Ok, I have mine and use it, does anyone else?

[cjax]

This seems like the slowest moving thread on this site. Mine has been a champ, and I've been using it weekly for random projects.

Put the canopy on and I like it a lot. Need to figure out how to deaden the sound though, as it seriously got louder under the cover. I wear shooting range ear muffs when working anyway, or large headphones plugged into some tunes.

Tore out the garden and posts last weekend. Building a bigger garden next year, so need to basically start over. Did some mowing and leveling of ground also.

Used it a couple days ago to move railroad timbers being used for a retaining wall and the stairway down it.

So far I couldn't be much happier with its performance. Can't wait until my work projects die down. (12 hours days, 7 days a week for 2 more weeks) Then I'll be able to get things ready for the winter.

Just keeping the forum alive, if at all possible.

[mark777]

....Just keeping the forum alive, if at all possible.....


cjax,

I hope we have more and future posters with Chinese brand tractors. Right now, you are one of our few pioneers with the Jinma Brand, which makes it a little difficult to relate to and comment about...Personally, I've been interested and following your tractor diaries since the original post and probably because all tractors fascinate me...but the brand you own, most of us know too little about.

Keep posting and plugging along. Eventually will have more members with like brands participate (and you will be our resident Jinma 25 HP expert).

Mark

[Mayor]

I for one do not know much about the brand but would like to know more. Please post some pictures if you have them and keep posting!!! :wwp: :wwp: :wwp:

[JDFANATIC]

cjax,

Please keep the posts coming, there are owners out there that you will reach in time. Meanwhile, we all get to benefit from your knowledge! :thThumbsU

[Drawbar]

keep in mind too that there are a lot of Lurkers out there. People that read the forums and yet don't reply. Why? I just don't know. I guess they can't type. I can't either but I still flap my gums, or at least push the little buttons on the keyboard :)

Keep it up brother, they are being read, just not replied to because not a lot of people have those types of tractors.

[Mickey]

Not a lot of knowledge by the run of the mill guy out here. China as a whole doesn't have the reputation as a quality suppler and what little gets posted about Chinese products is based greatly on peoples feeling about the Chinese government and not first hand experience.

It's people like you Cjax that owns a Chinese product, a tractor in this case, and are happy with it that needs to help spread the word from the voice of experience.

I've been to China a few times, touring a number of Companies and I know products from china can range from very poor to world class. We need to hear from people that can tell of their experience and separate the product from the government. Not all Co's in China are run by the government. Free, well free for the most part, enterprise is alive and growing in China. The Co I worked for had a few divisions in China, there was a party member on staff but they were given a window seat and the got to look out the window all day. No input on Co operations. I found few if any younger professionals (educated) that looked fondly on their government. They are biding their time until communism fades from their life.

Tell us more about your tractor and show us some pictures.

[pigsitter]

Does Jinma make the tractors sold through Rural King? I've heard good comments locally from a few guys using them.

[bulletproof1510]

pigsitter, yes as far as I have been told. The Jinma tractor is also market through Northern Tools. You can purchase one about 3,000.00 cheaper through Rural King than Northern though.

[cjax]

The one I bought I got from a guy who had purchased it from Rural King. Pretty decent prices if you're looking to just get started or need something to get you going. That's where I'm at, low budget, and not too worried if it takes a little longer and more patience to get a job done.
Don't get me wrong, I shopped the JD/Kubota/Cub Cadet/MF/Ford scene, just couldn't get the price I was able to afford for the tractor I needed, so I went with fewer (a lot) bells and whistles and something that will help me get the job done.

On another note, I used it again this weekend, and the boss took some pictures. (I'll try to post them tomorrow) We have been building a large retaining wall for the past few months. Its slow, as I'm working a lot of OT and the boss is busy with the kids, and another on the way, so we can't really expect any heavy work from her.
Anyway, I used it to spread a 12 ton load of dirt that was in 2 piles into the back sides of the uphill walls. Koyker loader was rock solid. Very impressed. Used the 6' finish mower as ballast off the back, and could probably use more weight when using the loader. She was a little front heavy when full, and made the hills 'fun'
I'll throw up some pics tomorrow. Nothing amazing action wise, but shows it being used, which is something different around here.

