CHINESE or JAPANESE

[Travis_R]

Hey,

I'm curious. Which tractor would ya'll buy out of a new Farm Pro (Chinese Jinma) 2420 (20hp 2wd) and a used Yanmar YM2000 (Japanese 24hp 2wd)? NEITHER one being equipped with an FEL. In my opinion, I think the Yanmar is the better built tractor. But, for the price of the Yanmar, you could get the new Farm Pro.

I have a Farm Pro service/dealer that is about 6 miles away from my house. I have a Yanmar dealer that is about 80 miles from my house. The Yanmar dealer told me that the tractors are "reconditined" by them. They do an engine compression test on a dynamometer and if it don't meet their specifications, they rebuild the engines. They put new fluids, filters and everything. All the tractors get a fresh coat of paint and new decals too. AND GET THIS! I was shocked when he told me that the Yanmars come with a 2 year powertrain warranty (not the engine). That, I believe included the transmission, rear differential, etc. Have ya'll ever heard of a Yanmar gray market tractor coming with a 2 year warranty like that?

I asked him about parts. He said that was not a problem what so ever. He could get everything from a headlight switch, to a crankshaft. How true do you think this is?

Is the Yanmar YM2000 2wd hard to get parts and manuals for? Another thing, when were these tractors manufactured?

A couple years ago, I used a Yanmar YM2000 2wd for just about a whole summer bush hogging and light grading. I LOVED IT! I especially liked the low range. I have been doing research on the net and looking at pictures of these tractors. I haven't seen ANY pictures of the YM2000 that I was operating. All of them was similar, but not the same. The MAIN difference I noticed of the 2 were the one I was on had ROUND HEADLIGHTS ON EACH SIDE. Not in the middle, I guess like the newer ones. What year was the one I was on manufactured? It was an ugly green color. I have noticed the "newer" ones being red.

So, with all of this said, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Travis R

 

[Durbob]

I would definately go with the Yanmar as long as he could prove it was reconditioned at his place and NOT vietnam. I would want him to let me watch them recondition some tractors. The green Yanmars i believe are the older ones dating back to the early to mid seventies. But then again...i was wrong one other time. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[shvl73]

Do a search on Yanmar here, someone recently had the style you are talking about, w/ round headlights on the side of the cowl.

 

[Inspector507]

The Yanmar YM2000 is a great machine. The green ones are older than the red. The Jinma may have a tad bigger frame which may help out for some chores.
In my opinion, the Yanmar is superior, but it's also 25 years old. But the again, if they offer a 2 year warranty......does that include hydraulics, electrical, and so forth? Or is that just for the powertrain?
The YM2000 may have the best parts availabilty, it's very popular.
I looked at Chinese at first and decided to buy Japanese. There are a lot of Jinma owners that may have a lot more pros to add. I can't......never owned one.

 

[Taylortractornut]

We have a 3000 Yanmar and we bought it with a bad block we knew it but the dealer didtn want to install it so it went cheap. We had him pic us up one with took 3 months but the shipping was free and got a low hour engine for 800 bucks. Ive tried a Jinma but wouldnt trade it for dads 3000 because of the close dealer and also having used it so much. Every 2 weeks we finish mow a 14 acre field/yard plus 5 acres here and till about 8 acres of gardens not counting all the dress up work wee do in yards with a box blade.

 

[Tractors4u]

The two year warranty is just from that dealer. You must understand that if you need warranty work done, another Yanmar dealer is not going to honor the warranty. The Yanmar YM2000 is essentially the same tractor as the American version Yanmar YM240, making parts availibility great. Even if it is 25 years old, I would bet money on it outlasting a new Chinese machine.

 

[Inspector507]

Brent, I feel the same way, just didn't say it /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[callais]

I own a YM2000, I bought in Picayune, MS, right on the Louisiana/Mississippi border, I looked at another local dealer selling Farm Pro before I bought the older Yanmar. My opinion, .....sit on them, drive them, feel the difference, listen to the engine, feel the power, tap the metal. Then decide. Yes, parts for the YM2000 are very easily aquired, whether from the dealer or over the net. If you decide to get the Yanmar, the only I would suggest is to put some weight on the front end. Good Luck in your decision.

 

[sirgknight]

My "ugly" green YM1700 is beautiful! But, I have to admit it took a little getting used to for me to realize its true beauty. It's what I now call "character", and "what a tractor she is!".

 

[sirgknight]

Did it look anything like this one?

 

[jimstractors]

I agree with the rest...go with the Yanmar.
One importer that I have been buying Iseki's from switched to Chinese. He just got a shipment of 10 Jinma's and 10 other brand (can't spell it much less pronounce it). I went out there to take a look (he wanted me to sell them). They are awful rough looking, yes HEAVY but rough. First Jinma he put together had a frozen clutch. Couldn't budge it. I lost interest after another dealer I found out about bought 4 Jinma's, sold two of them quickly, but had to take them back for "warranty" work. He finally returned all 4 and took a loss. He went back to selling Yanmars.

