Yanmar ym187D. What to look for?

[winston1]

I think you need to go back to Scotty Dive's post #25. An older Yanmar may not be for you. If you are wanting a warranty on parts availibility you may have to go with some newer model tractor. Pretty sure Hoyes sells a rop kit.

 

[arnoldziffel]

$7,500? It looks like these have ascended into cult favorites like a 57 Chev.

These deserve that status, but for me I wouldn't buy anything that I have to baby to preserve its appearance and resale value. Its just a working tool after all.

For a price comparison there was a clean one (or was it a 186D?) on ebay around $6k for many months.

The previous model YM186D will do the same work, its nearly identical. YM187D was an upgrade with slightly longer wheelbase so more comfortable for the operator, and transmission said to be upgraded. I don't see anything about my 186D's transmission that could be improved. It does feel tight to dismount, no other problems.

Maybe the guy is bluffing on the price. Offer him $5,500. Seems to me that would be top dollar unless it looks showroom new.

The ebay machine you referenced WAS a 187D. After buying it for a probably market correct price of $4900, the seller listed it on ebay and eventually asked $5900 where it sat for months and sold for less.

 

[California]

I'm glad you located the Ebay YM187D. It's the closest comparable to the one you are looking at.

In 2009 I agonized over going clear to Denver (from Northern California) for a like-new YM187D with every option and implement you can think of, even quick-connect loader forks and power steering, @ $7500. The thing would definitely outlive me, it had extremely low hours and looked showroom new. I reluctantly concluded that after another $1500 to ship the tractor and implements it was more than I wanted to pay.

Instead I bought a thrashed YM186D, $2600 without loader, then another $500 for what it needed immediately - a steering box, and the difflock and alternator mounting tinkered with. It's been dead reliable but it still looks like somebody's angry ex-girlfriend worked it over with a stick. Then finally I found a YM186D with power steering and a loader - this or a 187D with these options is what is ideal in this apple orchard with low overhead clearance. This second one isn't gorgeous either (heck I was better looking 40 years ago too ) but it operates flawless. I love the power steering. (Photo, both). This second one's seller listed it at $4,500 then dropped to $3500 in 4 days when he hadn't received any calls (because he described it on CL as 'Tractor $1'). I had noticed it, and jumped when the price dropped. After I discovered it had the power steering option (rare) I think his original price was reasonable.

Back then I gave a lot of thought to buying a new or near-new Mahindra but I couldn't justify the cost. With similar features it might be over $12k used, and on up to maybe $20k with every option that would be reasonable to buy along with a new tractor - matched backhoe etc. Nope, I'm not earning my living with the tractor, that's too much to spend on what is essentially a want not a need.

I hope you find what you are looking for!

 

[arnoldziffel]

I'm glad you located the Ebay YM187D. It's the closest comparable to the one you are looking at.

In 2009 I agonized over going clear to Denver (from Northern California) for a like-new YM187D with every option and implement you can think of, even quick-connect loader forks and power steering, @ $7500. The thing would definitely outlive me, it had extremely low hours and looked showroom new. I reluctantly concluded that after another $1500 to ship the tractor and implements it was more than I wanted to pay.

Instead I bought a thrashed YM186D, $2600 without loader, then another $500 for what it needed immediately - a steering box, and the difflock and alternator mounting tinkered with. It's been dead reliable but it still looks like somebody's angry ex-girlfriend worked it over with a stick. Then finally I found a YM186D with power steering and a loader - this or a 187D with these options is what is ideal in this apple orchard with low overhead clearance. This second one isn't gorgeous either (heck I was better looking 40 years ago too ) but it operates flawless. I love the power steering. (Photo, both). This second one's seller listed it at $4,500 then dropped to $3500 in 4 days when he hadn't received any calls (because he described it on CL as 'Tractor $1'). I had noticed it, and jumped when the price dropped. After I discovered it had the power steering option (rare) I think his original price was reasonable.

