YM240 New Owner

[jb92563]

I've been having fun with my YM240, that a got a few weeks ago, learning how to drive it and use the FEL for various tasks. Trial and error, plus tips from this forum guide me.

I solved the starting issue with a new battery and I use a visor sized solar charger from Harbor Freight to keep it topped up.
My original battery was reading 12.x volts but did not have enough ooomph to get the engine spinning with the Decompression venting, so just because its reading
12 volts does not mean its a good battery.
I dont know if my alternator is charging as I can see someone cut some wires that go from the alternator to the starter and presumably the battery.

I need to redo all the electrical as none of the stuff going to the dash works and the wire junction/fuse area is a mess.


I take out the weeds by driving in reverse and dragging the bucket, tilted at ~45-90 degrees and vary the wrist angle to smooth or dig more.

My YM240 needs a bit more maintenance to solve the Hydraulic Loader leaks.

Theres a hole in a bucket hose by the controls that shoots oil right on the hot muffler so I wrapped the leaky hose to keep the squirting subdued
till I get a new hose. Walmart had a decent priced 5 gal bucket of JD303 Hydraulic oil that I use top up the tractor now and then due to leaky hoses and cylinder seals.

I also can't seem to get the diffs to lock.

I pushed down the diff lock lever while in neutral but it does not seem to be engaging the lock in forward or reverse.
Is there an easy fix for this or will I have to tear into the transmission to figure out whats going on?

I really would like the diffs to lock to help tractoring in my occasionally loose sand beach.
I am working my backyard beach and sometimes the sand gets loose and I loose traction.
Nearly got stuck a few times.

I'm wondering whats the best way to pack the sand down so it stays firm or perhaps I need wider floaty tires in the back to keep from getting stuck.

I do have some big fat turf tires that also came with the tractor. Maybe I should give those a try in the sand, but the treads don't look like they would offer much added traction.

I have been debating with myself over what type of implement to use to groom the beach and remove weeds.
I'm leaning towards a drag harrow (Chain link fence type with spikes on one side)

Can anyone comment on how effective it might be in a sandy soil scenario with weeds cropping up in patches.

 

[winston1]

Note #51 and #60 in this parts drawing. When you mash your differential lock you are pushing #60 against #51. If in neutral and the cogs are not lined up it will not engage. Just gently mash the pedal while moving, once the cogs line up #60 will jump into #51. When done using just release the pedal and they will disengage when no longer in a bind. Yanmar Tractor Parts: TRANSMISSION_INTERNAL

 

[winston1]

Note #51 and #60 in this parts drawing. When you mash your differential lock you are pushing #60 against #51. If in neutral and the cogs are not lined up it will not engage. Just gently mash the pedal while moving, once the cogs line up #60 will jump into #51. When done using just release the pedal and they will disengage when no longer in a bind. Yanmar Tractor Parts: TRANSMISSION_INTERNAL

 

[jb92563]

Thanks Winston, makes more sense now why nothing engages when I tried from neutral.

A day ago I came across a 48" box scraper on craigs list. Picked it up tonight and brought it home on a trailer ($260). Looks good and the perfect size as folks here suggested. I might get a chance to try it out this weekend. Its missing the scarifier teeth so I may try to find some or make my own.

It also has a hinged flap on the rear side. More stuff to learn how to use. The extra rear weight ought to help with traction too.

 

[Djames55]

This is the best place I have found to get Box Blade Shank... Link>>>Tillage, Tillage Tools, Cultivation, Cultivation Tools | Agri Supply

 

[winston1]

This is the best place I have found to get Box Blade Shank... Link>>>Tillage, Tillage Tools, Cultivation, Cultivation Tools | Agri Supply

Or here. Box Blade Parts

 

[jb92563]

Here are some pics of the 4' Box Scraper. The guy called it a Gannon but I don't know the difference, perhaps its the brand?

 

[winston1]

I think Gannon is manufactured by Woods. I have a 54" Gannon rotating box blade. Rotates 3 different positions, forward, backwards and scarfiers.

 

[clemsonfor]

ouch the teeth and pins will cost you another $80-100 i guess!!! Why do people take those out? You can pin them in upside down if you dont want to use them??? That way you dont loose them!

 

[normde2001]

The YM240 won't pull it with scarrifier teeth in the ground, unless soil is already tilled.

 

[kenmac]

The YM240 won't pull it with scarrifier teeth in the ground, unless soil is already tilled.

It should have the power to pull it. Are you saying that the tires will just spin because of being light weight ?

