Yanmar Tractors

[Tractorable]

Thanks fellas for clarifying the technology developed by Fendt and scaled down for compact tractor use by Yanmar. While the technology has been around for a while it’s still innovative for Yanmar to bring it to the compact tractor market.

Tractor Time with Tim has a video of going to a Yanmar dealer and the sales rep was a complete dolt and unable to describe the integrated hydro mechanical transmission (iHMT). Yanmar needs more educated sales reps who can articulate the benefits of the technology to potential customers.

 

[airbiscuit]

The Fendt Vario ones are fairly reliable. One thing that does kill those transmissions quite fast is when the operator uses the transmission to slow down the tractor, instead of the brakes. That's very hard on the transmission, specially pulling loaded tanker trailers when all that load tries to shift forward.

So you're saying that type of transmission is no good for engine braking.

I think he is saying you shouldn't use the transmission for engine braking with a 20.000# trailer pushing you down a hill.

 

[rScotty]

Thanks fellas for clarifying the technology developed by Fendt and scaled down for compact tractor use by Yanmar. While the technology has been around for a while it’s still innovative for Yanmar to bring it to the compact tractor market.

Tractor Time with Tim has a video of going to a Yanmar dealer and the sales rep was a complete dolt and unable to describe the integrated hydro mechanical transmission (iHMT). Yanmar needs more educated sales reps who can articulate the benefits of the technology to potential customers.

TT Tim can go to any dealer or sales rep that he choses, of course. He isn't beholden to any particular make - or at least he didn't use to be.

For the IHMT, Tim deliberately chose someone who didn't speak well and didn't understand the product.
I wonder why?
rScotty

 

[Tractorable]

TT Tim can go to any dealer or sales rep that he choses, of course. He isn't beholden to any particular make - or at least he didn't use to be.

For the IHMT, Tim deliberately chose someone who didn't speak well and didn't understand the product.
I wonder why?
rScotty

Yea, TTWT and Good Works Tractors tend to poo poo Yanmar (as their precious JD’s are powered by Yanmar engineering).

One thing I agree with TTWT is the YT235 is a little small and the YT347 is a bit big. A ~70in wheelbase (like the original 8N) offering from Yanmar would hit the sweet spot for many property owners.

 

[Cahaba Valley Farm]

For the IHMT, Tim deliberately chose someone who didn't speak well and didn't understand the product.
I wonder why?
rScotty

I'm a little surprised to hear you making such a confident assumption Scotty. Usually you leave the door open for other opinions and possibilities. Do you not care for Tim or something?

 

[mrgreenjeanstx]

I know about Lawn Land. That dealer has left me scratching my head more than a time or two. I'm not surprised that they are losing the JD brand, I'm surprised they were able to hold onto it as long as they did.

Called the other day, they are dropping the JD franchise and moving to Yanmar. Quite a few JD's still on the lot with a few Yanmars. All the talk seems to be correct on the effect Yanmar is having on the smaller tractor market and JD dealers.

 

[Cahaba Valley Farm]

All the talk seems to be correct on the effect Yanmar is having on the smaller tractor market and JD dealers.

Please explain

 

[Williy]

My dealer told me that Yanmar can supply the
small Yanmar dealers as they now have the
tractors to do so

IMHO it looks like people are looking at the JD's
and comparing them to other tractors and for the
buck get the other tractor. I haven't seen a JD
but with a plastic hood, plastic floor, plastic fenders
then they look at the other models no plastic???

willy

 

[2manyrocks]

Yanmar was selling tractors in the US back in the 1980s but withdrew from the US market for some years. I suspect they could have built a substantial dealer network in the US if they had stayed in the US market for the entire time instead of opting to supply engines for JD. Perhaps they could have been more successful than Kubota if they had only stayed in the US market?

 

[Torvy]

I would guess there was pressure on this dealer to join United Ag. UA has 20+ dealerships in the region.

If I had the budget for it, I would consider the Yanmar. I would guess they may take business from those willing to pay JD prices, but not married to green paint. For the same money, you get more with the Yanmar than JD. For my budget, TYM/Branson makes more sense...maybe LS or Kioti, too.

