Ym 4x4 durable?

[porkchop401]

Howdy fellas , I am considering a yanmar greymarket tractor , my question is are the 4x systems reliable and durable ? I have had 2wd tractors in the past but think 4x4 would handy for plowing and dirt work but I just dont want somthing that is will stay broken. Also does any body run a finish mow on a 4x4 tractor with ag tires and how does it do as for as cutting the ground?
Also what is the main diference in the Fx series and the ym series tractors ? I have had ym 2000 that was a good tractor but I see the f/fx series that look like good tractors as well. thanks

 

[kenmac]

Don't know about the others. But, my 3110D has had no issues

 

[grassroots2323]

1300D 4wd is almost bullet proof.

 

[lragan]

If I understand correctly, the F series tractors are newer models (relatively) but since there are fewer of them they sometimes are more difficult to get parts for. I have a 4wd F20D that is a horse. Takes a lot more abuse than I should dish out but just keeps on working. Normal maintenance is strongly suggested and the better you take care of it, the better it will serve you. I run a Koyker 120 front end loader, Rhino bush hog, and a box blade that takes care of all that I need. Most of the use is with the fel and moving dirt, large rocks, logs and root balls on my Ozark 10 acres. I consider it the best investment I made when I bought my property. I try and make sure I deal with the larger parts supply companies (Hoye, LMTC, Fredricks Equipment, etc.) that are UTDA companies.

 

[frankmako]

I got a YM1601D and never had any problems with the 4X4. I have use it on the farm doing work in areas that my big tractor is to big to get into. I also pull a five foot finishing mower with it to cut my yard. It has the rice tires on it. I don't cut the yard when it is wet. Other time the rice tires don't hurt the yard.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I have a 4220D with R1 tires. It will dig up the grass when it is in 4 WD if you try to turn sharp. THe 4WD limits your turn radius by several feet as the outside tires have to spin when in 4WD and not when in 2 wd. I try to keep mine in 2 WD as much as possible when mowing pastures unless I am moving thru muddy areas or creeks etc. I would not consider ever getting a 2 WD tractor after having this 4 WD, especially with a FEL.

 

[Ron D.]

The 4wd systems are really tough. I also would not consider a 2wd after having 4wd.

The best advice when purchasing a grey market tractor, do it through a reputable dealer. Don't get sold on a new paint job and the words "reconditioned" unless you're dealing with a reputable grey market dealer. Two that I'm aware of, either through personal experience or through reading threads on this site, are Stan Hoye at StansTractors.com and LMTC (Little Miami Tractor Company). Talk to them. They will give you advice on which tractor fits your needs and which have good aftermarket support. This is critical and will be the most important thing you can do because otherwise you can wind up with something you can't get parts for.

I think both dealers I've mentioned are members of UTDA (Used Tractor Dealers Assoc). Their tractors will be sold with the proper upgrades for safety.

Good luck, and be sure and let us know what you do.

 

[LMTC]

Stan is not a member of UTDA. He was invited to the organizational meeting in '06, as were most dealers we knew about in this market, but did not come and has never joined. I can't speak for him, but feedback I've had from other dealers who declined to join is that the safety equipment raises the cost too much for them to be competitive. My response is that I don't know of a UTDA dealer who has gone out of business yet due to the increased cost. UTDA goes beyond the safety equipment too, although that was/is our main focus. It is (to the best of my knowledge) the first effort in the gray market to try to provide parts & service assurance to the buyer. It is a network of dealers who have agreed to the following "All Sales and Service Dealers agree to provide parts and service, to the best of their capability, for any UTDA certified tractor brought to them that was last sold by a UTDA member."

 

[ritchieb]

Yes, the YM's are very durable. I purchased my 1610D back in '07 from LMTC (UTDA tractor and dealer) Little Miami Trading Company - Compact Tractors and it has never let me down.

This unit has cleaned up after flash flooding hit my friends property in sandy mud up to the axles. It mows and keeps up with my thirty-three acres of very steep property here in WV, granted I have to mow a lot of it straight up and down the hills for safety. It cleans snow from a 1400 foot long steep driveway in the winter. I use it to skid trees about 16" in diameter to my area where I split logs for firewood and many other things along the way.

Wish I would have had it a long time ago, I think it is going to be as tough as a Gravely walk behind!

 

[drippingwithgold]

Had my 1610d 3/4 up to the front tires is mucky mud, put it in 4wd and walked out like Jesus walking on water. 4wd is pretty much a must have.

