I am in the market for a tractor and keep looking at the Chinese imports. Any feedback pro or con? Any feedback on what is the best value in a Chinese tractor? Kama looks to be the best made with parts hard to find. Correct assumption? Anyone had experience looking for Kama parts?
Chinese Tractors Best Value?
- Thread starter s2kdaniel
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rockyridgefarm
Elite Member
Best Value?
Be sure and look at a complete configuration, delivered to your door price. Consider total cost of ownership. (most Chinese have 6 month parts only warranties, compared to two and three year full service ones...) Get real bids from other options (Kubota, Deere, NH, Kioti, Mahindra the usual suspects...)
You might be surprised.
Never heard of a Kama....
Be sure and look at a complete configuration, delivered to your door price. Consider total cost of ownership. (most Chinese have 6 month parts only warranties, compared to two and three year full service ones...) Get real bids from other options (Kubota, Deere, NH, Kioti, Mahindra the usual suspects...)
You might be surprised.
Never heard of a Kama....
SPIKER
Elite Member
try posting in the china forum for good results:
I have a "JINMA" tractor which is the most common, KAMAs are gaining popularity though they are only available from a few places so parts MAY, (i repeat MAY) become an issue if they don't pick up later on. BUT they are a nice tractor for a good price. I would buy a JINMA again without a doupt though.
Mark M /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
I have a "JINMA" tractor which is the most common, KAMAs are gaining popularity though they are only available from a few places so parts MAY, (i repeat MAY) become an issue if they don't pick up later on. BUT they are a nice tractor for a good price. I would buy a JINMA again without a doupt though.
Mark M /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
johnk
Elite Member
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- Kubota GST Grand L3130 w/ 723 loader, Ags
I have a Jinma and I enjoy mine. It does everything I ask it to do and then some. Mine was 6 months out of warranty and my dealer still sent me free parts. Try all brands out and you can make your own decision. All tractors have their good and bad points no matter the cost or make. Their is no 1 great tractor without problems..........
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jswisc
Member
I've had a Jinma for 150+ hrs. and so far it's been bulletproof. 50's technology, but that's not all bad in many respects. Would I like hyd. drive? You bet. Flat floor plan for ease of getting off and on? For sure! But if the clutch fails, I would fix it myself and the parts are plentiful and cheap. If I had a big three tractor, and I was out of warranty, a major repair could break my bank. Tractors, if only by the tasks we ask of them to perform, will break. Some more than others but all will have some issues. Initial costs are initially important, but future costs can kill you just as easy. I read other forums on major brands, and occasionally repair costs are quoted for major work. The amounts are shocking!
F100Panel
Silver Member
I have operated and repaired heavy equipment for over 25 years. Played with tractors some too over the years..Resultingly I think myself somewhat capable of making a personal judgement on quality/value/cost for my own needs....If asked my personal opinion, I was initially put off of Chinese by all the naysayers most of whom never saw much less operated Chinese. I was looking at a well used Kioti when the dealer talked me into at least walking over & looking at a new Jinma for the same money. I was kinda suprised... When they took ignition points out of cars in the mid 70's I near threw away my tool box... Since then if the car don't start , after a cursory look I just go back in the house.... Jinma in my mind is custom made for the happy homeowner/handyman. As stated above old technology but EASY to fix for the average home mechanic if something breaks.. No diesel equivalent of electronic ignitions, computers & sensors... Breakage any more likely with Chinese? I really don't think so.... They have more steel than technology in their build & I believe that makes them pretty durable. Have there been stories of metal failure/fatigue with Chinese? Certainly.... But.. Consider ANY make will have these problems & maybe the factor added rarely to the mix & THIS IS JUST MY OWN THOUGHTS based on no actual FACTS.... with the Chinese being least expensive many buyers are first timers & inexpierenced operators & in that scenario, ANYTHING will breakdown. For myself personally I just bought my 2nd Jinma. I should just be saying I bought my second Chinese and not seem to be pushing Jinma over any other Chinese brand cause I'm not. I just think you get the most bang for your buck with Jinma AGAIN personal opinion.... Both were crate tractors. Did I save much buying a crate tractor? I truely don't know ...when everything is factored in.. What did I get? Well up front I'm a backyard mechanic & going the crate route I assembled the tractors to make ME happy. Tweaking this adjusting that, loctiteing this or that.. And with that a REAL knowledge of the tractor. After assembling one I had NO fears of fixing anything on the tractor.... If I had the use, need and $ for a 3rd tractor would I buy Jinma er... Chinese again? Sure would.....
