Ginormous
Gold Member
The 3 cylinder diesal Yanmar engines apparently run more smoothly than the 2 cylinder engines with similar total displacement. Is that the only advantage to having 3 cyl?
Are 3 cylinders better than 2?
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deepNdirt
Veteran Member
I was informed the 2 cylinders has more torque than the 3 cylinders under the same displacement, the Knock Knock you heard of our 2 cylinders has been proclaimed the " Hammer "
Pete Judd
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There must have been a reason that Yanmar went from 2 to 3 cly motors. The 3 must cost more to manufacture in both parts and labor. I like how smooth the 3 cly that I have, but not as smooth as a 4 cly diesel that I have in my boat. I had a single cly Yanmar in my another boat 12 years ago, that would shake the fillings out of your teeth.
California
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The 3-cylinders are quieter andsound more 'refined', while the 2-cylinder clank can give you a headache - and you really should use hearing protection with them. It all depends on how much tolerance you have for 'crude'.
However - the two cylinder tractors have an advantage that they are designed to be simpler and a lot easier to work on. For example, on my YM240 I can reach under the dash to replace the tach (or anything under there) in maybe 5 minutes tops. Maybe 5 minutes to pull the fuel tank. On later Yanmars these projects could take hours.
It's not just the number of cylinders, but also the design philosophy became more complex on later Yanmars. I think for tractors just entering their second thirty years, the older all-steel ones are going to be more maintainable.
But there's no strong advantage to either style.
Yes, you need considerably more cc's in a 3 cylinder before you match the torque of a 2-cylinder, for the lower half of the rpm range.
I wouldn't be surprised if there was more demand in Japan for the quieter 3-cylinder because of noise zoning. A lot of rice there is grown near residential areas. I wouldn't want to live next door to me!
However - the two cylinder tractors have an advantage that they are designed to be simpler and a lot easier to work on. For example, on my YM240 I can reach under the dash to replace the tach (or anything under there) in maybe 5 minutes tops. Maybe 5 minutes to pull the fuel tank. On later Yanmars these projects could take hours.
It's not just the number of cylinders, but also the design philosophy became more complex on later Yanmars. I think for tractors just entering their second thirty years, the older all-steel ones are going to be more maintainable.
But there's no strong advantage to either style.
Yes, you need considerably more cc's in a 3 cylinder before you match the torque of a 2-cylinder, for the lower half of the rpm range.
I wouldn't be surprised if there was more demand in Japan for the quieter 3-cylinder because of noise zoning. A lot of rice there is grown near residential areas. I wouldn't want to live next door to me!
OP
Ginormous
Gold Member
On the question of noise, my 2 cyl (YM1700) doesn't seem that loud to me. My gas Crafstman lawn tractor is much louder. It is definitely more "clanky" at certain RPMs.
California
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Sometimes I wonder if my YM240 is louder than most. It isn't the muffler, putting a gloved hand over that doesn't make much difference. The sharp intensity of the clank at low rpm is brutal. I'm pretty sure a db meter would warn of hearing loss given continual exposure. I don't doubt it is a nuisance a half mile away.
The only other Yanmar 2-cylinder I've ever heard run was a VN refurb (YM2000) at an importer's shop. It was considerably less intense.
The only other Yanmar 2-cylinder I've ever heard run was a VN refurb (YM2000) at an importer's shop. It was considerably less intense.
OP
Ginormous
Gold Member
California -- I don't have a decibel meter either... I wonder what could be making it louder. The muffler is an obvious place to start; a leak somewhere? Perhaps there is something out of adjustment?? Anyone else have any thoughts?
stormpetrel
Gold Member
I was bush hogging (w/my 2210) for about two hours yesterday......WITH ear protection, and my ears were ringing afterward!!! Sheesh, is it loud!!!!!!!!!! :laughing::laughing::laughing::laughing::laughing::laughing::laughing::laughing::laughing::laughing::laughing::laughing::laughing::laughing::laughing::laughing:
deepNdirt
Veteran Member
I've been told my tractor is loud, But I wouldn't know being def in 1 ear and can't half hear out of the other, this wasn't due to tractor noise though, it is because I've worked with loud saw's and the bang of a hammer on a nail head and then use of nail guns, for the past 36 years, and then there was the race car and header days,:cool2:
Only thing I protect these days is my head from burning out in the sun,
this wasn't due to tractor noise though, it is because I've worked with loud saw's and the bang of a hammer on a nail head and then use of nail guns, for the past 36 years, and then there was the race car and header days,:cool2:Only thing I protect these days is my head from burning out in the sun,
California
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The only thing similar I've heard was someone across the canyon, in the vineyard background-right in this photo. He was just idling his old tractor along, stopping and starting while his crew on the ground loaded a trailer or something.
Every time he moved forward his already low rpms would drag down into the range of distracting and annoying clanking, even a half mile away.
I'm sure mine is just as bad especially before it warms up.
It isn't the exhaust or an exhaust leak, it's the sound of the fuel igniting. Power Service mutes it noticeably, down to bearable, but the sound is still there.
Every time he moved forward his already low rpms would drag down into the range of distracting and annoying clanking, even a half mile away.
I'm sure mine is just as bad especially before it warms up.
It isn't the exhaust or an exhaust leak, it's the sound of the fuel igniting. Power Service mutes it noticeably, down to bearable, but the sound is still there.