Back then I gave a lot of thought to buying a new or near-new Mahindra but I couldn't justify the cost. With similar features it might be over $12k used, and on up to maybe $20k with every option that would be reasonable to buy along with a new tractor - matched backhoe etc. Nope, I'm not earning my living with the tractor, that's too much to spend on what is essentially a want not a need.

I hope you find what you are looking for!

Thanks California for your continued help and support.

One "new" question today:

I just read on another site that a 187D owner who left his tractor outside for a short period experienced rain water infiltration in various parts of the tractor. This included hydraulic oils, fuel tank, steering box, etc.
The owner also neglected to place a can over the vertical exhaust during this time.

Are the 186d and 187d particularly sensitive to outdoor, uncovered storage? Is this a model that should always be kept under cover? I have a barn so I'm set, but the seller of one of the tractors I'm looking at has recently been displaying it roadside, uncovered, during a very rainy stretch and I'm a little concerned that rain water may find its way into some of the expensive mechanical parts.

Please share your thoughts.

Thanks.

 

[Scotty Dive]

All tractors can handle being outside. However, rain can get down the stack if not angled correctly, or a flapper or a tin can is not installed. Water gets into areas where the shift boot rubber starts to rot and lets water in. I wouldn't be all that concerned unless the tractor spent its whole life outside and proper maintenance was not adhered to. Just check it over carefully. When I bought mine, it had stayed outside for two years. It had a leaky seal in the front axle and water had gotten in. No damage, A new seal and new 90W and I was good to go. Changed the hydraulic fluid (I do that every two years now which is about 100 hours) and I think you should be good to go. As a general practice - regardless of weather, I always crank my engine over with the decompression level engaged in case anything got inside the cylinders so its gets blown out before compression.

 

[California]

What Scotty Dive said. All three of my Yanmars look like they had a decade or more outdoors some time in their history. No problems aside from weathered paint.

And as Scotty noted, use the compression release on any first start to blow out uncompressible water.

The only weak points I've read about that can let in rain are the gearshift lever boot on any manual-transmission tractor, and the fuel gauge in the fuel tank cap on these models. Rainwater in fuel would be obvious in the bottom of the fuel bowl before it would affect operation - its a good idea to look there once in a while. I've never found any myself.

Note any Yanmar was originally designed to run half-submerged tilling a rice paddy so they are pretty well sealed up. Here is an official Yanmar marketing photo I copied from Yanmar-Japan's International Sales web page illustrating their idea of typical applications:

(and while looking for that photo I found links to some prior posts. I just now edited new links into my post #33 above, that describe the dif-lock and alternator repairs mentioned in that post. I suggest don't buy a tractor that looks this thrashed if you don't have the patience to make such repairs. They weren't expensive, just a PIA - as the tradeoff for a low price.)

 

[normde2001]

If you store your tractor out in the weather you WILL get water where it does not belong.

 

[kenmac]

You will have to decide what's right for you.. A newer tractor that will have better parts support or, a 30 yr old tractor with limited parts support. If you choose the yanmar. You have to go into it knowing that not ever part on the tractor will be available. I can't say that ever part on the newer tractor will be available . You'll have to check that out


Good luck

 

[arnoldziffel]

Well, almost two weeks in and I'm aiming to decide this weekend.

Three choices:

- Option A is a nice clean Yanmar 187d. Tractor only for $5000. Has approx 1100 hours that I think are original. Turf tires.

- Option B is a VERY nice, shiny, pretty Yanmar 187d. Tractor and finish mower for $6,000 - $6,500 (Final price to be sorted). About 690 hours that I believe to be original. No roll-bar. Turf tires. May have power steering.

- Option C is wait for another similar size and capability tractor to come along that combines good quality, parts availability, fair pricing for both parties.

Do you think Option B is crazy money?

The 187d is a rare model that does NOT share many key parts with other Yanmars. Therefore future repair parts will have very little availability.

With your help, maybe I can bring this journey to a close.

Thanks.

 

[winston1]

Having digested all your posts on this matter I don't think you should buy either Yanmar. I think pricing on both you have listed is on the high side. Just my opinion.