Oil & Fuel YM2500 Pushing Coolant Out the Radiator

[Travis_R]

***UPDATE 07-24-2025 Thursday***

The head gasket and related parts arrived today. Will be dropping the parts off to my mechanic tomorrow (Friday, 07-25-2025). I don’t like that it’s made in China, but it is what it is.
The new, loaded cylinder head was also made in China.

 

[Travis_R]

I have a question:

Does anyone know if the Head Gasket for the John Deere 850 is made in Japan, if ordered through John Deere?

As most of us know, the John Deere 850 compact tractor and the Yanmar YM2500 are basically the same tractors. They both share the same Yanmar 3T80 engine.

Thanks,

Travis

 

[careyo63]

That would be interesting knowing JD. parts could be made in china. Or are!! Does seem to fit though. Esp. this thread ? Was it a tractor imported from there. Sure looking like it. Still don't know if the head is good? Was it in that bad of shape the had to replace it?

 

[Travis_R]

***UPDATE 07-25-2025 Friday***

I dropped off the Head Gasket & related parts this morning to my local mechanic.

He said the cylinder head will probably be back from the machine shop today.

Once the tractor is back together, my mechanic is going to let the engine heat up and cool down several times then re-torque the head bolts.

He’s supposed to fix the throttle shaft assembly before he installs the cylinder head.

He showed me the engine block and cylinder sleeves and said he was real pleased with both.

My mechanic said the new cylinder head had “gouges” in it, and that it had to be sent to the machine shop to be milled down and checked out to make sure it was “true.”

 

[ponytug]

Gosh, it sure sounds like you have a gem of a mechanic there.

Good luck!

All the best, Peter

 

[Travis_R]

I did some researching after I bought the tractor from Fredricks Outdoor.
They had it up for an Auction Sale on TractorHouse.com in December of 2023. I purchased it from Fredricks Outdoor on 11/22/2024. It states that it sold for $3,100 US dollars on 12/23/2023.

 

[Travis_R]

Gosh, it sure sounds like you have a gen of a mechanic there.

Good luck!

All the best, Peter

Yes, there is no doubt about that.

 

[bmaverick]

I did some researching after I bought the tractor from Fredricks Outdoor.
They had it up for an Auction Sale on TractorHouse.com in December of 2023. I purchased it from Fredricks Outdoor on 11/22/2024. It states that it sold for $3,100 US dollars on 12/23/2023.

I would of not bought the machine if watching the video prior to sale.

When the throttle was tapped a few times, thick black soot blew out.
This tells me the engine was not gone over at all during the restore process.
Just new paint, seat, hoses, radiator and exhaust pipe. If this was the case, the $3,100 USD bid should of taken it 'as-is' with limited days or no warranty.

 

[California]

I think what this is telling us is Fredricks bought somebody's VN refurb at auction, in the US, for $3,100 to clean up and re-sell.

This isn't the same thing as getting used low hour trade-ins from Japan.

 

[Travis_R]

I think what this is telling us is Fredricks bought somebody's VN refurb at auction, in the US, for $3,100 to clean up and re-sell.

This isn't the same thing as getting used low hour trade-ins from Japan.

Fredricks Outdoor is the one who had it for sale, at their dealership, after the “refurbishment.” through an online auction on TractorHouse.com and it sold for $3,100.

Why did it sit on their lot for 11 months, after it sold through the online auction?

The auction video of the tractor was taken at Fredricks Outdoor in Decatur, Alabama.

The tractor “sold” in the online auction in December of 2023. I purchased the tractor in November of 2024, at the same location the auction video was taken, at Fredricks Outdoor in Decatur, Alabama.

When I purchased the tractor in November 2024, I paid a LOT MORE than the $3,100 that it sold for in the online auction and it looked exactly the same as it did in the online auction video.

Something just doesn’t add up. It’s very fishy.

