Jinma crate tractor against an older Kubota

[Charlevoixboy]

I'm a newbie to the forum but am planning a tractor purchase and doing research while the snow flies and temps hang around -5F. As some background, I have strong mechanical skills.
Here is what I'm considering:

1) Purchasing a new Jinma 284 with FEL in a crate (about $8300 from an importer)
-or-
2) Buying a locally owned mid-eighties Kubota B8200M and purchasing a FEL and an aftermarket power steering kit. (Tractor has 192 original hours -it was my father's tractor and has been started twice per year and serviced and stored by my brother - it's like new.)

About the same initial investment either way.

I'd use a tractor about 50 hours per year for light yard work, wood hauling and garden. I'm sure either would be adequate for this.

The Kubota is only 19hp and I'm wondering if the 28hp Jinma would be a better value?

 

[Flyhiflylo]

Jinma is nice... Look at Loretta's... (Mrs3RRL)

 

[Charlevoixboy]

Yes, that is a nice looking tractor! I also like the Jinma styling.

 

[greg_g]

Well, I've owned four Chinese tractors so far. So usually I'd say buy new and let any used tractor problems be some other buyers problem. But in this case I think $8300 is too much for a 284 and Chinese loader. With a little shopping around, you should be able to find an assembled and dealer prep'd tractor and loader for under $9000. Rural King for example, sells the JM254 for $5999 and loader for $2999. That way you're also getting a local warranty too. It's not a long one - six months maybe - but it's better than comes with a crate tractor - and can really be nice to have in case you encounter any problems breaking the new tractor in.

//greg//

 

[Flyhiflylo]

Yes, that is a nice looking tractor! I also like the Jinma styling.

Check your PMs...

 

[California]

Well, this is the the Chinese tractor forum so I'll try to be polite. In my opinion, I've seen far more setup problems described here for the crate tractors than I had putting my 30 year old Yanmar back in service after it was semi retired for several years. And your family Kubota should be better than that, probably entirely trouble free, maybe a battery at most, compared to the tinkering it will take to put a crate tractor in service then debugging it.

I would choose the Kubota. Your Dad would be proud. And you won't need power steering for the tasks you described.

 

[bjr]

I sure I'll get some irritated responses for what I'm about to say. But, do you really need a FEL? I'm a heavy equipment mechanic and I chose not to have a FEL on my JM 354 Jinma. I just read too many threads on people tearing out the front drive train and actually breaking the tractors in two peices while using the FEL's. I bought the crate 354 and it's been a good tractor. I invest in a lot of 3 point attachemnts and made cherry picker type hydrualic boom for the 3 point. Yes, I rented a small backhoe with front end loader tractor a recent waterline insallation job. There can be work arounds for not having a FEL. FEL's can complicate service work with the extra framing around the engine area and power steering is a must (my opinion). Just rethink about the FEL. The little 19 hp tractor may be all you need for the majority of the work you have in mind and won't even need the FEL. bjr

 

[greg_g]

Your 300 series should be stout enough for general duty loader work. It's the Jinma 200 series that's garnering notariety for having the "delicate " front end. But I'll definitely concede that a loader frame - on almost any tractor - can turn some otherwise simple maintenance items into a real PITA.

//greg//

 

[California]

Are we still at the $8300 level?

 

[Killer_B]

Go for the Kub. It has already depreciated as far as it's going to. If you don't like it, you can always get your money back out of it and buy something else.

KB