Questions about small 4x4 Yanmars

scrinch · Mar 10, 2004

I want to buy a small gray market Yanmar tractor to use primarily for rough mowing and tilling on my 1 acre. In the past I've used my trusty old Troy-Built tiller and push mower, but I'm getting too old to throw those things around for hours and hours at a time any more. The area is generally flat but is quite wet in the spring, so I want a 4x4 for the extra traction. The area is fairly small, and I'd like as much maneuverability as I can get to avoid trees, sheds, raised beds, etc. I'm considering the 1100D, 1300D, 1301D, 1401D, and 1510D because the published specs say that these models are 80+ inches long versus 100+ inches for the 1500D and higher horsepower models.

My questions are:
1-Are the models above truly more maneuverable than the 1500D, 1610D, etc?
2-With the small differences in size, HP, and transmissions (1510), are there any significant differences in performance, maintainability, durability, or parts availability between the models I listed above? Does one have a clear advantage over the others?
3-Is there really a significant advantage (worth paying for) to the 3 cylinder engine versus the 2 cylinder?

Thanks for your help. I'm really looking forward to sitting while I rototill this spring!

gws · Mar 10, 2004

For only an acre ALL of them are to large . I assume your only tilling part of the acre and mowing the rest. While tractors are fun bush hogging and tilling put even more legnth on the tractor. I think a Good quality push tiller and riding mower would be better option. Maybe one of the combo BSC mower with tiller attachments or a riding mower with a tow behind tiller.

Soundguy · Mar 10, 2004

There are two guys who mow smaller acerages with small yanmars. The guy up the road has 1.25 or 1.5 acers and mows it with a 1500 and 4' mower. The guy down the road has 4 ac and mows it with a 1300 and 44"? mower

Both are 2wd.. mowing looks great.

3 cyl sounds smoother.. 2 cyl has more of the pronounced 'yammer hammer' 'its going to throw a rod anyminute' sound... just the nature of a 2 cyl.. kinda like the old JD 2cyls.. they called then johny poppers..

The 1300 looks like a hd riding lawnmower.. very maneuverable... 1500 is on into compact tractor.. but both are smaller compaired to what I'm used to.. Ford N's, JD-B and up.

1 acer is on the edge to justify a tractor.. but I look at it like this.. you have 3 choices.

1 Buy a small economy riding mower.. like a murry from wallmart for 899$. It will mow fine and be decent if you give it some maintenance.

2 Buy a beefy husky, craftsman, JD, cub rider mower from the big box stores for anywhere from 1300-3500$ Should cut great.. Could theoretically tow some small "useless *" and expensive implements. * Implements for mowers and ATV's are all but toys.. discs and such just don't cut good without weight.. and while the bigger lawnmowers may have the hp to pull a couple hudred pound implement.. my bet is they will run out of traction in dirt before they can do much usable farm work.

3 For the probably less as option 2.. you might get a small yanmar like a 1300 or 1400... Mowers in the 44/48" range are? 400? tillers 400?.. Say you might get a 1300 and mower/tiller anywhere from 2800-3800$...And if you ever do need the pto for other things.. ya got it..

I'm partial to tractors as good utility tools.. rather than mowers that are more or less.. dedicated tools.

Your money. One thing with the big mower is it is new and shiny and has a warranty.... yanmar isn't new.. and you would only get a warranty if you bought via a dealer who offered one.. If I did get a yanmar.. I would buy via a dealer.. just for the future suppt, if needed..

Just my .02

For all that.. it may be just as easy to get the 899 murray?

Soundguy

callais · Mar 10, 2004

Craftsman garden tractors sport a well built engine, up to 24 inch rear tires and can handle the tiller attachment that sears puts out. Most of their garden tractors have 10 gauge floating decks and heavy duty transmissions. I personally looked at them for over a year but decided to get a tractor to quickly handle the 5.5 acres we have, but if had a smaller yard and didn't need to occasionally disc, box-blade and smooth out, I would have bought the Craftsman set-up. They also have a 30 day "no questions asked" return policy, so if you bought one, you have 30 days to try it out and make sure it's the right thing for you. Good luck in what ever you decide.

Callais

alvanko · Mar 10, 2004

"1 acer is on the edge to justify a tractor.. but I look at it like this.."

I have 1 acre and have 2 tractors and a riding mower.............Do I have a problem ? /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

jbitting · Mar 11, 2004

Alvanko,

no... you don't have a problem...

at least, if you do, it's the same one the rest of us have...
"We all dig our Yammers" /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

mine has been a wonderful, low-buck, reliable, utility tool.

gbirky · Mar 11, 2004

Don't feel bad, I have 2.5 acres of which only about 3/4 acre isn't forested. I mow about 3/4 acre, and have a very small garden.

