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[LMTC]

Ask them WHO in the USA does the following (from their website):
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( RECONDITIONING DETAILS: Every tractor offered by --- tractor has undergone a thorough reconditioning process which includes , but is not limited to:

1. New pistons, cylinders, rings, and bearings if necessary
2. New head gasket
3. New or rebuilt pumps, new air filter, new fuel filters and new oil filters
4. The cylinder head has been reconditioned
5. The clutch and throw-out bearing are new or reconditioned)</font>
I don't know of an importer who does that to every tractor. I'm curious. I'd like to see them back that up because I would challenge it. That's the statement, verbatim, on most vn recon selling sites. RCO may get some tractors that are fixed stateside, but I question whether those things are done to all of them that are fixed stateside.

Also, from this page (http://www.rcotractor.com/specials/ym1500mow.htm) the following:
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( • Six Month Parts & Labor Warranty)</font>

Then you go here (http://www.rcotractor.com/warrantyprint.html) and read this:
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( This is a limited parts warranty provided by RCO Tractor. Replacement parts on the following items are covered for ninety (90) days from the date of purchase )</font> and further on the same page </font><font color="blue" class="small">( 4. Warranty does not cover diagnostic or repair labor. RCO Tractor is not responsible for performing labor or the cost of labor. Any diagnostic labor required to determine the source of a problem is the sole responsibility of the customer.)</font>

Oh yes...and lest you point out the first page above with the 6 month parts and LABOR warranty, this final disclaimer on the warranty page. </font><font color="blue" class="small">( 9. This warranty statement supersedes any statement made, whether written or oral, by any representative of RCO Tractor.)</font>

Wow--is that confusing? It is to me.

 

[California]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Their website says reconditionedin the USA over and over....Do you think that is not entirely true? -Mace )</font>

Relax. What we've seen here is infrequent cases of a VN rebuilt that wasn't done right, and the new buyer is frustrated. But that's rare. I think statistically unlikely for any individual buyer. There are a lot of satisfied rebuilt owners here.

Far more frequently, what we see here is the legitimate gray market importers venting their frustration at those roadside retailers who are completely ignorant of what they are selling and who included no support at all. And the roadside (or ebay) seller may have misrepresented the unit as new or recent when it is in fact over 25 years old, or perhaps a model for which no parts exist. The new tractor owners then come here or phone these legitimate dealers to ask all the dumb newbie questions.

You can see why the guy who just lost a sale to someone who undercut him on price, quality, and support might respond rudely to the newbie. It's even worse if the new owner asks the legitimate importer for free warranty repairs like the seller told him he could get 'anywhere'.

Last time I looked at the RCO website, one of their photos was the same photo as the 'boss' near the bottom of the page on the following site:
tractorco.com / About our tractors / tour of the factory
(the guy in the white shirt).

I see now RCO states 'Reconditioned in the USA'. I don't think that was there before.
Previously it was "through a unique international partnership, we are able to provide lighltly used machines that are reconditioned to the highest standards". Reference:
http://web.archive.org/web/20041010153459/www.rcotractor.com/index.html

I wonder if they really are sourcing their tractors differently. A firm here in Northern California quit importing VN rebuilts and apparently switched to smaller scale 'detailing' of good used tractors.

 

[BruceR]

Welcome Mace,

You have stepped right in the middle of a raging controversy, but don't take it personal. Most everyone here is good people. I don't think Wayne was responding rudely. I haven't lost any sale and I think he has made some very legitimate points.
I live close enough to have gotten free shipping from RCO, but a gut feeling told me to stay away from anyone who felt the need to replace the hour meter on a "low hour, lightly used" machine.



