Yanmar YM3810D VS. Jinma 354

[paulray]

Hi there folks, I'm thinking about buying one of the above mentioned tractors and was hoping that those familiar with them could shed some light and some opinions on it. I know it is from 1979-1981, 45 HP, 4WD. The one I'm looking at has just over 2000 hours and will put a FEL loader on it. Total cost will be $11,400.

The Jinma is the Chinese tractor 35HP, 4WD, Power stearing, With a FEL, ROPS, canopy, no hours it will be $13,000. Comes from a very reputible man near me in TN.

So...any opinions?

Thanks.

PR

 

[Kernopelli]

Honestly, if you are able to spend $13,000 I would pass on both of them. The Chinese tractors just don't hold up as well and the old Yanmars are great tractors but some parts for some models are getting harder to find. That same money will buy a newer 35 hp 4x4 with FEl from one of the larger manufacturers. For instance, in my area, you could easily pick up a lower hr. Ford 1920 with 4x4 and FEL or similar Kubota, etc. for this price range.
You can do far better than the Yanmar or Jinma with a little patience.

 

[kenmac]

Just my opinion but I'll take my Japan built Yanmar over a Chinese Jinma anyday. Read about all the problems with the brand new jinma's vs a 30+ year old yanmar. Just buy your yanmar from someone that doesn't sell V.N. "rebuilds" ( as they call them)

 

[kenmac]

Actually,Some of the yanmar models have better as good or better parts support than some of the newer name brands

 

[California]

Ok, this is the Yanmar forum so I'll say what I think.

I bought a neglected Yanmar in 2003 and soon had it running like new after doing all the 100 hour, 500 hour etc maintenance as one project. This brought it right up to good as new. (Operationally, not appearance!)

Meanwhile I was reading posts over in the Chinese tractor forum and realized those new owners were putting more work into, and finding more problems on, their NEW tractors than I encountered on mine - which apparently was in occasional use with no maintenance for 10-20 years. All the lugnuts were sloppy loose, one brake was stuck disengaged, headlights were bashed in, etc. After I got the proper parts on it and got it set up it hasn't needed a thing since. All the problems were user neglect, not design or early-wearout problems.

The owners of NEW Chinese tractors were fighting all sorts of design and quality problems. An o-ring in the power steering was designed wrong and soon got pinched, and crushed. Replacements failed likewise. Forever.

Instrument panels were flaky. Dead fuel gauges, tachs, grounded printed circuit boards, etc.

Bad quick disconnects causing blown hydraulic pumps. Or sheared hydraulic pump gears, or keys, for no clear reason. Repeatedly.

One ethical dealer reported he had 65 hours setup time in his Chinese tractors. Then eventually he quit selling them - the warranty work was killing him.

An owner of one of the larger Chinese tractors recently reported he chewed up the front end gears in under 400 hours, apparently due to bogus quality steel in the gears. (He saw excessive wear in the remaining gears). I've never heard of a Yanmar doing this.

I'll bet on the Yanmar to be more trouble free. I think it is a day/night quality comparison.

 

[John47]

I think you only have to look at quality on household electronic goods made in China. Out of ten pieces I'll bet at least seven are returned under warranty. I've heard of folks returning a replacement VCR.
A friend of mine who is retired used to work on and install British made coal mining equipment. The Chinese started making them under license from his company for their coal mines. The guy used to go out to China as part of their contract to sort problems out, his gripes were the quality of the steel they used over there and their none existant quality control at the factory.
Says it all about "Made In China".
I don't know how old my Yanmar FX235 is, but it performs flawlessly, I service it on or before the 100 hr mark, plus more regular greasings and filter changes. But I know what I prefer, Japanese over Chinese every time.

 

[paulray]

Thanks for so many quick replies. I'll tell you, though, down here in TN you can't get a 35-45hp tractor for what I have available to spend unless you go real old or Chinese. I look on craigslist everyday, shop all the online stores within 200 miles or so and I am just shocked at the sticker value of tractors. Anything in my price range that is blue, green or orange either doesn't have a FEL or 4wd or has a ton of hours and is pretty beat up.

Anyway, any expereinced folks out there with a 3810D? It has the power I need but over 2000 hours is a lot, is it not???

PR

 

[1danny]

Thanks for so many quick replies. I'll tell you, though, down here in TN you can't get a 35-45hp tractor for what I have available to spend unless you go real old or Chinese. I look on craigslist everyday, shop all the online stores within 200 miles or so and I am just shocked at the sticker value of tractors. Anything in my price range that is blue, green or orange either doesn't have a FEL or 4wd or has a ton of hours and is pretty beat up.

Anyway, any expereinced folks out there with a 3810D? It has the power I need but over 2000 hours is a lot, is it not???

PR

I have sold Jinma and Yanmar, I no longer sell Jinma.

Danny

 

[MDM]

You should be able to by a new Kubota L3400 34HP, 4wd, loader, HST for $16,500-$17,000. Or the geared version for about $1,000 less. You will have a new machine and a 3 yr warranty. That said, I would take the 30 yr old Yanmar over a new Jinma any day of the week and twice on Sunday.

 

[John47]

I believe, but I'd have to check it out again, Northern Tool sells Jinma under their own name, BUT, only warrants parts for three months. In other words if the pump fails, they send you one and you fit it. What sort of warranty is that??

