Unless you're in the marine or excavation industries, Yanmar probably isn’t the first brand that comes to mind when considering a compact tractor. But when it comes to the mechanical engineering of diesel powered machines, Yanmar is one of the world’s finest.
Yanmar was founded in Japan in the early 1900’s and become a global brand when it developed one of the first commercially available small diesel power plants.
By 1992 Yanmar had produced 10 million diesel engines for the agriculture, marine and construction industries, cemented by a reputation for reliability and long service life.
Yanmar expanded their engineering efforts from engines to include excavators and agricultural machinery and in 1977 John Deere chose Yanmar to manufacture its' compact tractors which continued for well over 20 years. John Deere to this day still use Yanmar engines and components in their American built compact tractors.
Yanmar tractors were distributed in Australia by PFG Australia ( Deutz Fahr, Kioti ) but the relationship came to an end for unknown reasons. In that time plenty of Yanmar tractors made their way to farms and properties around Australia where they gained a reputation akin to Toyota, one of reliability and toughness.
Who a Yanmar tractor suits
Yanmar would suit buyers who want Kubota reliability without the premium. Yanmar didn’t really attack the Aussie market hard like Kubota, instead focused on the SE Asian and American markets. With lower brand recognition, they are usually cheaper. However, when it comes to powertrain quality and reliability, Yanmar and Kubota are neck and neck.
Yanmars also suit buyers who want something a bit more interesting than the standard old orange tractors. Yanmars have a geek-like following online for this reason.
These tractors would also suit people wanting to use a compact tractor for a commercial application, as these tractors are made to work and do a lot of hours not just sit in the shed all week.
We find a lot of people who buy a used Yanmar from us have a connection to the marine or earthmoving industries and are aware of their reputation.
Who it doesn’t suit
A Yanmar may not suit if you are super tall, some of the earlier models didn’t have great leg room so it’s worth test driving before buying.
The Good
A true engineering company with world class engines
Excellent high quality power trains
Well thought-out controls and ergonomics
Good parts availability (through PFG Australia)
Good re-sale value
The Not So Good
Cramped operator station in early models
Not as well known
Watch out for some grey import models which may have poor parts availability in Australia
Verdict
Yanmars are the underdog of the compact tractor world, all the capability and quality of a Kubota but without the fame. This is probably why they’re one of our favourites. Next time you're in the market for a used compact tractor- give a Yanmar a go, you won’t be disappointed.