About to buy a Tractor..Need info

[HGM]

Mike,
I bought my YM2000(badged as a Zen-Noh) about 4mo ago. I love it, Its quitea bit larger than a 1500 though. My concern would be, do you fit in a 1500? The best advice I could recomend has already been mentioned, use it before you buy it.

The dealer it EXTREMELY important. Again follolw the threads about Vietnameese refurbs. All of these tractors are Japaneese, and all are old. Dont let that scare you, they are of exceptional quality. JD knows that and has used them for years. A large portion of the Vietnam refurbs are made to look pretty, not repaired to be reliable.

Another recomendation is to find a dealer with a really good reputation as mentioned. I cant rule out the dealer you have in mind, though I have conversed with and heard alot of good about Ernie. I know who I would go to in your situation /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif.

Good luck with your purchase. If you can swing it, get a larger model for your project. You'll want to spend all the time you can on it in the begining, but as time goes by you might wish it would go a bit quicker. Maybe you can delay an implement for a while to save up the money. You can always tell the wife that you didnt think you would need it at the time /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif.

 

[scrinch]

Mike, just to be clear...it is the "reconditioned" issue that brings up heated discussion, not the "gray" issue. Pretty much everyone on the forum accepts the gray market tractors as of high quality and realizes that there are very few domestically produced alternatives. What is disputed here is whether one should buy a gray tractor imported directly from Japan and sold as "used" or get a "refurbished" gray tractor imported from a "reconditioning" plant in Vietnam. Many have had good luck with the reconditioned units, but the parts dealers who post here are fairly unanimous in saying that they hear lots of horror stories about them as well. You can be pretty sure that a "used" tractor is old but made up of original parts, while some "reconditioned" tractors seem to have been pieced together from mismatched parts. The mismatched parts can make repairs and maintenance a nightmare down the road if you happen to get stuck with one. Probably the key thing for you is to find a dealer who will stand behind what he sells. Then you know exactly where to go for parts and service. Ernie and Buck are both dealers of gray Yanmars in the NW, and are known to stand behind their products. However, (I believe) neither of them will sell you a refurbished tractor.

 

[flattman]

I don't have much to add other than last December I purchased a YM2420 from Hoye Tractors and have been very pleased with it. I have put a little less than 100 hours on it. I brush hawg about 10 acres and take care of around 30 acres and am able to keep it looking very nice. I have a rather large orchard/garden and put in all of my trees using a post hole digger to assist the planting. I broke new ground with the 5 foot tiller and keep it weed free using the same. I have used my 5 foot box blade to work on the land and repair lanes and etc. Instead of purchasing a middle buster/furrow, I built one using one of the "digger" shafts for the box blade by welding a frame for it using 6" C Perlings and a small plow shear and it does a wonderful job of making furrows.

I have used all of this equipment without any problems or breakdowns. I have simply been amazed at how well my equipment has performed and pleased with the purchase. It has allowed me to use my time much more effectively and I feel the size of the unit is "just right" for what I am taking care of here. My tractor has allowed me to perform my work and spend more time doing my life's passion, "Tournament Bass Fishing." And, that's what equipment should allow.

I would echo the remarks of the others and add do as much research on the dealer as you do on the unit you want to purchase. I was fortunate, and stumbled onto a very trustworthy dealer.

Take your time and be comfortable with your purchase and take your time getting used to whatever you purchase. I wish you the best with your decession.

 

[evofxdwg]

I agree with some here in that a 1500D is too small for what you want to do - especially mounting a backhoe. I have a 1610D with Koyker 80 FEL and it has proven small for some jobs i have had on my measly 2 acres and rental property. It wont budge a big fallen pine tree till you cut it up into relatively small chunks. Look for something a little bigger than 1500D.

As for the recon issue - from what i have read there is ample opportunity to get burned in this market. I bought mine on ebay in 2004 and think i lucked out. I was nervous about it and probably wont buy something like that again without inspecting it closely. I did have to replace upper roller bearings and all seals in front axles, as there was "chocolate" goo (water contaminated) in there rather than diff oil - check it if you can before buying. Cost me $150 in parts and my own labor. Other than that, i had to tighten FEL mounts and replace other missing bolts & fan belt. Of course, the regulator (current limiter) blew out a few months after i got it too. Been running good though! If you can work on em yourself or you have a trusted mechanic, these grey market jobs can be economical and reliable. If not..........well.

