gravning

What do you guys think would be a fair settlement with the manufacturer and the dealer?

Here are the facts:
a. The tractor is 18 months old
b. It has 180 hours on it
c. It came with 1 year parts only warranty
d. I bought it with the backhoe and loader on it - I have made no modifications to it.
e. This tractor has been a nightmare from day one. I knew I was getting a low end tractor but I had no idea I would have so many problems with it.
f. This is a catastrophic failure and should NEVER happen - even with several thousand hours on it (OK, that might be an opinion)

I think I might be too upset with the situation to be objective. I now have to go out and rent a tractor fo finish my projects - and I'm not even sure how I am going to get the tractor fixed. At this point I think I want to get rid of the Jinma and get something else - but it's worthless as it sits.

gravning

See, My Jinma Broke in Half

chrpmaster

Do you have any prices for repairing the damage?

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gravning

I'm not sure what all might be damaged yet. I know the instrument panel buckled and cracked. I think it can be repaired.

I made contact with the factory in China and it sounds like they will be sending a new case with the creeper gear - but I have been unable to confirm a ship date - and it will be coming by sea to Keno Tractor which is a 1200 mile round trip from where I live.

I've pretty much resigned myself to the fact that I am going to have to remove the backhoe and frontend loader and let the tractor split at the break and load the two pieces onto a trailer where it sits in the driveway. I have limited tools and no experience with that so I'm thinking that will take a day or two.

Live Oak

I think I would try to jack up the tractor at the break in the middle with some wood blocks until level and then see if you can find the come-along straps to pull it together. You may have to wiggle and fanaggle it but hopefully you can get it completely pulled back together and then chain it to hold it together.

THEN remove the FEL and back hoe. Hopefully it is in neutral or you can put it in nuetral and roll it or wench it onto a trailer and have it hauled to a dealer or shop who will complete the repairs.

SHARTEL

Gravning,

I ‘cringe’ when I read this (and the thread My Tractor Broke in Half). Obviously, Jinma builds and sells the economy brands of tractor and nothing like a higher end, domestic brand. Unfortunately, with the large, upfront savings comes the lack of support, short warranty and the hands on maintenance and repair left to the owner.

Don’t know what a repaired Jinma, with 180 hours and 18 month old basic tractor is worth but, IMO, it would be the first item I would try and sell. Keep the back-hoe and FEL and park a larger, more durable domestic tractor in between your saved attachments. I can’t see how you recoop your losses, even if repaired. I would never really be comfortable even with the same brand new tractor with those heavy attachments. Renting a TLB is going to be very expensive and depending on the duration it takes to accomplish your present tasks…you might be better served purchasing (and taking advantage of great financing) a new, replacement tractor.

Really can’t understand what Jinma engineers were thinking when the OK’d your heavy attachments to a 3000# tractor with a 5’ wheel base? A ridgid sub frame, to tie both the FEL and back hoe, while reinforcing the tractor, should have been in their best interests….and avoiding this (and any other unreported owner/tractor failures). No matter what the outcome and how it ends, unfortunately it seems like it’s going to cost you time and money.

SHARTEL

gravning

Looking back at the post I realized I should have said "fair resolution" and not "fair settlement".

I appreciate all the suggestions and comments. I have an unconfirmed indication that the factory is going to step up and provide a new bellhousing and creeper gear. It might take quite awhile to get here though. I'm guessing they will wait for a full container and throw it on with some crate tractors.

Maybe I can make a trade with a Jinma dealer out there that has a spare unit now for the one coming from China.