All information found here is copyrighted by Spring Valley Equipment &
Larry Johnson. © 2008
Cold weather starting
Cold weather is a challenging time to run equipment. Unlike your car a tractor
has it all hanging right out there exposed to the elements. If you look you
will find many loggers and construction workers with space heaters in the
back of their pickups in cold weather. There is a good reason for that. The
only defense against cold is heat. If you can heat up the engine with a space
heater your engine will start much easier and the amount of strain and wear
on everything will be greatly reduced. Warm oil will circulate through the
engine much faster than oil that's like molasses. This means that the internal
parts won't be running dry. The engine will spin easier when you are trying
to start it. That slow cranking speed and that groaning from the starter is
it trying to pump that thick oil. Beware of waxing. Waxing or gelling is what
can happen to diesel fuel in cold weather. Particularly when your machine
is left out in the cold with no protection. Small wax particles will form
in the fuel. This plugs the fuel filter and you will get no fuel. The tank
may be completely full but if it won't run through the filter you are the
same as out. About 30 years ago I had two diesel trucks that stopped running
in very cold weather. The place where I bought the fuel said that it was treated
for winter use. No matter it still would not flow. All I could do was pay
to have both trucks towed into a heated shop. Since that time I trust no one
and purchase diesel anti-gel additive every winter. It is cheap compared to
the problem. It is added to all diesel fuel that I use during the winter.
I also purchase alcohol to remove any water. Any water in your tank will sit
at the bottom where it is drawn out into your fuel system. It can freeze in
the lines or filters stopping the fuel flow. You will find two types of alcohol
marketed for this use. One is methyl alcohol. It does not remove water. It
makes the water float on top of the fuel. One brand that does this is called
Heat. That hardly solves the problem. Heat also makes another product called
Iso-Heat. Wonder why they make two products? The second product must be for
those people that know better. The second product contains isopropyl alcohol
which absorbs water completely. The water in your fuel is disappear. This
is the product you want. Don't try to use rubbing alcohol as it has other
stuff in it that you don't want in your fuel system. Use a space heater if
needed it will make life a lot more fun over fighting with it to get it going.
Use your glow plugs. When it's really cold your engine may start and run 20
to 30 seconds and die. This is because you had the cylinders nice and warm
with those glow plugs. As soon as the engine started it sucked in a bunch
of that zero degree air and it literary put the fire out. When it's really
cold as soon as you get the engine started, hit the glow plugs again with
the engine running. This will smooth out the running and prevent the engine
from wanting to die.
Be Nice to your clutch
Your tractor has a cone shaped spring that applies clutch pressure. This
is known as a diaphragm type clutch. This is different than a car clutch where
coil springs are used. A car with a gas engine has high horsepower but low
torque. This is why you have to give it some gas when starting out and letting
out the clutch. If you don't you will kill the engine. Diesel engines have
low horsepower but high torque. You should not drive it the same way as you
do a car. The rule is don't slip the clutch.
You should have the engine at idle or just above idle when you let the clutch
out. Then apply throttle. Start off in a lower gear then shift up if needed.
The only time you should apply thottle and then let the clutch out is when
you are in low range and in a lower gear. You will find that nobody, not John
Deer, Kubota or Jinma etc will warranty the clutch. This is because they have
no control over how the tractor is driven. Remember, engage the clutch then
apply the power.
There should be about 1" of free play in your clutch. If there is no free
play in the clutch adjust it right away. It adjusts right down by he clutch
pedal with an external rod. Be nice to your clutch and it will last a very
long time. I ran a Jinma 200 series tractor for over 4 years working it hard
and never had a clutch problem. My tractor was older and had an 8" clutch
where the newer ones have a larger 9" clutch. Tractor builders consider
the clutch a normal wear item and it is not covered by warranty.
Products from China good or bad?
The truth is both good and bad. We have imported lots of products from China.
Through our observations we have noticed that if it's a product that they
also use it's pretty good stuff and a good bargain. If it's a product made
for export only it's very poor quality. China has 1.2 billion mouths to feed
and they raise the food to do it with these tractors. This is exactly why
we are very picky on what we offer from China. In fact the tractors are the
only things from China that we offer. All other items are made in the US,
Canada or Korea. If there were any small tractors that were US made we would
be selling them.
Jinma Dealers.
When you think of a dealerhip you probably think in the conventional terms
of a Factory Authorized Dealer. There is no such thing with most Asian import
equipment. They will sell to anybody with enough money to purchase equipment
by the container load. This has lead many marketers to sell this equipment.
The first rule of business I learned was "Never get involved with something
you know nothing about" These people know nothing about the equipment they
simply sell it. Jinma for example announced on Jan 1st 2007 that there will
be no more create sales to the consumer. Look at how many are still doing
it. These tractors require a lot of adjustment etc before they can be sold
for use. These marketers so none of this. The lack of this work can cause
significant problems and considerable expense down the road. You won't save
any money by buying from a marketer in the long run. After being involved
with the big names fro so long I offer this advice. Never buy from someone
that does not know the product and does not have a repair shop. I have seen
many of these marketers come and go. They have no idea how to handle service
problems and this does catch up with them. They are then gone and are on to
the next item they can market. Who are you going to direct your questions
to and you will have them? Other people selling Jinma tractors are under no
obligation to help you at all.
I could not resist including the following. This person selling these tractors
perhaps heard someone say Front-end loader but thought they said "front and
loader". So this person used the term over and over in ads they placed on
the Internet and on their website. Anybody that has spent any time around
equipment would know better than to call it a "front and loader"
There are vast differences in the same brand of tractor. All loaders, backhoes
etc are not created equal. Some of the items will last for many years while
others are shot in no time.. What's bad is with the price with the picture
below is with that old style factory troublesome loader valve and loader...this
is no bargain.
The marketers want to sell you a tractor, take your money and never hear
from you again. We do. We want your future business when you need other attachments,
service work etc.
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Hydraulics and your tractor.
Hydraulics are an important part of your tractor. The system is largely misunderstood
and in some cases misrepresented. Notice that you can buy for example a backhoe
with it's own hydraulic pump ,tank etc. There are also ones that simply connect
to the tractor hydraulics. Why both types? To give a complete answer first
we should talk about the types of tractors. There are agricultural tractors
and industrial tractors. Besides being heavier built industrial tractors have
a larger hydraulic oil capacity and oil cooler to keep the oil within an operable
range. Small agricultural tractors don't have this. The oil can and will overheat
on a hot day where the machine is being worked hard. This is one reason that
generally you don't see agricultural tractors working on construction jobs.
When a backhoe uses the tractor hydraulics it will certainly work but you
won't be able to run it hours on end in hot weather. The smaller the hydraulic
capacity is the more often the oil has to cycle and the faster it will heat.
This is one reason for buying the extra pump and tank. You can use a system
where it connects to the tractor but you have to use some good judgement with
it. Recently I had to dig 600 feet of 4 foot deep trench with a backhoe attached
to the tractor hydraulics. Every few minutes I would feel the temperature
of the hydraulic cylinders on the backhoe. When it was uncomfortable to hold
my hand on the cylinder the machine got a 45 minute break. Take good care
of your tractor and it will take good care of you.
Things to consider when buying a tractor.
There are things other than price alone or brand when you make a purchase.
You have to look at total cost of ownership. At some point you will be the
one paying for the repair bills. A big factor is the cost of parts. If you
have repaired your car you will know that most parts have skyrocketed in recent
years. I worked for one of the big name companies for years. They did not
hesitate to charge $1,000 for a water pump, $800 for a starter etc. You could
easily put $10,000 into an engine overhaul.
Let's say that you needed an engine for our Jinma 284. A "complete"
engine, put it in, hook it up and go costs $2,000. You pay less for the tractor
and less for parts. The cost of ownership is far less than with other brands.