 

[rScotty]

Yanmar was selling tractors in the US back in the 1980s but withdrew from the US market for some years. I suspect they could have built a substantial dealer network in the US if they had stayed in the US market for the entire time instead of opting to supply engines for JD.

Perhaps they could have been more successful than Kubota if they had only stayed in the US market?

Maybe so. Back in the 1980s compact tractors were the new thing. There were 20 or 30 companies all trying for the same market.

When they came to the US, Yanmar already had a proven product and had used the same idea JD had popularized decades before of being priced higher but being simple machines built to very high quality and backed by service. Yanmar even cast their own steel & made their electrical parts. The whole tractor was made to last forever and be repaired by farmers. Plus the bevel gear 4wd front axle which only Yanmar had. They had a factory school with college type courses and lots of detailed factory literature. All that made them popular with people who knew machinery - but priced higher and at the same time not at all known to the new suburbanites.

Kubota entered the US at the same time with a decent average quality tractor priced lower and targeted rental shops as dealers. Very little backup, but inexpensive and people rented them & so became familiar with them. It was a brilliant plan, and worked very well for everyone.....except Yanmar....

Many people from that era - I'm one - think that Yanmar never did intend to leave the US market. And that they were very surprised when the US courts interpreted the agreement between Yanmar and JD as requiring that Yanmar shut down their US operation and not compete in the US for a period of time. 20/25 years I think it was.

That left the door wide open for Kubota and they have done wonderfully. But I miss the quality of service that Yanmar was building in the US, and sadly JD has gone away from it as well.

Yanmar's legacy today is a minimal presence in new tractors, but a huge world-wide group of older Yanmar owners happily using and rebuilding those old machines. Old Yanmars now have cult status and a good supply of spares. They are popular and you can even buy a completely rebuilt like new old Yanmar with a warranty!

When looking at Yanmar, it's hard to keep perspective because their tractors are a sideline. The company makes most of the large ship diesels in the world, lots of commercial industrial machinery, and their electronics division makes specialized radar. They are heavily involved in the Japanese "Factory Fishing fleets" that you hear about as well.

rScotty

 

[tradosaurus]

Neighbor bought a new 50hp Yanmar with a cab and every bell and whistle. Looks nice but not cheap at $50K. His best deal even with shipping came from OK. The nearest Yanmar dealer is 65 miles away. THere are two Kubota dealers within 20 miles so mine is orange.
Dealer support was an issue for TYM tractors as well.

That $50K isn't much cheaper than a Cabbed MX5400.

 

[Yander]

TT Tim can go to any dealer or sales rep that he choses, of course. He isn't beholden to any particular make - or at least he didn't use to be.

For the IHMT, Tim deliberately chose someone who didn't speak well and didn't understand the product.
I wonder why?
rScotty

Ha, I've seen enough of his videos, maybe 2, to know I won't be taking advice from him. He is a doit himself. About every guy on this site knows more than he does about tractors.

 

[Cahaba Valley Farm]

Maybe so. Back in the 1980s compact tractors were the new thing. There were 20 or 30 companies all trying for the same market.

When they came to the US, Yanmar already had a proven product and had used the same idea JD had popularized decades before of being priced higher but being simple machines built to very high quality and backed by service. Yanmar even cast their own steel & made their electrical parts. The whole tractor was made to last forever and be repaired by farmers. Plus the bevel gear 4wd front axle which only Yanmar had. They had a factory school with college type courses and lots of detailed factory literature. All that made them popular with people who knew machinery - but priced higher and at the same time not at all known to the new suburbanites.

Kubota entered the US at the same time with a decent average quality tractor priced lower and targeted rental shops as dealers. Very little backup, but inexpensive and people rented them & so became familiar with them. It was a brilliant plan, and worked very well for everyone.....except Yanmar....

Many people from that era - I'm one - think that Yanmar never did intend to leave the US market. And that they were very surprised when the US courts interpreted the agreement between Yanmar and JD as requiring that Yanmar shut down their US operation and not compete in the US for a period of time. 20/25 years I think it was.

