YT235 down again!

radios1 · Dec 4, 2019

AaronM said:
I agree. On an engine that small I would think it would have to either be missing on one cylinder and/or smoking terribly. Both would be obvious to the operator. I have ran several diesel engines that DID get fuel in the oil through bad injectors and without much visible symptoms but those were engines that burned 150-200 gallons of fuel per day. A quart or so of unburned fuel per day on those engines didn't really add much to the visible exhaust smoke.

The only other way I can see it being an injector is if the fuel tank is positioned above the injector and fuel is somehow gravity feeding through the injector when it is parked.

in that case, THIS is most likely to happen. Hydrolock - Wikipedia

Mauser12 · Dec 9, 2019

There is a significant about of smoke at times but not always. They are looking at injectors because Yanmar told them to and it seems to be a last resort since they have been allowing one part at a time since last summer. The dealer wants a new engine but Yanmar won't go there. It is sitting at the dealers again now, waiting on parts. This is the fourth time to the dealer for this problem and each time Yanmar okays one part in a 'try this' attitude. This time there was an inch of diesel that accumulated in the pan over about 20 hours of operation.

radios1 · Dec 9, 2019

Mauser12 said:
There is a significant about of smoke at times but not always. They are looking at injectors because Yanmar told them to and it seems to be a last resort since they have been allowing one part at a time since last summer. The dealer wants a new engine but Yanmar won't go there. It is sitting at the dealers again now, waiting on parts. This is the fourth time to the dealer for this problem and each time Yanmar okays one part in a 'try this' attitude. This time there was an inch of diesel that accumulated in the pan over about 20 hours of operation.

well, that's another make to avoid!.. no proper support..

diesel466 · Dec 12, 2019

Mauser12 said:
There is a significant about of smoke at times but not always. They are looking at injectors because Yanmar told them to and it seems to be a last resort since they have been allowing one part at a time since last summer. The dealer wants a new engine but Yanmar won't go there. It is sitting at the dealers again now, waiting on parts. This is the fourth time to the dealer for this problem and each time Yanmar okays one part in a 'try this' attitude. This time there was an inch of diesel that accumulated in the pan over about 20 hours of operation.

deleted

Mauser12 · Dec 23, 2019

It's back in the shop again. I didn't get enough hours on it to see if the previous issue was fixed when a hydraulic line under the tractor burst. It emptied the reservoir in seconds. It seems to be coming from behind the right rear tire. I refilled the reservour and got it on the trailer but it was empty again by the time I drove to the dealership. Luckly, they could see the gallons of fluid on the trailer deck. I got to keep it just over a week this time.

Mauser12 · Dec 31, 2019

It has been back at the shop since last Monday. It was taken apart on Thursday and the parts ordered. They will not arrive until about mid-January. So I am guessing about the third week of January before the tractor is usable again. Another Hydraulic line, (a metal one) burst. This is the second one that has ruptured. I actually had a mechanic tell me that I shouldn't fill the loader bucket and drive across a field because if the tractor bounced it would put too much pressure on the hydraulic lines and casue them to burst. For the record that is not what I was doing. So far the tractor has been at the dealer for repairs five times in the pars four months, each taking multiple weeks to fix. That is not counting the parts, like both lift arms on the tree point hitch, that broke and I purchased locally instead of waiting on Yanmar.

4get gto · Jan 1, 2020

I really feel for you. I'd be furious as I'm sure you are. I almost hate to see you post because it's never good news. I hope Yanmar does good by you. Is there such a thing as a lemon law for tractors.???

Mauser12 · Jan 1, 2020

I always try to solve an issue without creating another. However, it is getting really hard this time. There is a lemon law. It exempts commercial vehicles but not tractors specifically. The problem is, like most law of this type, it appears to have been written by vehicle makers. The vehicle owner has to have the tractor in the shop four times for the exact same problem. I have had it in the shop three times for diesel in the crankcase and twice for hydraulic failures, not to mention the parts I have purchased and put on myself because I didn't want to wait three weeks for them. Both three-point lift links have failed. I have written Yanmar twice concerning there obligation to produce reliable equipment and requesting they replace the tractor. The dealer seems to be in agreement with me. What is making me furious is Yanmar has not even bothered to reply to either communication. I do post positive things. Unfortunately, this tractor isn't giving me much to work with in that category. I would urge anyone to stay away from this model tractor because of my experiences.

