F17d First Impression

[wannabeefree]

Some one out there must have put a ROPS on one of these things I know there are more then a few of them out there. I also can not believe that it could possibly be that difficult modify one that is close or similar but I am not going to be a the first to try it.

 

[kenmac]

there are many of these tractors running around without a ROPS
When I bought mine 13 yrs ago, there were no ROPS for these tractors at all (that I'm aware of)

Tom invested time and money to have these ROPS built and certified. He was the first to do this
Some time after that, someone started making ROPS somewhere else, (another country)and installing them on the VN recons that many dealers were selling

I have seen where people made their own ROPS for different tractors. I have no idea if they ever had to try them, or not

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/build-yourself/104835-homemade-rops.html

 

[Jtullis13]

Dave I can appreciate your frustration with your situation. Like Kenmac said their are a lot of these tractors running around with out any ROPS at all, now that doesn't mean that you have to, I get it I would want my tractor to be safer too. I personally wouldn't try to make my own, unless you have build instructions for one, I would hate to find out that it didn't work for you and we didn't see you on TBN anymore. I would keep looking, am sure someone has made one for this tractor. I haven't dealt with Tom at Fredricks but I have with Bobby, I am sure that one of them would have some ideas of what to do or where to send you.

 

[clemsonfor]

I just purchased a refurbished F17D with a new front loader and Box scraper. The hours meter says 355 hrs but I have heard this is not trust worthy because at 9999 they roll over and or they can be rolled back. Never the less this thing appears to be in top condition for a 30 yr old tractor. The frame has been repainted but other than that its all original paint.

I do not know the maker of the new front end loader and the seller said he has them custom made for him. It seams plenty beefy and will lift at least 750 lbs as far as I can tell. The included Box Scraper is made by JBAR it is a 48" that according there website weighs 413 lbs, so its pretty beefy and works well as a counter balance for the Loader.

The first thing I did was reverse the rear wheels left to right because there was barely enough width inside the tires to fit any standard 26" spreader bars or even the Box Scraper would rub when turning. With the wheels reversed the over all width is now 51" instead of the original 44". I don't know why anyone would want such a narrow track accept maybe getting in and out of really tight places. Anyway Everything fits fine now and it seems a little more stable too.

My first task was to hook up an old 80" wide Drill Seeder and a 96 " ring roller . I seeded two 3 acre small lots with winter Rye and hardly new it was behind me. I did notice that these small tractors are a lot more bouncy than the big boys but as far as pulling power I was pleasantly surprised that this little 21 hp tractor had plenty of grunt for the task. Time will tell how other attachments workout especially PTO driven ones.

So my first impression is good. This being my first tractor I ever purchased I was skeptical. I have had some experience using my sisters Mahindra 2415 which is rated @ 24 hp but has an HST transmission. I think a gear driven trans transfers a little more power the ground as it felt like it. Maybe it is because The Yanmar F17D is a little heavier.

I have read lots of reviews on many other Yanmar models but do not find much on this particular one so I would welcome any feedback.

Thanks , Dave

Just a glance at your avatar pic and looking where you live that looks like a Coldwater loader, and from your area I'm sure it is.

 

[clemsonfor]

I just purchased a refurbished F17D with a new front loader and Box scraper. The hours meter says 355 hrs but I have heard this is not trust worthy because at 9999 they roll over and or they can be rolled back. Never the less this thing appears to be in top condition for a 30 yr old tractor. The frame has been repainted but other than that its all original paint.

I do not know the maker of the new front end loader and the seller said he has them custom made for him. It seams plenty beefy and will lift at least 750 lbs as far as I can tell. The included Box Scraper is made by JBAR it is a 48" that according there website weighs 413 lbs, so its pretty beefy and works well as a counter balance for the Loader.

The first thing I did was reverse the rear wheels left to right because there was barely enough width inside the tires to fit any standard 26" spreader bars or even the Box Scraper would rub when turning. With the wheels reversed the over all width is now 51" instead of the original 44". I don't know why anyone would want such a narrow track accept maybe getting in and out of really tight places. Anyway Everything fits fine now and it seems a little more stable too.

My first task was to hook up an old 80" wide Drill Seeder and a 96 " ring roller . I seeded two 3 acre small lots with winter Rye and hardly new it was behind me. I did notice that these small tractors are a lot more bouncy than the big boys but as far as pulling power I was pleasantly surprised that this little 21 hp tractor had plenty of grunt for the task. Time will tell how other attachments workout especially PTO driven ones.

So my first impression is good. This being my first tractor I ever purchased I was skeptical. I have had some experience using my sisters Mahindra 2415 which is rated @ 24 hp but has an HST transmission. I think a gear driven trans transfers a little more power the ground as it felt like it. Maybe it is because The Yanmar F17D is a little heavier.

I have read lots of reviews on many other Yanmar models but do not find much on this particular one so I would welcome any feedback.

Thanks , Dave

They have them narrow like that to cram them into shipping containers if they were loaded with wheels. But usually they load them without the wheels on 2 high. SO the person getting them, i have no idea why they would mount them in the narrow configuration?

 

[clemsonfor]

Dave I can appreciate your frustration with your situation. Like Kenmac said their are a lot of these tractors running around with out any ROPS at all, now that doesn't mean that you have to, I get it I would want my tractor to be safer too. I personally wouldn't try to make my own, unless you have build instructions for one, I would hate to find out that it didn't work for you and we didn't see you on TBN anymore. I would keep looking, am sure someone has made one for this tractor. I haven't dealt with Tom at Fredricks but I have with Bobby, I am sure that one of them would have some ideas of what to do or where to send you.

Any one with some welding skills and structural knowledge can build one. But most people probably wont due to liability. But look at the 4wd world. Everyone has a cage of some sort in their truck, many built by shops. They just over build them, but in a truck that is easier to do cause you have so many vertical pillars to distribute the load from.

My point is that if you know steel, and its strengths, your welds and how to attach things to what looks like solid anchor points on the tractor this would be an easy build. BUt i don't think any business will do it for you just due to liability.

 

[Jtullis13]

Any one with some welding skills and structural knowledge can build one. But most people probably wont due to liability. But look at the 4wd world. Everyone has a cage of some sort in their truck, many built by shops. They just over build them, but in a truck that is easier to do cause you have so many vertical pillars to distribute the load from.

My point is that if you know steel, and its strengths, your welds and how to attach things to what looks like solid anchor points on the tractor this would be an easy build. BUt i don't think any business will do it for you just due to liability.

I should have explained a little better, I agree with Clemsonfor. I was just saying that if you don't know how to do those things I wouldn't tackle the job. And Clem is right no business would build because of liability. I would call Fredricks still just to pick their brain

 

[kenmac]

many old iron still in use that have no ROPS.
Just know your machine and you shouldn't need a ROPS. Many safety devices we have today come about from those that have no business operation a tractor,or just doing things they shouldn't be doing.
Back in the day, only farmers had tractors. Now, it seems everyone has a tractor .

Just look at all the safety devices we have in vehicles these days. Some are very good. some are just common sense things.
especially, with TPMS. I guess many can't even check their tire pressures

Keeping your bucket low when carrying loads, Be mindful about being sideways on grades, try to pull difficult things from the front instead of rear.

Using Common sense is safer than any man made device could ever be.

Having said that, I don't know if any of those that built the ROPS for the VN imports are still building them,or not.
If they are, they may have made one for your model

 

[wannabeefree]

Wow,
Got up this AM and lots or helpful posts. When I first get a new tool like a tractor I like to research all its features and uses. I have been around heavy equipment most of my life, in fact I spent 13 yrs as an operating engineer when I was in my 20,s & 30,s. Four years ago I retired and moved up here to Northern California. I soon started helping out on my Sisters little 40 acre farm seeding, discing and haying with my brother in laws tractors. I have been using a Mahindra 2415 for small stuff and a John Deere 541 with 5420 loader quite a lot.

I soon realized it would be nice to have a small tractor for my own little 3acre spread. It wasn't really a high priority for me since I could borrow one whan ever I needed. I only live about 1 mile from my sister so its no problem shuttling back and forth.

On a recent trip down to Southern California to visit our grand kids I received a call from my sister to go check out this little tractor from a guy in Corona, Ca who I later found out was a Yanmar dealer known as "Dave" @ ToughTractors.com. He had 4 different models ready to sell and I settled on this one because it looked to be in excellent condition. It had a brand new Loader and rear 3point Box scraper installed. I test drove it and everything checked out good to me. I tried to haggle the price down a little but he was pretty firm. He did make me a really good deal on delivery so I went for it.

I do not have any regrets so far as this thing looks like new compared to others I have seen pictures of. I might have been able to find a cheaper one if I did a lot of searching but I do not think I could have found one in better condition. I have seen some reference to the dealer I purchased from but not much discussion. At least to me he was very upfront and friendly. He delivered it very quickly and I live 500 miles away.

At any rate I am still trying to learn all I can so I get the most out of my investment.

Dave

 

[clemsonfor]

many old iron still in use that have no ROPS.
Just know your machine and you shouldn't need a ROPS. Many safety devices we have today come about from those that have no business operation a tractor,or just doing things they shouldn't be doing.
Back in the day, only farmers had tractors. Now, it seems everyone has a tractor .

Just look at all the safety devices we have in vehicles these days. Some are very good. some are just common sense things.
especially, with TPMS. I guess many can't even check their tire pressures

Keeping your bucket low when carrying loads, Be mindful about being sideways on grades, try to pull difficult things from the front instead of rear.

Using Common sense is safer than any man made device could ever be.

Having said that, I don't know if any of those that built the ROPS for the VN imports are still building them,or not.
If they are, they may have made one for your model

You are correct. Some of this stuff is in your blood and some is how much sense you have and who you grew up around watching. I am from the city to be honest. But have family from the country and I live there now and have for almost half my life now. But it is down right scary tO just watch some people try to do what we believe are common easy simple things. Like running a chainsaw, some city people I can't even wach, there literally always inches away from cutting something off or destroying the saw. That said some from the country are never taught and just as scary. Backing a trailer....there is another. It's down right entertaining to just sit at the big boat ramps on the lake and watch some of the folks. And same with tractors. Don't hold a 500 pound bucket way up in the air so you can "see good" then drive on a side slope or over a stump??