Just Joined the Club

coosa · Oct 21, 2015

I wanted to let everyone know that Fredrick's picked up my tractor, fixed it, and brought it back to me. It had a blown head gasket and then there was the obvious problem with the valve cover not matching up with the head. I'm not sure if they machined both surfaces or just one, but I have used it pretty hard and no problem yet. It is running cooler than ever, so I'm thinking there was some sorta issue with the head from the start. They found nothing wrong with injector; I guess the blown head gasket caused the problem.

Thanks for all the help!

clemsonfor · Oct 21, 2015

geeze!!! this is strange? i wonder if that head was cracked the whole time? Thats not very much or hard use on a tractor for the head to blow?!!! Glad they got you fixed up and good for Fredericks for standing behind the tractor like that!

coosa · Oct 22, 2015

I sure can't complain about their service. I asked when I bought it if the warranty included transportation and was told no. I'd be responsible for getting it to them. But by waiting until they had a truck coming my way anyway I didn't have make the 6 hr round trip.

I've no idea why the gasket did that, but sure hope that it will hold up for me. They used a half tank of fuel testing it on their dyno and said they worked it harder than I ever will and it held up fine. I'm looking forward to using it now.

clemsonfor · Oct 22, 2015

Half a tank of fuel on the dyno

They must of had that bad boy hooked up to a load for half a day at least to use that kind of fuel!!!

coosa · Jan 3, 2016

Just a FYI for anyone doing net searches - I have worked my little tractor very hard since getting it back from Fredricks, with no issues at all. I think that either the head was warped or the valve cover was warped when they rebuilt it, and it just wasn't enough that they noticed it. It runs cooler now than it did before; it was just the simple issue of the surfaces didn't line up properly. Its a chance you take when you buy a tractor over 30 years old.

I love the simplicity of the little Yanmar. If they made a 75 hp, I'd be glad to trade my 75 hp JD for a Yanmar like this one.

clemsonfor · Jan 4, 2016

yea the simplicity of these is what sells them to a DIYer!

bmaverick · Jan 22, 2016

coosa said:
I sure can't complain about their service. I asked when I bought it if the warranty included transportation and was told no. I'd be responsible for getting it to them. But by waiting until they had a truck coming my way anyway I didn't have make the 6 hr round trip.

I've no idea why the gasket did that, but sure hope that it will hold up for me. They used a half tank of fuel testing it on their dyno and said they worked it harder than I ever will and it held up fine. I'm looking forward to using it now.

It's a 2-1/2 hour trip for me, but it's all I-65 from home to their shop. Very easy for me really.

From central AL, why does it take you 3 hours to get there?

bmaverick · Jan 22, 2016

coosa said:
I sure can't complain about their service. I asked when I bought it if the warranty included transportation and was told no. I'd be responsible for getting it to them. But by waiting until they had a truck coming my way anyway I didn't have make the 6 hr round trip.

I've no idea why the gasket did that, but sure hope that it will hold up for me. They used a half tank of fuel testing it on their dyno and said they worked it harder than I ever will and it held up fine. I'm looking forward to using it now.

It's a 2-1/2 hour trip for me, but it's all I-65 from home to their shop. Very easy for me really.

From central AL, why does it take you 3 hours to get there?