Tonyinohio
Silver Member
$15K and change for tractor and front ent loader.
The New 424 - It just got real!
- Thread starter VeRV77
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$15K and change for tractor and front ent loader.
rider7767
Platinum Member
What about the Backhoe, Tractor, and FEL?
What about the Backhoe, Tractor, and FEL?
The price will fluctuate a bit depending on Yanmar's promotions, rebates based on cash purchases, and dealership too I suppose. That said, my price for the 424 in TLB configuration was just under $24k at Alamance Outdoor Equipment in Burlington, NC. I was able to take advantage of a Yanmar zero interest payment promotion as well. Hard to beat that. I optioned up for ROPS lights, a 12v outlet, and a BH thumb kit (coming next week). With all options checked, the 424 is still far cheaper than a single spinal surgery at Duke Medical Center. Remember that if you have stumps to remove.
Everybody's needs are a little different, but if the 424 is in your wheelhouse, I don't think you could go wrong with this machine. It's fantastic and I'm loving it. I might do a detailed video on these points some day, but otherwise here's my short list of features that pushed me toward a purchase:
The backhoe configuration: Yanmar's 4-point mount is a very clean design, very tight to chassis, making this tractor's overall length the same or less than some smaller subcompacts. If you're buying now, you're in luck because they just upgraded the backhoe. It was previously sourced from Ameriquip (good company, they make the 270A for JD), but now Yanmar is getting the hoe from Woods Equipment. The bucket digging force has gone from just over 2000 pounds to 2800, and the stabilizer design is arguably better on the Woods model. Yanmar's website may still have the older backhoe specs as of this writing, but if you look at the Woods BH65, all specs should be identical. Anyone buying a 424 now should ask their dealer to make sure they're getting the new Woods-sourced BH, not the old stock if they want a more powerful backhoe.
Spin seat for backhoe operation. Might be a plus for some, a minus for others. But for me, it's part of the compact packaging and I love it. I'm 6' 6" tall and I fit fine under the ROPS when using the BH.
FEL: hard to argue with a 1200 lb. lift capacity. Great for something this size. I like the single piece, tubular curved booms. I also liked that the FEL mount bracket had a solid steel face, welded over the end of the horizontal tube that bolts to the frame. You almost never see this. I don't think it's necessarily stronger than open tube styles, but I considered it one less place for debris to collect so I like it. Some guys keep tools in that tube, so they may miss it.
X-TRA LARGE rear tires: The tractor does feel more stable and substantial than some others I test drove. Importantly for me, the tires spread the weight with a larger contact patch so less worries traversing the lawn. Traction is great too, plus they just look plain cool.
Weight: Again, everybody's needs are different but I thought the base weight of 1830 pounds was the sweet spot. The FEL weighs 363 pounds, bucket is 145, my tooth bar is 45. Backhoe is 970 pounds. Total weight of the TLB configuration with un-filled tires is 3308 pounds (not counting tooth bar). I have a thumb on order for the BH will will certainly push the BH over 1000 pounds. I find the backhoe provides excellent ballast when using the FEL so I am happy I did not fill the tires. Wheel weights are an option on the 424, which I would probably consider before I filled the tires.
Mid-PTO. I don't need to mow or use it at the moment, but it's nice to know I can access it and add a mower deck without messing around with backhoe subframe rails that need removal. Not all tractors make it so easy (LS XJ models and up come to mind).
Yanmar Engine: legendary reliability - pretty cool company history with these engines. I mean, you find them in everything - John Deere, LS, Bobcat skid steers, TYM, JCB equipment, ocean liners, speedboats, etc, and probably a lot more I don't know about. There's a reason everybody uses them.
That FEL control: Nice job here by Yanmar. The stick is ergonomically perfect for your arm when resting on the armrest and there are no fussy brackets or exposed hoses in the cockpit area.
