They are not cheap like years before as I understand but I am not concerned. I feel good about my purchase and can't wait to get it.[couple of weeks out]
When looking for a tractor, I dug around the region, only to find worn and fatigued equipment needing some sort of fixing from one degree to others. A retired frined of mine had gotten a used John Deere 850 for some work business he did. Well, he already had two other tractors, thus I got the JD850. It was rebuilt wrong and didn't even run right. The engine blew up (no fault of any Yanmar quality, just the no so smart rebuild mechanic) I had then taken the JD850 to my local diesel place. After 1-week, the heads were cleaned and inspected and also the block. Both were ruined. I had then started looking for a replacement engine within 300 miles. In time I found Fredricks. It would cost about $5,400 to just get a running engine on the JD850 ... or spend $300 more and get the YM2610 with PowerShift. Later I found out that the JD850 hydralics were shot too. Well, the JD850 was taken as a trade in for the YM2610. In the long run, I got a great tractor at a good market price and Fredricks rebuilt the JD850 from the ground up like new. I got the photos too. All in 2 weeks! My YM2610 is the same as the JD850 with the addition of the PowerShift. So, I didn't loose anything, just gained some more.
I bought the YM2610 off the delivery trailer. It wasn't until this summer I had visited the Fredricks operations. AMAZING! Bobby and Tom really have that place tidy, neat and clean. It is very well organized with sea containers unloaded a few times per week and then categorized accordingly. The body tear down, grind and repair has some great guys making things right ans very smooth. The engine rebuilders have all the spec sheets and blue print diagrams to restore from top quality new parts like rings, pistons cranks, etc. The paint center has booths and stands with stocked colors ready at the finger tips. The frame and crankcase people flush and calibrate the cases prior to painting. New filters, hoses, radiators, water pumps, belts, etc all get placed too.
Each tractor is reviewed and rechecked down a final build sheet and signed off all along the way. Fredricks has true southern pride even in the era we live in today.
Would I get another Gray Market tractor again? ONLY if it was done by Fredricks.
Yes, I would have liked a FELs too, but like all things, money is needed.
Fredricks still has a several YM2610 machines all done and ready to go. It's a good step up from the YM2210. It's also the right range for running hay equipment at the 28Hp to 40Hp implements.