 

[Inspector507]

The YM240 won't pull it with scarrifier teeth in the ground, unless soil is already tilled.

Why wont it? The YM1700 (equivalent to a YM195) I had pulled a 5' box blade. You just don't sink the teeth all the way on the first pass. Did great on a gravel driveway too.

 

[California]

...can't seem to get the diffs to lock.

I pushed down the diff lock lever while in neutral but it does not seem to be engaging the lock in forward or reverse.
Is there an easy fix for this or will I have to tear into the transmission to figure out whats going on?

I really would like the diffs to lock to help tractoring in my occasionally loose sand beach.
I am working my backyard beach and sometimes the sand gets loose and I loose traction.
Nearly got stuck a few times.

I'm wondering whats the best way to pack the sand down so it stays firm or perhaps I need wider floaty tires in the back to keep from getting stuck.

I do have some big fat turf tires that also came with the tractor. Maybe I should give those a try in the sand, but the treads don't look like they would offer much added traction.

As others noted, you have to wait - sometimes a long time - for the cogs to line up before the difflock will engage. And don't stand on the lever, that will just bend stuff. If it really needs repair, here's an old post I put up that may be relevant.

Wide tires: I think its worthwhile to try the turf tires. Part of the difficulty with ag tires is they have to climb uphill continually if they are digging into the surface. Tires that ride on top, with a broader footprint, may be just what you need to never sink in.

 

[California]

...I need to redo all the electrical as none of the stuff going to the dash works and the wire junction/fuse area is a mess.
View attachment 395783

My YM240 looked like that when I bought it so I pressure washed everything. By doing so I learned that the regulator under there is the old mechanical type with magnetic coils and points that open/close to pass current. With big resistors mounted underneath. And its not water resistant ... Don't do this. Or at least take the regulator off to protect it before hosing everything down. Yep. The good news is the regulator is same as '72 Datsun and was only $19 at Autozone.

Anyhow, here's a photo of what it should look like. (photo taken several years after it was pressure washed). It's not immaculate now but it's clean enough to maintain properly. I added the glass fuses and their holders because the fuse panel was a hopeless mess. This has been troublefree, but if I were doing it again I would install a modern panel for plug-in fuses.

 

[tman1020]

I believe the turf tires would work well for your sand and just run them as low of pressure as possible. For the differential lock I believe if you just hold it in while you're moving forward or reverse for 10 seconds or so it should engage. Don't mess around with that leaky hydraulic hose could be dangerous. Sounds like a cool tractor good luck.

 

[normde2001]

Yep, might's well throw out an anchor.

 

[normde2001]

It should have the power to pull it. Are you saying that the tires will just spin because of being light weight ?

Yep, My YM2000B works much better just using the blade. I certainly would not further invest in scarrifiers.

 

[jb92563]

i'll give what i have a try first to see if scarifiers are needed. The whole property was torn up and graded by a big tractor 9 months ago so the sand/soil is mostly loosened I merely need to regrade some areas a bit and keep tearing up any plants that show up. I have a lot of torn up roots buried in the dirt that I want to remove as i expose them. Hopefully the blade will drag them up so I can pull them out by hand.

The land had a dense "Smooth Sumac" forest on it back then and those buggers are trying to re-emerge from the root pieces and buried seed pods.

Good tips on the Diff method of engagement, I dont have an operating manual as most stuff seemed straight forward. Only the diff operation had me stumped.

Thanks for those wiring suggestions, I'd hate to make things worse by messing it up somehow. Miraculously it runs even with the weird wiring mess, but it would be nice to have those warning lights working so I don't overheat or otherwise mess up a perfectly good tractor.

It needs the beauty treatment and maintenance that most older tractors sold for cheap would require.

 

[California]

It needs the beauty treatment that most older tractors sold for cheap would require.

Beauty treatment??? Yours must be prettier to start with than mine. Mine's more like Dance With What Ya Brung.


But the good news is - now eleven years after I cleaned it up and put it in service, total repair cost has been only $0.75 to replace the roll pin where the shift lever goes into the top of the transmission. Oh and finally a battery, and remedying a few instances of my own abuse of the thing. Not bad for a 30 year old rig. If yours is fundamentally sound you can expect similar.

 

[clemsonfor]

My YM2000 will pull teeth in the ground. As deep as the angle of the teeth and weight of the box will allow. I filled in a mud hole in my woods with just my box blade and YM2000. NOT pulling teeth is news to me!!!

I have also used it to rip up the sod and top layer of soil so that my disk can penetrate better. MOst of these spots had been disked in the past though.