Utility against Compact · same Yanmar lineup
Yanmar YM359 vs Yanmar SM240
| Spec | Yanmar YM359 | Yanmar SM240 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$37,399 | ~$35,299 |
| What that price is | dealer list, not MSRP | dealer list, not MSRP |
| Size class | Utility | Compact |
| Transmission | Shuttle | Shuttle |
| Engine hp | 58.9 hp | 36.9 hp |
| PTO hp | 47.0 hp | 28.2 hp |
| Loader lift | 2,500 lbsat the pivot pin | 2,116 lbsat the pivot pin |
| Three-point lift | 3,190 lbsat the ball ends | 2,639 lbsat the ball ends |
| Hydraulic flow | 15.9 GPM | 10.5 GPM |
| Drive | 4WD | 4WD |
| Engine | Yanmar | Yanmar |
| Weight | 4,158 lbs | 3,020 lbs |
| Fuel tank | 13.2 gal | 9.0 gal |
| 4WD | Yes | Yes |
| Front loader | Yes | Yes |
| Cab available | No | No |
| Hydrostatic | No | No |
| Power steering | Yes | Yes |
| Cruise control | No | No |
| Warranty | 10 yr / 3000 hr powertrain | 10 yr / 3000 hr powertrain |
A highlighted cell wins its row on the rule named above the table: more power, lift, capacity or flow, or a lower price. A lift row is left unwon whenever the two makers measured in different places, or where either of them did not say — a figure quoted at the pivot pin and one quoted 500 mm ahead of it describe the same loader and differ by roughly a third, so ranking them against each other would invent a result. Prices are typical list and move with dealer packages.
From owner discussion and long-term write-ups
What owners of each one say
Yanmar YM359
What they like
- 47.0 PTO hp is enough for 7-foot cutters, round balers and mid-size tillers that the 35.5 hp YM347 would struggle to turn
- Roughly $11,700 cheaper than the YT359, which makes identical gross horsepower - the saving is the I-HMT transmission you go without
- 15.9 GPM total flow, 10.2 GPM of it to implements, is the highest of any gear-drive tractor Yanmar sells
- Independent 540/540E PTO with telescopic lower links, so heavy Category 2 implements can be hitched without a second pair of hands
- 10-year / 3,000-hour powertrain warranty on a mechanically simple synchronized-shuttle machine
- 13.2-gallon tank matches the smaller YM3 models despite the larger engine, and fills from the driver's side
What they complain about
- Yanmar's own YM359 model page omits PTO horsepower entirely; the 47.0 hp figure only appears in the YM3 series brochure
- 3,190 lb lower-link lift is identical to the 41.4 hp YM342, so the hitch does not scale with 17 extra horsepower
- F8-R8 with a dry single clutch and synchronized rather than power reverser, so heavy loader cycling works the clutch
- Loader lift stays 2,500 lb across the whole YM3 range, which is modest for a 4,158 lb machine at this power
- No cab option anywhere in the YM3 series, which is a real gap at 59 hp where rivals offer one
Yanmar SM240
What they like
- Backhoe is a factory-ordered option rather than a dealer add-on, so the subframe and hydraulics are engineered as one machine
- Independent PTO with electric-hydraulic engagement, a step up from the transmission-driven overrunning clutch on the cheaper YM2 series
- Yanmar publishes a genuine combined figure of 10.5 GPM, splitting 6.1 to implements and 4.4 to steering, so the number is directly comparable
- 2,639 lb hitch capacity at the ball ends from a 3,020 lb tractor is a strong ratio for the class
- 10-year / 3,000-hour powertrain warranty, and a 24-month / 2,000-hour whole-tractor warranty alongside it
What they complain about
- 9.0-gallon tank is small for a 36.9 hp machine and well under the 13.2 gallons the similarly priced YM342 carries
- 28.2 PTO hp from 36.9 gross is a 24% drivetrain loss, typical of Yanmar's geared machines but well behind the I-HMT models
- 3,020 lb bare weight is light for 2,116 lb of loader lift, so ballast or filled tyres are needed to use the front end
- Costs about $3,400 more than the 41.4 hp YM342, which is more tractor for less money unless the factory backhoe is the reason for buying
- No cab offered, and the SM240 sits below the SM475 that gets one as standard