I'll keep up the posts. Hopefully it helps someone in the future.

[bblalocksr]

I don't have one, but the contractor that put in my asphalt drive used one and he thought it was the best thing since sliced bread. :ROF I watched him grade the rock etc before he poured the top surface and his tractor never missed a beat. I guess if he can use it comercially it tells us something.:thThumbsU

[cjax]

Just an update.

This thing is a life saver. (my little 254)

I live in south central Indiana and was hit by the floods that have ravaged through here in the last few months. Part of our driveway (about 12' wide, 15' across, 6 ' deep) was wiped out by a 7' wall of water (normally 2-3" deep). Getting a contractor to come in and repair it was going to take weeks with everyone else needing them also, so I had 60 ton of rip-rap and driveway stone brought in. With 2 other people smoothing with shovels, and about 4 1/2 hours of work, we moved the stone back to fill in the void, packed it, and smoothed it out. The little Jinma did 90% of the work. Saved about 50% of the cost to have someone else do it, and now I'm comfortable it's done right.

I'll try to post some pics, but all I can say is that between all of the moving, gravel hauling, and stone moving it's done since I bought it, It's been worth every penny.

We're also building a 60'+ retaining wall with natural stone, and using the tractor to move heavy piles around. A serious backsaver.

I know, :wwp: , I'll try to get that done.

[Dude11]

You mentioned about it being a little loud,is it a 2 or a 3 cyl.?I've heard 2's are louder.Don't forget those old JD's and their "johnnie-poppers",But everybody loves to hear em.:trink40:

[cjax]

It's a 3 cyl. I've learned to live with it. Found some decent ear muffs/headphones that I can hook to my MP3 player. Listening to the tunes (Jimmy B) and playing on the tractor makes it a little less annoying. Still thinking about trying to quiet it down, but I'll be able to stand it for a while longer now.

[okieduc104]

I noticed that exhaust stack mounted just at the right hight to deafen the operator. The Kubota has a front mounted muffler that is much more pleasant.
There should be some way that the exhaust could be improved on your tractor. I operated heavy equipment when I was a young man LeTourneau Super C pull scrapers with a Jimmy 6-71 and also some with Cummins 250 six cylinders. I remember driving home and not being able to hear the radio or to be able to tell if the car engine was running. They had stacks like the tractor in your Avatar. Now, 50 years later It allows me to have selective hearing around my wife, without lieing about it.

[cjax]

I wear hearing protection whenever I'm on mine. It is LOUD, and with the canopy on (to give me some shade) it's even louder. I'd be deaf at this point if I didn't. I have been trying to figure out how to either re-aim it or re-position it, but with funds the way they've been this year, I'm not rushing out to blow money on something that still works.

[skcsbrh]

Try mounting styrofoam sheets under the canopy. It may absorb the sound and keep the heat off you a bit more than just metal. Rural King here in NE Indiana had a couple of Jinma's for sale a little while back.

[Paul J]

Not a lot of knowledge by the run of the mill guy out here. China as a whole doesn't have the reputation as a quality suppler and what little gets posted about Chinese products is based greatly on peoples feeling about the Chinese government and not first hand experience.

It's people like you Cjax that owns a Chinese product, a tractor in this case, and are happy with it that needs to help spread the word from the voice of experience.

I've been to China a few times, touring a number of Companies and I know products from china can range from very poor to world class. We need to hear from people that can tell of their experience and separate the product from the government. Not all Co's in China are run by the government. Free, well free for the most part, enterprise is alive and growing in China. The Co I worked for had a few divisions in China, there was a party member on staff but they were given a window seat and the got to look out the window all day. No input on Co operations. I found few if any younger professionals (educated) that looked fondly on their government. They are biding their time until communism fades from their life.

Tell us more about your tractor and show us some pictures.