 

[ponytug]

I wouldn't have described the black smoke as soot, but that's me. The engine sounds a trifle uneven to me, but it picked right up when the throttle was tapped. In my experience, one, two, and three cylinder engines are never going to be as smooth or even as a four cylinder, much less an older engine vs one that has been through noise and vibration analysis with counter rotating balance shafts. I will admit to a soft spot for the old Lister one cylinder lug-lug diesels, but yes, they worked best when bolted to the continent, or a large boat.

I think that it is hard to armchair quarterback things from a distance. I am impressed at what Frederick's is doing for you.

All the best,

Peter

 

[careyo63]

I know what was paid for a Fredricks YM2500 and a new BH.. Cost Basically! That was in 2011 from Spalding. VN. price and the problems show it. Typical believe it or not.

 

[AaronM]

The tractor “sold” in the online auction in December of 2023. I purchased the tractor in November of 2024, at the same location the auction video was taken, at Fredricks Outdoor in Decatur, Alabama.

When I purchased the tractor in November 2024, I paid a LOT MORE than the $3,100 that it sold for in the online auction and it looked exactly the same as it did in the online auction video.

Something just doesn’t add up. It’s very fishy.

Are you sure the tractor actually sold in that auction? I've never bought or sold on tractorhouse but I know a lot of auctions will call something 'sold' if the reserve is not met. It is possible the auction ended without hitting the reserve so Fredricks just held on to it.

Aaron

 

[Travis_R]

Are you sure the tractor actually sold in that auction? I've never bought or sold on tractorhouse but I know a lot of auctions will call something 'sold' if the reserve is not met. It is possible the auction ended without hitting the reserve so Fredricks just held on to it.

Aaron

 

[bmaverick]

Per the Fredricks UTDA agreement with Yanmar, they serialize the tractors on an ID plate riveted to the hood. I see the auction had S/N 2642. Are you saying you now own 2642 then.

Here is mine, 3661

I now wonder even more. Your machine has a lower S/N than mine. Did Fredricks do a buy back or help a customer trade up to another machine and took the YM2500 as a trade-in?

So much speculation on this S/N 2642 . . .

 

[California]

If it did sell at auction a year earlier, could it have been a customer warranty return before its next sale? In fact with that low serial number maybe it's come back a few times!

First time I've ever heard of a Fredricks Yanmar that was anything but flawless.

 

[Travis_R]

“I am impressed at what Frederick's is doing for you.”

All the best,

Peter

I firmly believe they know they have to.

I am Thankful and Blessed that they are doing the right thing. It says a lot about them and their reputation!
I’m not sure who’s all involved, but Danny Speakman and Stephen Fredricks has been nice to me through this whole nightmare. I have been pleased with them for the most part. Things were a little rocky in the beginning, but it’s been going smooth for a while now.

I will say though, this is the last straw. I have to draw the line somewhere. I can not, and will not continue to have a broken tractor that I can’t use.

Hopefully this time, the tractor will hold up once I get it back out the shop.

As of now, I have no hard feelings against Fredricks Equipment. They have stood by this tractor since the day I bought it. Also, as of now, I would recommend others to them, and I would buy another tractor from them. They have shown me excellent customer service & support.

 

[Travis_R]

Per the Fredricks UTDA agreement with Yanmar, they serialize the tractors on an ID plate riveted to the hood. I see the auction had S/N 2642. Are you saying you now own 2642 then.

Here is mine, 3661
View attachment 3830059

I now wonder even more. Your machine has a lower S/N than mine. Did Fredricks do a buy back or help a customer trade up to another machine and took the YM2500 as a trade-in?

So much speculation on this S/N 2642 . . .

They used the serial number on the transmission, not the Fredricks Importing tag on the hood.

 

[Travis_R]

If it did sell at auction a year earlier, could it have been a customer warranty return before its next sale? In fact with that low serial number maybe it's come back a few times!

First time I've ever heard of a Fredricks Yanmar that was anything but flawless.

They used the serial number on the transmission, not the serial number off the Fredricks Importing tag on the hood.

 

[bmaverick]

They used the serial number on the transmission, not the serial number off the Fredricks Importing tag on the hood.

Well that number doesn't match anything.