Yanmar and Cub Cadet

[lragan]

Opinions are like............well I think you know. Don't concern yourself with the comments, just enjoy what you have and keep us posted on how it's doing. We need all input so that we can make informed decisions when and if we ever have the opportunity to buy a new piece of equipment. Thanks for the insight.

 

[Dargo]

I haven't had a Yanmar tractor in almost 20 years, but the one I had was great. A friend of mine used one in a landscaping business and absolutely abused the snot out of his little Yanmar for over 10 years with no problems. I no longer own a compact tractor but, if I did, I'd certainly look hard at one made by Yanmar.

My only experience with MTD made me believe those initials stood for Made To Die. My father found out the hard way that Cub lawn tractors long ago plummeted in quality. He used to buy the old Cub lawn tractors and they were great. Somewhere around 10 years ago (or so) he told me that they went from "great" to "junk". Is this where MTD came in? I've not kept up with Cub at all, so I don't know.

Either way, congrats on your new Yanmar Cub!! I'm confident that you'll get years of great service from it.

 

[LMTC]

MY input has NOTHING to do with the quality of the tractor you bought....nor does most of what I read here. Has everything to do with long term support, and the history of contract tractors is not good. And until someone shows me the factory OWNED by the marketing company, this remains a contract tractor. That is one of the purposes of a separate marketing company...they can fold up and walk away. Ask around and see how many owners of domestically sold yanmars from the 70s and 80s can no longer get many parts from the original YA parts supply line.....they end up coming to the aftermarket parts made for the greys. Were it not for the greys they would be in the same boat. It's beginning to happen for the contracted JD compacts....the early series are becoming very hard to parts source very quickly through the JD chain. Good for us, as many of our parts work for them. I love yanmar's quality, and I have no doubt their new compact is of the highest quality....I would just never reward them with my purchase since they are not fully supporting the units they sold here under their own name....many parts in those parts books are now NA.

Sorry you perceive it as criticism, but I perceive it as a gut check for anyone shopping.

So--in summary...you probably have one of the best made tractors on the planet. And I will still bet that 20 years from now my customer who bought a 30 year old YM2210 from me will be able to get more parts for it than you will for yours. So far history bears that out.

 

[mark777]

..... Most of the other comments have sure been a bummer to read. I guess I was expecting more people just to be happy that there is someone out there with a new machine that they like and enjoy.

I don't want to be critical of any individuals, but would it be so hard for people to at least hold their criticism until they've actually seen or used the thing? Until then, where's all the support that I've seen for other new tractor owners?

Personally, I'm very happy for you and I've looked long and hard at the new Cub/Yanmar machines and was impressed. Most Anyone familiar with anything named or powered by Yanmar diesels and does, or has owned one, seldom expresses any disappointments with their power, durability and tenacious dependability...

There IS a harsh reality that I've experienced with contract built tractors though. The first, and relatively young in terms of tractor years was a Allis Chalmers 5020 (Hinomoto contracted). Due to overheating it smoked excessively and needed rings and liners and long story very short, everything needed to rebuild the top end was no longer available. My customer and owner of the AC5020, thoroughly disgusted, gave me the tractor for the expenses and time spent sourcing the parts. I gave it away.

The second, any my own tractor, a mid '90's Massey Ferguson 1020 (built by Hinomoto and Toyosha under contract) was getting difficult to find parts for. Each and every trip to MF parts counter showed me the writing on the wall. Especially after pricing clutch parts, starter and glow plugs. Too much cross referencing through AGCO and other tractor brands for such a young rig. I sold it knowing it's support was quickly diminishing.

I just offer this in hopes that you understand the 'bitter taste' left with many owners of contract tractors.

 

[lorus1966]

I just offer this in hopes that you understand the 'bitter taste' left with many owners of contract tractors.

I understand all the concerns about the contract issue, but the new Yanmar/CC tractors are being built in a new plant that was built (as an extension to the already existing US Yanmar plant) specifically for these. The articles I've read actually state the the new company created by the joint venture is the same company that is building them.

