Both compact · same Yanmar lineup
Yanmar YT235 vs Yanmar YM342
| Spec | Yanmar YT235 | Yanmar YM342 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$32,899 | ~$31,899 |
| What that price is | dealer list, not MSRP | dealer list, not MSRP |
| Size class | Compact | