Need guidance on 1510D

dieselgeek · Jan 4, 2008

Hi guys - I've been lurking here for a few weeks. I've decided I need a compact diesel 4wd tractor for my small acreage (5 acres) as a "backup" tractor for my Scag Turf Tiger... I have 5 acres of lawn that sometimes gets too long for the Scag, what I'd like to do is make less of the lawn manicured, and use a small tractor with a rough cut mower for areas that don't need to be mowed as often.

Lots of trees, so the more compact the better. a 48" rough mower would fit the bill perfectly.

I've also tired of using a walkbehind snowblower in the winter, so I'd probably purchase a 3-pt blade as well. Driveway is about 100 yards long, we don't get TOO much snow here, I think a 15-20hp diesel should do it. I'm a fan of the compact diesel after a good experience on my last acreage with a Kubota B7200, didn't work that one too hard either but it went 1500 hrs with ZERO problems other than general maintenance.

I am handy, can do basic metal fab and I've rebuilt a few v8 chevies, and a case VAC-60 tractor. I'm confident I can handle a "grey" and the associated cost savings is attractive to me.

I found a guy who looks to be a smalltime dealer up in Wisconsin, about 8 hours northeast of me (Omaha NE) who sent me a pic of a YM1510D he has for sale. 587 hours on the meter, he says "everything works great" and wants $3700 for it. No options, just the tractor.

I think from reading here I nkow what to look for. I'm not too sure I need to be concerned about him being a bigtime or smalltime dealer; I'm reasonably confident I can go check out the tractor and decide on site if it's in decent shape or not (although I would appreciate advice here on what else to check, I know the 4wd components should be looked at/checked carefully)... my real question is, how important is it to purchase this tractor from a dealer who can supply me the parts as well? Since I live nowhere near a dealer?

If it's a bad idea, please advise. I need to purchase this tractor sometime in the next 3-4 weeks, and I don't mind making a long drive to pick one up form a dealer. My goal would be a 1510D with 48" brush mower around or under $4000 and I don't mind having to do a little work on the machine. I just want to try to avoid needing parts that I simply can't find.

Your advice is appreciated!

-scott

dieselgeek · Jan 4, 2008

Here's a picture I was sent of the tractor in Wisconsin.

If any dealers on here have something similar and would like to contact me via PM, please feel free to do so!

thanks. -scott

reb · Jan 4, 2008

It looks good. If you intend to mow a lawn with it, you might want to ensure you can fit it with less aggressive tires. Those rice tires will dig on turns. It is important to match the tire diameters with a 4wd tractor. In some cases that is hard to do.

dieselgeek · Jan 4, 2008

reb said:
It looks good. If you intend to mow a lawn with it, you might want to ensure you can fit it with less aggressive tires. Those rice tires will dig on turns. It is important to match the tire diameters with a 4wd tractor. In some cases that is hard to do.

I wouldn't mow the "manicured" portion with it, just the far-flung places on the property where I only mow because if I don't, the Scag doesn't like it (anything over 6" above cutting height, and the Scag just gives up). I've been using my neighbor's VAC-60 Case (overkill!!) and it's got bar tires, is heavier, I don't mind the little damage it does. We're way out in the country so a little rough is fine by me.

I'm more curious if there are any caveats to purchasing this, i.e. is it common to have YM1510D labels on the tractor but it's really a model that came from overseas and now I can't get any parts for it. I don't mind doing a little fabrication, etc. but I worry about things like ring and pinion gears, 4wd components, etc.

-scott

2manyrocks · Jan 4, 2008

It bug me that these import units are sold with no ROPS. It can't be that expensive to the manufacturer to build a ROPS and put it on the tractor to start with. I guess they don't have hills in Japan?

Is this new or rebuilt? Did it come from Japan or Vietnam? There has been some discussion of this question before in this forum.

I think there were some prior posts about how to check out a 4 wheel drive-but they might have been in the Kubota forum.

If find out you need a part, where are you going to get it? Is there a dealer near you or will you have to buy online?

dieselgeek · Jan 4, 2008

2manyrocks said:
It bug me that these import units are sold with no ROPS. It can't be that expensive to the manufacturer to build a ROPS and put it on the tractor to start with. I guess they don't have hills in Japan?

Is this new or rebuilt? Did it come from Japan or Vietnam? There has been some discussion of this question before in this forum.

I think there were some prior posts about how to check out a 4 wheel drive-but they might have been in the Kubota forum.

If find out you need a part, where are you going to get it? Is there a dealer near you or will you have to buy online?

lots of great questions I was hoping to get answered.

I'll offer this, if any dealers on here within 500 miles of Omaha, have a similar tractor they'll sell me and warranty, I'm just as comfortable purchasing from one of them. I don't mind a 1-day or less drive to said dealer to pick it up, either. I'm just looking for input when purchasing from a smalltime sellr/dealer/whatever. I haven't asked him if it was recon'd in vietnam or ??

dieselgeek · Jan 4, 2008

Another question.

I've seen Yanmar 1510D models advertised with both 2 and 3-cylinder engines. Did they come with two different engines over the years?

edit - nevermind, I found specs that indicate the 1510D is a 3-cylinder. thanks.

Tom_Veatch · Jan 4, 2008

dieselgeek said:
... I found specs that indicate the 1510D is a 3-cylinder. thanks.

Typically the "D" suffix indicates the 4wd version of the base model. Could be, I suppose, that the 4wd version might have a different engine, but I don't believe that's typical. If I'm wrong on that, someone please correct me.

This spec list indicates all the XX10 models are 3cyl except for the 2210

mark777 · Jan 4, 2008

DG,

Your picture represents a bone stock all original YM1510D indicated by the physical condition. The only item I can see thatç—´ been modified or replaced is the exhaust stack. If it runs well and youæ±*e prepared to do all the maintenance, that tractor should last decades. I would spend a great deal of time testing, checking and operating the tractor before you hand over your hard earned money and make sure the PTO and all gears and ranges, steering free play and brakes work normally.

Mark