Yanmar USA knocks them because they have previously lost civil suits against them when operators erred and made the tractor roll over, among other things. At least some of these suits have been reversed, but Yanmar USA has been actively opposing the import and service of the "grey market" tractors. I am currently unaware of the current status of Yanmar's actions against various grey market importers; a recent Supreme Court case (
Kirtsaeng v. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.) may very well have affected things.
Irrespective of whether the tractors may be imported currently, most normal parts like oil and air filters, belts, hoses, tires, and other similar maintenance items are readily available via excellent sources such as
Yanmar Tractor Parts - Shop Online and others. Most gears, shafts, and other things are as well. Engine rebuild parts are reasonably priced and also available, including replacement cylinder heads. The YM1700 doesn't have a water pump, though Hoye markets a conversion kit that can assist in certain conditions to prevent overheating, if one is running the tractor outside its design envelope.
Safety items such as ROPS, the reverse to accelerate throttle, PTO shield, start in gear and other issues are debatable as to their importance. My US-market tractors by International Harvester, and so far as I can remember, ALL of the other antique tractors I've driven or used pull back to increase the throttle setting. None have or had ROPS, a PTO shield, and some would start in gear. The Yanmar is originally equipped with a clutch safety switch to only allow current to the starter when the clutch pedal is depressed, which largely removes safety concerns. A careless operator can get around any safety feature, and deliberate bypassing, removal, or avoidance of safety equipment is a possibility with any machine. Thus, in my view, a machine not originally coming with that equipment should simply be handled in a safe fashion; and the same goes for equipment WITH those features as well. Equipment should not be expected to prevent one's injury to self or others, it can only assist the ignorant from blindsiding themselves with the worst dangers. Certified ROPS are available, removing that as a concern.
In spite of what you were told, manuals are available, both for the YM1700 and its US sister, the YM195. However, I imagine Yanmar USA does not stock manuals for their older machines anyway. Here again, Hoye can attend your needs. Operation will be identical except for reversed throttle settings and an additional speed on the PTO.
As you implied, an overrunning clutch IS a serious safety issue that is difficult, almost impossible, to overcome even as a skilled and careful operator. Slip-on overrunning clutches are made and reasonably priced , and fix this serious safety concern. As a magnificent benefit, they also dramatically increase the productivity as well, an only positive set of outcomes for a change!
In terms of durability, Yanmar tractors of this vintage are exceedingly well-made of excellent materials, and are a wonderful combination of complex engineering and construction mixed with old-fashioned, "fix it in the field so it can work right now" practicality and simplicity. For instance, the manuals advise the use of a dowel and mutton tallow to service the fuel injectors, and to use irrigation water in the radiator. Many parts match with 1970s Japanese automobiles, especially in the electrical systems. They are at least as good as Kubota tractors, and distinctly better in some objective ways: better fuel economy, superior Powershift transmission vs straight gears, etc. They are not indestructible, of course, but the tractor is absolutely designed, engineered, and executed as a commercial-grade machine designed to WORK. It is not a toy tractor to be used on a hobby ranch to look nice and maintain an image. Maintained properly the tractor will give literally thousands of hours of work and still perform as-new. At least one member here, California, has dyno-tested his old Yanmar and found it to produce new-specification for horsepower in spite of obvious neglect, abuse, and a multitude of hours.
While the YM1700 may not be the right tractor for you or your tasks, it is absolutely a good tractor. I would suggest, if you've never run any equipment across your place, try renting some different machines and test assorted horsepower and sizes of machine, to see what best fits your needs and desires.