A complete engine for the Jinma also includes new injection pump, water pump,
starter, alternator and hyd pump.
Oil change interval and more:
For new tractors we recommend changing the engine oil and filter after
20 hours. Also avoid running the engine at full throttle particularly
with no load. This gives the engine a break in period. We use Delo 400
oil in the engines but there are many good brands of engine oil. Use
at least a "CD" (Commercial Diesel) class oil. After the first
20 hours you can go to a normal change interval. The rule of thumb for
equipment with hour meters is as follows. Each 40 hours is equivalent
to 2,000 miles. We change the engine oil every 80 hours which is the
same as driving 4,000 miles. Keep in mind that under extreme heat or
load conditions you may need to change it more often. You will hear
the term that oil "breaks down". Engine oil is subject to
several conditions. One is that it is subject to by-products of combustion.
These are carbons and other by-products that end up in your oil. Modern
engine oil contains what are called "Detergent Dispersant Additive
Packages". These detergents help break down the by-products that
end up in the oil. Once the Detergent Dispersant Additive Packages are
used up it is time to change the oil because it is unable to clean deposits
from the inside of the engine. Oil is also subject to oxidative and
thermal degradation . You have probably heard somebody say...."Oil
does not wear out". Don't believe them, yes it does.
Lube is good:
Notice how most cars these days have no lube points? This is because
they are all sealed joints and when they are worn out you put new ones
in. Don't get in the habit of not lubing your tractor. It has
lube points. Buy a grease gun. If you don't have one you are going to
need it. Don't let joints get dry. A little grease coming out around
fittings is good — it won't hurt a thing. Grease is cheap, parts
are not no matter what type of equipment it is. While you are giving
the machine a lube job, check it over for loose nuts and bolts. Things
do vibrate loose now and then. Check the tire pressure. Remember the
old saying....if you take care of your equipment it will take care of
you.
Engine overhaul kit shipped with tractor? Not true
Some people have been told that there is an engine overhaul kit that come
with Chinese tractors. This is done in an attempt to demonstrate how bad the
engines are.
The truth on the above is much different. In the late 1950's there was serious
food shortages in China. The government stepped in to find out what had went
wrong. Laws were enacted that stated that tractors had to be field serviceable
for minor issues and that some spare parts must be furnished with the tractors.
You won't get an engine overhaul kit but you might get some valves, valve
springs, etc. Sometimes different items are furnished. It's almost always
something critical to the operation of the tractor as that is what was needed
to operate the tractor for food production. There are also spare filters that
come with the tractor but that doesn't mean that the filters are going to
fall off. Jinma tractors always ship with a new head gasket for example but
none of our customers or us we have ever used even one of them. Also shipped
with Chinese tractors are some basic tools but they are there simply as a
convenience to you. Again this is in compliance with their law. Look at it
this way, it's more than the other guys give you which as we all know is nothing.
There is over 1.2 billion people in China. That's a staggering number of
people to feed. They would not be able to do this with poor equipment that
is breaking down everyday.
Things to think about
In the more than 30 years I have been around equipment of all types and sizes
I have seen a lot of good and bad ideas. You will find that Chinese tractors
are more like what was built in the US in the 1960's. Things were simple and
they lasted a long time.
There is no escape from the fact that the more complicated and sophisticated
something is the more problems you are going to have with it. Hydrostatic
equipment has been around for decades. Try to find a 20 year old Hydrostatic
tractor for sale that is worth having. They are hard to find at all as most
of them are no longer in service. The cost of repairing them is staggering.
But it's easy to find 50 or 60 year old tractors still in service. They are
simple there is less to go wrong. The Chinese try to keep it simple for this
reason. I recently had a conversation with the equipment manager who works
for a major rental company. He told me that they buy major brands of equipment
because of the ease of use of things such as Hydrostatic drive. But when the
machine gets 2000 hours on it they sell it because they don't want the major
repair bills that will be facing them if they continue to rent it out.
