures. Match parts to your own model and serial number, never to a lookalike.
Can you still get Branson parts?
Yes, through TYM dealers. TYM’s 2022 FAQ said Branson parts fit Branson tractors and TYM parts fit TYM tractors. It allowed for more integration later but has not published an update, so assume the two parts lists are still separate.
Owners describe a dealer gated system. You look up the part number, a dealer places the order, and common filters arrive quickly. Rarer parts can wait if they must come from Korea.
TYM’s 2025 parts campus in Georgia is meant to shorten those waits, which we cover below. Our Branson brand archive collects everything we publish on the legacy line.
Where are TYM tractors made?
TYM tractors are designed and built in Korea and finished in the United States. TYM’s merger release says they are designed and manufactured in Korea and finally assembled in the US. That assembly happens at its headquarters at 2100 Cedartown Highway in Rome, Georgia.
The company announced a $20 million expansion of the Rome site in that release. The 142,500 square foot building holds assembly lines and a parts warehouse. TYM said it would lift annual North American capacity from 30,000 to 50,000 units.
Two newer sites round out the US footprint. The Northeast Campus in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, opened in 2024. TYM describes it as handling product assembly, finished goods storage, service training and parts sales.
The Cedartown Campus in Georgia opened in July 2025 as a dedicated parts and service campus. Its warehouse is about 5,000 square meters. It replaced separate parts warehouses in Rome and Parrish, Georgia.
In practice this is a Korean tractor with US finishing, not one built from scratch in Georgia. Engines come from several makers. The T25 uses a Yanmar 3TNV80F, and TYM’s utility lineup article names a Doosan diesel in the T1104 and Deutz engines in the T115 and T130.
TYM tractor lineup by series
TYM’s North America tractor page lists 48 tractors in six series, running from 21.5 to 127 hp. Series 1 and 2 are sub compact and Series 3 and 4 are compact. Series 5 is compact utility and Series 6 is utility.
The table uses the horsepower bands printed on that page in October 2026.
| Series | Class on TYM’s page | Horsepower | Example models | Typical buyer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Series 1 | Sub compact | 21.5 to 23.9 hp | T224, T254 | Homesteaders, gardeners and lawn work |
| Series 2 | Sub compact | 24 to 24.7 hp | T25, T2025P, 2610, T264 | Tight spaces, small acreage, loader work |
| Series 3 | Compact | 24 to 48.3 hp | T3025, T3035, T394, T474, 3515, 4815 | Barns, wooded lots, 5 to 20 acres |
| Series 4 | Compact | 35 to 58 hp | T454, T494, T574, T554, 5520, 5835 | Pastures, hay jobs, heavier loader work |
| Series 5 | Compact utility | 67 to 74.3 hp | T654, T5068, T754, T5075 | Larger acreage, big implements |
| Series 6 | Utility | 111 to 127 hp | T1104, T115, T130 | Commercial scale farming |
Buyer notes in the last column come from TYM’s own series descriptions and our reading of the horsepower bands. Model letters matter. A C on the end, as in T474C, marks a cab version, and the page lists many cab and open station pairs.
Series 1 and 2: sub compact
The sub compact series start with the T224 at 21.5 hp and the T254 at 23.9 hp. Series 2 tops out at the T25 and T2025P at 24.7 hp. TYM’s home page describes the T2025P as a fully loaded sub compact.
The T25 is the best known Series 2 model. TYM lists 24.7 hp gross and 18.3 PTO hp from the Yanmar. Its manual shows a two range hydrostatic transmission and an independent 540 rpm rear PTO.
The Category 1 hitch is rated 1,102 pounds at 24 inches and 1,534 at the link ends. The manual lists a weight of 1,881 pounds and a minimum ground clearance of 7.71 inches. That clearance is the number owners grumble about on rough ground.
For a comparison against rivals, see our best sub compact tractors guide.
Series 3 and 4: compact
These two series hold most of the lineup, from 24 hp up to 58 hp. They include the T394, T474 and T574, the models that come up most in owner threads. TYM’s merger page listed the T474 at 48.3 hp with a 2,688 pound hitch.
The same page listed the T574 at 55 hp with a 3,822 pound hitch. Series 3 covers small pastures and barn work. Series 4 adds weight and lift for hay and larger loader jobs.
If you are unsure which size fits your land, use our tractor sizing guide first.
Series 5 and 6: utility
Series 5 runs from 67 to 74.3 hp and includes the T654, T5068, T754, T5074 and T5075. The T5075 was one of TYM’s 2025 North American additions, along with the T3025 and T4058P. Series 6 covers 111 to 127 hp.
Series 6 availability is muddled on TYM’s own pages. A July 2023 TYM article called the T1104 the largest model sold in North America and placed the T130 in Korea only. The US product page in October 2026 lists the T1104, T115, T6115 and T130, so ask a dealer what you can actually order.
These larger tractors suit working farms. Most small property owners will never need them.
TYM also labels its series differently on different pages. One article calls Series 2 compact and Series 4 compact utility. The US product page uses the labels in the table, and the horsepower bands are the safer guide.
Are TYM tractors good?
