Jinma Chinese tractors - anyone use them?

Status
Not open for further replies.
L

lars11

Joined
Dec 16, 2006
Messages
977
Location
Sweden
Can find smaller chinese garden tractors at low prices here now. Thinking of a 35hp tractor for the "hobby-farm". Will not use it professionally or long hours.
Anyone used the Jinma tractors? How are they? Quality, service, ergonomics and safety?
 
I have owned a Jinma-284 tractor for six years now, have about 600 hours on it and am quite satisfied. If you are willing/qualified to do your own maintenance they are truly a bargain; well-built, powerful, fuel efficient, and sturdy.

If, however, one is the type to snivel because a bolt is loose or a wire came off, don't bother.

Check out the CTOA (Chinese Tractors Owners Association), I am a forum member there also.
Joe
Link:
http://www.ctoa.net/modules/newbb/
 
My FIL has a brand-new Kioti tractor at his shop. It's 4x4 with a 3cyl diesel made by Daedong (I beleive). All the cast housings looked very heavy. The maintenance parts like filters, etc, were within reach. They bought it with hydrostatic drive, a rear PTO driven finish mower and 3pt hitch. It was just under $10K total out the door. ~$12K if they had gotten a front end loader. They all have a little Chinese in them nowadays.

Joel
 
Last edited:
interesting. Enemies, don't think so anymore... :)
Anyways, the price for one of these is at the level of a 20yr old CASE, Deere or Volvo BM at 10000hrs. They are rattling too, and the smell... I can stand some quirks if they are just fairly ok.
 
Well, Lars is from der Olde Kountry and I cannot recall if they were EVER enemies, so that may not be a hindrance to him.

As for me, which Asian tractor did I want to buy? There haven't been any new American made compact tractors for something like 30 years now in the less-than 60 hp class. The John Deeres, Fords, and New Hollands have been made in Japan for a LONG time (they killed a LOT more of our people than did the Chinese) or you could get a Korean machine.

The Chinese have been building more diesel tractors than everyone else put together for quite a few years now. They resemble the technology of American tractors from the 1960's; simple, straight-cut sliding gear transmissions, no fancy (expensive to repair) hydro drives. My Jinma is sorta like a Ford 9N tractor but it has power steering, Four Wheel Drive, and it actually STARTS when I want it to, even at 20º below zero F.
Joe
 
Lazyjw, Were any of us formally enemies with the chinese? Maybe a bit scared of the notion of billions of extra red left wingers...
wink.gif

Well, I dont need the latest super soft, extra exclusive stuff made for the people that spend their entire workday in the machine.
But if I CAN get an engine with 0 hrs, warranty, 4WD, front loader and a heated cabin at like $14000 then I'd like that. Just want to know more about the risks of serious and expensive repairs. There's always gains/risk, and that relation is insteresting in the chinese tractor case. Seems like a good case for a hobbyist, maybe?
 
Chinese enemies? Maybe not Sweden. But (USA and UN)we had problems with them in Korea.

lars11 have you checked out the website I provided? They have a whole sub-forum dealing with Chinese tractors. One of the standing requirements for using a Chinaman tractor is changing all fluids front to back as soon as you get it. All gear lubes, engine and coolant. The stuff fluid comes in them is junk.
 
Originally Posted By: lars11
....
But if I CAN get an engine with 0 hrs, warranty, 4WD, front loader and a heated cabin at like $14000 then I'd like that....

.... Seems like a good case for a hobbyist, maybe?


I believe you are on the right track. I like to think of the Jinma like buying a used tractor with Zero hours on it. You will NOT have much in the way of dealer support so you must be willing to accept all of the labor responsibility just as if you purchased a used machine out of warranty.

The Jinma has a fairly cluttered operator area with all of the levers located right in the center area. If you have big feet like mine you have to pick them up to enter/egress the seat area but once in the seat it is about as comfortable as most. I consider this a minor inconvenience.

The electric wiring is pretty cheesy, certainly the worst feature of these machines. I have only had very minor issues with mine, however. Not a real show stopper for anyone who can repair basic DC stuff.

These machines are quite rugged and very simple; they were designed so the village blacksmith can repair them. You WILL need to go over it very carefully and tighten every bolt you can find. And yes, the Chinese oil leaves much to be desired.

My Dad was wounded in Germany during the Big War but later in life he bought a Volkswagen.
Joe
 
It seems to me like you can get a Ford 8N and have plenty of money left over for repairs with that kind of money. That's the route I'd go for a hobbyist. FWIW I don't like to give the Chinese my business either.
 
Wow, that is a pretty 8N. Too bad you could purchase one of dem dair Chyneez tractors for the cost of shipping an 8N to Sweden.
 
Ok ok, my war history knowledge could be improved it seems. Sorry for that and my regards to the troops.
I checked the forum and it was great! Lots of stuff there, read about an hydraulic oil change that sounded pretty bad to me, hope the pump and valves were still ok...
If I buy one I will change them, or have the vendor do it before delivery.
Looking to get one of these, except for that I want a 354EC:
http://www.polarprod.se/JINMA 254hytt.html
 
Originally Posted By: lars11
..... I also like the 4wd, quite useful in the snow.


I grew up using the older American tractors; still have my 1941 John Deere Model A. Anyone who thinks a Ford/Ferguson is great has never driven a 4wd tractor with power steering for loader work. The Jinma 284 will easily do double the loader work of a 9N although the 9N is a better plow tractor for field plowing.

We Yanks have been enemies with England, France, Germany, Spain, Japan, Italy, China..... reckon we can't buy from anyone except maybe Canada, South Korea, and Russia eh?
Joe
 
You are right lazyjw. Forget about them. Buy Swedish and feel good about it! Not cheap like chinese, but friendly!
 
Also look at tractorbynet.com for compact tractor info. They even have a lube forum to entertain yourself.

If it makes anyone feel better (or worse), at my workplace we just purchased a new John Deere 3 point rotary mower (brush hog) and the cast gear box is made in China. However, J.D. seems to still get the same price for their stuff. Funny how that is.
 
Originally Posted By: lars11
You are right lazyjw. Forget about them. Buy Swedish and feel good about it! Not cheap like chinese, but friendly!


I thought the only export from Sweden was people.....

Here in the Inland Northwest the overwhelming majority of names in the phonebook are of Scandinavian origin. The little town of Libby, Montana even has an annual NordicFest every summer.

Don't be afraid of the Jinma tractors, they will serve you well. Here in the US there are a number of dealers that stock plenty of spare parts, dunno about Sweden though.
Joe
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

SammyChevelleTypeS3
NEW Vehicle Advice / Recommendations: Anyone? Subaru or Toyota? What says the gang?
3 4 5
Replies
84
Views
2K
mikeduf
D
Where to take a Mercedes for an oil change when no MB dealer is nearby?
2
Replies
38
Views
1K
GON
C
High end lawn tractors vs. other brands
4 5 6
Replies
102
Views
19K
Slick3914
W
Use bigger and better filters in your OPE
2 3
Replies
58
Views
3K
kimmillard1
B
Brake rotors - how much are you paying to machine them?
2 3 4
Replies
66
Views
3K
edyvw
Back
Top Bottom