<font color="red">Terms of warranty:

1. RCO Tractor will provide, at its sole discretion, replacement parts on the above items only. Brakes, batteries & consumables are not covered. Damage due to neglect, abuse, modification, or weather (including freeze damage) are not covered.
2. RCO Tractor may choose either new, used, or rebuilt parts for warranty replacement.
3. All defective parts must be returned to RCO Tractor prior to repair or replacement. Buyer is solely responsible for any shipping costs associated with the return of parts.
4. Warranty does not cover diagnostic or repair labor. RCO Tractor is not responsible for performing labor or the cost of labor. Any diagnostic labor required to determine the source of a problem is the sole responsibility of the customer.
5. This warranty statement must be completed and submitted to RCO Tractor within 5 days of the date of sale or warranty is voided.
6. In the event of any malfunction customer shall cease operation of tractor immediately and contact RCO Tractor. Failure to do so will nullify warranty.
7. Any part that is still in working order will not be replaced whether it is used or not.
8. Warranty will be voided if buyer disassembles any part of the tractor before notifying RCO Tractor.
9. This warranty statement supersedes any statement made, whether written or oral, by any representative of RCO Tractor.
10. This warranty does not cover any implements purchased with tractor, whether installed or not. Customer should contact the original manufacturer for any warranty information regarding implements.
11. This warranty does not cover items damaged in shipping. Purchase of full value insurance is recommended.

Warranty is at the full discretion of RCO Tractor. It is our desire to make life with your RCO Tractor trouble free. To achieve a fair and liberal warranty program, you, the customer, must be fair also. Nice people get nice service.

</font>


I don't guess I have ever seen a warrenty statement that you had to sign, seems like someone is trying to cover their butt.

The 1500D is a great little machine, but I see that four wheel drive is not covered under their warrenty. Parts for these have been scarce so check that out first thing.

I admit, I am not a fan of recon's or folks who market them. I really hate that they are so prevelent here in Texas. Ask to see photos of this quality factory setting of theirs. Gotta wonder why they don't have any representatives on this or any other Yanmar board to back up their claims. If your tractor is not due to arrive for two weeks, you may hae time to reconsider. There is no shame in backing out of a deal when an item is blatently mis-represented.

If you do decide to keep it, Good luck with it and stay here on the board. Lot's of good info and good folks here.

Bruce

 

[LMTC]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( What we've seen here is infrequent cases of a VN rebuilt that wasn't done right, and the new buyer is frustrated. But that's rare. I think statistically unlikely for any individual buyer )</font>

While you are probably right in terms of the few hundred owners overall who visit this forum, I assure you it is not infrequent based on the phone calls and emails we have gotten in the past several years. Other dealers I know have similar experiences. So while I will acknowledge that you are most likely correct in terms of postings here, please consider that those </font><font color="blue" class="small">( legitimate gray market importers venting their frustration at those roadside retailers who are completely ignorant of what they are selling and who included no support at all. )</font> have a view that provides a much wider perspective.

In other words, what might seem like an over-reaction based solely on data presented in this forum is actually a very realistic reaction to the magnitude of the problem in the entire market. And you are clearly right in that some buyers get a good machine...it's just that the odds are better with other dealers.

The other thing that just bothers me on a personal level is misinformation. Why have multiple--and very conflicting--pages regarding what warranty is (or isn't)? I am convinced, and will remain so until I see/hear a name so I can check for myself, that there is no importer doing all their repair work stateside who includes the listed items in their reconditioning/repairing/call it whatever you want process. New head gasket on EVERY unit? Reconditioned head? New or rebuilt pumps? Clutch and TO bearing new or reconditioned? And what exactly does one do to a TO bearing to recondition it? What is done to a head?

I'd be curious to see if they would sign an invoice affirming that all the things the website claims are done were actually done.

 

[arthr31]

</font><font color="blueclass=small">(
I'd be curious to see if they would sign an invoice affirming that all the things the website claims are done were actually done. )</font>

19 months ago, they wouldn't do that. I then asked for a report, by serial number, of what was done to my tractor. Couldn't tell me. When the tractor arrived, I received the printed invoice, point of origin was vinatractor (on invoice said only vina, i put two and two together)... Also, when I received the tractor, *I* had to report what the s/n of the unit was, if you can believe that.

I reached out to vina, both email and phone, told them I believed that I had one of their tractors, gave s/n and wanted details on what work was done. email never got answered, phone calls were put on hold and never picked up.

