Yanmar quality

mark2610d · Oct 17, 2017

Kentuckyfarmer said:
Don't have a yanmar dealer close and would like to take a peek at one also. Really like the pictures of the ones I have seen also. I haven't seen much info on the tier 4 setup on their engines and if their common rail or just injection pump. I also do my own maintenance and repairs. I'm not brand loyal and make my decision on most bang for my buck. I'm not paying more because of paint color or dealership availability. This day and time I can have parts in a couple days to fix anything that goes wrong. I really like the little Branson I have because of simplicity (old school non computer injection pump) and its a good built tractor. Not the best but I could say that about all the others also. Next tractor I look at to buy my first stop will be a yanmar dealership, not saying it will be what I buy that all depends on what I get for money and the job I expect it to do

Let us know what you think after you get a chance to see one.

Tractorable · Oct 18, 2017

Kentuckyfarmer said:
Don't have a yanmar dealer close and would like to take a peek at one also. Really like the pictures of the ones I have seen also. I haven't seen much info on the tier 4 setup on their engines and if their common rail or just injection pump. I also do my own maintenance and repairs. I'm not brand loyal and make my decision on most bang for my buck. I'm not paying more because of paint color or dealership availability. This day and time I can have parts in a couple days to fix anything that goes wrong. I really like the little Branson I have because of simplicity (old school non computer injection pump) and its a good built tractor. Not the best but I could say that about all the others also. Next tractor I look at to buy my first stop will be a yanmar dealership, not saying it will be what I buy that all depends on what I get for money and the job I expect it to do

With the new YT347/359, the Japanese Yanmar company seems to be competing with the high end Kubota Grand L's and John Deere R series, so they're not price beaters like the Korean LS, Branson's, or TYM's.

However, Yanmar seems to be pricing their new YT's just below Kubota and Deere when comparing apples to apples in features and capabilties. It should also be noted that Yanmar is bringing innovation to the tractor market by designing an entirely new "iHMT" transmission.

mark2610d · Oct 18, 2017

Tractorable said:
With the new YT347/359, the Japanese Yanmar company seems to be competing with the high end Kubota Grand L's and John Deere R series, so they're not price beaters like the Korean LS, Branson's, or TYM's.

However, Yanmar seems to be pricing their new YT's just below Kubota and Deere when comparing apples to apples in features and capabilties. It should also be noted that Yanmar is bringing innovation to the tractor market by designing an entirely new "iHMT" transmission.

I see $35900 as a price beater vs kubota's $41-42k and deeres 42k 60hp machines price comparisons with loaders. I had two different dealers quote that price for 359c.

Kentuckyfarmer · Oct 19, 2017

I'm just small time or what you would call a hobby farmer. Grew up on a dairy farm and spent thousands of hours on tractors that were simple and compared to today's uncomfortable. If I spent eight hours a day on one everyday I would want comfort and probably some bells and whistles. I myself find it hard to buy a tractor with so many unneeded bells and whistles that can be problems because of the conditions they are subjected to (dust, dirt, mud, heat, cold, manure etc etc). My old beat up hands can still turn a wrench and I have plenty of tools to still repair what goes wrong. The deal breakers for me is to much electronics that control everything. I just can't see myself standing in manure up to my knees in a cold driving rain trying to troubleshoot a short in hundreds of feet of wiring that is keeping the tractor from running. Late last year I was looking at a tiller to buy for the little Kubota I have and went to the John Deere dealer and was walking by the shop and happened to look in and seen a big newer looking tractor all taken apart. I just ambled in and took a peek. My god all the wiring on that thing had more than than my house, the two cars and one truck, two tractors and everything else I own. The mechanic said he was chasing a short some where. All I saw was $$$$$$$$$$. I looked online at yanmar 's web site and there just isn't info about them to compare to others. I myself just like simple.

Tractorable · Oct 19, 2017

I get it, but can you even buy 'simple' these days? Every engine out there is computer controlled nowadays with miles of wiring everywhere. Line up a new Kubota, Deere, Kioti, or Yanmar and the wiring would stretch to the moon and back.

My '52 8N is simple, but it has sat for weeks not working http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/showthread.php?t=386941.

I will say that while modern tech can be overwhelmingly complex, it has a lot of benefits. Modern cars go 100K miles without even needing a tune up. Modern tractors are similar. They will probably out live us. However, I can see the cost of repairs being what sends them to the junk yard.

