clemsonfor
Super Member
these pictures make it look like it hasent rained in 5 months!!! I know yall are in a drought but how are those trees not dead!!
Looking for first Yanmar
- Thread starter woolyAcres
- Start date
- Views: 15188
California
Super Star Member
- Joined
- Jan 22, 2004
- Messages
- 14,933
- Location
- An hour north of San Francisco
- Tractor
- Yanmar YM240 Yanmar YM186D
It never rains in California. 
Seriously, when I worked construction we figured the rainy season is only roughly Thanksgiving to Easter. All summer here is normally bone dry with very rarely a light shower. This region was basically a desert until all the 38 million people moved here.
Nearly all commercial agriculture relies on irrigation. There's an extensive network of canals, fed from major dams that rely on snowpack in the Sierras to refill all spring and summer. The lack of snowpack is the disaster we're facing now.
But for me - I'm only 10 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean and we wake up to ocean fog blowing in most days whenever the inland is warmer than the ocean. These apple trees draw their moisture partly from this fog through their leaves, as well as from deep roots that spread out at the hardpan layer a couple of ft down. I water new trees regularly for the first two years as they establish foliage and these deep roots, but this year for example I only watered a few of the 2012 trees, the ones that looked like they were having a hard time. Apple orchards in most regions are irrigated or get rainfall but in this coastal band they do ok with neither.
I put some photos of various times of year in this old thread. (and we eventually found a source for the Gravensteins I was inquiring about).
More - the impassable ravine at my back boundary. As more neighbors rip out apples and fence new vineyards, this has become the only refuge for the deer etc that used to roam all over. Well, the ravine and my orchard are the local 'zoo'. Deer pic. I seem to be feeding every critter you could imagine with these apples, and the family pear tree etc. Bird netting around new trees is essential to keep the deer from grazing on the tasty new leaves.
And when the rain finally comes it gets gorgeous again.
Family Persimmon tree down in back - a photo I posted here 12/2004.
Seriously, when I worked construction we figured the rainy season is only roughly Thanksgiving to Easter. All summer here is normally bone dry with very rarely a light shower. This region was basically a desert until all the 38 million people moved here.
Nearly all commercial agriculture relies on irrigation. There's an extensive network of canals, fed from major dams that rely on snowpack in the Sierras to refill all spring and summer. The lack of snowpack is the disaster we're facing now.
But for me - I'm only 10 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean and we wake up to ocean fog blowing in most days whenever the inland is warmer than the ocean. These apple trees draw their moisture partly from this fog through their leaves, as well as from deep roots that spread out at the hardpan layer a couple of ft down. I water new trees regularly for the first two years as they establish foliage and these deep roots, but this year for example I only watered a few of the 2012 trees, the ones that looked like they were having a hard time. Apple orchards in most regions are irrigated or get rainfall but in this coastal band they do ok with neither.
I put some photos of various times of year in this old thread. (and we eventually found a source for the Gravensteins I was inquiring about).
More - the impassable ravine at my back boundary. As more neighbors rip out apples and fence new vineyards, this has become the only refuge for the deer etc that used to roam all over. Well, the ravine and my orchard are the local 'zoo'. Deer pic. I seem to be feeding every critter you could imagine with these apples, and the family pear tree etc. Bird netting around new trees is essential to keep the deer from grazing on the tasty new leaves.
And when the rain finally comes it gets gorgeous again.
Family Persimmon tree down in back - a photo I posted here 12/2004.
OP
woolyAcres
Platinum Member
I really do like the fuel economy these tractors offer which is something easy to over look. They also seem to be much more reasonably priced than the comparable Kubota- even of the same age/hours. I think my biggest concerns about them are the lack of ROPS (which seems to be an addressable issue) and, along with that, the stability. But I think as California as demonstrated they are capable on hilly terrain with some caution and knowledge.
I haven't really looked at the older Masseys and Ford (8n). I'm pretty set on 4WD since I need to move snow in the winter and spring here can be awfully muddy but cold enough to still need firewood hauled from the woods.