Scozz
Silver Member
s2kdaniel ... where are you located? Take a moment and fill in the profile. There likely are several import dealers nearby your home. I recently purchased a KAMA KM454. My decision for KAMA vrs Jinma was driven strongly by the fact that Jinma didn't offer shuttle shift on their 45hp line.
I've never owned a Jinma, but based on what I have read on these forums would not hesitate on purchasing one. Owning a KAMA I can tell you first hand it is literally built like a tank. It has exceeded my expectations. There are several dealers in this forum that deal both Jinma and Kama ... parts are not an issue for either (Chip, I'm sure you can better answer this). In MY OPINION the Kama is the up and coming import and I would not be a suprised to see it become as popular as Jinma in years to come ... Good luck ... Scozz
I've never owned a Jinma, but based on what I have read on these forums would not hesitate on purchasing one. Owning a KAMA I can tell you first hand it is literally built like a tank. It has exceeded my expectations. There are several dealers in this forum that deal both Jinma and Kama ... parts are not an issue for either (Chip, I'm sure you can better answer this). In MY OPINION the Kama is the up and coming import and I would not be a suprised to see it become as popular as Jinma in years to come ... Good luck ... Scozz
bluechip
Veteran Member
We have been getting good feedback from the KAMAs we have brought in. The KAMA is made by Shandong, the dominant supplier of tractors in the 30HP class in the Chinese home market. Yancheng, who make Jinma and the rebaged Jinmas sold under a cornicopia of names ships most of its production to the USA and is little known to the Chinese home market. The larger Jinma is a new design, the KM series KAMA has been around longer and was developed with the cooperation of Duetz-Fahr, hence constant mesh transmission gears, wet disk brakes and planetary final drive, all are unusual on Chinese tractors today.
We sell a lot of JInma tractors too up to 30 HP. The TaiShan models sort of overlap the Jinmas, but are heavier built and sell for a little more money than the JInmas. The 200 series JInma was originally designed as an 18HP tractor where the 25HP TS series from Shandong was originally designed for 30 HP, so there is about 400lbs of weight difference, in some cases this is an advantage in others not. so we sell both.
It is true that there are more stocking locations of Jinma parts than KAMA, but we have worked hard to build a viable spare parts supply here in Akransas for the tractors we import. We have been able to supply parts on a special order basis for older TS tractors, going back into the early 90s also, don't see many older Jinmas. We are not the only source for KAMA parts in the USA.
The big thing is that TaiSHan made only 2 cylinder tractors till a little over a year ago when they addopted the Y 385 and the 485 engines, which along with new fiberglass hoods make this tractor a great value today.
Hope this helped, its getting too long if there is a specific question, I will try to answer...
We sell a lot of JInma tractors too up to 30 HP. The TaiShan models sort of overlap the Jinmas, but are heavier built and sell for a little more money than the JInmas. The 200 series JInma was originally designed as an 18HP tractor where the 25HP TS series from Shandong was originally designed for 30 HP, so there is about 400lbs of weight difference, in some cases this is an advantage in others not. so we sell both.
It is true that there are more stocking locations of Jinma parts than KAMA, but we have worked hard to build a viable spare parts supply here in Akransas for the tractors we import. We have been able to supply parts on a special order basis for older TS tractors, going back into the early 90s also, don't see many older Jinmas. We are not the only source for KAMA parts in the USA.
The big thing is that TaiSHan made only 2 cylinder tractors till a little over a year ago when they addopted the Y 385 and the 485 engines, which along with new fiberglass hoods make this tractor a great value today.
Hope this helped, its getting too long if there is a specific question, I will try to answer...