Questions about small 4x4 Yanmars

[scrinch]

I want to buy a small gray market Yanmar tractor to use primarily for rough mowing and tilling on my 1 acre. In the past I've used my trusty old Troy-Built tiller and push mower, but I'm getting too old to throw those things around for hours and hours at a time any more. The area is generally flat but is quite wet in the spring, so I want a 4x4 for the extra traction. The area is fairly small, and I'd like as much maneuverability as I can get to avoid trees, sheds, raised beds, etc. I'm considering the 1100D, 1300D, 1301D, 1401D, and 1510D because the published specs say that these models are 80+ inches long versus 100+ inches for the 1500D and higher horsepower models.

My questions are:
1-Are the models above truly more maneuverable than the 1500D, 1610D, etc?
2-With the small differences in size, HP, and transmissions (1510), are there any significant differences in performance, maintainability, durability, or parts availability between the models I listed above? Does one have a clear advantage over the others?
3-Is there really a significant advantage (worth paying for) to the 3 cylinder engine versus the 2 cylinder?

Thanks for your help. I'm really looking forward to sitting while I rototill this spring!

 

[gws]

For only an acre ALL of them are to large . I assume your only tilling part of the acre and mowing the rest. While tractors are fun bush hogging and tilling put even more legnth on the tractor. I think a Good quality push tiller and riding mower would be better option. Maybe one of the combo BSC mower with tiller attachments or a riding mower with a tow behind tiller.

 

[Soundguy]

There are two guys who mow smaller acerages with small yanmars. The guy up the road has 1.25 or 1.5 acers and mows it with a 1500 and 4' mower. The guy down the road has 4 ac and mows it with a 1300 and 44"? mower

Both are 2wd.. mowing looks great.

3 cyl sounds smoother.. 2 cyl has more of the pronounced 'yammer hammer' 'its going to throw a rod anyminute' sound... just the nature of a 2 cyl.. kinda like the old JD 2cyls.. they called then johny poppers..

The 1300 looks like a hd riding lawnmower.. very maneuverable... 1500 is on into compact tractor.. but both are smaller compaired to what I'm used to.. Ford N's, JD-B and up.

1 acer is on the edge to justify a tractor.. but I look at it like this.. you have 3 choices.

1 Buy a small economy riding mower.. like a murry from wallmart for 899$. It will mow fine and be decent if you give it some maintenance.

2 Buy a beefy husky, craftsman, JD, cub rider mower from the big box stores for anywhere from 1300-3500$ Should cut great.. Could theoretically tow some small "useless *" and expensive implements. * Implements for mowers and ATV's are all but toys.. discs and such just don't cut good without weight.. and while the bigger lawnmowers may have the hp to pull a couple hudred pound implement.. my bet is they will run out of traction in dirt before they can do much usable farm work.

3 For the probably less as option 2.. you might get a small yanmar like a 1300 or 1400... Mowers in the 44/48" range are? 400? tillers 400?.. Say you might get a 1300 and mower/tiller anywhere from 2800-3800$...And if you ever do need the pto for other things.. ya got it..

I'm partial to tractors as good utility tools.. rather than mowers that are more or less.. dedicated tools.

Your money. One thing with the big mower is it is new and shiny and has a warranty.... yanmar isn't new.. and you would only get a warranty if you bought via a dealer who offered one.. If I did get a yanmar.. I would buy via a dealer.. just for the future suppt, if needed..

Just my .02

For all that.. it may be just as easy to get the 899 murray?

Soundguy

 

[callais]

Craftsman garden tractors sport a well built engine, up to 24 inch rear tires and can handle the tiller attachment that sears puts out. Most of their garden tractors have 10 gauge floating decks and heavy duty transmissions. I personally looked at them for over a year but decided to get a tractor to quickly handle the 5.5 acres we have, but if had a smaller yard and didn't need to occasionally disc, box-blade and smooth out, I would have bought the Craftsman set-up. They also have a 30 day "no questions asked" return policy, so if you bought one, you have 30 days to try it out and make sure it's the right thing for you. Good luck in what ever you decide.

Callais

 

[alvanko]

<font color="green"> </font> "1 acer is on the edge to justify a tractor.. but I look at it like this.."

I have 1 acre and have 2 tractors and a riding mower.............Do I have a problem ? /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[jbitting]

Alvanko,

no... you don't have a problem...

at least, if you do, it's the same one the rest of us have...
"We all dig our Yammers" /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

mine has been a wonderful, low-buck, reliable, utility tool.

 

[gbirky]

Don't feel bad, I have 2.5 acres of which only about 3/4 acre isn't forested. I mow about 3/4 acre, and have a very small garden.

To work all of this I have:
YM1301D with loader, tiller, belly mower
2 YM1110D's with tillers.
16hp lawn tractor (my wife mows with this)

Do I have a problem...well maybe you should ask my wife!

 

[fivestring]

I only have 1 1/4 acres; 4/5 of it is what I mow now.
I have an Iseki TU1700f 4wd tractor.
It's very manageable, especially considering the independent rear brakes!

 

[gbirky]

Scrinch,
There is a definite difference in size between the 1100 or 1300 and the 1301, 1401, 1510 size tractors. Even smaller than this is the YM1110D (of which I have two...see above post).

I found that my YM1301D is almost too big to use for mowing our lawn. With the tiller on the back, it is too long and not manueverable enough for tilling my tiny garden. It is also almost too big to plow snow from our driveway.

The YM1110D is the perfect size. I put a 42" snow blade on it for this past winter and it worked great. I plan to fabricate a 42" belly mower for it, but that is another project. The YM1110D is no bigger than a reasonable sized garden tractor, and very maneuverable.

For your purposes, I think I'd get a YM1100 (not 4x4) with a tiller. The YM1100 has a differential lock, and with the high lug (rice paddy) tires, it will get plenty of traction with the rear wheels. It will easily handle a 4' finish mower, but would probably not be as maneuverable as you want with the finish mower on the back. The YM1100 is the Japanese version of the made for U.S. YM135. The YMM45 (45" wide) was the OEM belly mower for the YM135. There are still a few knocking around out there. If you can find one, you would pay about $400-$500 for it complete in good condition.

Just for your reference, I have attached a photo of my YM1110D with my son (5 yrs) tilling the garden.

 

[gbirky]

scrinch,
It would be great if you filled in some of the information in your profile so we know where you are, etc..