Yanmar Reliability

[Stevo]

Hi everybody, I'm new to this forum.

I'm considering buying a compact tractor with a front end loader and am curious about your experiences with Yanmar tractors (good or bad).

How is the reliability?
Quality?
Parts availablity?
Serviceability?
Will non-Yanmar implements work on it?

Any comments, advice, or recommendations are welcome.

[John Deere Addict]

:Welcome1: Welcome Steveo....sorry I can't help you with the question you pose...but there will be those that can. How about posting in the introductions and tell us a little about yourself?

[Argee]

:Welcome1: Stevo

I only know a few people that have Yanmars and they are pretty satified with them. From what I understand Yanmar is a high quality manufacturer and built compacts for John Deere at one time.

[Mickey]

Hi everybody, I'm new to this forum.

I'm considering buying a compact tractor with a front end loader and am curious about your experiences with Yanmar tractors (good or bad).

How is the reliability?
Quality?
Parts availablity?
Serviceability?
Will non-Yanmar implements work on it?

Any comments, advice, or recommendations are welcome.
First, :Welcome1: welcome aboard.

I own a yanmar. Only had it for about 4 months. Take a look at some of the older posts on Gray Market tractors for some info. I'm sure you are aware that Yanmars are not available in the States new.

I've not had any problems with mine but with having it only a short while I'm not a good indicator. In Japan Yanmar hold the same position as JD does in the States. From early 80's until recently Yanmar make all of JD's CUT's.

For parts availability, filters are as close as you auto/industrial parts supplier. For tractor specific parts, any gray market Yanmar dealer should be able to supply you with parts both used and new. A few parts are difficult to find but they are something you would usually will have a need for.

Don't see why servicing is any begger deal and for any other brand.

For implements, they don't need to be brand specific. For a FEL, Koyker, made in the States specializes in making mounts for these kind of tractors. For the 3pt implements, any cls 1 implement should fit and work. The pto shaft is std US size. These gray market models come with multi-speed pto's either 3 or 4 speed. There is a std 540 rpm speed.

I've heard bad things about the remanufactured tractors that come from VN. Have also seen some pictures from a "factory" where they "rebuild" them and I 'm not impressed. I would not buy one of these myself.

Maybe Mark77 will be able to refer you to a reliable dealer of these tractors.

[Durwood]

My recommendation? When Mark777 chimes in here you will want to talk to him. He is also from texas. Him and tractor Ernie both have great reputations selling yanmars although Mark may be close to you. Check out the pics of his finished Yanmars.

Dur

[Wingnut]

In Texas "Buyer Beware" Mark777 (another Texan) can steer you in the right direction. There are a lot of shady Gray Market Dealers!

Tractor Implements were standardized in early 1950's any implement with a 3-point hitch shall work (keeping it in the recommended HP).

[mark777]

:Welcome1: Stevo!

Boy, these guy's pretty much covered your main concerns. Notice on your introductions that the Mahinda was also a consideration. If your going into heavy ground engaging equipment, that tractor is a brute and well suited. The size, weight and price are pretty tough to beat.

Like Mickey (and others) said, many of the reconditioned tractors leave allot to be desired, but the honest dealers have decent machines that will match up your requirements with the correct size HP, FEL and tractor.

I believe Hoye Tractor outside of Wichita Falls may be your closest (and honest) dealer that I would recommend. Aaron and Stan Hoye have been there a very long time, are tractor enthusiast, support and service what they sell and are fair and honorable. You may wan't to chat with Aaron on the phone (940-438-0386) and tell him Mark777 sent ya'. Let him know what your budget is and go from there.

Good luck on your tractor hunt!

Regards, Mark

[ducati996]

As for recent they still make the compacts 2210 through the 4115 an the newer 2305 -2320.....they are argueably the most reliable compacts made...

[Stevo]

Thanks for the input and recommendations. I only have 3 acres, but I need to re-arrange some of it.

It may be a while before I can buy one though. I'm putting one kid through college right now, and have another one starting in a about a year. Whatever happened to those good old days when kids worked their way through college so that dad could get a new tractor?

[cadurning]

My SIL got a used YM1500 7 years ago. He leaves it outside in the rain & hurricanes (with a can over the exhaust pipe). He had never changed the oil until I moved here 2 years ago. He's not careful where he gets his fuel. And he uses it well beyond it's capabilities and it still keeps on working. The only parts that he has ever had to buy are filters and those he got at the local NAPA. The tractor is dead simple, heck it dosen't even have a water pump and it never gets hot. I don't think anyone could ask for more from a tractor.

[Mickey]

Steve, when you're ready to start looking there will be people here to help you out.

About the schooling, where's it written parents have to pay for their secondary education? My thought has long been the education is for their benefit, they will be the ones that benefit from what the education helps provide and they should have to work and pay for the rewards education can provide. Our first wasn't even sure he wanted to go to collage , graduated with a 3.97 GPA. We talking him into going but he as going to pay for it himself. Graduated with a BSME and has never looked back. There are good rewards for the effort if one takes the right path and I believe one should work for their rewards. I know this is not the current thinking but it has worked for us.

Our son learned the value of work very young. Remember shortly after the first summer he worked. He'd go shopping with us, take a look at something he wanted and would equate the price with how long he had to work to make that amount. Don't know how he would/could learn a leason like that if we provided for everything. Today he has all the "toys" one could want or wish for. Pulls in about 80k/yr and is up for a promo. I don't think we did the wrong thing in having him work and pay for much of what he got. The kids never went without the esentials but for a lot of the extras, they had to work for them.

[BruceR]

Yanmar has a history of reliability. Parts for most models are not an issue, but some tractors such as the 2200, 2700 and some of the newer models can be difficult to locate parts for. Hoye is an excellent source for parts and you would probably get things overnight to your location if ordered early in the day. I have ordered from them in the afternoon and still received it the next day. There are also some well known dealers here from the Left Coast that have excellent reputations.

As far as buying, in addition to Hoye, Northeast of Dallas is a dealer called TripleDDD. You can find them on the web. I have not dealt with them, but have seen glowing reviews of them elsewhere. I purchased my Yanmar from Hurst Equipment, just across the border in OK. I would highly recommend them if cost is an issue. They have good, clean A and B quality machines, but don't offer much in the way of dealer support. I live far enough away from any dealers that I knew I wouldn't be hauling for several hours, so that was not a consideration in my case. They don't have a web site.

There are a lot of "reconditioned" Yanmar dealers in your area. I would stay away from them. Yanmars are built to last 4000+ hours. Why would one need to be reconditioned ? I would stay away from from fresh paint ( Mark777 excepted ) and zero hour meters. You should not have any trouble finding a good unit with 500-800 hours that would last your lifetime.

If you want a front end loader ( seems like everyone needs one now days ) get a Yanmar with a "D" in the model number. That denotes four wheel drive. Rumor has it that the 1500D is a great tractor but has some parts that are difficult to locate.

Right now there is a YM155D, which is the US version of the 1300D on Ebay that is in your neighborhood. Might be worth a test drive.

Bruce

[Stevo]

Bruce,

Thanks for all the great info.