newbie questions????

Anonymous Poster · Dec 10, 2002

Hello everyone. This is my first post to this group. I have read every post in the first 15 pages and then selectively read through the other pages.

I have never owned a "real" tractor before, being restricted to riding mowers. My current machine is a JD rider with a 48" deck that I have been using all of this last summer on my 3 acres that I have lived on since March. This takes a lot of time to finish. Usually around 6 hours.

Because of this, I have been looking for a small tractor to mostly mow but maybe to do other things with on my property. I have a variety of conditions on my place ranging from about 1 1/2 acres that is flat but bumpy and about 1/2 acre that is wooded but still mowed. About 1 acre is sloped with the most severe area being about 15/20 degrees in angle.

I have started looking at grey market yanmars for the most common reasons. Price and dependability.

I have found a dealer who sells imported new tractors and used yanmars. He has an on site mechanic who was introduced to me. These tractors are represented as having all fluids and filters replaced and then operated to determine any problem areas which are then repaired. Repainting is done as needed which means most, or all are repainted. He offers a 90 day warranty at what he calls 50/50. He explained that this means he pays half and the customer pays half. He told me that he changed this warranty from full dealer coverage because of customers who wanted strictly cosmetic repairs done. His example was that one customer wanted a new steering wheel because the existing wheel had some material flaking off it.

His warranty rules aside, I want some input from the many experienced yanmar users on this board to give me input on the unit he has reccomended and the price.

He has offered me a YM 1700 with a new 5' finish mower for $3800 less tax.
He will loan me a trailer for delivery to my home approximately 20 miles away.

I did drive the tractor a little and it ran fine although the engine at idle reminded me of a car I once owned that threw a rod shortly afterward. When the throttle was increased, the knocking sound went away. The dealer assured me this idle noise was normal for two cylinder diesels.

So, I am asking for input and for forgivness for the length of this post. I just felt you needed my background to decide if this little red machine could be right for me.

Thanks,
Gary

Anonymous Poster · Dec 10, 2002

I was recently in your spot and did buy a larger Yanmar. From what I have read these are my opinions:

The 2 cylinders are somewhat noisy.

Beware of places that repaint all or nearly all of the tractors especially if they are "factory reconditioned"--alot of this is done in Vietnam with unknown quality. The 90 day warranty somehow reminds me of some of these Vietnamese rebuilds. you are probably better off with something that didn't need to be "rebuilt" because it wasn't used so hard.

Check on the dealer--is he doing the work himself (ask to see tractors before they are painted to get a better feel for the condition before painting). If he is not doing it himself, find out who his wholesaler is (where the work is being done), then check them out.

Check with the BBB to see about complaints on the dealer. Even put his name up here and people will e-mail you comments on the specific dealer.

Take a picture and attach it to a post. Some people have been sold other tractors have had Yanmar decals and a paint job put on and only later does the consumer find out they can't tell what they have. The guys on the board are pretty good at telling what's what.

normde2001 · Dec 10, 2002

Sounds like this dealer is doing you about as good as you can get on a 20+ year old tractor. The price is right, considering a mower would run $1000-$1200. Any warranty you can get is a good one, however I would still try it out and check the fluids for contaminants, and look for leaks. I don't think I have ever gotten a warranty on a used car and they don't take near the beating a tractor does. Don't worry about the "Yammer hammer" on the 2 cyls. That's normal and "kind of" goes away at about 1200 rpm. If your ground is rough, you may want to consider a rotary cutter. With sharp blades they can do almost as good a job as a mower on a large area, and you can go longer between mowing.

Anonymous Poster · Dec 10, 2002

My dealer says all repairs are done on the premises. He did introduce me to his mechanic who I spoke with briefly. He was somewhat scruffy in appearance but I learned long ago that this has no bearing on his competence. He seemed quite knowledgeable to my untrained experience.

The dealer also told me he travels to Japan and picks out the tractors he imports. He told me that the low hours shown on small yanmars are often correct though they are 20+ years old because a 3 acre plot in Japan might have 10 or more different people working it with each using his own small tractor. He said one worker could work a plot as small as 30'x30' since land is at such a premium there. They usually only till their small plot several times a year and each usage might only last a few hours at a time.

I found this dealer through a post on this board. A poster recounted a positive experience with him.

Lazenby's Equipment
US 301
Hampton, Florida
Scott Lazenby Owner
904-964-4238

Gary

Anonymous Poster · Dec 10, 2002

There was one other mention of he dealer you mentioned. Someone was buying a tractor and thought they were getting a reasonable deal. No other comments about the dealer. Search on the dealer's name to find the post.

LMTC · Dec 10, 2002

I will vouch for Scott Lazenby. Have done business with him, and have heard good things from people we referred to him. We are Little Miami Trading Company, in Ohio.
I would opt for a 2000 for several reasons...it will outwork the 1700, it has a water pump and the 1700 doesn't, and I just plain like the 2000. With that said, the 1700 is a fine tractor.
If you go to see Scott again, tell him Wayne told you Scott would treat you right....and I am sure he will (even if you don't mention me