TYM tractors are generally good machines, and the ownership experience depends heavily on the dealer. Owners praise the value, the feature count and the performance. The complaints focus on dealers, parts and warranty handling far more than on the iron.
No one publishes independent reliability data for any tractor brand. What follows are patterns from owner threads, not measurements.
What owners praise
The recurring praise is simple: more tractor for the money. Owners point to loaders, cabs and features that cost extra elsewhere. Well known engines help too, and the Yanmar in the T25 is one reason owners trust that model.
Reports on the T25 are mostly positive, with owners describing their first 75 to 150 hours without trouble. T474 and T574 owners who post updates often call the tractors reliable.
Two practical gripes come up on the T25. The loader valve is not proportional, which owners say makes fine control with pallet forks awkward. Ground clearance under 8 inches is the other, and it matches the manual’s 7.71 inch figure.
What owners complain about
The most consistent complaint is dealer support. Owners describe long waits for parts, dealers that are hard to reach, and warranty claims that dragged on. The pattern is strong enough that the dealer should be your first filter.
The second theme is the emissions system on Tier 4 diesels. Warning lights and diesel particulate filter behavior come up repeatedly for the T474 and T574. Ask the dealer how it handles emissions warning lights before you buy.
Some owners also say the plastics and sheet metal feel less solid than Kubota’s. That is an opinion about feel, not a failure report.
The honest verdict
The tractor is the easy part of this decision. The dealer is the harder one. A good TYM dealer who stocks parts makes the brand a strong value, and a bad one makes it a headache.
TYM tractor warranty
TYM’s warranty page lists 72 months or 3,000 hours of powertrain coverage. That applies to 20 to 70 engine hp tractors in non commercial use. It also lists 24 months or 2,000 hours of parts and labor coverage on Tier 4 tractors.
We read the page on October 15, 2026.
| Coverage | Term |
|---|---|
| Bumper to bumper, Tier 4 tractors | 24 months or 2,000 hours, parts and labor |
| Powertrain, non commercial, 20 to 70 engine hp | 72 months or 3,000 hours |
| Powertrain, “rental and commercial use”, under 20 or over 70 hp (as printed) | 60 months or 2,000 hours |
| Powertrain, rental or commercial, all models | 36 months or 2,000 hours |
| Loaders, backhoes and mid mount mowers | 12 months |
| Replacement parts | 3 months or the rest of the unit warranty, whichever is longer |
One row reads oddly. TYM’s page labels both the 60 month row and the 36 month row as rental and commercial use. They cannot both be right.
The 60 month row most likely covers non commercial tractors under 20 or over 70 hp. That is our reading, not TYM’s words. Ask the dealer which term applies to a sub compact like the T224.
Read the limits too. The terms apply to new Tier 4 products retailed on or after January 1, 2017. Coverage starts on delivery once TYM receives the pre delivery inspection sheet, so make sure your dealer files it.
Batteries and tires are covered by their own makers. TYM’s support FAQ also says fuel pumps are not covered under the powertrain warranty.
The page does not say whether the month and hour limits work as whichever comes first. Most tractor warranties do, so ask the dealer rather than assume. Dealer add ons, such as longer powertrain offers, are the dealer’s promises, so get them in writing.
TYM dealers and parts
TYM counted over 300 dealerships in North America in its January 2023 merger release. It has not published a newer total. Through 2025 and 2026 it announced new dealers in states from Oregon to Louisiana, so the number has likely grown.
Kubota reports over 1,100 dealers. That density gap is the biggest practical difference between the brands.
TYM’s site runs a Dealer of Excellence program with Platinum and Gold levels. That is a useful signal when you compare two dealers. Parts are sold through local TYM dealers or regional parts distributors, not direct to owners.
Before you buy, do these three things:
- Find the nearest TYM dealer on TYM’s dealer locator and note the driving distance.
- Ask which filters, belts and wear parts the dealer keeps in stock.
- Ask how long a part from Korea has taken in the past year.
Owners say the answers vary by dealer. Routine filters can often be cross referenced to other brands, which owners find helpful. Rarer parts are where the waits appear.
The 2025 Cedartown parts campus and the 2024 Pennsylvania campus exist to shorten those waits. TYM says both hold parts for dealers. Whether that shows up at your counter is a question for your dealer.
TYM’s site also lists financing and rebate offers through October 31, 2026. Offers change, so check them with a dealer before you decide.
TYM fluids and maintenance in brief
Follow the operator manual for your exact model, because TYM’s pages say service details are model specific. TYM publishes manuals in its online Download Library. Keep the PDF for your model on your phone.
Two manuals show the pattern. The T264NH manual lists RPM Tractor Hydraulic Fluid, Textron TDH Premium, Texaco TDH Oil and Chevron 1000THF for the transmission. Capacity is 3.83 US gallons.
It changes transmission oil, the hydraulic filter and front axle oil at the first 50 hours. After that the interval is every 500 hours.
The T25 manual follows the same rhythm. Its service chart replaces transmission fluid, the hydraulic oil filter and front axle oil at 50 hours and then every 500. Transmission capacity is 14 liters, printed as 5.8 gallons.
