I need the truth....

[SteveM]

I will reply to this post, but qualify myself by admitting i do not have a grey tractor - rather, i have now had two- quasi-grey tractors (my phrase). I like buying odd ball cheap tractors, so I focus on US brand machines that are no longer supported. As an example, my current ride is a Massey 210-4 which is a Hinomoto E234 painted red. Massey did not sell this machine for very long, and dealer support is thin. So I lurk around the grey sites for help and support. I found that walking into the dealer is useless when you own a grey. They will insult you and blow you off, or insult you and try to rob you blind. If you buy grey you will be forced to use your own research and intelligence to solve problems.

The biggest thing I would recommend is establishing a service point for your tractor - a place where major repairs can be made in the unlikely event something really breaks. This might be a local mechanic who will fix it if you provide parts, or it might be the grey dealer you buy from. It could be a handy friend. Either way, figure this out BEFORE you buy.

Under most hobby farm conditions, these tractors will last forever with minimal repair. But sometimes a gear or shaft will break, or you will need a head gasket, something serious - you need to have this scenerio worked out ahead.

I know that parts for my Hinomoto will be expensive if needed, but I have figured out some places to shop, at least. I also found a shop that will fix any tractor if provided with parts up front.

Lastly, if you are financing your 7,000 - please look at the new units. with low rates you may be able to get something new with warranty for a similar payment.
Good luck and dont be afraid of grey

 

[Calpyro]

I have found a Local John Deere dealer that will repair my Grey Yanmar if I get into trouble. All he wants is not to hassle with finding parts. If I were to have a problem, he wants is for me to find and buy the parts and he will do all of he repairs for his standard fee. It is amazing what you can get if you ask....
Thanks,
Cameron

 

[Soundguy]

1k hours on a well maintained tractor is next to nothing... Heck.. my '97 NH 1920 is right at 800 hours.. and that is mostly rotary cutting. Tractor is minus some paint due to scrapes with brush.. but is in otherwise great condition.

Hours and year mean less on a tractor than care / use. I have a 1952 ford 8N I just refurbed. I wouldn't work it too heavy, but it is fine for light pasture duties. On the other hand, I also have a 1954 ford NAA that is strong like bull. I would say it is right around the same power as my NH 1920.. though being gas 4cyl, it is much less fuel efficient than the diesel 4 cyl.

I wouldn't hesitate to work the snot out of my naa, cause I know it can do it. Let me tell you.. when i got it it was rough looking too... lichens growing on it.. it always sat outside.. farmer mostly left it in the pasture wherever he finished with it.

Except for a few minor adjustments and less than 50$ of parts to repair it, most of my work and $ on the NAA was body / cosmetic in nature... and that tractor is 49 years old as has who knows how many hours on it.

Yanmar has a good rep, and probably the best parts availability of the grey market units. One thing to consider, yanmar makes alot of marine deisels, and also does alot of the power plants in compact JD's... both of those situations demands good quality engines.

Look for real sings of use / abuse, and look a tthe quality of repairs. Look for welds, and at gaskets to see what was replaced...a good thing to look for is gasket material or silicone mased out of joints.. lets you know someone has been inside... you'll have to judge from the appearance of the repair whether the person was carefull or if they just threw it together to sell. Generally the more concerned an owner is with his machine, will show in the quality of the repairs.

As for parts prices... I think they are all high... all models/ makes /brands. Air filter prices for my NH are scarry.
Ironically I would figure all parts for my antique machines would be sky high.. but many are real cheap.

A good used machine that is well maintained will serve you many more hours than one that is abused / not maintained.

My yanmar 1700 earned its keep while I was building my house a few years ago... moved lots of dirt and drug lots of pasture.

Soundguy

 

[dkb1215]

I am not sure if you can list dealers in these posts but Scott Lazenby's number is 904- 964-4238 and his web site is www.lazenbysequipment.com their are good dealers in the southeast and elsewhere, but I would try to find one close to where you live. If you are gifted with mechanical abilities and like to read repair manuals, used grey and domestic tractors will save you a bundle. If you live close to Gainesville Fl come by and I will show my tractor and what I been doing with it lately. My email is dkblank@gator.net best of luck on your search.

David

 

[hosejockey2002]

It's kind of funny how the dealer told you that the grey Kubotas are hard to get parts for. Maybe it's true. One of the larger green tractor dealers around here had a grey Kubota on it's lot for sale a while back. I wonder if they would support it for parts and repairs. With all the crying about liability and how "unsafe" these grey market tractors are that you hear from the big dealers, I wonder why in the world that a major John Deere dealer would sell a grey market tractor. I'm assuming that this one was grey. It was a Kubota B6000 and all the labels were in Japanese.

 

[buppy69]

I have 3 Hinomotos. My local combined MF and John Deere dealer is very helpful in looking up and trying to find parts the few times I've needed them. John Deere's website even has a place where you can type in the Yanmar part number and if there is a crossover part it will give you the JD number and you can even order it off this site and pick up at your local dealer. I've found a lot of electrical parts (sending units, starters, alternators, tach cables) at NAPA. As far as being without it if it breaks, that's why I have 3 and still don't have the money in them that I would have with one Kubota.

Eugene

 

[YanmarFever]

John Deere's website even has a place where you can type in the Yanmar part number and if there is a crossover part it will give you the JD number and you can even order it off this site and pick up at your local dealer

Buppy, can you supply a link for us to the page you were disscusing here
Thanks Ernie

 

[Bob85355]

A posting on this forum occasioned some email between a fellow YM1500 owner. He'd bought one and was seeking info. One of his last questions was that since I'd had mine for 4 years, what were the major problems I'd had with it. Easy, none. Been trouble free. I have found some ex John Deere people who will repair it if and when it ever needs it provided I get the parts.

IMHO Yanmar is a very good product at a very good price.

Bob

 

[jimstractors]

Ernie,
Here is the link that I use:
http://www.deere.com/en_US/parts/partscountry/index.html?sidenavstate=01

Jim

 

[dmccue]

I went through a similar thinking process about a year ago, while looking for my first tractor. After researching the Internet and learning that some of the JD parts could be used in a Yanmar tractor, I chose that route, since there is a JD dealer down the street from my house.

From only pictures on the Internet and a brief telephone conversation, I purchased a YM2000 tractor from eBay.

I have not been dissapointed with my purchase. I have completed some minor paint touch-up and changed a filter or two, but nothing major. To me, part of the enjoyment of ownership of a grey market tractor, other than the obvious lower purchase price, is the use of the Internet and all the valuable information available in the discussion forums to assist you to obtain a part or repair your grey tractor. One would not be as appreciative of this info if they owned a brand new tractor and might miss out on some of the "excitement" of owning a grey tractor.

I have attached a pic of my Yanmar 2000