The majority of the compact tractors in this country originate from either Japan, China or Korea. Our primary source is Japan. In Japan there are many small farms. Each having a tractor. These farm tractors are used primarily for the purpose of rototilling.
Used Japanese tractors tend to have little wear. Rototiller operations are very easy on machinery. You can only rototill a field so much as it is growing crops most of the time. The engine and drive train are operated at a constant rpm and constant load, hence these tractors have been used well within their design capabilities. The tractors tend to be well under 2000 hours and most of the smaller units under 1000 hours. Typically the only signs of age are cosmetic from sun and weather. The basic “guts” of the tractor have very little wear. This is in contrast to tractors used in the U.S. where typically they are used as multi-purpose units and many times with a front end loader. This, and the fact that U.S. operators will many times attempt to exceed the design capabilities of their compact tractors can lead to a shortened service life. The bulk of these tractors were built 20+ years ago. That is a good thing. Tractors built in a time when manufactures were liberal with metal and kept things simple. Unlike automobiles of late, these tractors were designed to last a long time and are rebuildable. This is why, in many cases, the tractor used in Japan is the desired tractor to purchase!
Due to cultural and financial incentives, Japanese farmers tend to get new farm tractors well before their current tractors are used very much. Tractors that are considered used in Japan have little value in the Japanese market. U.S. buyers on the other hand, prefer to purchase a good used tractor. In fact we will boast of how we were able to obtain a good deal on a used tractor. Hence there is a large demand for used tractors.
Unlike automobiles, tractors in North America do not change hands very much. Many times it seems like the purchase of a tractor is a lifetime purchase. Just like the acreage it was purchased for. Because there is a shortage of used tractors in the U.S., used tractors from Japan are very desirable.
We do an extensive reconditioning on our tractor and install a new front loader at our facilities in North Bend and Thorp, Washington and Dallas, Texas. We have discovered that even though the tractors from Japan are generally low time and in great basic mechanical condition there are a lot of minor things that need to be taken care of. We go over the entire tractor so you can be confident of a standardized product. Come to our WA & TX stores and see the tractors for sale. We will have to remind you they are used.
Over thirty years ago when Kubota was an emerging brand, several other
Japanese brands were being introduced to the US market. Yanmar and
Mitsubishi were among those names. Where Kubota decided to reinforce it's own brand, Yanmar and Mitsubishi choose to align with brands already accepted in the US. For many years Yanmar has been the manufacture of John Deere's compact tractor line. It is only until recent times Yanmar has parted ways with John Deere and started marketing its own brand in partnership with Cub Cadet. Yanmar has always been a recognized brand in marine diesel engines. Mitsubishi aligned itself with Case originally, and then Cub Cadet. Currently Mitsubishi is building the 15 series in the Mahindra brand. Mitsubishi also provides the engines for some TYM and McCormick compact models.
By the way, the new Cub/Yanmars are a nice looking quality tractor. It looks like however, they are marketing to the consumer notion where horsepower is the measure of a tractor's capability. The essence of a tractor's capability is traction, which is mostly a function of weight. If you compare this Yanmar to our Branson in the weight category there is no competition.
Mitsubishi built the entire tractor for Case initially and then for Cub Cadet, a company that has never built it's own compact tractor until it's recent joint venture with Yanmar.
