Need advice on buying Yanmars

[hcforde]

I am buying a small piece of land(under 5 acres) and I am looking for a tractor. I have available 2 different models from 2 people that are fairly close to where I live. The YM226D has the engine torn apart and it needs some new seals & bearings per the owner. He is leaving the country and wants to sell it for $500. The other is a 1500 with a box blade that the owner is asking $3900 for which is suppose to be in perfect working condition. I do not need a working tractor right away, but are parts easy to find for the YM226? I guess I would need a service manual also, as well as an operators manual. I realize that much more could be wrong with the YM226. I grew up on a farm but that was about 40 years ago. I hope it is like riding a bicycle, LOL!

Also about 150 miles away there is also a 1500D 4X4 with 4 FT. Howse shredder, 5ft. Leinbach model 97 disc, 4ft. box blade & 5ft. 3 pt. Howse spike tooth STH60 harrow. all of these are being offered for $4950. All I might need is a plow.

It seems the 1500 is a smaller engine with less HP but I guess it is a more recent model. What are the pros and cons? In my way of thinking the one for $4950 asking price is a better deal. Am I missing anything. I have to buy the land with cash so I need to be frugal.

Thanks

 

[California]

I'd say keep looking.

The 226D would be something to play with if you have a long time before you need it in service. But if the seller tore it down and doesn't have any manuals for it, that's a huge red flag that this could be an expensive mistake. Especially if some major component is broken or missing. I've come out saving a lot of money buying 'bargains' like that, but I've also had my share of disappointments where I spent money before re-selling for less than I paid in the first place. I think this YM226 is an opportunity for someone else who is more qualified to appraise what it needs. Incidentally this is a more recent model than the YM1500, and was a US-version Yanmar so you can buy parts from Yanmar-USA as well as from the replica-parts dealers who support the gray market Yanmars. Its value intact is considerably more than a YM1500.

YM1500 2wd is ok for light duty if that's what you will be doing. With 4x4 its more competent, maybe equivalent to another few hp, but its still a very light tractor. Forget pulling a leinbach 97 disc, my YM240 won't pull one in ground that was disced last year. I doubt you can pull a plow with a YM1500 either, it just doesn't have the weight to provide traction.

You are asking all the right questions, but I suggest keep looking until you find a match to your actual needs.

 

[bmaverick]

We have a 6.5 acre land for easy homesteading. The YM1500 would be impossible to use other than mowing, using an economy 4ft box blade, and a very lite duty Japan style tiller.

Keep looking. A Yanmar 3-cly with PowerShift would be the golden machine to have. About 28 to 35 Hp. This way, if any big need is required, you don't have to pay or rent something else.

Being in TX, there are plenty of Yanmars in the region. A good deal would be a refurbished Fredricks machine sold by a local owner. Avoid the vietnam types ported over here.

A John Deere 850 or 950 is really a Yanmar painted JD green. Look for those too.

Else, a Ford 4000 or 4100 might be an option. Get the diesel version of these. Most were made in England. These are popular here in Nashville.

 

[hcforde]

Thanks, back on the farm in Michigan we had a gasoline Farmall. That was many years ago and as a kid I did not pay any attention to the HP. Thanks for the tip on HP requirements, I hate to rent anything, especially tools, because if you need it once, most likely you will need it again. I already have a riding lawnmower, no need for another one.

Talking about weight requirements, I assume that is why some people put water in the tires? I have not seen a 1500 but I was surprised at how small the 226 was. I rebuilt a 4 cyl car engine back in the 1970's. I had a manual, I think it is also easier to rebuild if you take it apart yourself. Thanks for the common sense advice by keeping it real. A Yanmar dealer told be a rebuild could range from $2000-$4000 if they did it. 1. Do you think the parts are worth it? If I rebuilt it in my spare time as a learning tool what are they worth?

I will look at other brands, I was looking for a used Mahindra but they are very hard to find.
Thanks

 

[normde2001]

I would jump on the YM226 in a heartbeat, after a successful thorough inspection, for $500. It is worth about $3500 in good running condition, and can always be parted out for about that much.. That $3000-$4000 shop overhaul is mostly labor charges with probably abut $500 in parts. $3,900 is entirely to much for a YM1500, as is $4,950 for a YM1500D, with a lot of implements that you don't need.

 

[bmaverick]

Well, the Yanmar YM2500 is actually the John Deere 850. The YM2610 like mine is the automatic (PowerShift) version. I picked up mine at Fredricks in northern Alabama. They do deliver too. These are totally refurbished; rebuilt, inspected and quality tested. They even dyno the tractor when done.

There are several Yanmar grays that are the twin or close sibling to the John Deeres. Thus, the market value does hold well.

Only ones to avoid are the Yanmars that were sent to Vietnam and beaten to death.

 

[Smoody]

I have a YM226D, nice machine and can do alot of work. it is however just barely large enough to do any real plowing/discing.

The YM1500 series is useless for anything other then very light grading, as in loose material, and mowing.

I have 10 acres and its all the 226 can handle, if I find a larger Yanmar I would upgrade in a heartbeat.

 

[clemsonfor]

for 5 acres i think 24 engine HP is as small as you want to go. Which puts you into something like the YM226 Ym2000/2010/2020/2001 size as a minimum.

My farm property is way over 5 acres but most is woods so i dont do anything with a tractor to them. I do a little to the roads in the woods but thats it.

I mow at least 5 total acres wether bush hogged or finish. And i disk a few acres for food plots. And once i set enough weight to get through the field grass it disks fine and have no trouble. But it takes me almost twice as long as someone with a 35 hp tractor, but i still get it all done for way less cost and almost no fuel consumption!!

I can finish mow with a 6 ft mower behind my ym2000 on 1 gallon of deisel what it take 3.5 gallons of gas to mow with the 42"MTD rider.

 

[bmaverick]

I mow at least 5 total acres whether bush hogged or finish. And i disk a few acres for food plots. And once i set enough weight to get through the field grass it disks fine and have no trouble. But it takes me almost twice as long as someone with a 35 hp tractor, but i still get it all done for way less cost and almost no fuel consumption!!

I can finish mow with a 6 ft mower behind my ym2000 on 1 gallon of diesel what it take 3.5 gallons of gas to mow with the 42"MTD rider.

That is why I did the homework and got the YM2610. 33Hp engine and 31Hp PTO. It can run a good New Holland square baler in the small size. That says a lot about these Yanmars.

If you did find a Yanmar, look at the 33Hp and up 3cly engines. A popular one is the YM3110. Not sure if that engine has a John Deere equal. You would need to research that.

 

[bmaverick]

I have a YM226D, nice machine and can do alot of work. it is however just barely large enough to do any real plowing/discing.

The YM1500 series is useless for anything other then very light grading, as in loose material, and mowing.

I have 10 acres and its all the 226 can handle, if I find a larger Yanmar I would upgrade in a heartbeat.

See what Fredricks Imports would do on a trade-in. SC isn't too far from AL. And they have a satellite dealership in GA.