Buying Advice Considering a Yanmar, but not sure

Simelmoe · Sep 15, 2012

Hello guys, been reading here a bit and learning a lot. After reading on here decided to give Yanmars a closer look. I am fortunate enough to live about an hour from Fredrick's. They had a good inventory with more coming in. Really enjoyed testing them out.

I was looking for a 20+HP smaller frame tractor and Yanmar seem to fit the bill. They didn't have all the models to test but I was kinda partial to the 2310. The thing is Fredrick's prices are not too far from a good used small "made for USA tractor". Are the Yanmars as good as I have read? There was guy from Ohio picking one up while I was there. That's a drive I wouldn't do unless I thought I was getting a superior tractor.

They had some F series tractors and was curious if parts availability has gotten better and how durable they are to a YM. They were also mum on the Yanmar lawsuit.

Thanks in advance

silvertramp · Sep 15, 2012

Who makes a compact 4X4 "made in the USA tractor"?

clemsonfor · Sep 15, 2012

I picked the YM2000, because of the availibility of parts (online yes, but there there). Even some of the older Ford compacts made by shirabu or the Himoto masseys have parts problems. Parts were cheaper it seemed for yanmars than on a ford or deere as well which i liked. BUT beyond those things these are older tractors that are simple to work on and reliable. Yes an older ford or the same era will be just as simple to work on but i think your referring to a tractor from the 90s or early 00's. Those will NOT be easy to work on like these. There is sensors and electrics and all to contend with. Not saying i could not do it, its just more complicated. Its the same way working on a 1980 truck vs
1998 truck.

Silver has a point there is not MADE in USA compact. Well i have to say the small Deere tractors are assembled here in augusta ga (forget the number line though) but the motor is a yanmar. Fords use to be made by shirabu, not sure who makes the new NH? Kubota is Japaneese may be assembled here though? Massey is Himoto i beleive (at least they use to be)?

RDrancher · Sep 15, 2012

The thing is Fredrick's prices are not too far from a good used small "made for USA tractor"

Not sure what that means, but should clear up the Made in USA confusion.

Simelmoe · Sep 15, 2012

Thanks RD

Sorry made up my own phrase. "made for USA" referring to non-gray market tractor. Not where produced, but where product was intended for sale.

RDrancher · Sep 15, 2012

Ah, that explains it.

I don't have any experience with Yanmar tractors other than sitting on a couple Yanmar-made Cub Cadets when tractor shopping back in 2004-05 and running a customer's unit brush hogging. The operators stations (even on their largest offerings at the time) were too cramped for me at 6'0" and 220lbs. I don't know how the newer models compare. I have run a couple of their mini-ex's as rentals and liked them a lot. Seemed pretty tough.

California · Sep 15, 2012

Seems to me ... the older YM series are unmatched for quality and future life expectancy in their price category. Sort of like buying a six year old Toyota with 60,000 miles on it. And unbelievably simple. If you can change the oil on your lawnmower you can do most anything that the tractor will need in the next ten years. There's nothing else in that price range anywhere near Yanmar quality.

Yanmar's more recent F series: I think prices are high enough that considering a Mahindra etc bought new is a reasonable comparison. I still think the Yanmar is superior quality but the complexity of both of these makes them more likely to need a professional mechanic's attention sooner or later.

Thinking ten years out when any of these three need attention - I would rather have a YM for its simplicity.

Here's a photo I posted long ago when someone asked me what is under the dashboard on a YM240 (YM2000). There's pretty much nothing there and any amateur could figure out what does what. Any of those simple, discrete components can be removed/replaced in a moment. Compare that to a modern tractor!

clemsonfor · Sep 15, 2012

RDrancher said:
Ah, that explains it.

I don't have any experience with Yanmar tractors other than sitting on a couple Yanmar-made Cub Cadets when tractor shopping back in 2004-05 and running a customer's unit brush hogging. The operators stations (even on their largest offerings at the time) were too cramped for me at 6'0" and 220lbs. I don't know how the newer models compare. I have run a couple of their mini-ex's as rentals and liked them a lot. Seemed pretty tough.

The operator platform on these older YMs is cramped. I have a ym2000. Those CC yanmars must be way bigger i would bet. But as far as size im 6'2" and 215lbs and i can easily sit and drive one for hours at a time. NO i would not want to run one 8 hours a day several days a week, but were talking about a tractor for keeping up the home place not foundation excavation or land leveling commercially. And just think during the 80s yanmar made some of the JD line of tractors maybe even into the 90s not sure. But anyway those tractors were basically almost identical to the yanmars, so saying that a yanmar is to cramped is basically condeming the Jds of that same era?

I do agree there cramped not near as open as my uncles jd 4400, but that tractor is like 2 frame sizes larger anyway.

RDrancher · Sep 15, 2012

clemsonfor said:
The operator platform on these older YMs is cramped. I have a ym2000. Those CC yanmars must be way bigger i would bet. But as far as size im 6'2" and 215lbs and i can easily sit and drive one for hours at a time. NO i would not want to run one 8 hours a day several days a week, but were talking about a tractor for keeping up the home place not foundation excavation or land leveling commercially. And just think during the 80s yanmar made some of the JD line of tractors maybe even into the 90s not sure. But anyway those tractors were basically almost identical to the yanmars, so saying that a yanmar is to cramped is basically condeming the Jds of that same era?

I didn't "condemn" anything. Just making a personal observation...not of 80's and 90's Yanmars, but of the 2004 Cub Cadets. And, I checked out JD's offerings at the time (same dealer) and they had a lot more room. Just not willing to pay extra for green paint. I DO run my NH nearly every working day of the week, sometimes for 8-12 hours at a time. Comfort is one of my highest priorities. If it makes you feel any better, I rented a 50hp Kubota a few weeks back when my unit was in the shop and the treadle hydro setup made it feel cramped to me too. Geez, grow some thicker skin...

kenmac · Sep 15, 2012

I have had a Fredricks tractor for about 8 yrs now. No major problems at all.Now that my loader is working correctly after adding a return line .. I'm very happy ! :thumbsup:

The newer stuff will have all the sensors, epa regs , etc,. I like the older stuff you don't have to take to the shop when a sensor goes bad. YM series = no sensors to go bad... He does sell Mahindhra tractors if you would like something newer