To work all of this I have:
YM1301D with loader, tiller, belly mower
2 YM1110D's with tillers.
16hp lawn tractor (my wife mows with this)

Do I have a problem...well maybe you should ask my wife!

fivestring · Mar 11, 2004

I only have 1 1/4 acres; 4/5 of it is what I mow now.
I have an Iseki TU1700f 4wd tractor.
It's very manageable, especially considering the independent rear brakes!

gbirky · Mar 11, 2004

Scrinch,
There is a definite difference in size between the 1100 or 1300 and the 1301, 1401, 1510 size tractors. Even smaller than this is the YM1110D (of which I have two...see above post).

I found that my YM1301D is almost too big to use for mowing our lawn. With the tiller on the back, it is too long and not manueverable enough for tilling my tiny garden. It is also almost too big to plow snow from our driveway.

The YM1110D is the perfect size. I put a 42" snow blade on it for this past winter and it worked great. I plan to fabricate a 42" belly mower for it, but that is another project. The YM1110D is no bigger than a reasonable sized garden tractor, and very maneuverable.

For your purposes, I think I'd get a YM1100 (not 4x4) with a tiller. The YM1100 has a differential lock, and with the high lug (rice paddy) tires, it will get plenty of traction with the rear wheels. It will easily handle a 4' finish mower, but would probably not be as maneuverable as you want with the finish mower on the back. The YM1100 is the Japanese version of the made for U.S. YM135. The YMM45 (45" wide) was the OEM belly mower for the YM135. There are still a few knocking around out there. If you can find one, you would pay about $400-$500 for it complete in good condition.

Just for your reference, I have attached a photo of my YM1110D with my son (5 yrs) tilling the garden.

gbirky · Mar 11, 2004

scrinch,
It would be great if you filled in some of the information in your profile so we know where you are, etc..

Soundguy · Mar 11, 2004

( I have 1 acre and have 2 tractors and a riding mower.............Do I have a problem ? )

I've got 13.2 ac and 6 tractors.. I'd say you are doing fine.

Soundguy

jdmar · Mar 12, 2004

Gbirky, Yes you are crazy to have so many tractors with 2.5 acres! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif But you are also among many crazy friends here!

That picture of your boy on the YM1110 is great. My oldest is about to turn 4 and I think that Pic might help convince my wife to let my buy a third tractor "for the kids" He keeps begging for a "litle scoop tractor that I can drive."
"scoop tractor" = FEL by the way

scrinch · Mar 12, 2004

Thanks, everyone for the suggestions and comments. I looked into the BCS multipurpose tiller and it looks nice, but I'm already lugging around 250 lbs of bouncing steel (Troy-Built) for 3-4 hours each time I rototill, and my back is looking forward to the end of that. I talked to a neighbor who has a tractor down the street yesterday and he has a Kubota B7100 with the same size lot as mine. I asked if it was too big and he said it was fine. We measured the turning diameter...outside wheel track...and it was 16 feet.

No one has said anything negative about the two cylinders...just that they are noisy. I think I'll look into the smaller range that gbirky suggests. Gotta make sure that I can shoehorn my 6'2" and 230 lbs onboard, though. I'll look into what some of the northern California dealers have in stock. Gbirky, if you lived closer I'd offer to take one of those excess stock 1110D's off your hands! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

gbirky · Mar 12, 2004

scrinch,
I'm only 5'9" and 160lb and the operator area on the YM1110D is small even for me. I don't think you'd be happy with the 1110D. The YM1100 is a bit larger, and the 1300 is just slightly larget than the YM1100 but still smaller than the Kubota B7100. I think you'd probably be happy with a YM1300 (which is the Japanese version of the made for U.S. YM155).

I wish you the best in finding a tractor.

By the way, the YM1110D that I took a picture of the drawbar on is going up for sale this spring - once I get it all back together!

jimstractors · Mar 12, 2004

Rich,
I have an 1100D with loader, box and tiller on my website.
It runs great. I just tilled my yard yesterday with it. I am making a 1610D delivey to Oregon next Friday, probably going right past you.

brotherjohn · Feb 1, 2006

My Craftsman garden tractor bent the deck every time it hit something. I replaced it with a 30 byear old Cub Cadet that WON'T bend when it hits something. Now I have a 1510D and want to retire the Cub Cadet. The only question is which mower to get...

kayssupply · Feb 1, 2006

I have sold and worked on several models. The Caroni is the only one I never had to do any warranty work. The rear discharge model does a great job.

blackd · Feb 2, 2006

Ditto on the Caroni. Neigbor had one run for hours at 1000 RPM. Mother In Law don't you know. By the time he noticed, he said it sounded like a small prop plane. Shut it off and it promptly froze up from heat. Let it cool. Regreased. Broke it free. Been 5 years now, and still going.

When I replace my King Kutter it will be with a Caroni.

buppy69 · Feb 2, 2006

I'm thinking about adapting a Cub Cadet belly mower to my tractor. It doesn't appear that it will be too difficult.

Eugene

Cord · Feb 2, 2006

Gbirky did the same thing with his 1110d Yanmar. The problem was the lack of space between the wheels. He actually went so far as to move the front axle forward by 5". At that point, I'd suggest a 3pt finish mower. Easy on, easy off and you don't need to fab the mounting brackets and pto.