To discuss Yanmar tractors and all the other Japanese tractors you need to understand the history of Japan and farming since WWII. While Dr. Deming did his part to create a system of business management that lead to quality in all Japanese manufacturing the small tractor was born of small farms and social customs. While in the USA big farms became more profitable they needed bigger tractors with more HP to work those gigantic properties. American companies like JD responded with ever bigger machines and engines. In Japan the small family tractor was being developed with small diesel engines. If you have ever been to Japan or S. Korea you understand that every thing is cultivated. There are no green grass lawns in back yards, family homes and properties have food plots, cultivated by very small tractors with small diesel engines to fit. With a Deming system in place all the small manufactures improved their small tractors and most important the diesel engines. Incremental improvement over 65 years has lead to modern Isiki, Yanmar, Kubota, Mitsubishi tractors and small engines. While the US is the top dog in large AG machinery Japan has a 65 year start on them in the small diesel engine market, and the US is not going to over take them anytime soon. To cut to the chase Japan makes the best small diesel engines and tractors by far, no one can touch them, US makes the big stuff, and no one can touch them. Now to throw a wrench in the works. VW and Bosch have developed the high pressure diesel, and all diesels are starting to benefit from high pressure direct injection, the German's have developed and perfected. Yanmar's new marine engines are BWM developed and set the standard for the world. The new small Yanmars have high pressure piezo injectors and four valve heads. If you want a small tractor you want Japanese, they are simply the best. I might add they are under pressure by the S. Koreans not the US and LS like the battle between Samsung and Sony and S. Korean cars LS may have eclipse them.
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