That left the door wide open for Kubota and they have done wonderfully. But I miss the quality of service that Yanmar was building in the US, and sadly JD has gone away from it as well.

Yanmar's legacy today is a minimal presence in new tractors, but a huge world-wide group of older Yanmar owners happily using and rebuilding those old machines. Old Yanmars now have cult status and a good supply of spares. They are popular and you can even buy a completely rebuilt like new old Yanmar with a warranty!

When looking at Yanmar, it's hard to keep perspective because their tractors are a sideline. The company makes most of the large ship diesels in the world, lots of commercial industrial machinery, and their electronics division makes specialized radar. They are heavily involved in the Japanese "Factory Fishing fleets" that you hear about as well.

rScotty
View attachment 768440View attachment 768441

Scotty, this was an excellent post. I appreciate you giving the backstory to all this as it is not well known or documented. Your expertise really shines in posts like this.

 

[Cahaba Valley Farm]

Ha, I've seen enough of his videos, maybe 2, to know I won't be taking advice from him. He is a doit himself. About every guy on this site knows more than he does about tractors.

You can criticize him all you want but he's got over 200,000 subscribers, more than any other channel covering tractors so he must be doing something right.

 

[Torvy]

You can criticize him all you want but he's got over 200,000 subscribers, more than any other channel covering tractors so he must be doing something right.

I don't know one way or another, but volume and quality are not the same thing. Budweiser sells a lot of what they call beer. Those who know and appreciate beer can't stand the stuff.

I like Tim, OK. Seems like a nice guy and at least gives various brands a shake, even through green glasses. The Good Works guy is a shill and I won't intentionally watch a second of his garbage.

 

[Cahaba Valley Farm]

The Good Works guy is a shill and I won't intentionally watch a second of his garbage.

Be careful not to discount him either. As a past used tractor salesman he has given a lot of value by sharing inside information about the secondary market for tractors and implements. He posted one video fairly recently discussing how different brands of tractors age over time and it was very insightful, not something you are going to hear from the every day tractor user.

 

[arrow]

Budweiser sells a lot of what they call beer. Those who know and appreciate beer can't stand the stuff.

Really. Rather sanctimonious to say "taste" is not of the beholder.
Budweiser is one of my favorites and much preferred over the rather hippster hoppy IPA's I haven't enjoyed.
So you're saying my taste buds aren't as "educated" as yours?
Damn...I told them not to quit school.

 

[Torvy]

Really. Rather sanctimonious to say "taste" is not of the beholder.
Budweiser is one of my favorites and much preferred over the rather hippster hoppy IPA's I haven't enjoyed.
So you're saying my taste buds aren't as "educated" as yours?
Damn...I told them not to quit school.

I am not shocked. Not a fan of IPA, but that St. Louis swill is awful. If you like American style beers, there are better choices. Like many brands in the US, marketing is better than the product.

I'm more of a Stout, Porter or Belgian Tripple fan. Never get too hung up on one brand, there are so many good ones.

 

[California]

When they came to the US, Yanmar already had a proven product and had used the same idea JD had popularized decades before of being priced higher but being simple machines built to very high quality and backed by service. Yanmar even cast their own steel & made their electrical parts. The whole tractor was made to last forever and be repaired by farmers.
....

Yanmar's legacy today is a minimal presence in new tractors, but a huge world-wide group of older Yanmar owners happily using and rebuilding those old machines. Old Yanmars now have cult status and a good supply of spares. They are popular and you can even buy a completely rebuilt like new old Yanmar with a warranty!

Scotty

Yup!

I haven't had to fix anything that wasn't owner abuse in near 20 years, on two Yanmars that were already over 20 years old when I bought each in badly neglected condition. A month of replacing battery, missing knob covers, bashed headlights, etc, nothing critical, all owner abuse, to put each in service and they've been dead reliable since. Got one dyno tested and it exceeded new spec. Neither uses oil. Don't know of any dealer familiar with them, and don't need one. As you said "The whole tractor was made to last forever and be repaired by farmers."