Yanmar FX 17D ???

[llewellynsd]

I came across some advertizments in "Heavy Equipment Trader" for Yanmar FX17D, 23 HP, 4WD, Power Shift and the prices were for $5400 and $5,250. I've not seen these types of Yanmars before and the price looks within my price range.

Are these newer versions of the YM 1500 or other tractor. Are yanmar still strictly Japanese or are they now being made else where, Korea, China??

What is Power Shift? Is it like Hydrostatic transmition?

Any and all information would be greatly appreciated.

Shawn

 

[gbirky]

The F and FX series tractors are grey market Yanmars, built in Japan. They are more modern than the YMxx00, YMxx01, YMxx10, and YMxx02, YMxx20. The F tractors (F15 for example) are standard gear transmission like the YMxx01 and YMxx02 tractors. The FX tractors like the FX17D have the power-shift transmission like the YMxx10 and YMxx20 tractors. The F and FX series have a nicer flat operator platform.

The power-shift transmission is a gear transmission with internal, hydraulicly operated clutches. You can shift between adjacent gears without using the foot clutch (but you must use the foot clutch to shift ranges). The pattern is R-N-1-2-3. These transmissions are time tested and in my opinion bullet-proof. Some say its the next best thing to hydrostatic. It is similar to what others call "shuttle-shift".

The FX17D is a very nice size machine. It would be my "best fit" tractor. A very good canditate for a loader.

 

[pruntyc]

I think the Power shift should be better than a Hydrostatic, for it should have little to no slippage. And unless Yanmar changed their system, I think the FX17D would be 20 hp, same as my YM1700.

 

[gbirky]

Dick,
I think you're right on both counts. I didn't meantion the "slippage" because I didn't want to confuse the issue. The big thing with hydrostatic drives is the inefficency. You loose a good bit of power, and therefore use alot more fuel. The power-shift efficiency is equivalent to a gear drive as far as power transmission is concerned. The only slippage is on gear shifts when the clutch is engaging.

The FX17D is probably more like 20 or 21 hp, though if you assume the 17 is 17kW, then the direct conversion is 22.8 hp. I still don't think there is a perfect understanding of how to determine the hp of the gray market tractors. Of course, the hp is usually not that important, as these tractors are limited by traction rather than hp, unless you are running something with the pto that requires alot of hp.

 

[llewellynsd]

Guys,
Thanks for the input. How long has these FX models been around. It seemed uncommon to me when I saw it. If they have been around for a while are there any items that they are known for breaking?

Do they make a larger model like a FX 19 or FX 20 , etc. I'd like to have something a bit bigger than my 16.5 hp Satoh.

Shawn

 

[pruntyc]

Greg, what I am told is it is generally about under 20 add 3 for hp. 20 to 25 add 4 and 26 up add 5 to get the hp. Its not a exact thing, but I have it from a couple of big dealers that follow that rule to say what the drawbar hp is. But like someone said mine I probably have like 5hp I can really use, as it will start spinning when I try to use more. We probably never can use all it has, they don't have that much weight. If we could double their weight, we could get more, but probably still wouldn't be able to kill the motor on one of these little work horses.

 

[rrw1238]

My F20D has the date of Mar 84 0n all the wheels. There for I would say that it no older than that. I believe it could be slightly newer. but not much. The Japanese have a practice known as "just in time." That means that the parts arrive for assembly just in time . By doing this it means they dont have large amounts of parts setting around taking up storage space as in in the case in most american car assembly plants

Ralph

 

[Tractors4u]

I had an FX26D.

 

[llewellynsd]

Brent,
I've seen you around on other tractor sites and know that you deal with tractors quite a bit. What are your thoughts on these models. The way these things last I would hope to keep my next one for a long time. My Satoh S-370D has been great for the last 7 yeras but I finding myself wanting a larger tractor when putting in my food plots for the deer.

I think the weight of my Satoh is around 850 lbs. what are the weight ranges of these FX's? I'm finding out a heavier piece of equipment can do the same amount of work a whole lot quicker.

What would be your recommendation as far as name brand when buying a grey market tractor? Yanmar seems to me to be the standard in the grey market tractors.

Should I look at other tractor sites when getting into greater detail with Yanmars?

Shawn

 

[cfoxmd]

I have an FX28D about 3800 lbs. 33 hp. I think it was made in the early 90's. I have a loader on it so I imagine it is somewhat heavier.

Runs well, but it is a somewhat bigger machine. I think you will find that the Japanese tractors are better and more durable than the Chinese (although I have no personal experience). People are saying good things about Bransons that are new.