How many hours can a Yanmar diels go?

[Garlock]

Hi Garlock here, looking to purchase a John Deere 430 3cyl 20 hp Yanmar diesel. It has 2642 hours with a 60" deck. Was serviced regularly. Has a hydraulic grass collector dumper runs with a seperate vaccum, briggs motor. This unit lifts and dumps over the side of a pu. Collector is factory JD made. Machine is said to run and operate well, has not run in a few years. Over all looks bad, has been kept outsde. Paint is bad but tin work and great work is ok. Whats a good price in this condition? Thanks for your help

 

[Kernopelli]

Small 2 or 3 cylinder diesels seem to be good for at least 3000hrs. Seen several with up to 8000hrs. But the most I've seen is my buddy's Deere f925 mower. He bought from the local university with almost 12,000hrs on it. He was a groundskeeper there and had been one of it's operators since it was new. Had a little over 13,000 hrs on it last time I saw it and the only thing it ever had done was new rings at about the 12,000hr mark. He said the new rings made no difference in how it ran......probably time to bore it .25mm over.

 

[atgreene]

You'll never wear it out if its properly maintained.

 

[sixdogs]

You'll never wear it out if its properly maintained.

I never would have believed this years ago but I have seen small tractors with 6,000, 8,000 and more hours on a fairly common basis.

 

[ovrszd]

I agree with all others. If properly cared for they have a tremendous lifespan. I'd wanna hear it run. If it cranks up quickly, runs smoothly, no constant blue smoke, I'd go for it.

I've had two Yanmar Diesels in my John Deeres over the past 12 years and have no complaints at all. Had a Yanmar gasser before that with no problems.

 

[kenmac]

How many hours can a yanmar diesel go ??? Like the ever ready bunny ,,,it goes on & on & on & on

 

[sixdogs]

The only thing I have found to kill a Yanmar/Deere diesel is to run them low on oil. That can be easy to do since many have hard to access dipsticks and it's easy to not bother to check it. As I understand it, the Yanmar design means that low oil pressure can starve the main bearings first and kill the engine. All to be avoided by checking the oil.

 

[artfull dodger]

Everybody hit the nail on the head for lifespan of a diesel engine. To achieve that, one must properly maintain the engine by the book. Diesels by nature like to be maintained. Thier oil is much more destructive if not changed regularly and a quality filter installed. The soot and byproducts of blow by into the engines oil can make brand new oil look solid black in just a short while. I dont put enough hours on my engine each year to warrent changing it, but I change it, along with the fuel filter prior to winter duties. Keep up on the maintaince part and it will live as long as you do. As long as the tin work is solid, you can get it all repainted either by someone professionaly or by yourself if your able to. Yanmar's like most other Japanese built compacts and some of the best built tractors out there. Mike

 

[ovrszd]

botamike,, I'm the same way. My JD2210 Yanmar diesel gets 60-80 hrs a year. I change oil every Fall regardless of number of hours.

 

[Pete Judd]

Yanmar engines are big in boats, and have seen many with over 10K hrs.