JInma JM-354 Reviews
2009 Jinma 354 Bought New in 2012
Model Year: 2009
Bought 354 with FEL, backhoe, 6' Howse brush hog, 5' box blade, and Leinbach PHD. Tractor's charging circuit does not work properly. Just changed its alternator (7-30-12), not totally certain it's working yet. Two-stage clutch needs adjustment and lifters are tapping. From what I've read online, the clutch and lifters will likely need to be adjusted within the first 50 hours, and it holds true for this tractor. PHD sheared or has gearbox issue after just 5 holes. Not sure of the exact problem as I have not had time to diagnose the issue.
Pros: Good price on overall package.
Cons: Must buy from a local dealer, so the clutch and lifter issues can be resolved at dealer, rather than having to do it yourself.
Model Year: 2009
Bought 354 with FEL, backhoe, 6' Howse brush hog, 5' box blade, and Leinbach PHD. Tractor's charging circuit does not work properly. Just changed its alternator (7-30-12), not totally certain it's working yet. Two-stage clutch needs adjustment and lifters are tapping. From what I've read online, the clutch and lifters will likely need to be adjusted within the first 50 hours, and it holds true for this tractor. PHD sheared or has gearbox issue after just 5 holes. Not sure of the exact problem as I have not had time to diagnose the issue.
Pros: Good price on overall package.
Cons: Must buy from a local dealer, so the clutch and lifter issues can be resolved at dealer, rather than having to do it yourself.
Great Value for the Mechanically Inclined
Model Year: 2007
Bought new with a Koyker FEL and Chinese backhoe. From day 1 the backhoe was a major problem. It never worked right and after a few hydraulic oil soaked days trying to get it to work. I spent over $200 to plumb it through the FEL using the front pump instead of the PTO pump. The backhoe works great now. Never having owned a tractor before, I am always amazed at the raw power this little 4 cyl engine puts out. The backhoe could easily flip the tractor or destroy itself if you aren't careful. Plowing snow and moving dirt (I also have a box blade that can be used to bulldoze in reverse) is real easy. The 4wd is awesome in deep snow or deep wet clay. Like everything Chinese, anything rubber on this needs to be replaced---boots, air hoses, every single O-ring in the backhoe, seat covers, steering wheel, etc. I am guessing I only have 300 hours on it because the hour meter has been stuck on 8 since the first day. I have replaced a shift fork in the transmission. The 4wd / 2wd lever broke, the headlight plastic housing that the bulbs lock into crumbled so I have used silicone to glue the bulbs in. The hood shocks never worked. I have spent a lot of time pulling wrenches. I finally started replacing nuts and bolts wherever possible because it seems the Chinese nuts will not stay tight no matter how many times I tighten them. The electric wiring is Mickey-Mouse. There are many light gauge wires dangling in places where they get caught on things. This engine is miserable to get started when it is below -20C. Many times I have blown the main 30amp fuse trying to get the plugs hot (and yes the inline water heater works great but still not enough). The alternator works intermittently. I am surprised that the original battery is still going strong. When this works, it is an amazing value. In boom-town Alberta, nothing used is cheap and I'd rather work on little things around the periphery of the tractor than on motors and transmissions and things on old used equipment. Despite the troubles, it is still better value than old used equipment in my location.
Pros: Cheap, powerful, 4WD.
Cons: Electrics, plastics, rubber very poor quality, vibrates itself apart.
Model Year: 2007
Bought new with a Koyker FEL and Chinese backhoe. From day 1 the backhoe was a major problem. It never worked right and after a few hydraulic oil soaked days trying to get it to work. I spent over $200 to plumb it through the FEL using the front pump instead of the PTO pump. The backhoe works great now. Never having owned a tractor before, I am always amazed at the raw power this little 4 cyl engine puts out. The backhoe could easily flip the tractor or destroy itself if you aren't careful. Plowing snow and moving dirt (I also have a box blade that can be used to bulldoze in reverse) is real easy. The 4wd is awesome in deep snow or deep wet clay. Like everything Chinese, anything rubber on this needs to be replaced---boots, air hoses, every single O-ring in the backhoe, seat covers, steering wheel, etc. I am guessing I only have 300 hours on it because the hour meter has been stuck on 8 since the first day. I have replaced a shift fork in the transmission. The 4wd / 2wd lever broke, the headlight plastic housing that the bulbs lock into crumbled so I have used silicone to glue the bulbs in. The hood shocks never worked. I have spent a lot of time pulling wrenches. I finally started replacing nuts and bolts wherever possible because it seems the Chinese nuts will not stay tight no matter how many times I tighten them. The electric wiring is Mickey-Mouse. There are many light gauge wires dangling in places where they get caught on things. This engine is miserable to get started when it is below -20C. Many times I have blown the main 30amp fuse trying to get the plugs hot (and yes the inline water heater works great but still not enough). The alternator works intermittently. I am surprised that the original battery is still going strong. When this works, it is an amazing value. In boom-town Alberta, nothing used is cheap and I'd rather work on little things around the periphery of the tractor than on motors and transmissions and things on old used equipment. Despite the troubles, it is still better value than old used equipment in my location.
