Yanmar RSA1201 Tiller Gauge Wheel repair

[Yanmar F15D]

First time poster.
I have an F15D Forte with a RSA1201 auto tiller on it.

Currently, I'm in the process of changing my rear axle seal.
While in the process I thought I'd address my gauge wheel that isn't turning.
I started the disassembly process but I'm currently stuck at this point as the shaft won't come out. I'm assuming there is a clip behind the black plastic part but I wanted to check with others before I attempt remove it.
Has anyone changed their gauge wheel bearings before? From my research, I know these gauge wheels don't seem overly popular but I've used them to help with my lines and depth and they have worked well for me so I'd like to continue to use them.

 

[Yanmar F15D]

I found this video where they call the gauge wheel a tail wheel. Different make but gives me some hope.

 

[bmaverick]

On the YTOG, we have the parts manual for the F14/F15, yet it's incomplete with not having the RSA1201 nor RSA1031 tillers in the PDF.
YANMAR F14 F15 PARTS MANUAL NPC-1464.pdf

 

[Yanmar F15D]

On the YTOG, we have the parts manual for the F14/F15, yet it's incomplete with not having the RSA1201 nor RSA1031 tillers in the PDF.
YANMAR F14 F15 PARTS MANUAL NPC-1464.pdf

I know. Unfortunately, the parts I need diagrams for are missing in that parts manual. I've been visiting Yanmar here in Japan but they always seem hesitant about giving me prints. It's frustrating. I've requested a printed copy of the RSA1201 tiller parts catalog so I'll see if I get lucky or not. Between the incomplete parts catalog, my owner's manual, and a few of the copies I've obtained, I'm slowly able to get this thing back on the ground.

 

[ponytug]

I know. Unfortunately, the parts I need diagrams for are missing in that parts manual. I've been visiting Yanmar here in Japan but they always seem hesitant about giving me prints. It's frustrating. I've requested a printed copy of the RSA1201 tiller parts catalog so I'll see if I get lucky or not. Between the incomplete parts catalog, my owner's manual, and a few of the copies I've obtained, I'm slowly able to get this thing back on the ground.

Well, I'm a little envious, but that's neither here nor there.

From personal experience, they aren't the only Japanese company to be reluctant to part with information...

What parts do you need? Can you go to a local machine shop and get a matching bearing/seal/sealed bearing? NKF makes agricultural bearings designed for uses like this.

Are they implying that a dealer ought to repair it for you? Or is it old enough that they might not want to admit that they don't have a copy, or that the assembly was made by someone else? Or just that it is proprietary? Or?

Sometimes being polite, and explaining that you want to fix it because it is such a great tool, and quietly asking for parts might help, but I'm sure that you probably have done that already.

Good luck!

All the best,

Peter

 

[Yanmar F15D]

What parts do you need? Can you go to a local machine shop and get a matching bearing/seal/sealed bearing? NKF makes agricultural bearings designed for uses like this.

Hi Peter,
Various parts non-essential parts, random seals/gaskets, and I like having parts catalogs for the bearing numbers.
Machine shops in my area (Kyushu part of Japan) are rather nonexistent. I already threw away my bearing manufacturers list, but I paged through every Japanese bearing manufacturer I could find on Google looking for a 4514 bearing, but alas I had to purchase from the States. (I even reached out to bearing sellers on Aliexpress...)

Are they implying that a dealer ought to repair it for you? Or is it old enough that they might not want to admit that they don't have a copy, or that the assembly was made by someone else? Or just that it is proprietary? Or?

Sometimes being polite, and explaining that you want to fix it because it is such a great tool, and quietly asking for parts might help, but I'm sure that you probably have done that already.

Put it this way, my farming neighbors (well into their 60s~70s) were surprised I was fixing the tractor myself. Not to say others don't fix their own tractors, but I've yet to find anyone that does. So I do think the company primarily acts as a service center and mostly sells maintenance-related parts.

When I visit Yanmar, they are able to pull up the parts diagrams on their computers. I even have an old seed sower for my rice fields and they had that in their database. So they have access to everything it seems. As far as a copy, the Yanmar official website states (in Japanese) that you can go to a Yanmar shop and request a bonded copy of the owner's instruction manuals. The shop I have been visiting always looks annoyed with my requests, despite us being completely respectful and courteous, but I did request an owner's instruction manual and the RSA1201 parts catalog.

 

[Yanmar F15D]

In case others are interested, this appears to be a very similar shaft set up to give you an idea of what the internals should look like. I know mine is different as the C-clip's groove on this one is towards the end. Mine is towards the threads. But I think nearly the rest of it is similar. This set is ~$85 USD, which is the same cost as a used set of gauge wheels, so I won't be buying this set. I have found the necessary bearings (6003, but I ordered 6003-2RS) based on the measurements the website offered. Today I will be messing around with the tiller a bit trying to get this shaft out. Will post updates if I'm successful.

 

[bmaverick]

Hi Peter,
Various parts non-essential parts, random seals/gaskets, and I like having parts catalogs for the bearing numbers.
Machine shops in my area (Kyushu part of Japan) are rather nonexistent. I already threw away my bearing manufacturers list, but I paged through every Japanese bearing manufacturer I could find on Google looking for a 4514 bearing, but alas I had to purchase from the States. (I even reached out to bearing sellers on Aliexpress...)



Put it this way, my farming neighbors (well into their 60s~70s) were surprised I was fixing the tractor myself. Not to say others don't fix their own tractors, but I've yet to find anyone that does. So I do think the company primarily acts as a service center and mostly sells maintenance-related parts.

When I visit Yanmar, they are able to pull up the parts diagrams on their computers. I even have an old seed sower for my rice fields and they had that in their database. So they have access to everything it seems. As far as a copy, the Yanmar official website states (in Japanese) that you can go to a Yanmar shop and request a bonded copy of the owner's instruction manuals. The shop I have been visiting always looks annoyed with my requests, despite us being completely respectful and courteous, but I did request an owner's instruction manual and the RSA1201 parts catalog.

The 4514 bearing is popular in the USA with Snapper, MTD, Cub Cadet, etc. It's widely used as the spindle bearings for the mower decks.

 

[ponytug]

@Yanmar F15D that is quite the adventure! I'm not surprised that you doing the repairs yourself raises a few eyebrows. In my very limited exposure to Japanese agricultural practices, my impression was that the expectation was that the service center would fix things. As challenging as they are, I love the small fields, and watching farmers working the small plots.

All the best,

Peter

 

[Yanmar F15D]

The 4514 bearing is popular in the USA with Snapper, MTD, Cub Cadet, etc. It's widely used as the spindle bearings for the mower decks.

I have a picture on my phone that I'll try to upload but I am a bit concerned with the NJ-4514 bearing compared to the original bearing. The new bearing has a smaller ball bearing. Curious if they'll hold up. But for now it is working.