As for pricing, i got my 1610D (with mentioned problems above) bundled with, box blade, bush hog, AND pretty good (but used/reconditioned) tandem axle trailer for $7500 in 2004.
Had to drive from GA to Missouri to pick it up. Tractor wasnt real shiny and a couple of the sheetmetal parts had paint over a little bondo or some other goo. But i dont care much about external appearance as long as it holds together and the functional parts are still sturdy.

I shopped on internet/ebay and locally for nearly a year before buying. Note: Yanmar is now attempting to suppress listing of their grey market units on ebay, and apparently succeeding - a policy i highly disagree with. However,- i also highly disgree with anybody filing a lawsuit against Yanmar if they get hurt on a 20+ year old unsafe tractor- I feel the purchaser assumes all risk.

I could not imagine using FEL and negotiating uneven/wet terrain without 4WD - DO NOT EVEN CONSIDER 2WD! If you are going to use a FEL a lot, I recommend the Powershift tranny - e.g the "10" in the 1610D model number. (You can change from goforth to comeback without mashin the clutch.)

Also, if it gets cold there (it doesnt here), make sure the diesel preheater works on the one you get - will make cold weather starting easier. I have not needed mine so dont even know if it is working.

As far as shrinking cartilage goes. Climbing on and off the old style Yanmar tractors is a chore - especially if you are doing something where you do it 100 times a day! Im 6'2" about 260 lbs and know all about this!. When i first got my tractor i thought it was gonna SAVE my body. After the first "all day" session cleaning up hurricaine debris, i found that having a tractor just encourages one to tackle bigger jobs in a shorter time! Make sure your seat has some cushoning, put a bottle of Aleve in the tool box and just do it.

just my 2cents worth
Good Luck

 

[kenmac]

Gray market here is no problem as most yanmars here are gray market. In my opinion (& I must not have made my self clear ) Stay away from reconditioned yanmars or any other reconditioned gray market tractor from Vietnam ! If you look at a tractor & the dealer tells you that it only has 20-30 etc, hrs. on the hour meter its a lie. They have rolled back the hr. meter or installed a new meter.These tractor are 30+ years old & will have more hrs. than this.The dealers here are a great source. I don't know which one is closer to you , but check with them b-4 you buy. I'am also 6'2 235 I have a 3110 D .I moved the fenders out & made a few more mods. to make it a little more easer to get on & off.

 

[captain71c]

I think that the 1500 might be too small if you are going to do any serious clearing. I bought a YM2310D this spring from Ernie's Imports. I'm glad I went bigger! It just has more power and weight when you need it. The cost was only slightly more. Buy from a dealer who will back up what they sell. If you are in westren Washington like I am you want 4 wheel drive, It makes a big difference in our mud! I bought mine as is, not rebuilt, with 560 hours on the meter. I wanted to see it in its original condition. I feel you can tell a lot about equipment the way it is used and cared for. Good luck on your search.

 

[bruce1966us]

You might try www.coldwatertractors.com Great people to work with!

 

[ym2610]

Hey Mike I only have 4.5 acre, had a hinomoto but now I have a YM2610 about 30 HP, this size works fine for me, I also have a problem with hills on my property, thats one reason for the 2610, its the smallest model that the wheels will widen out on, I think, I was also in the same boat when it came to money, so I bought the tractor and a 5' cutter and will buy equipment as I can, cost a little more this way, but I got the right size tractor,as for the gray market thing please go to this web site to read about it www.yanmarowners.com click on the buyer guide, a lot of good info here. good luck on what every you buy. Robert

 

[ym2610]

sorry Mike its not buyers guide, click on buying a yanmar, and also click on Years Produced. again good luck. Robert

 

[greatrandini]

I can extend the front axels on my 2210! I can the turn the rear wheels around and also take the rims off the wheels and put them back in a different configuration. (wider) I have not done this because I prefer the manuverability of the narrow settings...