Looking into an f series...

[Bobgar]

Looking into an f series...


I currently have a Hino E224 and it has done a great job, but lack of parts, service manuals, etc, have me looking at Yanmar. I am thinking of an f series 20 down to 16. The flat deck would be a blessing to my knees. Is there good access to manuals, parts etc? Any suggestions would be great!
Thanks,
BG

 

[blackd]

I've not had a problem with manuals nor parts. The Japanese version of the manuals have been available in the past. The English version may not be available as yet, dunno, because I haven't needed one.

BTW, I've had mine for 10 years. I have replaced the alt/volt limiter with a US single wire alternator.

 

[LMTC]

Looking into an f series...


I currently have a Hino E224 and it has done a great job, but lack of parts, service manuals, etc, have me looking at Yanmar. I am thinking of an f series 20 down to 16. The flat deck would be a blessing to my knees. Is there good access to manuals, parts etc? Any suggestions would be great!
Thanks,
BG

Someone has a nice F18D and it comes with an operation manual as well as a parts book full of exploded diagrams. And a ROPS. And an OR coupler.

 

[Inspector507]

Someone has a nice F18D and it comes with an operation manual as well as a parts book full of exploded diagrams. And a ROPS. And an OR coupler.

I think that unit is in Ohio.

 

[careyo63]

Might want to check into that one.

 

[ritchieb]

I also looked at the "F" series myself. At the time the dealer I chose did not have any so I bought the "YM" series 1610D and very happy with it. I think the "F" series look nice and would be more comfortable to use and now I see my dealer has a unit in stock on his web-site Little Miami Trading Company - Compact Tractors Check his references and credentials if you have a chance.

 

[LMTC]

I think that unit is in Ohio.

Hey Jerry, how are you? Do you realize we are now ancient in this market? That you owned a Yanmar when most people still thought it was "Yamaha"? That there are probably no more than a couple of places left in the USA that were in this business before us? And now UTDA, ROPS, and more I can't even talk about publicly....Tom & I were both interviewed recently as potential expert witnesses for a civil suit taking place over a tractor death. 15 years ago I was looking at my first grey market tractors. How time flies.

Bret, thanks for the lift. It's customers that keep us in business, and ours are the best. You need to sell that 1610D to a neighbor and come get this F18D. Actually, and you and I have had this discussion before, your unit is one of the nicest I've ever had. Seems only fitting it went to you, although candidly I enjoy most of our customers, and you'd be surprised how many stay in touch like you do.

 

[ritchieb]

Always a pleasure Wayne, the 1610D has saved me a ton of time and labor not to mention a good $6K when I was looking at Kubota. Actually, the 1610D came in at a much heavier weight than any of the 20HP range Kubotas which has made it nice with the brush hog. (front tires stay on the ground!) If I had been putting on 500+ hours a year then yes, I would have bought a new Kubota, but I put about 50 hours a year on mine and saved $6K easily! Most wise return investment I have made at this point in life, my back and weed-eater sure thanks me for the tractor purchase! BTW do you realize my 1610D is over two years old now? Not one major problem what-so-ever. Thanks Wayne.

 

[Mickey_Fx]

Have had my F series for about 3 yrs now. Very happy with the tractor. No problems. Bought mine from Tractor Ernie here in Oregon. Nice honest person to deal with. Ernie usually has several F series on hand.

One thing I've done with mine is, I've connected up the UFO controls for use with the tiller and what a nice feature that is.

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend an F series to anyone.

 

[Inspector507]

Hey Jerry, how are you?

I'm good Wayne. Hope you're well too.

I just know where to find quality units
It just surprised me that you had a F model.

 

[CardinalPayne]

New to forum and very grateful for the info here. I, too, am shopping for a compact tractor, looking at many, but Local Reconditioned Yanmar dealer (huge dealership) with imports from Viet Nam has F series 4x4 that have caught my eye. I am getting serious about the F18D model. I'm just over 50, bought five acres a couple of years ago, to get back to my old "farm boy" roots. Used to 60's, 70's, 80's era Internationals, so sort of started drifting that way initially. But, I'm impressed so far with what I'm reading/seeing about these f series 4x4's. A couple of questions for you smart folks:
Am I ok thinking of going with one of these reconditioned units? Also, the standard gear shift on the right side is so close to the steering wheel that I couldn't get the shift into 3rd gear without lifting my leg and placing it "over" the shift handle. Dealer said his "guys" generally machine bend the shift handle. Anyone have same issue with this, and what do you think about re-fashioning the shifter handle. Thanks in advance.

 

[11duster]

I would not touch a vietnam recon....seen enough broken ones to stay clear.

I have bent that shifter on a few f model tractors and it does help a little, you can still get into an unsafe situation with your knee and steering wheel.

 

[MJPetersen]

Cardinal,
Often a VN recon is not your best choice. They generally emphasize the externals and do nothing with the internals. Or very superficially work with the internals. I bought a recon because that was all I could find in my area, but I knew it and feel comfortable with mechanical repairs. My front axle was filled with grease instead of the gear oil and even the grease began leaking out the seals. When I tore it down I found shafts and bearings that were very rusty and pitted and seals installed backwards. I had shafts machined, bought new bearings and put it all back together and now run gear oil in the front end.

My overflow bottle on the cooling system is from a model other than mine and that illustrates another problem in that often the parts are whatever will fit and not necessarily what belongs. And not just simple things like an overflow bottle, but more major things.

Also generally speaking the VN imports do NOT include the safety equipment that a US model will have especially the ROPS. Recently on the forum someone mentioned that the VN had a ROPS and it was discovered that it was a knock off that was not approved, but rather simply gave the appearance of safety.

If you will tell us what part of the country you are from then we can probably recommend a dealer that frequents this forum that could get you a quality machine with which you could have confidence for years to come.

And welcome to TBN. Many hours of happy reading. You must be warned however, that this is addictive. and you will spend more time here than you thought possible.

Mke

 

[CardinalPayne]

MJ,
Truly appreciate the response. I am in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Would welcome any advice on dealers for the F18D.

 

[CardinalPayne]

11duster,
Thanks for the input. As far as the steering wheel/shifter closeness issue, it may be that it takes a combination of things to get it optimal: bending shifter, maybe put a custom/home made spacer under the steering wheel to life it up a little, chop off right leg and install hand break extensions

 

[Inspector507]

CardinalPayne,
There is a UTDA dealer down in Austin, RCO Tractor that would mainly have the YM series instead of an F series. But you'd get all the safety features that a UTDA dealer supplies without it being a VN recon. Some swear by a recon, some swear at them.

Check them out here.

 

[LMTC]

Unless they have one in stock, I suspect we could deliver an F18D at a competitive price. And unlike some dealers, we have never touched the recons. Ever.

 

[kenmac]

Am I ok thinking of going with one of these reconditioned units?

Just to play with them a little.. I would ask what they mean by re-conditioned.. I would never have the pleasure of owning 1 of the V N "re-condition'' tractors

 

[CardinalPayne]

kenmac: funny you should mention asking them about what "re-conditioned" means. I actually did that and asked several other questions in an email. They went "dark" on me. Haven't gotten an answer. Which may speak volumes. It looks like I'll move on. Getting lots of good advice here.

 

[CardinalPayne]

Inspector507: Thank you for the RCO Tractor referral.