Mauser12 · Jan 12, 2020

In what seems like a rather odd attempt to solve the loader issue on my YT235, Yanmar has ordered a light-duty bucket for the loader. The tractor has a standard duty loader bucket now. The concept seems to be a lighter duty, (weight) bucket would allow more load because the bucket would weight less. That seems to me to be somewhat like paying for a Corvette and getting a Chevette. I am waiting on that and the parts to put the hydraulic system back together. I would think there should be a by-pass valve somewhere to protect the system. I had three rhubarb crowns in the loader when the system failed. A wheelbarrow would carry more.

Mauser12 · Jan 23, 2020

I know some here are likely growing tired of this thread. However, consider just how POed I am getting. Yep, the piece of Yanmar lasted an entire four days this time. It's head back to the dealer for diesel in the crankcase for the fourth time. Yanmar American seems to be at a loss, the dealer is frustrated and I am angery. At some point Yanmar is going to have to cough up a new engine or tractor. No one willingly pays over $20,000 for a yard oriniment. To the dealers credit, they seem to have solved the loader issues, if the part that keeps failing holds.

4get gto · Jan 23, 2020

I know you don't want to cough up more money but I'd really consider unloading that thing (though I'm sure you have...)
The dealer ever offer you a good deal on something else?

Mauser12 · Jan 23, 2020

Believe me, I have considered getting rid of it. I would have trouble pawning it off on someone knowing all the issues it has. The dealer tried to get Yanmar to swap it out with another one but they would have none of it. The dealer also sells New Holland and that may be an option. I am sure he would like to see an end to this mess too.

kthompson · Jan 24, 2020

Well well well. Not the series you have but really was considering the YT3 series and my biggest concern you hit, support. Bummer for really liked all I saw of the tractor in design and how compact it is and such. I am in sales and it amazes me how a company failed to understand the need for timely support. It amazes me to be as large a company as I understand they are does not have decent support. Makes me wonder if this is truly a real rare problem that is being over looked somehow or a sign or bigger issue, the company itself.

I have never sued anyone and am age 66 but by now would be talking with an attorney. Might begin with call to say your state attorney general office for guidance. By chance did you buy insurance on this tractor, if so have you checked to see if it offers any help?

Was comparing the Yanmar to Kubota and JD. Support was the one area that I worried about with Yanmar. No product is any better than their support. Will be following this.

rScotty · Jan 24, 2020

kthompson said:
Well well well. Not the series you have but really was considering the YT3 series and my biggest concern you hit, support. Bummer for really liked all I saw of the tractor in design and how compact it is and such. I am in sales and it amazes me how a company failed to understand the need for timely support. It amazes me to be as large a company as I understand they are does not have decent support. Makes me wonder if this is truly a real rare problem that is being over looked somehow or a sign or bigger issue, the company itself.

I have never sued anyone and am age 66 but by now would be talking with an attorney. Might begin with call to say your state attorney general office for guidance. By chance did you buy insurance on this tractor, if so have you checked to see if it offers any help?

Was comparing the Yanmar to Kubota and JD. Support was the one area that I worried about with Yanmar. No product is any better than their support. Will be following this.

I will be following it too. The old Yanmar Company - before they joined with JD - provided excellent technical support to their customers. On the other hand, they ultimately shafted all their dealerships, which gave them the reputation that still follows their name in the US

I don't think that Yanmar understands the importance of manufacturer/dealer/customer support in the US market. Perhaps it is different in the rest of the world. Not here.

Although I am even more perplexed at why your dealer doesn't simply trade out your lemon for a different machine. After all, he is the person who is ultimately responsible to you - both legally and morally. It's not you who have a problem with Yanmar, it's him. And I further believe that would be what the lemon law will say as well - if you elect to apply it.

Then if he has a problem with Yanmar backing him up, that will be HIS problem......just as it should be. Regardless of how your local law is written, you are the consumer to be protected. Both your dealer and Yanmar are on the other side of the fence from you. Let them fight it out.
rScotty

arrow · Jan 26, 2020

I wonder what happened. Yanmar built all of JD's compacts back in the 80's and 90's. They were some of the best tractors going. I had one for 28 just about trouble free years. Very unlike the company of yesteryear.

4get gto · Jan 26, 2020

arrow said:
I wonder what happened. Yanmar built all of JD's compacts back in the 80's and 90's. They were some of the best tractors going. I had one for 28 just about trouble free years. Very unlike the company of yesteryear.

