For those of you with a Jimna 354

dlginla · May 11, 2011

I am considering buying a brand new '10 354, with a front loader, 4 cyl diesel,
suncover for:

$11,500 plus tax, no shipping since close to home.

Those that own one, how do you like yours?

bjr · May 11, 2011

You're giving a little less 2X the price I gave for the crate JM354 'bout seven yrs. ago. I got no loader though. Been a good tractor. I do my own wrench turnin' and don't complain about that. I had to go as cheap as I could otherwise no tractor for me. Just get familar with Jinmaparts dot com. The local big name tractor dealers would just as soon shoot me on sight, so, far I've evaded the bullets. I buy my oil from Walmart and the battery from O'rielly's. Like I said, it's about holdin' down the expenses for me. So, Yes, it's been a great tractor. bjr

Localmotion · May 11, 2011

bjr said:
You're giving a little less 2X the price I gave for the crate JM354 'bout seven yrs. ago. I got no loader though. Been a good tractor. I do my own wrench turnin' and don't complain about that. I had to go as cheap as I could otherwise no tractor for me. Just get familar with Jinmaparts dot com. The local big name tractor dealers would just as soon shoot me on sight, so, far I've evaded the bullets. I buy my oil from Walmart and the battery from O'rielly's. Like I said, it's about holdin' down the expenses for me. So, Yes, it's been a great tractor. bjr

Just to clarify - the 2010 model is quite a bit different to the older versions (and definately than the 2003 model), hence probably the double price...

$11,500 plus tax equates to around the same value here (in euroland) for a flatpack, without loader and no sun canopy - so guessing you've got a great deal :laughing:

quicksandfarmer · May 11, 2011

I paid about 12,000 for a 354 with Koyker loader in 2007. That sounds like a steal, especially considering how the price of everything has gone in the past four years. The same package from Northern Tool is about $14,500 (NT is the most expensive place). I'm basically happy with my 354, it has been reliable and I've done a lot of work with it.

What don't I like? If feels like it has a high center of gravity. I've never tipped it over but I feel like I'm close to it all the time. The high range on the transmission is too high. There's a big gap between 4L and 1H, and 4H and RH are too fast to be usable.

I have the 4-cylinder. I don't have direct knowledge but a lot of people say the 3-cylinder starts easier, one less cylinder to get going.

The Jinma loader doesn't have a good reputation, I've been very happy with my Koyker loader but it's about $1,000 more.

Bob Rooks · May 11, 2011

quicksandfarmer said:
I don't have direct knowledge but a lot of people say the 3-cylinder starts easier, one less cylinder to get going.

Let me get this straight. It starts on three cylinders and then switches to four?

:laughing:

quicksandfarmer · May 11, 2011

Bob Rooks said:
Let me get this straight. It starts on three cylinders and then switches to four? :laughing:

Huh?

The 3-cylinder engine will run if one cylinder is firing. The 4-cylinder needs two. When it's cold out it will happen to me that I get one cylinder firing but it sputters out. It takes another minute or so with the glow plugs to get that second cylinder going and then we're off to the races.

Bob Rooks · May 11, 2011

OK, now I got it.

greg_g · May 12, 2011

quicksandfarmer said:
Huh?

When it's cold out it will happen to me that I get one cylinder firing but it sputters out. It takes another minute or so with the glow plugs to get that second cylinder going and then we're off to the races.

Given that description, I'd say you either have one or more bad glow plugs, or - and this is not uncommon - you have low voltage at the glow plug buss bar. The latter is easily remediable with a $20 relay and a few feet of 10ga primary wire.

//greg//

bjr · May 12, 2011

I agree on the gearing ratio's being a pain. 1L works fine for my tilling though. bjr

Diamondpilot · May 12, 2011

I have a 2003 284, not a 354. I paid $9,500 for the tractor, loader, and a 5' King Kutter finish mower new and assembled. The only part of the deal that was junk was the King Kutter mower. I have since sold it and got a Caroni 6' finish mower.

As for the the deal you are getting it sounds good. Mine has been basically trouble free for 850 hours. Make sure you are getting a quality loader, not the Jinma loader. I have one and it has had issues but the tractor has been great. Spend the extra money on the loader or you will do as I did and spend $1000 on 4 new aftermarket cylinders and valve. It now works perfect but I should have just got the better loader from day one.

The only bad thing I have heard about on the 354 is the gearing. Mainly the reverse being so fast. Check it out.

Chris