Vietnamese Japanese refurbished.

[pruntyc]

Yes, please tell us, so we can know just how tough these tractors really are. We know they are good, you can tell us and we will know that they can take more than we thought. Charles

 

[bennyhill]

I hate this part. when the info just stops

 

[California]

That's a partial roster of the old timers who posted a lot back then!

Leonard is still in business finding obscure parts for Yanmar owners, Buck (EFC) I think sells unrelated farm stuff, Bruce quit importing long ago, and I think Prunty has passed. He was elderly then and talked about failing health.

The others were enthusiasts and active posters when I started reading here in 2003 but I don't recall details. Not included in this thread: rScotty is still around, and his co-founder of the group, Soundguy, moved on from the Yanmar that was his first tractor, to old Fords, and he now posts about his larger tractors in the relevant sub-forums.

Benny, there are other old, and more recent, threads that discuss whatever you are interested in. Just not this one. If you're interested in the VN refurbs that were a big deal back then, start a new thread asking about them and you'll learn a lot.

 

[bmaverick]

I hate this part. when the info just stops

Noticed your question on TF as well.

The VN Yanmars history are much like this ...

Yanmar manufactures the model and type. It's sold and used in Japan for several years until it sits off to the side. At times a scout exporter will notice the machine out in some field or has a calling card out there for people who would 'retire' their machine.

Now, the exporter can send the tractor basically anywhere in the world. VN tends to be a hot spot in Ag in the past decade as sanctions have been eased. Thus, Yanmars, Mitsubishis, Kubotas, Isekis, Himimotos, etc are sold to that country. Well, things get beaten and abused more so in VN for some reason (lack of knowing the limits of the machine, or they just don't care). Their repair methods are more caveman like. They will take and mis-match parts from one machine to the other just to keep things going. In some cases mis-matching can also be from other tractor brands. When the machine has gotten to the point of being really ugly, a VN exporter will make a deal to pick up the messed up machine for a discount on another Japan or India made used tractor coming in to the country.

Now, the VN exporter is the 2nd time around export. Thus, whoever buys the machine gets a flunky setup with much more hours on the meter. And to say, the VN tractor owners disconnect the meters when they have them. A bit sneaky to get more used bargaining for a replacement machine. So nobody really knows how many hours are on the machine.

Wherever these used VN machine go, they are barely hanging on to life. A new paint job isn't going to make the engine any better, not the 3PT hydraulic lift. BUT, that's how these machines are coming over here. If you buy one of these, chances are it's a minimal 30-day so-so warranty at best.

Why did I buy UTDA? Because they are solely looking at machine from a 1st time owner out of Japan, not some other places. UTDA offers a full 1-year warranty.

Sorry to make this post long winded. People need to really know what they are getting into.

 

[California]

The VN Yanmars history are much like this ...

Well written!

One point to add: Yanmar won't let their dealers sell any parts to the VN 'reconditioning' plants.

 

[fried1765]

Brent is right, and remember in socialist farming the farmer doesn’t pay for the tractor so he doesn’t care if he uses the hood to carry the tire chains on. We work on American farm tractors and the general sediment seems to be that the government will buy them a new tractor in a few years so they could care less if it looks beat up. I imagine that is even worse in Japan. I think if some of you guys saw how these tractors were used you would pass out. /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

I have spent a LOT of time in Japan, and have never observed one of their farmers abusing a tractor.
They USE their tractors, but they do not ABUSE their tractors.
The "general sentiment" you quote, as referring to Japan, is 100% WRONG!!

 

[bmaverick]

I have spent a LOT of time in Japan, and have never observed one of their farmers abusing a tractor.
They USE their tractors, but they do not ABUSE their tractors.
The "general sentiment" you quote, as referring to Japan, is 100% WRONG!!

Wow, you replied to a post nearly 10 years ago.

 

[fried1765]

Wow, you replied to a post nearly 10 years ago.

I am SO sorry!
I don't get it right EVERY time!
Sure hope there is not a late post fee for TBN.

 

[clemsonfor]

Talk about a zombie thread!!

 

[California]

Hey these tractors are timeless!

So are the questions people ask.