Jinma Reliability

[greg_g]

Thank you for confirming the real story Chip !! And for adding that those purchase options have been extended once again. In the current economy, it only makes sense to keep piling on the incentives.

//greg//

 

[greenmule]

Well now we know the real story,right Greg?

2,000,thats not that much though!

4 year warrenty would be worth that,something to think about,if your getting ready to buy a 30 hp tractor.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I totally agree the Kioti is a nice tractor and is considered better than the Jinma but is it worth the extra$$$? I guess that depends on the guy buying it. I bought my Jinma cash with a FEL and 6' Finish Mower out the door ready to run for $9500 after some dealing. At the time the Koiti, JD, and New Hollands of similar HP and smaller chassis size were in the $17,000 to $20,000 range and I felt like while they had nicer fit and finish they were less tractor.

I will tell you the Chinese under rate the tractors. My 254/284 will out work my neighbors 33 Hp John Deere and will out work my Ford 861 which is 45 Hp any day of the week except for the Ford on PTO. I would think if you are comparing the CK30 you really need to look at the 254/284 Jinma. The Jinma 30HP is more like the 35HP Kioti.

Chris

 

[greenmule]

That may be true and it may not be. My 30 hp kioti seems to turn a 5ft tiller and a 5 ft hog easier in same situations than my neighbors jinma 254,to me anyways[have used his quite a bit].

Plus the gearing on kioti just works better[less gears I know but],mow faster,till faster ground speed.

And the lift will pick up way more than 254.

So from my experience,[apart from the overall quality and warrenty and dealers and etc],the ck30 is more powerfull than the 254,now how it compares power wise with a 30 hp jinma,don't know,but I've used both,have you?

 

[3RRL]

No doubt there are better tractors...no argument there.
I'm with Chip about the Chinese tractor being a value if it's at least 20% less expensive than competitive models.
But what if the price was 50% or less? With our limited income and resources, that would be a real smoking deal. We bought a 284 Jinma package for Loretta just over a year ago direct from China delivered February 2008. Our buddy, Scott put together a deal for us that we couldn't pass up, even when money was tight.

Our package included the 2008 Jinma 284 with FEL, 2,200lb Hydraulic Dump Trailer, 18 ton 3pt Log Splitter, 5,000w Diesel Generator and AC/DC Welder combo, 48" Tiller, 5' Landscape Rake and a WC-6 Jinma Chipper. Including customs, container space and shipping (about a grand for that) we paid $9,100 for all of it. It would've been about $500 bucks less if we didn't have to pay additional fees for 2 weeks storage in Long Beach because of Customs delay! Nevertheless, for me, that was an unbeatable deal and an opportunity of a lifetime. For some reason, I don't view a tractor like I do a car or an expensive watch or gun. I view it more like a tool that if it works ... great. If not, I fix it.
I can run a screw driver and manage turning a wrench now and then so I don't mind.

The huge savings left me the opportunity to add all kinds of custom features to make her tractor truly well equipped. Using my own labor, I've spent about $1,500 out of pocket adding custom features to her tractor, some of which are going on right now in Loretta's thread. For that investment and doing it myself, you can't believe what we got. Some of those include a new FEL valve, new electric over hydraulic solenoid valve to control her custom bucket grapple, a new FEL joystick with toggle switch, a single acting valve for the dump trailer, a new 4 spool SV valve for hydraulic top link and two side links and a set of rear remotes including all the hydraulic hoses and connectors.

We also added rear FEL stabilizers and an air filter minder and will most likely add some other gizmos like a cup holder etc. Altogether, (not including the package of implements) that's a lot of upgrades and optional features which would (more than likely) push the out-the-door price of another brand through the roof... at least for me. I still support and buy replacement parts and maintenance items from the Chinese Tractor Dealers here, just like any other brand would need to do from their dealer. Parts are readily available and those guys are fair and have very good pricing. Service too for those lucky enough who live close by.

I've never owned a super deluxe tractor so to be fair, I don't know how many of the upgrades would need to done (if any). Also to be fair I realize that package isn't available to everybody and since then prices have increased. But for sure, the added options and that load of implements would still amount to quite a pile of bread.
No getting around that.

As far as reliability and performance, both our Chinese tractors start reliably every day we use them.
They work all day long or as long as we can work them. I've seen what other brands can do and I see no difference between what ours can do. Comfort could be an issue since ours are rather Spartan like and others are most likely more comfortable ... but heck, they work.
I'm not knocking any other brands, just pointing out the value to an old guy like me.