I could write awhile on my experience with this tractor alone (1601d), and I wanted to refrain from jumping in here, since last time i was called stupid for writing in my perspective of re-cons. But, whatever, guess I can't help myself. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

who wants to know what happens on a re-con a year plus later?

Mace, welcome to tbn, you'll find helpful folks here. And, I wish you the best of luck with your tractor.

 

[greatrandini]

Arthur how has your 1601 been working lately? My 2210 is still doing great. I was admiring the 2cyl "Yammer Hammer" sound the other day. I just love starting the thing. The worst thing about my unit is the brace for the FEL has to be removed inorder to open the hood. I thought this sucked at first but now I use it as security. I changed the positive battery terminal to one with a big wing nut on top. I disconnect the battery close the hood put the brace back on drop the loader and any implement to the ground and by golly it is gonna take a while to steal my "Yanny". Me or my niehbors will see ya by the time you figure all that out! I am gonna rig a paddlock on the brace next!
I Don't think anyone thinks of you as "stupid"

 

[California]

I need to make a minor correction to my post above: RCO's 'unique international partnership' and supplier is apparently Vina Tractor. For example Arthr31 noted that his Yanmar from RCO arrived with a Vina invoice.

The photo of Vina's founder that I described in my post above is on Vina's, not RCO's, website.
See:
http://www.vinatractor.com/history.asp

And the same photo appears in a description of a VN rebuild factory. See the 'boss' near the bottom of the page on the following website:
tractorco.com / About our tractors / tour of the factory
(the guy in the white shirt).

 

[Mace]

Wow. Maybe I should add tractor imports to the things I don't talk about with religion and politics.......

At any rate, I hope to be one of the lucky ones as I have already paid for the tractor. Thanks for all the advice.

 

[Alexander]

Hello Mace
I've got a YM1500D also, have owned it about a year and a half. I bought this machine when they were still able to sell them on EBAY from Tullahoma Tractor in TN. These guys were great to work with BTW.

I've had no major problems with the machine. I did however replace the front main knuckle seals on the front axles. They were leaking pretty good this past winter. The right side sealed up nice but the left has a slight leaking in it yet - I keep an eye on the oil level as you might have read, it's hard to find front axle parts for these machines.

I recently bought and installed a Koyker 80 FEL - you'll really appreciate yours. I got it from Len Sheaffer, good man - Thanks Len!

I run a 4' rough cut mower (6 acres), 5' finish mower (4 acres), 4' tiller (couple of gardens - 40x100' ea.), 1 bottom mould board plow, 5' rear blade, few other misc items. The tractor handles them all very well. It has it's hands full however with the plow on untampered clay soil!

My 1500D has been a real blessing to our home - very strong little tractor and we use it for everything. I hope you get a good one too. If you have any questions on operation or other issues, ask away. If I have not dealt with it I'm sure others here on the forum have. The people here are a wonderful help.

Enjoy,

Seth

 

[HGM]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Wow. Maybe I should add tractor imports to the things I don't talk about with religion and politics.......

At any rate, I hope to be one of the lucky ones as I have already paid for the tractor. Thanks for all the advice. )</font>

Mace,
Dont take it the wrong way.. One thing I have learned here is that most of the comments regarding the VN recons are out of pure concern of your best interest.. Unfortunatly, the concern and advise was aparently a little late in your case since you already bought the tractor.. Now its more of what to look out for with your new tractor.. I personally wish I read more of these threads before buying mine.. I'm under the impression that my tractor came from a reputable place, it's not a recon, had 700hrs on it when I bought it, but wish I'd have bought from one of the guys here rather than where I did.. The trip would have been worth it since they have pride in what they sell..

Bottom line, I think everyone here wishes you well.. It's mainly the ethics of the "reconditioners" that everyone is slammig, since they dont care and tend to misrepresent the produclt..

Again, good luck, you may end up with a great product.. Afterall, it started as a great product 30yrs ago..