Talk me out of a grey market/reconditioned Yanmar 2010/2210?

[stillhunt]

Hi, first post here. We are currently developing 31 acres: just put in driveway, power, septic, and cut pads for house and shop. Both will begin construction in the next few weeks with me building the shop and a contractor is building the house. We're located in north Idaho which for those unfamiliar is steep and brushy mountainous area where we get winters that are not too cold (rare to be lower than mid 20's), but can get decent snowfall with (8-12" storms) at times. Anyway, to the point...we're starting to shop for a tractor for some basic maintenance tasks.

I have experience running dozer for dirt work and logging (winch), excavator, front end loader and back hoe, but have never owned a tractor. I'm a DIY-type (compared to your average Joe) and prefer to do my own maintenance and there's not much I wont tackle. I'm also pretty frugal (some might say cheap) and pragmatic in my choices.

Planned use include plowing snow, re-grading/upkeep of a 600' gravel driveway, and skidding firewood logs on established skid trails we cut with dozer (steep terrain so tractor will not be going off trail). Due to the steep terrain the tractor will not be used for field/brush mowing.

I have easy access to a large Case FEL/backhoe from a nearby friend, so those use cases do not need to be covered.

I keep being drawn toward the reconditioned grey market Yanmar 2010/2210 4x4 tractors with FEL; attracted to the simplicity of design, size, affordable price tag, and reliable reputation.

I am inclined to pick one of these up from a reseller in the region, add a box blade for summer driveway maintenance and back blade for snow maintenance, and maybe a set of forks for log handling. I could eventually see adding a skidsteer adapter plate and third function to swap bucket for a proper hydraulic-angled snow plow and maybe a grapple, but probably wouldn't do either for a season to see how I get along with the initial options. I may also end up buying or fabricating a 3-point log skidder and winch contraption.

I do have a Polaris Sportsman 850 quad with snow plow I've used on smaller driveways, which is good for fast lighter snow removal, so the tractor would serve heavier snow/slush/ice and berm removal duties.

For those who have experience with these machines, is my proposed use a good fit/application for these tractors?

Thanks for your opinions.

 

[morris lipham]

If rebuilt by Fredricks in Alabama they can't be beat.

 

[Roadworthy]

If you're looking at a grey market Yanmar go talk to a regular Yanmar dealer. Kubota dealers will not support grey market Kubota models. Find out if Yanmar supports their grey market cousins. You can only maintain a piece of equipment if you can get parts. I had a grey market Mitsubishi which was a fine tractor. At forty years old it got very hard to source parts. I finally sold it.

 

[airbiscuit]

It might be okay for your first tractor. I started of withe a 15hp Shibaura, used it, sold it for what I paid for it, bought a 24hp John Deere, used it, sold it for more than I paid for it, bought a 32 hp Kubota ....

It got me where I needed to be at the time given my budget, and the rest of the journey has been good. The thing is, as you get newer and bigger tractors, they get better ergonomics, better and more refined features, etc.

The grey market tractors are kind of small and cramped. If that's as much as your current budget allows, buy it and get some work done.

If you have a little more money - bigger and newer is better. YMMV

 

[rbstern]

I've had a 2wd 2210 since 2011. It originated at Fredericks. It's been a great tractor. The limitations of 2wd and no FEL had me add a new LS tractor to the stable last spring, but I still routinely use the Yanmar. My primary uses have been box blading a 600' driveway, bush hogging, skidding logs, moving dirt and mulch with a rear scoop, and otherwise moving heavy stuff (either by dragging or lifting with the 3pt). Been a great tool for me over the years.

Parts are readily available online from Hoye, as well as many sellers on eBay. In the nine years I've owned it, I've replaced the starter solenoid and the water pump. One of my rear tire rims developed a rust hole leak that had to be patched by a tire shop. One of my brakes got sticky and needed basic maintenance, but nothing needed replacing. Everything is simple, simple, simple. Put a little grease in, change the fluids and filters once in a blue moon. Do work.

Overall, great experience with it. Is it as nice or as useful as my new LS? Heck no. But it was also 1/4 the price of the LS, and it's capable of a lot of things.

 

[rScotty]

Buying used like that it all depends on the tractor. Fredericks has a great reputation and apparently good technicians. There are several active Yanmar support groups and there are several businesses that stock and remanufacture some older Yanmar parts. Mechanical hobbyists like Yanmars.

But whether a grey market tractor is best for you depends a whole lot on how you feel about doing your own mechanical work.

Folks consider buying a used or gray market machine knowing that it may fall to them to do their own repairs and source the parts. Is that you? The upside is the initial price and the obvious build quality of the Yanmars. They are very well designed & a so are enjoyable for a mechanic to work on.

If you are a mechanical guy you will appreciate a Yanmar - knowing that it may need nothing, but if you do have to do some work on it that it is a quality piece of machinery.
If you don't enjoy doing mechanical work I don't know what your options are.. Either get lucky or buy new I guess. Of course if I lived close to Fredericks it would be a no brainer - but then I like the Yanmars, and that's a kind of cult thing.

I'd say that for a guy like you an older Yanmar makes sense. There are a couple good models in the 20 to 30 hp range.

If you are going to mount a loader, get a tractor with power steering if you can. Armstrong manual steering will work, but everyday you'll wish for PS.
rScotty

 

[Rebeldad1]

always shoot for bigger than you need. personal experience....

 

[rbstern]

One other thought: While you are absolutely right to be looking at Powershift models for use with a FEL, you might consider the 20 series (e.g., 2220, 2420), which have column mounted shifters. Considerably less bending to shift. Powershift is great. Just not incredibly ergonomic on the 10 series Yanmars.