The fluid spec is API GL-4, ISO VG32 below minus 4 F and ISO VG46 above. The front axle takes 4.7 quarts of API GL-4 SAE 80W/90 gear oil. Do not guess from another brand’s habits.
T25 engine oil and service chart
The T25 manual specs 2.9 quarts of engine oil at API CJ-4 grade or higher. That is the opposite of Kubota’s BX manual, which bars CJ-4. Never carry an oil choice across brands, and see our diesel tractor oil guide for the API categories.
The chart marks the first engine oil and cartridge service at 50 hours with a workshop symbol. That means TYM wants a dealer to do it. After that it replaces engine oil and the cartridge every 250 hours, at 300 and 550 on the chart.
The fuel filter is replaced every 500 hours. The air cleaner element is cleaned at 100, 200 and 400 hours and replaced at 300 and 550. Fan belt tension is checked every 50 hours and the battery every 100.
Coolant is checked often and replaced yearly. Radiator and fuel hoses are replaced every 2 years. Grease points get attention every 50 hours, or daily in wet fields.
For engine oil brands, TYM’s support FAQ says synthetic oil can be used once your dealer confirms it suits the engine. TYM’s generic maintenance page also shows a first engine oil change at 50 hours, then defers to the manual. It recommends dealer service every 100 hours or once a year.
For fluid choices across brands, see our tractor hydraulic fluid guide. It includes the TYM manual entries in detail.
TYM vs LS vs Kioti
TYM, LS and Kioti are the Korean brands that compete for the same value buyer. Owners point to all three for value, and all three depend on local dealers. Our brand ranking places Kioti and LS just ahead of TYM, mostly on dealer coverage.
| Brand | Warranty found | Dealer count |
|---|---|---|
| TYM | 72 months or 3,000 hours powertrain, 20 to 70 hp non commercial | Over 300 in North America (TYM, January 2023) |
| LS | Written policy: 2 years or 750 hours general, 6 years or 1,500 hours powertrain on listed models | Over 350 in the US and Canada (LS) |
| Kioti | 24 months parts and labor, up to 48 months engine and driveline | Varies by region |
TYM has the longest hour limit on paper in this group. LS caps powertrain hours at 1,500. Kioti shows a shorter base term, though it has run longer promotions.
Read the dealer paperwork rather than the brochure.
Choose between them by dealer, not by badge. A TYM dealer close by beats a Kioti dealer two hours away. Our Kioti tractor guide and LS tractor guide go deeper on each.
Who should buy a TYM tractor
Buy a TYM if you have a good dealer nearby and want a lot of tractor for the money. These buyers tend to be happy:
- Value shoppers who want more features for the money than the big names offer.
- Owners within easy driving distance of a TYM dealer who stocks parts.
- Buyers who want the long powertrain warranty on 20 to 70 hp models and will keep service records.
- Existing Branson owners, who now deal with the same company and its dealer network.
Who should skip a TYM tractor
Skip a TYM if the nearest dealer is far away or you cannot afford downtime. Commercial users should read the terms closely. The commercial powertrain term is half the non commercial one.
Buyers who put a high value on resale should look at Kubota or Deere. Owners report stronger used prices there, though that is opinion, not data.
If you want the broadest dealer map and the easiest parts access, TYM is not the brand to pick. If you want value and have a dealer you trust, it is a sound choice.
Bottom line
A TYM is a solid value buy when a good dealer is close, and a poor one when it is not. Branson owners were told their service and warranty carried over, and their dealers became TYM dealers. The warranty is long on paper, so confirm the details in writing before you sign.
Frequently asked questions
Are TYM tractors made in China?
No. TYM is a South Korean company. It says its tractors are designed and manufactured in Korea and finally assembled in the US, and its history page lists a China subsidiary only from 1994.
Is TYM the same company as Branson?
In effect, yes. TYM acquired Branson’s maker, Kukje Machinery, in 2016. The US companies merged into TYM North America effective January 1, 2023.
Does TYM still make Branson tractors?
Not under the Branson name. TYM said in 2022 that the Branson lineup would stay the same under the TYM brand. Its catalog lists number only models that look like old Branson numbers, but TYM publishes no cross reference.
Who makes TYM engines?
It varies by model. The T25 uses a Yanmar 3TNV80F. TYM’s utility lineup article names a Doosan diesel in the T1104 and Deutz engines in the T115 and T130, so check the spec sheet for your model.
How long is the TYM warranty?
For a non commercial 20 to 70 hp tractor, TYM lists 24 months or 2,000 hours bumper to bumper. Powertrain coverage is 72 months or 3,000 hours. Commercial and rental use gets less, and loaders and mowers get 12 months.
Are TYM tractors reliable?
Owners generally report reliable machines, with the main complaints about dealer service and parts waits. No independent reliability data exists for the brand. Check the dealer as carefully as the tractor.
What oil does a TYM T25 take?
The T25 operator manual lists 2.9 quarts of API CJ-4 or higher engine oil. The transmission takes API GL-4 fluid in ISO VG46, or VG32 below minus 4 F. The front axle takes GL-4 SAE 80W/90 gear oil.
