John Deere and Yanmar

[sunnyside360]

Will probably get slammed, but "American" is pretty meaningless to me anymore. My duty weapons were as are the majority of law enforcement agencies Austrian. The US Army uses almost exclusively pistols by foreign companies. Both Squad Automatic Weapons, 240 and 249 are by FN, the main gun on the M1 tank is German. American car companies manufacture vehicles in foreign countries and sell them here and so on. I am only interested in the best quality for my money and don't care what name is on it.

Maybe alot of the younger generation feels this way. However, I have several relatives (mostly uncles) who fought in WW II and none of them will ever buy German or Japanese vehicles, tractors, etc. It's becoming increasingly difficult for them to adhere to that philosophy.

 

[TripleR]

Maybe alot of the younger generation feels this way. However, I have several relatives (mostly uncles) who fought in WW II and none of them will ever buy German or Japanese vehicles, tractors, etc. It's becoming increasingly difficult for them to adhere to that philosophy.

Well I am not in the "younger generation", I am in my sixties and my father and several uncles fought in WWII and many have had equipment/cars/trucks manufactured by "foreign" companies. "American" companies sell a lot of stuff to foreign countries too.

My dad was one of the first in this area to own a VW and he later owned several Nissans. When he died he had a Ford F150 and a Mazda pickup.

I can certainly understand why some people would prefer to "Buy American", but I spent too much money/down time on repairs and with low trade-in value to stay with that.

Thankfully, "American" car/truck quality has improved to the point to where people won't have to sacrifice reliability to "Buy American". I keep my trucks and cars a minimum of ten years, so I won't have to decide anyway soon.

 

[Rob-D]

TRipleR,
I'm in my sixties too and I drove VWs when I was a kid. This reminds me of the old engineer saw. I know engineers that won't design with one item or another. Tube guys who hate transistors and that kind of stuff. I did a lot of designing and have several patents. Good engineers use the best product they can get and that's how I designed.
I buy the best I can afford, there is no more 'American made'. I buy Deere because it is the best in my view and apparently they are doing well even in this economy. I'm retired but still get trade journals. Deere is always looking for engineers in EE Times an electronic engineering journal. I bought my Deere from an American dealer and that helps Americans just as buying a Kubota helps Americans. It's just the way of the world. Business is universal and if a company wants to remain competitive they have to keep in step with that...And before anyone asks, I am a vet.

 

[TripleR]

Rob-D,

Interesting post; my uncle who recently passed away and was an Engineer was pretty much the same way. He did a lot of defense work on missile and communications for the US and its allies, so I don't know much about what he did or his patents as they became the property of his employer. He was a mechanic and tinkerer who kept his American iron running just about indefinitely, but when his health made him stop, he never owned another one though he loved them. He could tell you about anything you wanted to know about his Chevy truck or Ford station wagon, but little to nothing about his foreign cars; never worked on them and never "got to know them".

This was a few years ago and like I said "American" cars have improved a lot.

In some sizes I prefer a Kubota and in some a John Deere; both good quality.

 

[sunnyside360]

Rob-D and TripleR, I am a retired computer development engineer (10 yrs retired and counting) and am of similar opinions as yours. I was always interested in using the best of materials and design in anything I developed because it was not only my nature but the way IBM wanted it done in their large computers where I spent my entire career. Small computers is another matter. I learned some of the best tricks of the trade while on a 3 year assignment in Germany working with German engineers (mid 70's). All of my patents, some of which are issued in other countrys, are owned by IBM. I've owned a number of German and Japanese cars and tractors so I have no hangups on buying what I feel is the best for my money but I do buy American when there is little or no difference.

On the other hand, I do have some uncles and should include my deceased father who were involved in heavy WW II combat and they will take their opinions to their graves. They let me know how they feel when I don't buy American products.

 

[jimgerken]

People talk a lot about tolerances being the factor defining engine lifespan. I agree tolerances are important. Metallurgy may be just as important, in my opinion. The Japanese have learned well what works and are the masters at combining proper metallurgy with close tolerances to produce the best engines available on Earth at this time.

 

[Rob-D]

Hi Jim,
I think it's more than metallurgy. The German's are pretty fancy with metal and Porsche was running pistons in coated aluminum in the 80's. Yes, metals count but I think the difference in engines is mostly tolerances today. The Germans and Japanese run a cutter until it reaches a specific wear point then it gets changed. We weren't doing that here (hopefully we have learned). Basically it's blueprinting each engine and with CNC today we should be getting better everything.
As for the Japanese, Toyota (cars I owned for years) have cut back on their quality control. The Camry is no longer top dog, a bad mistake in my view, and I hear the Fusion is a better car although I've never been a big fan of Consumer Reports repair records.
Me, I own a Subaru. It's made in the US (Indiana) runs great and gets through the snow really well. My truck is an old Ford 150. Still runs pretty good for what it is with 180k miles.
Best,
Rob

 

[TripleR]

I was reading a thread on another forum in which Cub Cadet is offering a Sc2400 Yanmar produced with dual pumps, one for the power steering and the other for FEL, 3 pt etc. Just wondering if Yanmar makes more than the engine for the JD CUT's.

 

[art]

jd actually bought two no name tractor companies for there new line -up of compacts one in china and one in india.

Neither have a presence out of there immediate area and their engines would not pass US emmisions which is why they are still using the Yanmars. That will change.

Tolerences, the metal and the design make a product work for long times. Drop anyone and the longevity is gone as well as possibly function.

As always advertising is like the pied piper! He who does the most, very well fools the most!

Most other manufacturers are happy with deere letting yanmar go as they made them a more reliable company. After all Yanmar is number two in the industry in the orient!

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

jd actually bought two no name tractor companies for there new line -up of compacts one in china and one in india.

This thread is amazing to me. Goes to show that Deere's great strength continues to be the way its marketed itself, and not really the product that it sells.