Chassis: Excellent ground clearance of about 10". Heavy duty cast axles, and a steering cylinder notably placed behind the front axle (with tie rod in front). I saw some other makes where the cylinder was up front, ready to take more potential damage.
Ignition switch location. No kidding. On my runner-up machine (the LS XJ2025h) there were complaints about guys breaking the keys off in the ignition as their legs swept through the cockpit area. I was pretty sure I'd do that on my first day. As an aside, there's no tilt wheel but I didn't care because the wheel is already where I want it. I do like the tool wells built into the fenders on each side very much.
Hydrostat control pedals: The pedals mount to their control brackets with bolts, topside in the cockpit. You can easily replace a worn or broken pedal. Pedal travel can be adjusted topside as well. It's just the little things.
Instrument panel: Big, easy to read white on black tachometer. It's mind-blowing how some manufacturers can't get this one right.
The throttle lever just feels industrial grade, and has the right size, length, and location for easy reach-back adjustments when using the BH. Again, the little things.
Locking differential control options: If you use the locking diff all the time, you can option a lever - otherwise it's built into the brake lever to save some money. I've used the locking diff by pushing the brake lever on several occasions and it works great. Some people think this tractor lacks a locking diff because of the lever configuration.
Good battery, radiator, filter locations: All appear easy to access and service. I'll know more once I put it through it's 50-hour service.
Factory 4-post ROPS and Canopy: Don't want it now, but nice to know it's an OEM option, and a good looking one too. Curtis Industries makes a glass cab system built on this OEM platform, with a heater if you want it--great if you're from up north.
Okay, now for some things I didn't like:
I would have preferred an SSQA on the FEL. I like the idea of putting crazy things on the front of my tractor, like hydraulic boom poles and such. Maybe that's what Yanmar is afraid of, but I think it should be an option.
Given all Yanmar's work on making this tractor rugged for rugged terrain, why not weld on some valve stem shields on the rims? Strange omission.
I love the BH, but I wonder if this tractor could have handled Woods' BH75 model backhoe instead of the 65? Hmmm....
The seat is comfy but I feel like the control levers could use a little design thinking. They just don't say "here I am, grab me, and do this". They're a little too hidden, but I suppose I'll get a feel for it over time. If you've ever looked at Yanmar's European model brochures, the 424 seat looks like it came off a tour bus, suspension and all. Why can't we have that seat in the USA? I'd also swear it has bi-xeon headlamps like a Porsche. C'mon Yanmar, give us these options too!
To sum it up:
I think Yanmar put a lot of thinking into the design and they're going to sell a lot of these because of that effort. I love this thing and I'm very happy with it. I looked at Kubota, LS, Mahindra, TYM, and did a lot of research on some other brands for over a year. I think my wife is happy I'm not talking tractor specs to her all the time now, haha.
I'd be happy to answer anything other questions. I'm largely using this machine for landscaping, land clearing, trenching, and construction-oriented work for the foreseeable future so I'm not the guy to ask about 3 point attachments just yet. I'll have a box blade on it some day though!
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I looked into the B2601 and B2650 as well. I ruled out the BX series as too small. I also seriously considered buying a used B26 TLB with a 4-in-1 bucket, but decided that it was a tad heavy, and having the ability to remove the FEL was more appropriate for my long term plans for the property. Plus I really wanted a new tractor that I could maintain myself from day one.
The real initial draw of the Kubotas were the backhoe specs (well, mostly the 2650's BH). The 2650's BH77 backhoe has a longer reach and roughly 600 pounds of additional bucket force relative to the 424's BH, plus 180 degree swing arc (as opposed to 150). But nothing else seemed worth it. Smaller rear tires, slightly less FEL lift, less power to the rear PTO (19.5 hp vs. 21.7 for the Yanmar), and for me the dealership was pretty far. Kubota engines have no advantages over Yanmar engines that I'm aware of. I also wanted two separate pedals for HST control, and wasn't overly fond of Kubota's treadle pedal since I wear a size 15 boot. I'm also slightly leery of Kubota's use of aluminum castings, but that's just me. But if the backhoe were all that mattered, I'd have gotten the 2650 just for the BH77. Backhoe aside, it was easier to eliminate the 2650 because it was thousands more than I wanted to spend. That left the 2601...