 

[HoyeTractor]

I can't speak for him, but feedback I've had from other dealers who declined to join is that the safety equipment raises the cost too much for them to be competitive.

Stan is of the old school belief that we are all adults and are capable of calculating risks and making our own choices. If you want a tractor with a ROPS he will install one for you at his cost. If you don't want a ROPS he will not force you to buy one. I believe UTDA members also have waivers that allow them to sell a tractor without a ROPS if the customer does not want one. I dont see much difference there.

Aaron
Hoye Tractor Parts
Contact Us
(940)592-0181

 

[LMTC]

Stan is of the old school belief that we are all adults and are capable of calculating risks and making our own choices. If you want a tractor with a ROPS he will install one for you at his cost. If you don't want a ROPS he will not force you to buy one. I believe UTDA members also have waivers that allow them to sell a tractor without a ROPS if the customer does not want one. I dont see much difference there.

Aaron
Hoye Tractor Parts
Contact Us
(940)592-0181

You are 100% mistaken Aaron. Any UTDA dealer selling a tractor covered by the S.A.F.E. program (which at this point includes all Yanmar grey market tractors and Zennoh-badged grey market tractors manufactured by Yanmar) MUST comply completely with the program requirements....which include OSHA approved ROPS. The membership agreement allows for no sales of covered tractors without ROPS.

 

[HoyeTractor]

My mistake. The waiver was for UTDA Service Dealers. I had to re-read the contract but I knew I remembered seeing a waiver somewhere.

Aaron
Hoye Tractor Parts
Contact Us
(940)592-0181

 

[LMTC]

And again, the waiver does not allow the sale of tractor without ROPS. The waiver allows a servicing dealer to provide service on a grey Yanmar that is not UTDA certified if the customer signs a waiver....the waiver involves giving the customer an estimate to make the tractor compliant with the UTDA safety standards, and then having the customer either accept and the dealer do the certification, or the customer decline and have just the service done for which they came in. At least this way they know what is available to them.

 

[gb19711]

Now back to our regularly scheduled program.........

Yes - in answer to your question, the 4x4 tractors seem to be very robust. I own a YM2210D and have had no problems and much success with my tractor. I also have not had any difficulty getting parts when needed (rarely).

 

[Ron D.]

LMTC, how much does the S.A.F.E. Program generally add to the cost of a tractor? I know it has to depend somewhat on the tractor (size, etc.), but what is the average to bring a tractor into compliance with UTDA guidelines?

I have operated many tractors in the past without such safety items like ROPS and PTO guards, but I've also had a few close calls, much less some of the horror stories you hear about happening to others. My Yanmar doesn't have any safety equipment.

 

[LMTC]

LMTC, how much does the S.A.F.E. Program generally add to the cost of a tractor? I know it has to depend somewhat on the tractor (size, etc.), but what is the average to bring a tractor into compliance with UTDA guidelines?

I have operated many tractors in the past without such safety items like ROPS and PTO guards, but I've also had a few close calls, much less some of the horror stories you hear about happening to others. My Yanmar doesn't have any safety equipment.

Please bear in mind that at this point the program only covers units manufactured by Yanmar. The cost to us as we process a tractor, depending on tractor model, is approximately $650-$850.00. As with most things, it probably costs more for someone to buy each component after the fact. One of our major concerns has always been that many, maybe even most, of the buyers of these tractors have little to no previous tractor experience. As a result they often do not understand all the ways in which a tractor can overturn; most simply assume that it happens if they get sideways on a hill that is too steep and the tractor rolls over. They do not at all comprehend rear rollover resulting from something holding the tractor from moving forward (like a log being dragged that digs in) or side rollover on a gentle slope because the uphill tire rolls over a hidden rock/log or the down hill tire rolls into a ground hog hole or other soft spot. If rollovers could all be readily anticipated, there would likely be no deaths from them. It's the hidden dangers that concern us, and many people simply lack the experience with tractors to fully appreciate all the dangers.

 

[Ron D.]

Thanks for the reply. That's not much money when you weigh the consequences of a mistake, particularly with roll over. I have had a lot of experience driving tractors since I was a teenager, but had never come close to experienceing, or even considered a backward roll over. All of my experience has been in north Texas where we don't have alot of hills, so I've always discounted roll over possibilities, but now I need to be careful pulling on things. Good info, thanks again.

 

[Kentcal]

YM2010D--Absolute workhorse. Run in 4wd almost continually-sandy loam soil. Use this little thing for everything. If I had to do it over--would get a bigger one.