I have been shopping for a 50-65 HP tractor for quite some time. My Deere 3046R is not quite powerful enough to handle our Woods TB12.20 Turf batwing finish mower, and easily handle our Rhino TS10 flex wing cutter.
Of the large number of tractors available in this category, we limited our search as follows:
- Manufacturers must make their own tractor. We did not consider rebranded tractors.
- We need a variable speed or multi-speed transmission. I considered Hydrostatic, power shift, IVT, or similar “shift on the go, under load”.
- Cab. While there are advantages to either cab or open station, mowing is one task that benefits tremendously from an enclosed operator’s station.
Even with these restrictions, we find many quality tractors to choose from. The two most popular being the John Deere 4066R and Kubota L6060. However, there are several others that meet these requirements.
Rather than diving deep into a feature by feature comparison of all the tractors in this category, I’ll focus on 4 particular “tipping points” which led me to the Yanmar YT359C. You can find detailed YT359C specifications here.
Transmission
Yanmar’s iHMT transmission is unique in the compact tractor world. To my knowledge, no other manufacturer has anything similar. In this size range, other manufacturers offer Hydrostatic drive, or a shuttle shift style synchronized transmission.
The operator controls are unique. If you want “simple”, “just like every other tractor”, “I don’t want to learn anything new”, etc, then you might not like this approach. However, if you are open to learning some new / different controls, you’ll find this machine offers lots of flexibility.
How It Works
This is a combination “gear drive” and “hydrostatic” transmission.
Internally, the unique idea is that the hydrostatic pump/motor is attached to the 3 range gear drive output shaft. So, the HST portion spins when the tractor is in motion. The HST rotates to change the final output shaft rotation speed, allowing the speed to vary from 0 to 2x the speed of the gear drive shaft.
The diagram below shows how this works.
Why Bother?
The goal is to increase the transmission efficiency. Typical Hydrostatic Transmissions are not very efficient. Using oil for propulsion loses a LOT of power. The iHMT operates most efficiently in the MIDDLE of the speed range. For example, if low range varies from 0 to 4 MPH, the most efficiency will be at 2 MPH since the HST will not be moving at all. Essentially a direct connection from gear transmission to drive wheels.
More Detail Later
I plan to go into more detail on how this transmission behaves in the real world once I have more experience with it. For now, the possibilities of higher efficiencies while maintaining hydrostatic type flexibility is a key factor in my deciding to purchase the YT359C.
Quiet / Spacious Cab
As I stepped up into the YT359C, I was struck by the large size of the cab. Much more open feeling than the Deere 3 and 4 series cabs. The floor is flat all the way across, allowing flexible and comfortable areas for your feet.
With any “test drive”, I run the engine “full throttle” while testing the audio volume level with my Apple Watch. I admit that the Apple Watch is not an officially calibrated db tester, but it does seem to do a good job of relative measurements. The YT359C tested 76 db which is the best I have seen to date. In comparison, both the Deere 3R,4R and the Kubota Grand L6060 both test in the 80 db range. One more interesting point is that the Deere 4044R tested several db LOUDER than the 4052R,4066R and 4075R. Perhaps the lack of a turbocharger makes the 44R more vocal?
A quiet cab is important to me, especially on longer projects. Quieter cabs also vibrate less, making the ride experience more pleasant.
Excellent Under-Body Protection
No, I’m not talking about the gimmick “under body coating” the car dealers brag on! One look under the YT359C shows a smooth protected belly. I’m not sure it would qualify as a full blown ‘skid plate’, but it will certainly provide a LOT of protection for oil lines, filters, electrical wires, etc.
As I look a bit closer, I see that the steering hoses are strategically placed where they are protected MUCH better than my other tractors.
We have found ourselves working in more wooded areas than a typical Ag tractor would encounter. Steel under-body shielding would have prevented (or at least reduced) damages I have encountered on some of my other machines.
HIgh Ground Clearance
The YT359 has a LOT of ground clearance for a compact tractor. I’m not exactly certain how they pull that off. However, I think the “Step Down” rear axle allows for more ground clearance than other tractors. Ground clearance is helpful in a few scenarios:
- Wooded Areas. Being able to drive over larger debris without it hitting the underside of the tractor reduces risk of damage.
- Row Crop Applications. Cultivating growing crops requires driving over and straddling standing crops. Most general purpose compact tractors are not well suited for this application. The 12+ inches of clearance on the YT359C should allow driving over crops up to roughly 16-18” inches without issue.
- Muddy Environments. Low ground clearance can make a tractor easier to get ‘stuck’ in muddy conditions. Once the frame of the tractor is sitting on the ground, it is MUCH more difficult to get out. The tires can handle significant depth of ruts, but once the body of the tractor starts dragging you are soon stuck!
Large Engine
I found two models with a 3.3L engine. The Kubota M6060 and this Yanmar YT359C. I’m curious as to why the M6060 is the ONLY 60hp Kubota which uses the larger engine. Why would they use different engines in the 3-4 different 60hp machines.
I am hoping that the larger displacement engine will have more low end torque and lugging power. I have been somewhat disappointed by my Deere 5075E in that area.
Will These Advantages Prove True?
These are the features that attracted me to the YT359C. Will I find these initial impressions to be correct? Only time will tell. I promise to keep you updated on our experiences, both positive and negative with the Yanmar YT359C.