Even though my old 8N is no where near as productive or reliable as a new one, I can buy an engine rebuild kit for it for $250 and keep it running indefinitely on my own.

Everything is a trade off...

Kentuckyfarmer · Oct 19, 2017

Tractorable said:
I get it, but can you even buy 'simple' these days? Every engine out there is computer controlled nowadays with miles of wiring everywhere. Line up a new Kubota, Deere, Kioti, or Yanmar and the wiring would stretch to the moon and back.

My '52 8N is simple, but it has sat for weeks not working http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/parts-repairs/386941-busted-8n.html.

I will say that while modern tech can be overwhelmingly complex, it has a lot of benefits. Modern cars go 100K miles without even needing a tune up. Modern tractors are similar. They will probably out live us. However, I can see the cost of repairs being what sends them to the junk yard.

Even though my old 8N is no where near as productive or reliable as a new one, I can buy an engine rebuild kit for it for $250 and keep it running indefinitely on my own.

Everything is a trade off...

Not all are computer controlled. I agree it's a trade off. Not saying my thoughts are the right ones and everyone else's is wrong. I just don't like these small tractors being so complicated that we small farmers can't work on them without laptops, some over costed hardware and proprietary software to chase bugs and if you take it to dealerships lots of mechanics have no idea how to fix the problem and just replace parts until they achieve a positive result. Just a point I had a 2010 dodge 3500 I bought used. Didn't have key fobs so I bought some on line. Took to dealership to code them and they said cant do it, if it didn't come with them can't have them. Went to the cummins forum and found information and took step by step instructions back to dealer and said do this. If it don't work charge me anyway if it does you learned something. Well it worked. You cant move the seat, roll down Windows, turn on radio, turn on fog lights and lots of other things without the computer being programmed and it controlling all those things. Because the smaller tractors are having more bells and whistles put in them the cost goes up for purchase and repair. I can remember when we bought our first tractor that had a cab (no heat or ac) and the seat could be adjusted forward and backward and we thought we were big time. I hope yanmar isn't as complicated as the main three tractor builders and if so I sure will consider buying one. I will tell what I find out when I look at one if someone else hasn't first but it will be some time this winter before I look.

mark2610d · Oct 19, 2017

Kentuckyfarmer said:
I'm just small time or what you would call a hobby farmer. Grew up on a dairy farm and spent thousands of hours on tractors that were simple and compared to today's uncomfortable. If I spent eight hours a day on one everyday I would want comfort and probably some bells and whistles. I myself find it hard to buy a tractor with so many unneeded bells and whistles that can be problems because of the conditions they are subjected to (dust, dirt, mud, heat, cold, manure etc etc). My old beat up hands can still turn a wrench and I have plenty of tools to still repair what goes wrong. The deal breakers for me is to much electronics that control everything. I just can't see myself standing in manure up to my knees in a cold driving rain trying to troubleshoot a short in hundreds of feet of wiring that is keeping the tractor from running. Late last year I was looking at a tiller to buy for the little Kubota I have and went to the John Deere dealer and was walking by the shop and happened to look in and seen a big newer looking tractor all taken apart. I just ambled in and took a peek. My god all the wiring on that thing had more than than my house, the two cars and one truck, two tractors and everything else I own. The mechanic said he was chasing a short some where. All I saw was $$$$$$$$$$. I looked online at yanmar 's web site and there just isn't info about them to compare to others. I myself just like simple.

Well i understand the theory behind your thinking. Its simple, less stuff to break etc..
If you buy a Kubota you will be trouble free. I have almost 3200 hours on my 2008 kubota L3240 cab tractor. I have done every kind of task you can dream up in all conditions and have had 100% reliability in everything. Only did reg maintenance by the book. Did replace battery but thats reg maintence. My kubota still uses zero oil and zero leaks. Still runs as good as the day i bought it new!

Tractorable · Oct 19, 2017

Yea, Kubota and Yanmar are both 100+ year old Japanese manufacturers. They're both at the leading edge of quality and are both big in the construction and marine industries as well as the tractor segment. I used to work in the marine industry where Yanmar is huge. It's common for those Yanmar and Beta-marine (Kubota) engines to go 7500 hrs without ever seeing a mechanic. I'm not worried about reliability issues with either of them.