Looking into an f series...

CardinalPayne · Apr 5, 2009

New to forum and very grateful for the info here. I, too, am shopping for a compact tractor, looking at many, but Local Reconditioned Yanmar dealer (huge dealership) with imports from Viet Nam has F series 4x4 that have caught my eye. I am getting serious about the F18D model. I'm just over 50, bought five acres a couple of years ago, to get back to my old "farm boy" roots. Used to 60's, 70's, 80's era Internationals, so sort of started drifting that way initially. But, I'm impressed so far with what I'm reading/seeing about these f series 4x4's. A couple of questions for you smart folks:
Am I ok thinking of going with one of these reconditioned units? Also, the standard gear shift on the right side is so close to the steering wheel that I couldn't get the shift into 3rd gear without lifting my leg and placing it "over" the shift handle. Dealer said his "guys" generally machine bend the shift handle. Anyone have same issue with this, and what do you think about re-fashioning the shifter handle. Thanks in advance.

11duster · Apr 5, 2009

I would not touch a vietnam recon....seen enough broken ones to stay clear.

I have bent that shifter on a few f model tractors and it does help a little, you can still get into an unsafe situation with your knee and steering wheel.

MJPetersen · Apr 6, 2009

Cardinal,
Often a VN recon is not your best choice. They generally emphasize the externals and do nothing with the internals. Or very superficially work with the internals. I bought a recon because that was all I could find in my area, but I knew it and feel comfortable with mechanical repairs. My front axle was filled with grease instead of the gear oil and even the grease began leaking out the seals. When I tore it down I found shafts and bearings that were very rusty and pitted and seals installed backwards. I had shafts machined, bought new bearings and put it all back together and now run gear oil in the front end.

My overflow bottle on the cooling system is from a model other than mine and that illustrates another problem in that often the parts are whatever will fit and not necessarily what belongs. And not just simple things like an overflow bottle, but more major things.

Also generally speaking the VN imports do NOT include the safety equipment that a US model will have especially the ROPS. Recently on the forum someone mentioned that the VN had a ROPS and it was discovered that it was a knock off that was not approved, but rather simply gave the appearance of safety.

If you will tell us what part of the country you are from then we can probably recommend a dealer that frequents this forum that could get you a quality machine with which you could have confidence for years to come.

And welcome to TBN. Many hours of happy reading. You must be warned however, that this is addictive.

and you will spend more time here than you thought possible.

Mke

CardinalPayne · Apr 6, 2009

MJ,
Truly appreciate the response. I am in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Would welcome any advice on dealers for the F18D.

CardinalPayne · Apr 6, 2009

11duster,
Thanks for the input. As far as the steering wheel/shifter closeness issue, it may be that it takes a combination of things to get it optimal: bending shifter, maybe put a custom/home made spacer under the steering wheel to life it up a little, chop off right leg and install hand break extensions

Inspector507 · Apr 6, 2009

CardinalPayne,
There is a UTDA dealer down in Austin, RCO Tractor that would mainly have the YM series instead of an F series. But you'd get all the safety features that a UTDA dealer supplies without it being a VN recon. Some swear by a recon, some swear at them.

Check them out here.

LMTC · Apr 6, 2009

Unless they have one in stock, I suspect we could deliver an F18D at a competitive price. And unlike some dealers, we have never touched the recons. Ever.

kenmac · Apr 6, 2009

CardinalPayne said:
Am I ok thinking of going with one of these reconditioned units?

Just to play with them a little.. I would ask what they mean by re-conditioned.. I would never have the pleasure of owning 1 of the V N "re-condition'' tractors

CardinalPayne · Apr 7, 2009

kenmac: funny you should mention asking them about what "re-conditioned" means. I actually did that and asked several other questions in an email. They went "dark" on me. Haven't gotten an answer. Which may speak volumes. It looks like I'll move on. Getting lots of good advice here.