YANMAR YT3 Or The YM3?

YT3

YM3

Determining which tractor to pick can be tiring and complicated. Where do you start looking with hundreds or even thousands of different tractors to choose from? Yanmar is a great place to start, especially if you have a dealer nearby.

YANMAR

Yanmar is a Japanese company that has been manufacturing tractors since the 1920s. It is considered a top-quality brand in every industry it serves. Their designs are known for optimized and reliable product designs.

A key component of Yanmar’s tractors is the simplicity of their designs. American customers can find that choosing the tractor that fits their needs is easy since the lineup of Yanmar compact tractors is relatively small. Each tractor in the lineup is class-leading by industry standards.

This article will look more closely at Yanmar's most popular tractors sold in the United States, the YT3 and YM3 series. The YT3 and YM3 might look the same at first but there are plenty of differences between them, making the price increase from the YM to the YT substantial.

POWERTRAIN

The YM and YT series have a couple of key differences with the powertrain options.

• Yanmar YM3 features a gear drive transmission.
• The YT3 series has an I-HMT known as a Hydromechanical Variable Transmission. The I-HMT combines a gear drive and hydrostatic transmission to give the user much better control and fuel efficiency than a traditional gear drive.

Check out Yanmar's Tractor Bob video on the YT3 Series tractors to learn more about Hydromechanical Variable Transmission.

Another key difference is that the YT3 series comes in two engine sizes while the YM series has an additional 42hp engine option.

YM3 and YT3 Engine Options

The final key difference in the powertrain between the two models is the PTO.

YM3 and YT3 PTO Power Options

Not only does the YM series have slightly less PTO HP than the YT series, but the YT series has a boost in PTO horsepower at working speed. That's because the specialized I-HMT transmission on the YT3 tractor can independently set the ground speed and engine speed.

YT3 tractors are better suited for heavier PTO work than the YM series. Most operators probably won't need the extra PTO power. But for owners using their tractors for more commercial applications, the YT series might be the way to go.

LIFTING SPECS

If you think spending more money will get you more lift capacity, think again. The YM and YT series tractors share similar specifications in the lifting category. The loaders are technically different models but perform nearly identically.

YM3 and YT3 PTO Power Options

The main difference between the loader types is that the YT series has an auto-lowering kickstand for taking off the loader.

The YM series has kickstands that require a manual step to unpin.

THREE-POINT LIFT

The 3-point hitches on the YM and YT series are slightly different. The YM can hook up to CAT 1 & CAT 2 attachments, while the YT comes standard with CAT 1 compatibility.

YM3 and YT3 3-POINT HITCH COMPARISONS

FEATURES COMPARED

The YT Series has a lot more features than the YM. One major difference is that the YT has an optional cab, while the YM only comes in an open station configuration.

Both tractors have backhoe attachments that will perform almost identically. The YT series backhoe is slightly better when it comes to the digging force and digging depth.

Both tractors feature:

• 4wd
• Rear-Diff Lock
• Three Ranges
• A shuttle shifter
• An Ergonomic design

The YM series has more economical design features, like the loader joystick positioning and the fact that it’s a gear drive transmission.

The YT3 series feels a lot more premium.

• The loader joystick is positioned right next to the armrest.

• Integrated buttons for the throttle boost and A/B mode (allows you to customize ground speed and engine speed independently).

• Electronic cruise control (just like on a car).
• Anti-Stall (keeps you from stalling out by automatically adjusting the power ratio).
• Auto throttle (increases the engine RPM instantly with the press of a button).
• Two additional third-function valves with control levers.

These are all great features. But plenty of more minor features make the YT series preferable over the YM. Like the more spacious and flat floorboard area or the nicely integrated step, a small but nice touch to the overall design.

The rear axle is another crucial difference between the two tractors. The YM Series has a straight-shaft axle, while the YT Series has an offset rear axle. The offset axle puts more power on the wheels and provides more ground clearance. It is important to note that no other tractor this size has this feature other than the Yanmar YT Series.

PRICE

Now for the price differences between the two tractors. Remember that prices will change depending on when you are reading this article. Also, this article is required to list the minimum allowable advertising price. Buyers will be able to receive extra discounts (some quite substantial) when you call us at Tractor Bob’s or by visiting your nearest Yanmar Dealership.

YM3 AND YT3 PRICE COMPARISONS

You can see that the YT series is nearly $10,000 more than the YM series. We believe the extra cost is worth every single extra dollar spent on the YT. That's because its advanced controls allow you to harness your tractor's full power and fuel efficiency. Talk with your local dealer will help determine how much you could save on any of the tractors in this series.

Tractor Bob is committed to helping buyers find the right solution for their power equipment needs. You can also learn more about using your power equipment on this site.

Reach out to one of Tractor Bob’s product experts to select a machine that fits your needs.