How to by a used Yanmar

[thunderheart]

Hey Folks,

I am currently shopping for a Yanmar in the 25-35 HP range and wondered if there are any specific buying tips that other owners might suggest. The first appointment I have lined up is for a 3110 bought reconned from dealer by an older gentleman about 4 years ago. Used to pull a 5' tiller in his garden. About 30 hours, shed kept, sheet metal shinny new and like new rubber. Also looking at a 3000 lightly used for mowing in similar condition. The one I'm really most excited about is a 2610d with a Y2A loader bought from a dealer in western NC less than a year ago with 49 hours. 3rd one he has bought from same dealer. Broken truck put the guy in distress so he has to sell it. Asking $8000 even. Looks pretty cherry.

Any suggestions when checking these out?

Thanks,

Dallas

 

[reb]

Search this forum for comments about Viet Nam reconditioned tractors. There is some concern about the quality of the reconditioning process.

 

[thunderheart]

Search this forum for comments about Viet Nam reconditioned tractors. There is some concern about the quality of the reconditioning process.

Yeah I did read that. Is there a way to tell who did the recon? I know Vietnam is one place they were done. Weren't some done in Japan itself? Where else? Aren't some being done in the U.S.?

 

[thunderheart]

Search this forum for comments about Viet Nam reconditioned tractors. There is some concern about the quality of the reconditioning process.

Yeah I did read that. Is there a way to tell who did the recon? I know Vietnam is one place they were done. Weren't some done in Japan itself? Where else? Aren't some being done in the U.S.?

 

[kenmac]

If it's got 49 hrs on the meter Run away. You probably can't tell where the recon was done . If it has a loader with VN on it somewhere . It's likel;y a VN recon. A 35 yr old tractor with low hrs is almost a dead give away for VN recon

 

[clemsonfor]

None of the recons done in Japan, that any of us ever heard about. All recons here either done at Fredericks in Al or some other small dealer, or are brought here reconditioned. VN have either V2 loaders or Bulldog, company now under. All tractors fromm the Bulldog one have a serial number on a sticker like a bar code on top of fenders. The hours are always set below 20 so if they say it had 15 hours when i got it its 95% a recon prolly. Honestly the first 2 would be the ones i looked at as they have more age and years for a problem to show up. 3here may be another reason on the trk guy tryin to sell with that story, like maybe overheated etc?? Saying all this i would not worry about a VN that has been mowing 3 years and for a hundred hours. Things would of showed up by then if they were going to. All VN loaders seem strong and honestly the only complaint i ever remember is that the cylinders are non standard size.

 

[California]

specific buying tips that other owners might suggest.
... Looks pretty cherry. ...

Just one point that others haven't emphasized: Appearance of a VN refurb means nothing at all. The quality of COSMETIC reconditioning might be important if it needs to look all shiny new for example to impress riding stable customers, but nice appearance does NOT predict the reliability you will enjoy (or not) in the future.

You need to approach this just like buying any 30 year old car, truck, motorcycle, boat - and budget a reserve to fix stuff the seller didn't tell you about. The quality of Yanmars is excellent and chances are that the nice paint job was painted on to a tractor in good condition. But anything that has already experienced a generation of use can need maintenance or repairs someday. Yanmars are near bulletproof and simple to repair so they are worth the asking price but I don't think it is reasonable to expect flawless.

 

[clemsonfor]

also the paint may look nice. seems to be sticing fairly ewell on my recon. but my paint color is not right, and i have rust bubling through in a few spots so prep was not the best. i plan on pulling fenders and spraying them again with the correct colr and hopefully getting rid of rust. at some point i will paint the hood but not yet. the green is the wrong color, but close and sticks well, loosening nuts seems to bee the only thing in 3 yrs to knock paint off. also i keep tractor under a shed all the time. it gets blowig rain if its bad enough but only been in a handfulls of rains sitting out for just a few weeks in it life.

