After much research about compact tractors, I decided on a Yanmar 2000BD. After reading this forum and talking to many ‘dealers’ I decided to purchase a reconditioned tractor and rotary cutter from Fredrick’s Equipment in Alabama. I live in Washington State.
The tractor was shipped via a third party carrier. Although I was promised delivery to my door, it was my responsibility to remove it from the back of the enclosed trailer. It arrived at 9PM and it was finally unloaded at midnight. Fredrick’s did their best to protect the tractor in a steel frame crate, but it was a little beat-up. Paint was scratched and some minor parts missing. Called Fredrick’s and they sent me the missing parts and some paint.
Lesson 1: When using a third party carrier ensure the tractor is shipped in a fully enclosed crate.
After mowing the field for about an hour I started to hear a high pitch squeal. It turned out the brakes were adjusted to tight (no free-play).
Lesson 2: Always check every adjustment possible. Never assume it was done correctly.
Another hour of mowing and I noticed oil on the inside of my front wheels. Called Fredrick’s and they sent me front wheel seals.
Lesson 3: 28 year old tractors should have new front wheel seals.
My next problem was the clutch. No matter what adjustment I did, it would always grind when put into gear. Called Fredrick’s and they told me to split the tractor because the pressure plate might have broke. So I split the tractor and found a new clutch, new pressure plate (undamaged), old throwout bearing, and damaged pilot bushing. Fredrick’s sent me a new thowout bearing and pilot bushing.
Lesson 4: If the clutch and pressure plate is replaced, the throwout bearing and pilot bushing should also be replaced.
A month later the engine started to run hotter and the antifreeze level was low. I then found a crack in the radiator around the cap. Called Fredrick’s and they told me to simply solder the area. Before I got around to fixing it, to my surprise a new radiator arrived -courtesy of Fredrick’s Equipment.
Bottom Line: Stuff happens. Unless your dealer is close by, be prepared to get your hands dirty. Don’t expect a 25+ year-old tractor to be perfect. Buy a tractor from a member of the Used Tractor Dealer Association (www.utda.net) - they stand by their tractors.
The tractor was shipped via a third party carrier. Although I was promised delivery to my door, it was my responsibility to remove it from the back of the enclosed trailer. It arrived at 9PM and it was finally unloaded at midnight. Fredrick’s did their best to protect the tractor in a steel frame crate, but it was a little beat-up. Paint was scratched and some minor parts missing. Called Fredrick’s and they sent me the missing parts and some paint.
Lesson 1: When using a third party carrier ensure the tractor is shipped in a fully enclosed crate.
After mowing the field for about an hour I started to hear a high pitch squeal. It turned out the brakes were adjusted to tight (no free-play).
Lesson 2: Always check every adjustment possible. Never assume it was done correctly.
Another hour of mowing and I noticed oil on the inside of my front wheels. Called Fredrick’s and they sent me front wheel seals.
Lesson 3: 28 year old tractors should have new front wheel seals.
My next problem was the clutch. No matter what adjustment I did, it would always grind when put into gear. Called Fredrick’s and they told me to split the tractor because the pressure plate might have broke. So I split the tractor and found a new clutch, new pressure plate (undamaged), old throwout bearing, and damaged pilot bushing. Fredrick’s sent me a new thowout bearing and pilot bushing.
Lesson 4: If the clutch and pressure plate is replaced, the throwout bearing and pilot bushing should also be replaced.
A month later the engine started to run hotter and the antifreeze level was low. I then found a crack in the radiator around the cap. Called Fredrick’s and they told me to simply solder the area. Before I got around to fixing it, to my surprise a new radiator arrived -courtesy of Fredrick’s Equipment.
Bottom Line: Stuff happens. Unless your dealer is close by, be prepared to get your hands dirty. Don’t expect a 25+ year-old tractor to be perfect. Buy a tractor from a member of the Used Tractor Dealer Association (www.utda.net) - they stand by their tractors.
. My radiator enden up being 50% (estimate) stopped up, but the dealer took care of the costs (and would've on the labor, but it was in another state). Another potential problem, just before I got rid of it, was the starter. Sometimes it would "catch" the gear on the flywheel (to spin over the engine), and sometimes it wouldn't. You had to 'play' with the ignition. 