 

[California]

Travis,

Take a look at my sig photos. I have a brochure posted showing the early (up to about 1975, external headlight) YM240, which is simply a YM2000 with a few minor mods for the American market. They were sold here by Yanmar-USA when they had dealers here.

My YM240 (second series, headlights in the grille) was in original condition and needed surprisingly little attention to ready it for continued use. Its quality is obvious, even after 25 years.

I think a YM2000 in good condition is at least the equal of a new Jinma (at the same price level) in terms of quality, parts availability, and expectation of future service. The Jinma might win a comparison of features but I would bet on the Yanmar for year after year reliability.

Hey, that green isn't ugly! It grows on you after a while. I like mine.

 

[Travis_R]

Sort of, but not exactly. I believe the headlights were a little smaller than the one in the picture. I think the color is an exact match.

The first time I ever bush-hogged was on a YM2000. The one I was telling you about. I didn't know about the PTO speeds. I think I used it in 1000rpm because the blades were spinning like crazy!! I didn't think about it til' later, but it was VERY dangerous. Just the sound of it (the blades "cutting"the air) scared me!! The tractor choked down very bad when I started out in the grass. Then I realized that it was the wrong speed. I don't like Howse implements too much. But, that gearbox held up!! Somehow the blades got "stiff". That meant if I hit something with it it couldn't "bounce" back. That caused a MAJOR vibration on the tractor and cutter. We had to loosen the blades up on the cutter and that fixed it.

I can no longer see the tractor. My cousin got divorced and moved away. We were close too. Just a few months ago, he died of a heart attact at 41 yrs. old. So, that is really another reason why I want to get a Yanmar YM2000. Sort of like a memory.

EVERYONE, WHAT IS A GOOD AND FAIR PRICE ON A YM2000 2wd WITH A 4ft. GRADER BOX AND A 4ft. BRUSH HOG MADE BY KING KUTTER? But I would take a Howse brand if I HAD to.

Thanks,
Travis

P.S.....That 2 year warranty I was telling you about was JUST on the powertrain.

 

[Soundguy]

Like most of the others pointed out.. Jap tractor technology ( QC, materials.. etc.. ) is light years ahead of the chineese.. including basic fit/finish issues.

Heck... look at the 'domestic' compacts here.. NH and shibaru.. JD and yanmar.. etc.. etc...been that way for a while.

Again.. both units require you to be wrenchy...

Soundguy

 

[SteveM]

I have seen many good 'looking' YM2000 2wd for around $3,000 here in upstate NY. always liked these tractors a lot. So most folks say a 2000/hog is a $3500 rig.

There is something almost magical about these old jap tractors, they just run forever only needing fuel once in a blue moon... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I even think the old jap tractors are more durable than the new ones, based on what a lot of my buddies report after trading up to newer rigs. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[normde2001]

I would guess about $3,500-$4,000, depending on condition of tractor and age/condition of implements. A new boxblade is about $250, new mower about $500. I paid $2900 for this YM2000B about 3 years ago, as is, not even fluids changed, but it hasn't needed anything.

 

[jbone108]

Yanmar. all the way. much better tractor.

 

[cfoxmd]

I think you won't find much disagreement here. Of course most of us here have yannies. A good used yanmar will hold up, who knows about the chinese tractors. Maybe they will be great, but it doesn't sound like it. China makes toys and stamped metal parts, not high quality electonics and cars. Eventually they will move up the industrial food chain and with the lower cost of labor, will develop market share. Do you want a used honda/toyota or a Yugo? I don't see many Yugo's on the roads these days.

I have a bigger Yanmar (FX28D) and it does what I need. No real maintenance to do other than the fluids.

 

[Travis_R]

Thanks for the replies.

How many hours do ya'll think a person could get out of a diesel engine? If I pay $3900.00 for a YM2000, how long should the tractor last with the proper care and maintenance done and without abusing it? How many hours should I get out of a $3900 Yanmar? Thats my question.

Thank you,
Travis

 

[Travis_R]

Hey,

Is it fair and would you pay $4500-$5000 /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif PLUS tax for a "reconditioned" Yanmar YM2000 2wd with a new 4ft. cutter and a new 4ft. box blade? That is what I was quoted from a dealer in Mississippi (I live in Louisiana) who sells imported tractors about 80 miles from my house one way. JUST the tractor was $3900. The dealer also told me that it would also be a $75 charge to deliver it. What ya'll think? I believe it is high. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Travis