Anyone got the scoop on this? I had not heard of them until they made the new JD997 Z-Trak Mowers.

Yanmar has been around for along time. they are a big tractor manufacturer from japan. they make of of americas john deere tractors under about 40 hp. they make alot of diesel engines for wheel loaders and skid steers and the sort. nice engine, long lasting and powerful.

I work at a Thermo King dealer and that is the most popular engine on the refrigiration trailers. They run a very long time and are great motors. Yanmar also makes smaller application diesel such as little water pumps for mines and such, at least from what i have read.

Yanmar is also popular diesel choice in boats. If looking for info on them, check some of the boating sites and forums.

yanmar is very popular up here for boats, heard that maintenece is kinda pricey though. they used to make diesel outboards

Pulled one out of a Deere Skiddy once. They pulled the old trick of raising the ring lands for emissions and not using an insert. Didn't work for them either. Hammered out the top ring land. Only sevice a .010 piston and crank brgs. Throw away motor.

Generally speaking,Yanmar diesels are excellent.They last a very long time, I had the 4tn82 in my Howard price 100" turf blazer 727, that engine had over 6000 hrs on it,and ran like new yet.

They are in all the JAPANESE built Compact utility tractors they are very good engine

They have made the JD compact tractors for a LOT of years (30+).

They're one of the best small diesel engines out there.

Had one in my JD F-935

Diesels are heavy in ZTR's though. Make sure you take that into consideration. You may be bringing a moweron a lawn that is 4-500 some pounds heavier than a comparable gas engined ZTR.

Lots of sailboats use them as auxiliary power when the wind goes down. I've read many articles about how reliable they are with good power/weight ratio - comparable to petrol engines of the same HP output. They also have a pretty good maintenance shop availability - at least near the water.

I have a '84 model Yanmar YM146 diesel garden tractor. That model came in either Yanmar red or John Deere green and yellow.

The little tractor is relatively maintenance free...the mower deck and some of the ancillary equipment is a totally different story. You put that little guy in a strain and you can't hardly see for all of the black smoke. I would like to find a clean way to make a stack for it...that would look really cool.

MaxRock

MaxRock,

What is the size and horsepower of your YM146? I'm buying a 1986 John Deere 330, their first diesel garden tractor. It has a 16 HP Yanmar engine. I'm reading reports of this engine lasting up to 6,000 hours if well maintained.

My Yanmar is a 14 HP with 6 speed hydroshift transmission...note the model YM146. The little engine is bulletproof. Just keep the oil changed and filters clean!!!.

It has a 48" deck and I can run circles around neighbors with 23+ hp gas motors with similar deck size. Man I love diesels.

MaxRock

We have a 40 hp Yanmar in our sailboat. It is a 34' hunter. The Yanni is a great motor. One of the best if not the best for marine use. We have motored along under autopilot for 16 hours straight and she purrs like a kitty.:ro)

They make a 300 hp I6 that is the same weight as a BBC. Makes a great replacement in a boat. The main downside is the price diff between a BBC and the Yanmar is about $18K more for the diesel.

King nuzz--did you change the fuel line in your 97 6.5 td before using bio diesel? What type of bio are you using--B20?

Thanks Greg Carter Vermont

We used a 8hp Yanmar diesel on a 2 cylinder air compressor for a diving operation. It worked flawlessly for several years till somebody fueled it with gas! Totallly reliable little engine.

There's a Yanmar 25 hp in my John Deere F915. It's about 15 years old and I've never had a single problem with it.

King Nuzz - did you ever get the 330? Great little tractor, I've got 1550 hrs on my 332 and I'm looking for another (or a 430 better yet).

They are a bit like the 6.5 trucks - little undersized in the cooling system and sensitive to electrical glitches. Keep your belly screen, radiator screen and radiator clear and it should stay cool. If/when the voltage regulator goes wonky you can start boiling your battery.

There's a Yanmar 25 hp in my John Deere F915. It's about 15 years old and I've never had a single problem with it.

Unless it has been replaced, the F-915's had 17hp Yanmars with the largest hp in that prouduct line being the 22hp F-935.

Hello King Nuzz--please send me email via this address topfuel@together.net

Thanks Greg Carter Vermont

hello King Nuzz--please send me information via my personal address topfuel@together.net

Thanks Greg Carter Vermont

Lawnboy, I don't know why I put 915(Brainfart), it's a 935 but I thought it was 25hp. Thanks for the correction.

Yeah, 935's only had the 22hp, and I used every bit of that with just a 60" deck. Cut quality was always horrible cutting anything above 2.5"

Hmm. Have the 72" deck and I've never had any problems until around 4" or so. Then it bogs down pretty bad.

Of course you being in Indiana, don't experience hills too often. I could just about stall mine backing up a steep 30 degree hill in deep grass.

Plus, with just a 200 rpm drop you experience a severe loss in cut quality. Something the JD's never had to begin with.

All in all, great machines for the time (mid '80's). There are so many more choices today it'll blow your mind!

I have a marine genset that is Yanmar powered. No problems with it, great little engine.

My old school has had a 1993 John Deere 855 compact utility tractor since new, put tons of hours on it. I worked with the maintinence guys for a couple summers and put lots of time on that tractor and also did regular maintinence on it often. It had a little 3 cylinder Yanmar that was rated at 24hp IIRC. Never had any problems with it. Little finicky in the cold...you really gotta crank it (it does have glow plugs) and hold the key to start while it very slowly comes to life. Man it puts out some smoke too on winter mornings too! Great engine, great tractor...IMO John Deere did a really good job with the -55 series. Lot of advanced features for the time (late 80's-mid 90's production runs) such as foot controlled hydro tranny, live PTO with hydraulic clutch, and a quick-tach loader that was a breeze to put on and take off...

---Ben

Oh boy...1000 posts!!! weeeee!! :)