 

[Car Doc]

Hey Folks,

I am currently shopping for a Yanmar in the 25-35 HP range and wondered if there are any specific buying tips that other owners might suggest. The first appointment I have lined up is for a 3110 bought reconned from dealer by an older gentleman about 4 years ago. Used to pull a 5' tiller in his garden. About 30 hours, shed kept, sheet metal shinny new and like new rubber. Also looking at a 3000 lightly used for mowing in similar condition. The one I'm really most excited about is a 2610d with a Y2A loader bought from a dealer in western NC less than a year ago with 49 hours. 3rd one he has bought from same dealer. Broken truck put the guy in distress so he has to sell it. Asking $8000 even. Looks pretty cherry.

Any suggestions when checking these out?

Thanks,

Dallas

All 3 sound like VN origination? Time is the best judge I think of trouble and if these have been ran a few years reliably I would not be worried. Personally I would be more inclined to get the 3110 or the 2610D than the gear drive 3000 but I am partial to powershift since I have one and really like it.

 

[California]

Good point.

There should be a substantial price difference discounting the simpler YM3000. I myself would pay the premium for Powershift.

 

[thunderheart]

Well it sure is nice to have an active owner community to get advice from and I really appreciate the responses. I certainly feel better armed to make a decision. Let me summarize what I understand so far and show the three currently on my list. Additional comments appreciated then I'll leave y'all alone!

1) These are used tractors so don't expect perfection.
2) The reconditioning process is/was done in Vietnam, Alabama or locally by smaller dealers.
3) The VM recons are not so good and more likely to have problems.
4) The V2A loader on tractor #3 and 46 hours on the clock are a good indication of a VM recon
5) Yanmars are well built and fairly simple to repair. Just be prepared for that.

So with that in mind:

Tractor #1 (3110) was sold by a local dealer to his friend 4 years ago. Friend had 2 other tractors (JDs) at the time. The old guy got sick and is selling off his equipment as he needs the dough and is too old to garden. The original dealer is helping the old guy sell the equipment and he is who I am dealing with. He said he used to get a truck load of Yanmars periodically for local resale and moved "hundreds" of them. He told me he still has the original invoice where he sold the tractor to his friend for $5800 dollars. The friend supposedly used the tractor to till his garden. Not many hours added by the old guy apparently but I don't know what the clock shows.



Asking $5300


Tractor #2 (3000) was bought from a dealer, tractorsonthecreek.com in western NC. Used a couple of years for mowing. Owner seemed very forthright. Mentioned the tractor's 3 point was "sensitive" and less than responsive when cold. 160 hours.



Asking $4200


Tractor #3 (2610D) was bought from the same western NC dealer as tractor #2. The guy's story of needing to sell to fix his truck does at least sound feasible as he also posted it in the "barter" section of CL and was willing to trade for an F250 diesel. But people will often talk out of non-standard orifices to sell something and I realize that:



Asking $8000


Thanks again for the help fellas,

Dallas

 

[2manyrocks]

Finding a ROPS for a Yanmar without one tends to be both difficult and expensive. If you want a ROPS, better make sure it has one because you may not be able to find one later.

Parts availability--other than Fredericks and Hoye, where else? I'm waiting on a starter solenoid right now after the wrong part was shipped to me last week. It was $48 +$12 shipping. Cost me $10 to return it, and I'll end up eating the shipping on the replacement. So in the end, a solenoid will cost about $80. No local dealer....not good.

 

[Car Doc]

I like the 2610D it has a v3a btw its a quick detach bucket and is self leveling (how that works is beyond me but it is what it is) you will have to make your attachments as I am not aware of there being anything available. I am concerned with the 3110 it looks to me by that pic anyway like it only has 2 injector lines like a YM 2000 but it is a powershift and appears to be the correct chassis elifino whats really there pic is deceiving to me?! (3110 is a 3 cyl model)

 

[clemsonfor]

Good catch Cardoc. I would have gone for the first one, but after cardocs catch i think that is a 2210, which is a 2cy tractor. I think the 3110 is a bigger frame tractor too, ask the first seller how big the rear tires are. This will tell us. The 2210 should have 9.5x24 tires on it. Also ask for the engine model number by the oil fill hole.