 

[greenmule]

I'm not bashing chinese tractors,just for the record.

I'm just telling a would be tractor buyer who wants to buy a 30 hp tractor some money things he might not have thought of other wise.

We seem to have it boiled down that a 30 hp kioti and a 30 hp jinma price difference is about 2 grand,[both with loaders]. Now thats from an independant jinma and kioti dealer.

I started this by saying that northern tools was this much,[forget without looking],but their price ,[Im sure] was more than blue chips. So,that would make it less than a 2,000 dollar difference,I reckon.

If you can get a tractor half price or so as a name brand,can see the attraction,but 2 thousand or less than name brand,with dealers,and 4 year warrenty,[that is free by the way],can't really see the attraction anymores.

So,can't see how an informed buyer would buy a nortrac 30 hp tractor,thats my point,and my sole point.

 

[bluechip]

I have sold lots of chinese tractors, in fact I have 17units in stock at this time. The Chinese tractors can be a great alternative to used, and frankly, not everyone needs a $15-25,000 tractor. My rule of thumb is somewhere around 100 hours a year of use. At one time, i heard (probably here on tbn) that the average use was around 70 hrs per year on a compact tractor. If someone comes to me and expects to use a tractor more than 100 hours a year, and money is not a controlling issue, than we look at one set of tractors, if someone wants a tractor to play with, move a little dirt, knock the weeds down on his 5 or 10 acres a couple times a year, and is price concience, then the chinese tractor can and is a great alternative. With past brands of chinese tractors I have sold, I used to tell people that they should be mechanically inclined, that the machine had a warranty that would most likely it would be used. Once the bugs got worked out, they should have a decent workable tractor. Of course, most customers never had a warranty issue, but if they did, it was not a cause of concern as they were expecting it.

Honestly, with the line I sell now, mechanical aptitude is not really necessary as the warranty claims rate has been very low. Each buyer needs to make their own assesment and weigh the cost/benefit ratio. I have no statistics, but it is safe to say that a chinese tractor will have a shorter MTBF (mean time between failures). the more you run one, the more you will fix it. but if you don't use one a lot, and the price savings is important its worth a shot.

So all that said, I would say the answer to the original posters question is that Jinma's are not as reliable as some other brands, especially KIOTI (very few ever need warranty work at all). But the price is less. You get what you pay for. Personally, I don't care for the gear ratios on the 30HP Jinma but that is another topic.

 

[Peter Nap]

My first post here...

I've had an Emorybuilt (Jinma) 454 for two years. I can't say much for Emorybuilt but love the tractor. I have had very few problems that were not my fault. I blew a hose this weekend but rubber is a big issue with the China Tractors.

I have bought parts from Tommy at Affordable and they are top drawer!

The electric system is another problem area but...after you throw the manual in the trash and do a little rewiring, It's fine.

 

[doxford jim]

Hi,

Since everyone is quoting prices etc, I thought I would throw some more in.

I priced a 45hp Kioti with FEL and Backhoe and was given a price of $46,000 plus taxes and delivery. Don't remember which model Kioti, but was impressed with the quality. Too much money for me.

Looked at Jinma and priced a crate deal. I got a 2007 model, 554 Jinma for $9800 and a ZL-60 FEL for $3400 - bringing the total to $13,200 plus tax and delivery. That was a price I could afford.

I have found the Jinma adequate or better, for my needs. The price was right and the parts are available if and when needed. I sure as heck cannot afford a JD or MF 55hp tractor.

I live in Canada so these prices may be quite a bit different to those in the states.

Don't know if this helps, though I would throw it in anyway.

Cheers

J.

 

[dreeds]

Well, since originally posting this question back in January, we have since purchased a Jinma 284 from Jared at Gorilla Tractor in Tacoma, WA. I have to say that they did an INCREDIBLE job prepping the tractor and taking care of known issues in advance so I wouldn't have to deal with them. We've since put over 25 hours on it doing chipping (Jinma Chipper), brush hogging, box blading, and general land clearing and the only issue I've had is a torn wire on the clutch switch which was cause by me thrashing about clearing blackberries. I've since done my due dilligence and changed the oil/filter and lubed everything.

I love my Jinma and have absolutely no regrets. I also highly recommend Gorilla Tractors.

D. Reed