Yanmar Serial Numbers

[clemsonfor]

That current model theory is a good one California.

But to the wheel thing. Very few of these tractors here in america rolled out of a containor assembled. Just take up too much room that way. They take the wheels and fenders off and build a two tier structure in the containers and load them in and stuff the tires under them to cushion them and where ever else there is room. So when they get here there is no gaurentee that the tires that are put on a tractor actually came off that unit. And if your talking about VN tractors who knows where the rims and tires are from. Even a good Jap exporter possibly has tires just lined up and pulls so many rears and so many fronts to pack a container with..i bet there not particuar to pay attention to what tires are with what unit let alone the importer here who got them. SO i think the tire thing tells you nothing but the age of the rim.

 

[California]

I have been reading about the supposed date stamped into a wheel for many years, but have never read of anyone actually seeing it.

And finally here's one in the wild.

This is a front wheel on the YM186D. All the wheels show 5-83.

 

[Markey]

All of my U.S. Yanmars have a similar date stamp on the wheel, but I take it with a grain of salt when trying to guess year of production. My opinion about the reconditioned tractors is that guessing the production date via the wheel stamp is like throwing darts in the dark.