dexterbeef
New member
- Joined
- Feb 14, 2005
- Messages
- 2
I am a farmer in Shropshire, using a couple of Zetors and a Kramer farm loader for my agricultural things. However, in common with many other UK farmers, I am looking at other areas in which to diversify from mainstream agriculture as the farm income stream dries up...! For several years, I have been carrying out paddock and field management on smaller areas of grassland with ATV's where the owners cannot find a local Farmer to do the work or they do not have the expertise needed. I have recently tendered..and won, a contract to carry out the grass cutting on amenity land owned by the local Council, about 10ac in all, 10-12 times a year through the growing season, March to October. This is hopefully, just the start of several such jobs...
I now need to make the purchase of kit to carry out the job! I am now in two minds...or even 3! I have had a for wide grass wheel/tyres to go on a 2wd 70hp Zetor tractor @ £1600 plus
£1500 for a finishing mower. Else I can go the Compact tractor (Chinese or European 30hp) and a 60"-72" mower or to go for a dedicated 2nd hand front mounted rotary finishing mower. Both options are around £5K for an acceptable machine combination. The compact has the potential to be useful
elsewhere for the paddockcare sideline, but is not that transportable in some ways if it is large enough for farm work.
The dedicated mowers are pretty amazing devices, though with lots to go wrong on the sophisticated ones, with hydrostatic drives being a favourite problem at my price bracket!!!. Very manouvreable with good performance albeit with 35hp+ needed! I do like the mid mounted compact mower/tractor where the tractor also has a 3-point linkage though I have doubts if they have enough power for farm work..
So folks, I would be very interested to hear from anyone with experience of Jinmas in the UK, and even more interested in any owners experiences with operating a 5, 6 or 7ft finishing mower behind (or under) a Jinma tractor. The local dealer (4 miles away) imports Jinmas into the UK, so is OK for spares etc... He has 3 models that appeal, a 204 with a 25hp engine, a 254 at 28HP and also one of the new Isuzu copy engined models at 30hp. The last is a proper tractor in my opinion, and much bigger all round. A 254 appeals for weight and price if it will do the work with a 72" mower. Will it? I have heard of some of the Chinese tractors back ends getting hot with extensive roadwork, any thoughts? Past experience says good oil and possibly a cooler will sort that sort of problem
If you want to drop a line, please feel free to do so, I am always pleased to talk shop.... steve@paddockcare.biz http://www.paddockcare.biz <font color="blue"> </font> Or sometimes I am on Skype...ID:srawlings
Steve Rawlings
I now need to make the purchase of kit to carry out the job! I am now in two minds...or even 3! I have had a for wide grass wheel/tyres to go on a 2wd 70hp Zetor tractor @ £1600 plus
£1500 for a finishing mower. Else I can go the Compact tractor (Chinese or European 30hp) and a 60"-72" mower or to go for a dedicated 2nd hand front mounted rotary finishing mower. Both options are around £5K for an acceptable machine combination. The compact has the potential to be useful
elsewhere for the paddockcare sideline, but is not that transportable in some ways if it is large enough for farm work.
The dedicated mowers are pretty amazing devices, though with lots to go wrong on the sophisticated ones, with hydrostatic drives being a favourite problem at my price bracket!!!. Very manouvreable with good performance albeit with 35hp+ needed! I do like the mid mounted compact mower/tractor where the tractor also has a 3-point linkage though I have doubts if they have enough power for farm work..
So folks, I would be very interested to hear from anyone with experience of Jinmas in the UK, and even more interested in any owners experiences with operating a 5, 6 or 7ft finishing mower behind (or under) a Jinma tractor. The local dealer (4 miles away) imports Jinmas into the UK, so is OK for spares etc... He has 3 models that appeal, a 204 with a 25hp engine, a 254 at 28HP and also one of the new Isuzu copy engined models at 30hp. The last is a proper tractor in my opinion, and much bigger all round. A 254 appeals for weight and price if it will do the work with a 72" mower. Will it? I have heard of some of the Chinese tractors back ends getting hot with extensive roadwork, any thoughts? Past experience says good oil and possibly a cooler will sort that sort of problem
If you want to drop a line, please feel free to do so, I am always pleased to talk shop.... steve@paddockcare.biz http://www.paddockcare.biz <font color="blue"> </font> Or sometimes I am on Skype...ID:srawlings
Steve Rawlings