I don't think it can be compared to the MF or AC that you mentioned. Hinomoto and Yanmar are not even close to being the same animal. It's my understanding that even the Hinomoto tractors sold under their own name have a parts supply problem.

 

[LMTC]

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It's my understanding that even the Hinomoto tractors sold under their own name have a parts supply problem.

That is very true.

I understand all the concerns about the contract issue, but the new Yanmar/CC tractors are being built in a new plant that was built (as an extension to the already existing US Yanmar plant) specifically for these. The articles I've read actually state the the new company created by the joint venture is the same company that is building them.

CUT is registered in Ohio. It may, in appearance, be a "joint venture" by two other companies, but it is, in business reality, an independent company with it's own officers, etc. I'm not sure what plant you reference (do you have a location? Ownership shouldn't be too difficult to determine), but I will bet it is owned by Yanmar, which is not the same as CUT, and again, history has shown time after time after time that these arrangements come to an end and when they do the parts support always seems to end pretty quickly thereafter.

I found this on the FAQ site for CubCadetYanmar (and interestingly I got there in one click from a link on Yanmar America's site) "I HAVE A NON-CUB CADET YANMAR PRODUCT THAT HAS A YANMAR ENGINE. HOW CAN I GET SERVICE OR INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PRODUCT?

• To obtain parts or service for you non-Cub Cadet Yanmar product, you must contact the dealer where you bought the product, or the original equipment manufacturer of the product."

When/If CUT stops doing business, THEY will be the "dealer where you bought the product, or the original equipment manufacturer of the product." But will they have control over the parts supply at that point?

Again, you have absolutely nothing to worry about....for now. Those of us who have been in this market a while and fielded hundreds and hundreds of calls from fustrated owners looking for parts have seen the pattern over and over again, and are just trying to explain why this arrangement is more like the pattern than unlike the pattern. Ask yourself this.....if not an attempt to insulate themselves in a legal manner, why form a new company? Cub's reputation in the industry over the past decade or so is nothing to envy. Yanmar is dramatically better known than it was 20 years ago just because of the grey market. Why not just market under that name?

 

[lorus1966]

That may all be true. The plant in Georgia is owned by Yanmar. But, I'm not sure what you're talking about with the joint venture being a separate business entity. That's how all joint ventures are done - two companies invest together in a project and create a new corporation in which both parent companies hold a share of the ownership.

This is MUCH different than contract situations, like when JD contracts with Yanmar to produce a tractor. The only connection between JD and Yanmar is the contract. There is no joint ownership.

In this situation, both Cub and Yanmar have a major financial interest in the new venture, which to me makes this NOT a contract situation. Since Yanmar has made substantial investments in plant expansions to build these tractors, it really seems unlikely that they'll decide to outsource to another overseas supplier anytime soon. The articles that I've read also made the point that the head of the new venture is an exec. from Yanmar.

Either way, I'm not worried about the parts situation. If I have 15-20 years of good service from the tractor, I will figure that I got my money out of it. Anything beyond that is gravy on top.

 

[scrinch]

Lorus, congratulations on your new Yellow/Black Yanmar. I think you've made a good choice. A new Yanmar is less likely to need major parts in the next 15 years than a 25-year-old Yanmar. Plenty of guys out there are buying new Chinese tractors. Many of them will be out looking for parts in 5-10 years! You can just wave as you drive by their shiny used tractors with the FOR SALE signs taped on.

 

[EX3200]

HI everyone I'm a new poster to this board, and a relatively new owner of the Cub/Yanmar EX3200. I don't have the depth of knowledge or experience that many here do, but I researched the heck out of this decision, and feel very good about it.

I think that the parts availability for the Cub/Yanmar line is going to be similar to what we see for the JD 790 and other green Yanmars. Considering the reputation of the Yanmars that JD has been painting green, and that the Cub/Yanmars are based on, parts requirements should be minimal.

I agree that MTD is not a company to do business with on their own, however I trust that Yanmar will not allow them to damage the Yanmar brand.