Not sure if things are any different. Would the dealers of 30-40 years ago handle this any differently or the manufacturer?
Lemons were made back then too just didn't hear about them thru the power of internet.

kthompson · Jan 26, 2020

One thing was there were more options with dealerships then. They were near a few as today in most parts of the USA. A dealership who could or would not support their product their reputation would get around real quick. If you don't think so go back in time to when the farmer used the original social media, the country store. lol

Another issue is machines are much more complicated than then. What electrical circuit 40 years ago? It was mostly mechanical systems and a decent thinking person could follow them. Today much is plug into computer and let the computer tell the "SERVICE TECH" what to replace. Most places don't even call them mechanic today.

When I first went looking for an used excavator asked a person who sold them the difference between two machines and he said this one you or I can fix. That one their tech has to. So true. I bought one their tech has to and on third control unit in it. Most expensive computer I have by far. Sad.

I not sure it is the other thread on Yanmar here right now but there is another on tbn on similar issue. I sent email to Yanmar yesterday on this telling them was reason enough not to buy their product.Will post if they reply.

arrow · Jan 26, 2020

4get gto said:
Not sure if things are any different. Would the dealers of 30-40 years ago handle this any differently or the manufacturer?
Lemons were made back then too just didn't hear about them thru the power of internet.

Based on the reputation of these tractors I mentioned even after Al Gore invented the internet, they were considered some of the most bullet proof machines going. It made me and others feel anything associated with the word "Yanmar" as "gold" so yeah, even though nothing is perfect and because Yanmar has come so close to this in the past, I'm still surprised you are having trouble like you're having with anything associated with the name Yanmar.

As an example, The "Wisconsin" engine was reputed to be the finest stationary engine ever built. Then Subaru bought them out and it was called "Wisconsin Robin" then they were called Subaru Robin, then just "Robin" then Subaru stopped making these engines all together because they couldn't keep them running. Thus they went from a "superior product" to one of "inferiority". Just wondering if some corporate transfer has something to do with your problem.

Hope it all straightens out for you.

rScotty · Jan 26, 2020

4get gto said:
Not sure if things are any different. Would the dealers of 30-40 years ago handle this any differently or the manufacturer?
Lemons were made back then too just didn't hear about them thru the power of internet.

I was around mechanical things at the time, and can guarantee that you did hear about lemons before the internet. Today's internet has a faster-acting social media, but information still traveled surprisingly well before the internet existed. A lot of it was face to face. We didn't have internet, so it wasn't unusual to spend a lot of time talking with dealers and technicians. BTW, we called technicians "mechanics" back then. I still do that.

One advantage of that old pre-internet face to face contact is that it has a built in BS filter that the internet completely lacks. Kind of a built in fact checker. At best, social medias like TBN are lopsided because they it is so easy for them to only show one side of a story.

I liked the old pre-JD Yanmars so much I have been considering buying a new one for a while now. That's why I've been following this new Yanmar forum and this particular thread for about half a year. Mauser12 seems patiently enduring things that most wouldn't, and that's part of my problem here. There are some things that aren't explained well.

One is the mechanical work. The problems the the owner is reporting are simple ones. Easy to fix. Mechanics start with diagnosing things, not by replacing parts at random. Even though swapping out parts may be the popular perception of what mechanics do, it is simply not the only way that mechanics work when they really want to diagnose or fix a simple problem.
BTW, pump seals and injectors are rarely specific to one model of tractor. Both are easily tested and rebuilt. And nobody replaces injectors without checking them first. Especially in a area like Western Washington with the multitude of marine Yanmar shops there.

And then there is the whole lemon law thing and this being a new tractor less than a year old and under warranty.....Why would the owner and dealer not simply swap parts or the entire tractor for a different one? There's got to be another side to this.
rScotty

kthompson · Jan 27, 2020

rScotty, you share some interesting thoughts. Will be interesting to see how this plays out. Using Yanmar's web site sent them email on this thread and their comment left me disappointed. I was very clear with them on this thread and they ought to check it out. Even gave them title to it and tractorbynet.com is the site. If I were Yanmar would do my best to help solve this or show we tried to and something beyond our control was the issue.

Not sure the title of the other thread I read here in the Yanmar section would suggest you read that thread also.