For the 2601, you can again count a number of comparative drawbacks: tires are smaller, 253 pounds less loader lift capacity, less PTO power, narrower track, etc, plus the 2601's backhoe is the BH70 model, meaning far fewer advantages compared to the BH77. The BH70 has a somewhat negligible advantage over the 424's B65 in terms of bucket and dipperstick force (around 50 to 100 pounds) and while it does have a bit more reach/depth, the swing arc is ten fewer degrees, at only 140 degrees. The bare-tractor base weight was also 198 pounds less than the 424.
Some readers will note that both Kubota machines have a 3-range HST, and split brake pedals. Again, for what I do, I didn't think I'd miss them too much and I knew I'd be saving money with the Yanmar I could put toward something like a PTO chipper (where the extra PTO hp really comes in handy). As an aside, the extra HST range on either Kubota does not translate into faster traveling speeds, in case you wondered. The 424 is actually slightly faster than both machines. The advantage of a 3-range is at the low end, but I'm not having any issues pushing piles of dirt around or digging with my 2-range. For all I know, my low is as low as a 3-range low. I don't know the ratios off hand.
The one thing I forgot to mention in my big post above was the availability of the OEM backhoe thumb. I just put mine on my Yanmar last night, it was pretty easy. I didn't want to mess with aftermarket thumbs, and that's something both the Yanmar and Kubota offer that I like. Something I did mention before that both of these Kubotas lack is the nice tool wells on both fenders on the 424. I didn't think much of that until I started using it, but it's a nice addition.
The least important, almost silly thing that crossed my mind when looking at the Kubota vs Yanmar was the paint scheme. I kind of like that the Yanmar is black and red, and has a somewhat lower profile on my property than a screaming orange Kubota or Kioti. I've got a brick house and lots of shade trees... the Yanmar sort of blends in and doesn't draw too much attention to itself. Silly I know, but I like it.
Bottom line, the Yanmar won out not because of any single thing, but it has a great mix of features and capabilities for the price. You're not "cheaping out" by buying a Yanmar either. It's almost like Honda vs. Toyota in terms of reputation. Kubotas are great tractors with a lot of thoughtful design, but I didn't see much advantage for going orange in my case. I'm sure I'd have been happy with any of these tractors. Good luck in your search! If you want any specific info on the 424 that I didn't share, feel free to ask.
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ProjectKing
Platinum Member
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Nice tractor! I'm excited about Yanmar becoming more popular. Kubota needs so stiff competition to improve their products. I may consider a Yanmar next time around.
Thanks! Yeah I think Kubota was put on notice at least for tractors of this size. There are still a few categories where they basically have no competition, like the small construction TLBs (b26, L47, M62). I'd love to see Yanmar get into that scene.
424 has been great. Using the backhoe always puts a smile on my face.
keeseckb
New member
Thank you VeRV77 for all of your insight and knowledge on the 424. I found a used 2017 with 110 hours, a mid mower and rototiller. It was a great deal so I made the 8 hour drive and swooped it up! Looking forward to getting this baby put to work/play
Congratulations on the purchase! It looks like it's in great shape!! If you plan on digging much with the loader, I highly recommend getting a piranha tooth bar. I tried digging with and without the bar and the difference is astounding. Play, work... It's great when you're not sure which is which!
Yanmar Tractor
Manufacturer
Thank you VeRV77 for all of your insight and knowledge on the 424. I found a used 2017 with 110 hours, a mid mower and rototiller. It was a great deal so I made the 8 hour drive and swooped it up! Looking forward to getting this baby put to work/play
View attachment 520084
keeseckb,
Welcome to Yanmar ownership!