Looking for first Yanmar

[California]

My use is a little specialized, I bought the YM186D specifically for its low profile to drive under orchard trees. The YM240 would be unsafe without a ROPS but its height means have to drive way down a row to find a void where I can cross to the next row, or generally get to a specific point by driving in from the perimeter. The little one can drive a diagonal across most of the orchard without running my head into something.

But I've found the YM18D has nearly the HP of the YM240 - apparently I seldom ran that at full output - and can handle the same 4 ft rotary mower with much better maneuverability. The little one is simply more productive in my environment. Plus, it doesn't make the tiring racket of the 2-cylinder YM240 so its pleasanter to use. I need to keep the YM240 only because the backhoe is too big for the little guy.

My thoughts? YM2000/YM240 (same thing) are excellent quality and the best bang for the buck if you're serious about a $2500 budget. I see them as the entry level to a real general purpose tractor. But if you can afford more then the range of suitable models is broader. Anybody else - comments?

Most everybody insists 4wd is essential for a loader, I'm alone in saying its a nice feature but at the additional cost there is a broader range of choices out there. I consider a loader essential, 4 wd nice but not essential - as illustrated in the last two photos where a driven front axle wouldn't have helped at all.

 

[Todd8665]

Plus, it doesn't make the tiring racket of the 2-cylinder YM240 so its pleasanter to use. I need to keep the YM240 only because the backhoe is too big for the little guy.

Hey now!....I've learned to appreciate that tiring racket. Probably helped me stay married this long.

 

[California]

Wooly, an old thread where I compared them:

Mowing: Big twin (YM240) vs little 3-cyl/Powershift (YM186D)



I hope your slopes don't look like this steep part of my ravine. See my posts (#5, #10) in this old thread. Clemsonfor, is Eucalyptus like this common everywhere?

Spacing of rear wheel.

 

[woolyAcres]

@California-

The picture of your rig under the Eucalyptus tree shows about the maximum slope I'd have to deal with- quite possibly steeper than what I've got. That looks steeper to me than the photos you posted early in this thread with the water tank on the back. Is that the case? It can be hard to tell with camera lens flattening things.

Regarding budget, I'd prefer to wait or stretch financially a bit to get a machine with increased usefulness.

Your comparison of the two machines mowing is helpful- a few HP either way isn't likely to be a deal breaker. My pasture/land is speckled with trees (too many low-branched Hawthorne) so a machine that is short enough to get in there would be nice. I've not seen any of these machines in person so it can be hard to tell the size. The picture you posted of the model driving your 186 made the machine look reasonably large. However, the photo of it sneaking around the orchard, mowing below the branches makes it look small.

Honestly, my head is beginning to swim with all the different options and perhaps I'm on the wrong path. I think I'll start a new thread seeking input on which machine would best for my needs rather than simply requesting input on a specific model. I'm not sure I've done a good job of laying out my intended uses. Hopefully that thread will solicit additional input.

Thanks for all your comments this far and for sharing the photos.

 

[California]

@California-

The picture of your rig under the Eucalyptus tree shows about the maximum slope I'd have to deal with- quite possibly steeper than what I've got. That looks steeper to me than the photos you posted early in this thread with the water tank on the back. Is that the case?


The picture you posted of the model driving your 186 made the machine look reasonably large. However, the photo of it sneaking around the orchard, mowing below the branches makes it look small.

I's much steeper down in the Eucalyptus. The orchard is reasonable to take the watering trailer but the inertia of water slopping around would be too dangerous down there on that steeper grade.

The model photo isn't representative of height. Here's a comparison.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...ner-here-p1530591rym240-ym186d-intarpshed-jpg

 

[clemsonfor]

The YM2000/240 have tires that come up to my belly. I can comfortably lean on them on my fore arms. but there about between my belly button and nipple line on my...maybe closer to belly button? I cant remember honestly?? i am 6'2'' tall. The 186 or 1500 size tractors have much shorter tires on them. I think waist high or maybe a tad smaller on me?

I think the 18xx series have same or close to the same size as the 240/2000 tire size but the 1500 size has smaller rims i know. And there frames are also smaller as well.

 

[winston1]

My experience says unless you have "considerable" rear weight on the rear of a small tractor with a loader you will have a hard time backing up with rear drive and a bucket full of dirt. The front wheel drive with a bucket full of dirt will dig in. Also, I believe the four wheel drive setups are much tougher and stand up to a load better then the 2 wheel unit. Not meaning to knock anybody that has a 2 wheel drive with a loader. Just expressing what I believe.

 

[clemsonfor]

Wooly, an old thread where I compared them:

Mowing: Big twin (YM240) vs little 3-cyl/Powershift (YM186D)



I hope your slopes don't look like this steep part of my ravine. See my posts (#5, #10) in this old thread. Clemsonfor, is Eucalyptus like this common everywhere?

Spacing of rear wheel.

i did notice what i thought was eucalyptus in your pics. And No we do not have it here in the south...other than like cultivar plantings. I dont think it grows anywhere on the East coast. If anywhere the south would be the only place as were closest to yalls climate. The cold i would think would kill it and limit it. I bet in south GA or FL they could grow it...but florida is not a well know area to me as there still so different as far as soils and lack of winter are concerned. Where i live here in Upstate SC we esaily and routinely hit 100F most every summer, and we easily freeze every winter and usually have regualar lows into the upper teens and low twenties each winter. the last few have been exceptional with lows in single digits. I dont think it would survive here. We can grow banana trees but if it frosts it kills them to the ground even in coastal SC.

Being a simple southerner i have not traveled many places and although i am a forester i dont study other areas and therefor really lack a knowledge of thier tree species. I have a general idea but as far as ID and specifics its just what we were taught in school. You are basically just taught forestry for the region you go to school in. So i am basically a southern Pine forester. Yes we have plenty of hardwoods both bottomland and upland but there not managed here and the quality other than some good bottom lands is not good.

 

[clemsonfor]

Here is a pic of the tires i think at the narrowist . i did a tread on swapping the tires on here.

The next is me cutting but i have none on here where i am standing beside it. I might dig those up tomorrow?

 

[clemsonfor]

My experience says unless you have "considerable" rear weight on the rear of a small tractor with a loader you will have a hard time backing up with rear drive and a bucket full of dirt. The front wheel drive with a bucket full of dirt will dig in. Also, I believe the four wheel drive setups are much tougher and stand up to a load better then the 2 wheel unit. Not meaning to knock anybody that has a 2 wheel drive with a loader. Just expressing what I believe.

And to support that statement, california has a backhoe out back so there is a good bit of weight.

But i do agree with what you said in both cases.