Most of the time the Orange and Reds come with FEL's as part of the deal.

 

[DavidT2]

It is my understanding that the YM3810D is the turbocharged version of the YM3110D. The 3810D is rated at 38hp at the PTO. My 3110D has been a solid and dependable machine. Other than maintenance and flat tires from honey locust tree thorns (tire sealer works great), I have had no mechanical problems. Be sure to check the brake pedal travel (worn brake shoes) and excessive play in the lower bearings of the front axle steering king pins -- some of these tractors spent a lot of time in rice paddies and the bearings and seals may need to be replaced. I also have a Koyker 160 FEL, which is rugged and has been a great asset on my tractor. Be sure to get a ROPS for the Yanmar if it is not already installed.

David

 

[Kernopelli]

You can do far better than the Yanmar or Jinma with a little patience.

I do want to clarify that statement a little. I do not mean to sound as if the Yanmars are anything short of great machines, I have owned one myself.
In the scenario given, $13,000 is available to make a tractor purchase. I think a 30 yr. old tractor w/2000 hrs of unknown history for $11,400 isn't exactly a bargain. That is the only reason I say you could do better (for only $1600 more). I live 200 miles from Nashville ( I mention this because I see DavidT2 lives in TN) and feel confident that with a little patience could find a newer (say, 2000 model or newer) used Kioti or Mahindra for that same money. For a few years older (say 1996 model or newer) I could find a Ford or Kubota.
For some examples, there is currently a nice 2001 N.H. TC29
4x4 w/FEL on ebay with buy it now for $11,500 in Nashville ( yes, 29HP is not the same as 35HP but it's not far off). There is currently a 2006 Mahindra 6500 w/77 hrs.for $12,000 OTD close to me (way more tractor than David is looking for but thats a real bargain in my book).

I say, broaden your search and be patient for a little longer and you will be better served.

 

[kenmac]

and what about the history of the tractors you list ?? Unless, you know the tractor. the only history the buyer has on a used tractor is what the seller is willing to tell. A new koyker fel installed on 35 hp tractor is around $4,000.00 . The way I understand it. A 35 hp yanmar is 35 PTO HP. around 37 engine hp

 

[Gary Fowler]

In Dec 2007 I ordered a Yanmar 4220 D with FEL which was delivered in April at my request from an importer in Dallas Texas area. It took 6 weeks to get the tractor. I gave $11,500 for it. I also got bought several pieces of equipment that he let me have at wholesale prices with the deal. So far only used it for 4 days as I am working out of the country and only come back for 2 weeks every 3 months. But it is working fine now. IT did have a stalling problem (listed in a couple of places on TBN) but that fixed itself evidently as it has not happened since the first couple of hours of running.
So far I like it and the price was definitely right. I couldnt touch a 50 HP tractor with FEL from lists on Tractorhouse for that price unless they were a piece of junk.

 

[Kernopelli]

and what about the history of the tractors you list ?? Unless, you know the tractor. the only history the buyer has on a used tractor is what the seller is willing to tell.

That is absolutely true, however, the two examples I gave were chosen only because they are in his vicinity, are available to be seen before purchase and discussed with the tractors user/owner ( he did say he wanted them within 200 miles and I picked the center of TN since we really don't know exactly where in TN he is), but when buying a tractor it really doesn't get much safer than that.

My main point is, why does it have to come down to a decision between only these two (Jinma or Yanmar) tractors? It's just dificult for me to fathom that there are no other options in this price range when I live within the 200 mile radius he mentioned.

If you had to chose between this example...the 30 yr. old 2000hr. Yanmar or a 6 yr old Kioti, Mahindra, etc or 12 yr old Kubota, Ford, etc w/ half the hours, all for only a little more money, would you really choose the Yanmar?

David sounds like an educated buyer and who am I to judge his tractor market. The original question was which of the two, so I'll go with the Yanmar.

 

[Gizmo36]

I can find them like this all day long .

1993 Ford 4610, 1200 hours. $10,800. 828-XXX-XXXX

1996 Ford tractor, 29hp, $5995 828-XXX-XXXX

1996 Massey Ferguson tractor, large bucket loader, 1100 hours, model 240. 40 Hp. $5000 Firm. 828-XXX-XXXX

2000 John Deere 4400 tractor with loader, box scrape, 4WD, PTO, 260 Hours. Asking $13,000. 828-XXX-XXXX

2002 Massey 231s with 6' gill scrape blade. 69 hours, looks and runs like a new one. $11,000 or best offer 828-XXX-XXXX

 

[kenmac]

just got back from the chinese forum. He bought a jinma. I do wish him the best of luck with his tractor

 

[California]

just got back from the chinese forum. He bought a jinma. I do wish him the best of luck with his tractor

Lets all wish him luck.

 

[John47]

I think somehow he'll need a lot of it, luck that is. With the money he had, I'm sure he could have done a deal with an "orange" dealer and bought a brand new tractor that would give years of faithful service.

 

[E Tractor]

I think he had already made up his mind before posting but just wanted to make sure he had made the right decision. I have done that on a few a few items before. Some times I lisen to the group and it was a good thing but sometimes I went with my own wanting of the THING in my mind. Mixed results is some cases. I wish him luck.
later
Erick