Pros: Cheap, powerful, 4WD.
Cons: Electrics, plastics, rubber very poor quality, vibrates itself apart.
My Tractor
Model Year: 0
Purchased when retired to use at new home site. Used to put in drive, level lot, landscaping. Added backhoe attachment and used to extend septic system. Put in 2 acre deer plot and cleared trails through wooded areas. Now primary use is snow removal with 3pt. snow blower, and bucket, maintain trails, stump removal, mowing with brush hog. While this tractor is not a Kubota, is old school. It has so far served me very well and I have prob. pushed it harder on some jobs more than I should have. For the price its been excellent and done what I have asked of it.
Pros: Price and quality for price.
Cons: Very cold blooded, added block heater for winter use.
Model Year: 0
Purchased when retired to use at new home site. Used to put in drive, level lot, landscaping. Added backhoe attachment and used to extend septic system. Put in 2 acre deer plot and cleared trails through wooded areas. Now primary use is snow removal with 3pt. snow blower, and bucket, maintain trails, stump removal, mowing with brush hog. While this tractor is not a Kubota, is old school. It has so far served me very well and I have prob. pushed it harder on some jobs more than I should have. For the price its been excellent and done what I have asked of it.
Pros: Price and quality for price.
Cons: Very cold blooded, added block heater for winter use.
Jinma 354 Improvements
Model Year: 2008
Good hobby tractor. If you need a hobby this tractor will keep you busy. I bought the Jinma in a crate from a warehouse supplier. The wheels, fenders, seat, engine cowling, dash and bucket loader were installed by me. The Chinese loader was of inferior quality with no grease fittings or bearing surface bushings. The loader was returned for a American made Koyker 160 loader. The Koyker loader is the best working part of the tractor with a single double action controls. Received the wrong three cylinder engine manual, I have the four cylinder Yangdong 485. Electrical plastic switches were of inferior quality, they broke, and placed where knees turned them off and on. Recessed new steel toggles in switch area. Glow plugs control through starting switch was changed to a relay from battery starter terminal, a single wire to a new dash push button and a light was added from glow plug to dash for power confirmation. The tractor now starts in cold weather. Added an engine heater to radiator bottom hose KATS 14600. Lengthen the oil filter center thread pipe by heating and turning two threads out to accept Ford metric FL-400S oil filter. Changed out hydraulic filter to WIX 51551. Changed out fuel filter to WIX 33195. Changed out air filter to WIX 46279. Beefed up rear draw hitch by adding extra steel arms from rear castings for hauling one cord woods trailer. Rear wheels rim bolts loosen up periodically from wheel cast center hub because of quarter inch gap. Makes removal easier but allows rim to walk from center hub. Alternator belt guard broken off from vibration. Steering wheel horn inferior quality, never worked.
Pros: $12,000 for Jinma tractor and Koyker 160 loader. Heavy 4 x 4 castings make good hauling gear tractor. The Yangdong 485 engine good motor.
Cons: Poor electrical quality.
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Model Year: 2008
Good hobby tractor. If you need a hobby this tractor will keep you busy. I bought the Jinma in a crate from a warehouse supplier. The wheels, fenders, seat, engine cowling, dash and bucket loader were installed by me. The Chinese loader was of inferior quality with no grease fittings or bearing surface bushings. The loader was returned for a American made Koyker 160 loader. The Koyker loader is the best working part of the tractor with a single double action controls. Received the wrong three cylinder engine manual, I have the four cylinder Yangdong 485. Electrical plastic switches were of inferior quality, they broke, and placed where knees turned them off and on. Recessed new steel toggles in switch area. Glow plugs control through starting switch was changed to a relay from battery starter terminal, a single wire to a new dash push button and a light was added from glow plug to dash for power confirmation. The tractor now starts in cold weather. Added an engine heater to radiator bottom hose KATS 14600. Lengthen the oil filter center thread pipe by heating and turning two threads out to accept Ford metric FL-400S oil filter. Changed out hydraulic filter to WIX 51551. Changed out fuel filter to WIX 33195. Changed out air filter to WIX 46279. Beefed up rear draw hitch by adding extra steel arms from rear castings for hauling one cord woods trailer. Rear wheels rim bolts loosen up periodically from wheel cast center hub because of quarter inch gap. Makes removal easier but allows rim to walk from center hub. Alternator belt guard broken off from vibration. Steering wheel horn inferior quality, never worked.