I own a 60hp Nortrac from Northern Tool. It is a Foton tractor with Northerns logo on it.
This Foton is a very well built unit. It weighs 7500 lbs without the loader or backhoe and 9500 lbs with the two units added. It has a Lovel/Perkins diesel which has performed flawlessly. It has multiple hydraulic attachment connections for a variety of equipment applications. 16 speeds forward and 8 in reverse. It has a class 2 three point hitch with float, draft and down pressure control. Has a 750/1000 RPM PTO. The cab is air conditioned and heated. The paint job is quality. It cost me a little over half the price of a JD of equal hp and equipment capabilities. It has power that I'll probably never use. I would recommend it to anyone. PJ

A couple photos;

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g273/PJ161/Odd%20Photos/581.jpg

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g273/PJ161/Tractors/609-1.jpg

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g273/PJ161/Tractors/610.jpg

[Grateful11]

Hi Paul, That's a nice looking tractor. I've never seen one up close. Is that 3
sets hydraulic hook ups in the rear?

[cjax]

Nice toy, uh, I mean, tool you purchased Paul. Congrats. I hope your works out as well as mine has so far for me. I've been told the larger Chi tractors are very well put together. I've heard a couple horror stories from the guys I get my parts from about the 2WD 25hp Jinmas they sell, but it seems it usually happens to people who over-use them. If I had the $$ I would have bought a 40hp and never tested it's limits. I get close from time to time now, but very sparingly. I guess that's why mine's still running. Boulder and stone moving from time to time, fencepost removal occasionally, but mainly mowing large acreage and grading the driveway are all mine is used for (or pulling cars out of the snow in the winter). Pretty light work for a 25hp diesel.

Oh, and Paul, you're making me look bad, now I HAVE to get pictures up. When I do, there will probably be a bunch of them.

[Paul J]

Nice toy, uh, I mean, tool you purchased Paul. Congrats. I hope your works out as well as mine has so far for me. I've been told the larger Chi tractors are very well put together. I've heard a couple horror stories from the guys I get my parts from about the 2WD 25hp Jinmas they sell, but it seems it usually happens to people who over-use them. If I had the $$ I would have bought a 40hp and never tested it's limits. I get close from time to time now, but very sparingly. I guess that's why mine's still running. Boulder and stone moving from time to time, fencepost removal occasionally, but mainly mowing large acreage and grading the driveway are all mine is used for (or pulling cars out of the snow in the winter). Pretty light work for a 25hp diesel.

Oh, and Paul, you're making me look bad, now I HAVE to get pictures up. When I do, there will probably be a bunch of them.

Pictures, we want pictures!

You know, a lot of bad publicity has fallen on Chinese tractors because of the poor quality in manufacturing of the earlier models and rightly so. The newer models have been improved tremendously. They had to or loose more sales because of the bad publicity. The new Jinmas, as I have been told, are much improved. They had bad casting issues in the early models, but that is supposed to have been corrected among other things such as wiring etc.
Your right about over working any tractor. A 20hp tractor will not do the max work of a 40hp model etc, even though some will try. But then again, the early models, which is what you hear about most of the time, were weak in many areas. Hopefully that's all been resolved. I like mine and as I said before, a JD would have cost almost twice as much. PJ

[Turbo]

well I have only had mine for a few weeks and got hole 12 hour on it ,but so far it's done more than I expected , I haven't got any implements for as yet , but the FEL is grate... experience takes time and I haven't any time...:fing20:

[nuffer460]

I have a 254 from Northern Tool. I have had it for about a year now. 255 hours on the meter. No problems to speak of. It was ordered with a front loader. Paid $9,998.99 for the tractor/ loader on a spring promotion. At the same time purchased the turf tire set and a 72" finish mower. Glad that I have both sets of tires. Ag tires too agressive for spring mowing. So for about $12,350.00 have a good start on yard maintenance. My build plate has a 2008 date. It seems that things have gotten better from earlier years. I have somethings I am going to change, but nothing big. Just things to make it easier to service. Make the front hood one piece so the whole thing lifts up out of the way.
John

[Paul J]

Even though I have other American made tractors, this was delivered to me in April of 08. It's a 60hp Foton with loader and detachable backhoe. It was almost half the price of a new JD with similar equipment. It's a real work horse and we use it all the time. We've had no mechanical problems with it other than wheat chaff collecting in the radiator fins. Were working on that problem. PJ

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g273/PJ161/Odd%20Photos/581.jpg