Edit: I looked at the "3110" again, those rims are not the rims for a 2210 and appear to be on a bigger tractor or a bigger size than the 9.5x24. I dont know whats going on here but something i think is a miss? GET the Engine # Ask for a clear pic of the engine tag that is by the oil fill hole.
Yep all 3 are Vn's, but that is not really a concern here as i think there proven tracors. That tractor on the creek place sells VN recons, i have seen their sight on the net before.

 

[clemsonfor]

Also we know the ym3000 is a VN as a, the place sold, but b, Frederics has been putting ROPS on tracotrs for at least 5 years if not 8 years, so unless it was refurbed by earnie or Lmtc, or some other, which we know it wasent as it was sold by "tracors on the creek".

 

[thunderheart]

Good catch Cardoc. I would have gone for the first one, but after cardocs catch i think that is a 2210, which is a 2cy tractor. I think the 3110 is a bigger frame tractor too, ask the first seller how big the rear tires are. This will tell us. The 2210 should have 9.5x24 tires on it. Also ask for the engine model number by the oil fill hole.

Edit: I looked at the "3110" again, those rims are not the rims for a 2210 and appear to be on a bigger tractor or a bigger size than the 9.5x24. I dont know whats going on here but something i think is a miss? GET the Engine # Ask for a clear pic of the engine tag that is by the oil fill hole.
Yep all 3 are Vn's, but that is not really a concern here as i think there proven tracors. That tractor on the creek place sells VN recons, i have seen their sight on the net before.

I'll be looking at the 3110 firsthand tomorrow. It is in a small town near where I live in central NC. My Brother-n-Law grew up there and he will know the seller and can tell me one way or the other about the man's character. Are there other important identification numbers stamped anywhere else on the chassis or is the engine tag near the oil fill enough? I'll take many pictures of course.

Thanks for your help!

Dallas

 

[kenmac]

. I am concerned with the 3110 it looks to me by that pic anyway like it only has 2 injector lines like a YM 2000 but it is a powershift and appears to be the correct chassis elifino whats really there pic is deceiving to me?! (3110 is a 3 cyl model)

Good eye car doc. It does look like only 2 injector lines. Who knows. VN rebuilders may have put a 2 cyl engine in a 3110 frame. Could just be the way the pic was taken..... Some us re furbs come with low hr meters. My hr meter was replaced by the dealer after I purchased it. The original tach / hr meter broke so, mine now shows low hrs. I have an engine tag on the left side of the engine. Best I remember ,the tag states 33 hp @ 2600 RPM'S. Keep in mind. If you ever intend to put a loader on. You may want to consider a 4 wd tractor

 

[Pete Judd]

I like the "John Deere" sticker on the hood of the 3110. A red JD, not many of them around.

 

[California]

Are there other important identification numbers stamped anywhere else on the chassis or is the engine tag near the oil fill enough? I'll take many pictures of course.

The model # and chassis serial # will be stamped in the side of the transmission by your left ankle (while seated on the tractor).

The oil fill might be on either side of the engine but I think the tag for the engine type, and the stamping for the serial will be on the left near the starter. There could also be a tag on the valve cover identifying the engine.

I hope that isn't a 3110 hood on a 2210 tractor. The model type stamped on the chassis (plus the number of cylinders) will reveal all.


We love photos!

 

[thunderheart]

I like the "John Deere" sticker on the hood of the 3110. A red JD, not many of them around.

Yeah I thought that was funny too, having grown up on old school JDs like the 4020, 3020 and 2020. But the old gentleman has 2 other tractors that are JDs and he's 77 years old. Guess he can put whatever he wants on his tractor and I wont argue with him.