Widening my search (both geographically and financially) turned up an YM1820D. No loader but it does include a pull-behind finish mower. Asking $4500 obo. It's a slightly larger HP tractor than the 186. But doesn't seem to be as popular. Any thoughts?
I haven't really looked at the older Masseys and Ford (8n). I'm pretty set on 4WD since I need to move snow in the winter and spring here can be awfully muddy but cold enough to still need firewood hauled from the woods.
Widening my search (both geographically and financially) turned up an YM1820D. No loader but it does include a pull-behind finish mower. Asking $4500 obo. It's a slightly larger HP tractor than the 186. But doesn't seem to be as popular. Any thoughts?
OP
woolyAcres
Platinum Member
It never rains in California.
I put some photos of various times of year in this old thread. (and we eventually found a source for the Gravensteins I was inquiring about).
More - the impassable ravine at my back boundary. As more neighbors rip out apples and fence new vineyards, this has become the only refuge for the deer etc that used to roam all over. Well, the ravine and my orchard are the local 'zoo'. Deer pic. I seem to be feeding every critter you could imagine with these apples, and the family pear tree etc. Bird netting around new trees is essential to keep the deer from grazing on the tasty new leaves.
And when the rain finally comes it gets gorgeous again.
Family Persimmon tree down in back - a photo I posted here 12/2004.
Beautiful tree. It looks like a gorgeous property. I've got family in Lodi and Livermore, CA but that's quite different from where you are. Great stuff. Thanks for sharing.
The 1820 has the 3t80U-NB engine, almost the same as my former 2002D 3t80U-NAP. Don't have a clue what they did to change hp from 18 to 20? I can tell you both engines are not sleeved. How many hours on the tractor? It will have a 5 digit reading including tenths. Some of the 1820's have factory gearbox power steering. It also has wet disc brakes that work great. Those finish mowers sell for $500 and up in my area. Seems to me to be priced right "if" in good condition.
OP
woolyAcres
Platinum Member
@winston1-
Thanks for your comments on the 1820D. I believe that tractor has about 900 hours on it. Just heard back from him and it's sold as well. It was on Craigslist for a couple weeks but I hadn't really been looking at tractors that expensive or far away. I'm curious. What are the advantages and disadvantages of a sleeved engine?
Thanks for your comments on the 1820D. I believe that tractor has about 900 hours on it. Just heard back from him and it's sold as well. It was on Craigslist for a couple weeks but I hadn't really been looking at tractors that expensive or far away. I'm curious. What are the advantages and disadvantages of a sleeved engine?
A sleeved engine can have new sleeves installed and go back with original pistons/rings. If a non sleeved engine has cylinder wear it has to be bored out and over sized pistons/rings installed. My 2002D had over 3000 hrs on it with original piston size and cylinders were still showing very little wear. It is possible on some engines to have liners put in them at a machine shop. Aaron of Hoye's dad had liners put in a 1610 if I am not mistaken. After all that rambling I probably wouldn't let either sway my buying. If I had two tractors exactly the same condition, one with liners, one without, I would probably buy the one with liners.
California
Super Star Member
- Joined
- Jan 22, 2004
- Messages
- 14,933
- Location
- An hour north of San Francisco
- Tractor
- Yanmar YM240 Yanmar YM186D
That era has now passed, but I think the sleeved engines were intended to be maintained virtually forever by shade tree mechanics using hand tools. An experienced diesel mechanic, if you can find one today, could do an in-frame overhaul at your location in a couple of days making a virtually new engine.
Yanmar's principal business is boat and ship diesels. Tractors are a second application of the engines. In-place overhaul is a significant advantage for a marine diesel in a small commercial fishing boat, for example.
Yanmar's principal business is boat and ship diesels. Tractors are a second application of the engines. In-place overhaul is a significant advantage for a marine diesel in a small commercial fishing boat, for example.
California
Super Star Member
- Joined
- Jan 22, 2004
- Messages
- 14,933
- Location
- An hour north of San Francisco
- Tractor
- Yanmar YM240 Yanmar YM186D
One more pic for Clemsonfor and Winston. I posted this here last Thanksgiving.
As soon as the rains come the place looks a lot better!
Last edited:
