Grey Tractor

[mark777]

Is it possible to provide realistic figures? Maybe something Like: John Doe imports 10 containers per year.And out of 10 (for e z math) units in each container there are:
3 in 10 have problems, 1 of the three are major the other are minimal. 30% of the 10 have known defects = ?

My chances are 1 in 10 I would buy a very bad tractor.
2 in 10 a tractor with minimal or moderate problems, and 1 in 7 a good tractor.
This is of course wild speculation and a fictious statement, but is it a realistic formula (?) I am now ready for laughs, smirks and upper case shouts. Probably why I replied to my self

 

[farm22hills]

This is obviously a "hot" topic. I own a YM 1720D which I bought on e-bay from and auction house. They were clueless of the origin. It had 3hrs on it and a spiffy new paint job, so I assume it was probably a Vietnam rebuild. The other clue was the three little stars in a horizontal row painted on the fenders and front bumper! I was (am) totally ignorant of tractor maintenance and, even with that handicap, I have found that repairing the few things that were wrong with my tractor have not soured me on the tractor overall. I have also found several really helpful Yanmar dealers and parts suppliers on the web. I doubt the local John Deere dealer would have been as helpful. I talked to one very helpful dealer over in the Beaumont/Orange area of Texas that you might talk to about a Yanmar- if only I could remember his name! I found him on the web. I have also talked and done business with Mr. Hoye(mentioned earlier). Most Yanmar dealers I have talked to will deliver to you (and pick it up if it doesn't work out for you). Whatever the true origin, I love my "little red tractor."

 

[SheriffSRB]

I had a gas powered 1956 Farmall F-100 for years before I got my 1500D. I had to mechanic that thing every time I used it, either before or after, and it needed more TLC to use it than I have time to put into it. I sold it to a mechanic who needed a tractor, and I bought my YM.
If you own a tractor, you just can't be afraid of it, you gotta get a set of wreches, do the research, and keep it running.
Good luck, no matter what you buy......

 

[evofxdwg]

If you are looking at 4WD units, be sure to check the condition of the front axle fluid. Even drain a little out of both of the knucles if you can. A chocolatey gelatinous fluid is a dead giveaway that the front end needs to be reworked.

Since these tractors apparently sit with front axle under water/mud, i suspect a great many of them have rusty bearings and bad seals on the front..........as my 1610D did. I just completed rework of it and it cost me $150 in parts to make it just serviceable - at least not leaking out the axle hole and no rusty bearings (but not perfect).

I bought mine on ebay from a mom and pop tractor place in Missouri - have no idea if it is Viet Cong tractor or not.

I agree with the post above, if you are going to buy an older grey-market tractor, expect to do a little wrenching on it.

 

[California]

Mark,

I doubt the odds are as bad as that. But for those on the wrong end....

Here's a post I found today in Yahoo's mailing list 'yanmartractorownersgroup':

" Well it looks like I have the wrong engine in my YM1900 It looks like I have a 1700 from the numbers on the block. Is this a bad thing? I bought this from a local dealer who listed it as a YM1900 I am kinda peaved at this deal. "

Actually the poster hasn't indicated it was a rebuilt - maybe this one was cobbled together by a good ol boy here in the States. In any case, he can't be happy with his new tractor!

 

[mark777]

California, Yes, those are terrible odds. Randomly thrown out there so one might offer realistic numbers. Don't know if it's feasible.

YM1900 - 1700
what a rotten deal...I would be upset too. Any recourse for him? If it's any consolation the parts for that engine may be easier for him to obtain....that is if it ever became a problem.

 

[SheriffSRB]

mmmm, it never occured to me it might not have the right engine in it.....

 

[cfoxmd]

Well if the dealer knew it was the wrong engine (or maybe even should have known) then it is fraud. Pure and simple. Have you considered that maybe the whole tractor has the wrong label-maybe the whole thing is a 1700. A new deal possiblity in how unscrupulous dealers could get rid of a cheap orphan--just put a different label on it.

If you bought it from a dealer--go back to them and ask for what you paid for. If they say no, say you'll write the attorney general.

 

[jimstractors]

Check the serial number on the trans housing, on the clutch pedal side. Most the Yanmars I sell have the model # as the prefix for the serial number. Not sure about the 2 cyl. models. Never sold a 1700 or 1900.