VN ID

[seaweaver]

I'm in the market and as soon as my sailboat sells I'll be ready to purchase.
In lurking around I have picked up on what to inspect...but is there a hard and fast way to determine a VN unit? I know those w/ FEL being Bulldog or?V-something are general signs. Is there signature (re)stamping on the block?
That hose/belt labeling is another sign.
I hope to get as much HP as possible for my cash kitty so I think my best option is to purchase from and individual and determining a US vs a VN accurately is going to be important...as I really would rather steer way from the VN is possible.
Thanks
cw

 

[YannyMan]

From what I understand, any model that hasn't been made (for the US) in the last 15+ years that has low hours and/or has been reconditioned came from overseas is most liklely a rice patty machine.

Perhaps I'm missing a detail or two, but that seems to be the overall deal on those types of tractors.

 

[normde2001]

From what I understand, any model that hasn't been made (for the US) in the last 15+ years that has low hours and/or has been reconditioned came from overseas is most liklely a rice patty machine.

Perhaps I'm missing a detail or two, but that seems to be the overall deal on those types of tractors.

You just described a typical gray market tractor, they are all rice paddy machines. Most Yanmars with 000.0 hour meters show low hours. No way to tell for sure, but "NEW" Viet-recons on a lot will be bright and shiney, (lipstick on a pig), with zero hours. Ask the seller where it was reconditioned.

 

[clemsonfor]

You just described a typical gray market tractor, they are all rice paddy machines. Most Yanmars with 000.0 hour meters show low hours. No way to tell for sure, but "NEW" Viet-recons on a lot will be bright and shiney, (lipstick on a pig), with zero hours. Ask the seller where it was reconditioned.

But most dont have zero hours, they set them to like 16 or 19, from the dealers i have seen.

To the OP a way to tell is not neccisarily from belts or hoses that say LCI. Anyone with a yanmar i think can order from that company, also there are some VN dealers who sell parts (the good ones at least) if they buy them from LCI (we have a post on them) those parts will be labled LCI. My point is that anyone who has a yanmar and needs a part that lives near them can buy those parts, a hose is a hose and there not bad ones. So if a guy with a real unmolested yanmar buys one from them his ginuine factory yanmar will have LCI stuff on it. A good way to tell is at leat mine the green color that they repainted the engine/tranny axles is not an exact match. You can look on the front axle where bushes and saplings and grass have rubbed the paint off while bushogging and a few other spots of paint chips and see the under lieing green yanmar used, there close and from a distance if not really into them you cant tell but upclose if u see the 2 you can tell. If you have a few VN dealers in your area go look at them and look them over close, you can tell after a while. Also rust on them and bad paint on the hood etc as well as a dirty/oily motor are sighns of an original or just a poorly maintained recon. Most recons have only been sold for like 10 years i beleive if that so most still should be shiny cause those who bought them pay decent money for them and prolly keep in a garage. The ones done by fredricks may also be shiny and those are US recons and not troubled machines so this may be a moot point.

 

[seaweaver]

I thought all were recons(older 4 digit models)...it just was a difference between US recon and VN.
I am looking at ym2XXXs. Ideally a 2310 or(big wish) 26XX.
cw

 

[clemsonfor]

I thought all were recons(older 4 digit models)...it just was a difference between US recon and VN.
I am looking at ym2XXXs. Ideally a 2310 or(big wish) 26XX.
cw

Nope anybody wishing to take a business risk can buy Yanmars still 4 digit ones by the container full (10 or 20) and assemble them and sell them with little more than a once over. This seems to have been done more in the eary days and not as much now as the economy has stiffled this cash sale item economy.