Pros: $12,000 for Jinma tractor and Koyker 160 loader. Heavy 4 x 4 castings make good hauling gear tractor. The Yangdong 485 engine good motor.
Cons: Poor electrical quality.
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Jinma 354
Model Year: 2006
Bought the tractor new from dealer In China. This is not a tractor to be owned by someone who is not able to do their own repairs. Entire tractor wired with approx 20 gauge wire including glow plugs. Anything rubber is going to rot or leak. Bolt threads are very poor requiring tons of locktite. Having said all of that the tractor has been mechanically sound. For $6,000 New I didn't mind putting in the elbow grease.
Pros: Cheap.
Cons: Labor intensive.
Model Year: 2006
Bought the tractor new from dealer In China. This is not a tractor to be owned by someone who is not able to do their own repairs. Entire tractor wired with approx 20 gauge wire including glow plugs. Anything rubber is going to rot or leak. Bolt threads are very poor requiring tons of locktite. Having said all of that the tractor has been mechanically sound. For $6,000 New I didn't mind putting in the elbow grease.
Pros: Cheap.
Cons: Labor intensive.
Jinma 354
Model Year: 2010
Actually New Zealand. Bought as cheap alternative (exactly half price) to preferred Kubota. In first 50 hours the agent replaced a spraying steering hydraulic release valve and fixed a bell housing oil leak which was causing clutch to slip. Steering arm nut disconnected in motion, potentially fatal. Poorly machined, clunky gears, little things keep falling off, poor driver comfort, awkward to get on and off. Cheap, clunky, so far cost effective, machine that does 200 hours per year for us. Mutter a prayer every time I get on but so far so good. Wouldn't buy for commercial use.
Pros: Cheap.
Cons: As above.
Model Year: 2010
Actually New Zealand. Bought as cheap alternative (exactly half price) to preferred Kubota. In first 50 hours the agent replaced a spraying steering hydraulic release valve and fixed a bell housing oil leak which was causing clutch to slip. Steering arm nut disconnected in motion, potentially fatal. Poorly machined, clunky gears, little things keep falling off, poor driver comfort, awkward to get on and off. Cheap, clunky, so far cost effective, machine that does 200 hours per year for us. Mutter a prayer every time I get on but so far so good. Wouldn't buy for commercial use.
Pros: Cheap.
Cons: As above.
Jinma 354
Model Year: 2008
The Jinma has never let me down, although at 50 hours or so I did have to re-tighten an axle nut that should have been done at the factory. It has an American Koyker FEL attached, Koyker was supposed to make a direct bolt on unit for the Jinma, but I had to do a lot of machining to make it fit properly. When I purchased the Jinma, I was moving from Maryland to Florida. I had plenty of muscle to help me load my trailer in Maryland, but the Jinma was my muscle to unload it in Florida. I have since begun planting pecan trees, I have about 150 planted so far and another 25 ordered for this year. In between the trees is a lot of grass, the 5 foot Bush Hog is kept busy during the summer cutting the grass in the field.
Pros: Dependable.
Cons: If I were doing serious farming, I'd have bought a John Deere.
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Model Year: 2008
The Jinma has never let me down, although at 50 hours or so I did have to re-tighten an axle nut that should have been done at the factory. It has an American Koyker FEL attached, Koyker was supposed to make a direct bolt on unit for the Jinma, but I had to do a lot of machining to make it fit properly. When I purchased the Jinma, I was moving from Maryland to Florida. I had plenty of muscle to help me load my trailer in Maryland, but the Jinma was my muscle to unload it in Florida. I have since begun planting pecan trees, I have about 150 planted so far and another 25 ordered for this year. In between the trees is a lot of grass, the 5 foot Bush Hog is kept busy during the summer cutting the grass in the field.
Pros: Dependable.
Cons: If I were doing serious farming, I'd have bought a John Deere.
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