4WD vs. 2WD and HP suggestions.....

[DIYGuy]

I have a Jinma 224 on 3 acres, most of it is hardwood forest. My tractor is complete overkill for mowing with a RFM. I couldn't mow with a MMM because fo trees and the like. I mow about 1/3 of it in reverse.

My tractor's main function is tree maint (chipper), snowblowing, and driveway maint (450' long)

I'm glad I didn't opt for the 284. The slighty smaller footprint of the 224 really makes a difference.

I have written a set of articles on my tractor experience found here: Articles

FWIW,

 

[greg_g]

If pasture maintenance is in your future, get a rotary cutter (bush hog). Even high line finish mowers crop at or under 6", most of them leaving 4" or less. Pasture maintenance and lawn maintenance are two different sciences. Different schools, different tools.

Absolutely the ONLY reason you'd ever see a finish mower in my pastures, is when I need to trim right up close to the electric fence wire.

//greg//

 

[jstephen]

Hi all,

I am in the last stages of pulling the trigger on a Jinma. I currently have a Kubota BX2200. It is a great machine for cutting grass. How I ended up buying the Kubota was having the local tractor dealer compete. I have some fairly steep banks. I had three dealers bring their best machines, these included Great Dane, Walker and other commercial lawn mowers. If they could cut my steepest bank (hold the hill) I had a check waiting for them.

Many tried, many failed. The last dealer came back with the BX. It held the hill like no other. The unit is a great machine, but it is not big enough to use a decent blade. It is not big enough for a brush hog (even though they claim it is). I can get a FEL for it, but it is only up to about 400 lbs.

I am opting for the Q28 with FEL and Hoe. I have a few questions for those on this thread that I hope can be answered.

1) Can anyone share any experiences with steep hills and the stability of the Jinma on cross angles with a 5 ft rear finishing mower?

2) Can anyone share experience of the Ag tires and how bad they are on the lawn?

3) I see many good suggestions on adding re-enforcement for the FEL and outriggers. Any other comments of these upgrades?

 

[JohnS]

Jstephen,

I suspect the Jinma will have problems on your side hills. The bx has a lower center of gravity than a jinma. I don't mow my yard with mine, but using the rotary cutter on some hills, make me pucker rather quickly. What kind of angles are we talking about? When I cross the yard with my ags, it leaves tracks imprinted in the soil. If you have very hard packed soil, you might be OK.

 

[Soundguy]

I agree with the jinma having a higher center of gravity than a bx series... a fel adds to that.

As for the aggs imprinting. Well.. if you have a golf course type lawn, or thick lush st. augustine.. you will get printing... Regular bahai. or 'pasture' style grass should be no problem.

Soundguy

 

[jstephen]

The lawn type is more of a pasture type, not a putting green so I am not too concerned there.

The higher gravity does have me concerned. The main area I cut is not too bad of an angle. My estimate is about a 10% grade. I would want to brushhog some steeper inclines of say 20%. To put it another way, there are no hills to steep for my stock Jeep Wrangler to accend in 4WLo without hitting the throttle. I presume I can cut these going vertical, rather than horizontal.

I do have one area that is a 30% grade or better. It is not very long. I had thought I could just back the mower up the grade. Has anyone done anything like this?

 

[greg_g]

The Jinma you're considering has four rear wheel width options and two front. Since you can't lower the center of gravity, you CAN add stability with a wider footprint. Don't widen the front under a FEL though.

Unless you float the deck, a 5 foot bush hog will also add some additional stability (like a beaver tail). And finally there is the diff lock lever. If the drive wheel starts to lose traction on the uphill side, kick in the diff lock and you'll dig right back in. I've got some serious hillside pastures to mow here. All it takes is experience, which eventually develops into confidence. Only problem I have is the lousy gear ratio spacing in the transmission. I could get my mowing done a lot faster if I didn't have to shift back and forth between H1 (downhill) and L3 (uphill).

The ag tires are tough of grass - period. I'd prefer R4s, even in pasture. Don't even think about trying to back uphill. You'll just leave black streaks, cuz the tire lugs are facing the wrong direction

//greg//

 

[Soundguy]

Exactly.. standard rule of thumb.. if it looks like a 'pucker' angle.. back up it or mow it on the up and down.. not side to side..

I imagine one of the smaller jinmas might make a decent lawnmower. If my rider ever dies.. I want to get one of the economy 20hp 2wd models.. jus as a dedicated mower.. besides.. probably cheaper than a new rider too!

Soundguy

 

[SPIKER]

I think I would agree the smaller 2 wheel for mowing and towing of the dump trailer when I'm digging & loading with the 284 would be nice! but I still can't afford the $ for that...

My 284 has the FEL on 100% of time and I have the wheels reversed in front, (front and rears have same width. and have not had any problems YET other than a felt wiper seal pulled out, but that was more from abuse by burrying the front end in muck than the FEL & wide I think.

As for hills, I've got some that are 40 degrees, it goes up & down straight OK, usually driving forwards NOT backing. but you get just one or two degrees off 90 and the pucker factor skyrockets... I've come close to having it on its side about 3 or 4 times, (not on the steep hils but on ones which looked to be about 15 degrees or so and all it takes is loose or soft soil on the down hill side corner and it will rock up onto the FEL bucket! (2 times was due to wood chuck holes collapsing on me as I drove over them.) once when a creek bank gave away (tellephone polle was used as a wash out preventor and was under weeds that I was clearing. I knew where the bank edge was but the pole rolled out!.) that was a pucker factor which if I hadn't had my rototiller on back would have been sideways rectal exame!)

anyhow the JINMAs are built mainly for extra ground clearance so they set higher than any of the big 3 with compairable HP. not to mention are about 20% heavier than the big 3 of compairable HP too! I have AGS (r1's) and in 4 wheel drive they damage laws some, in 2 wheel drive they don't as bad but the shear weight presses the lugs into the soft dirt regardless...

anyhow I still love my JINMA and will keep playing as long as I can.


Mark M /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif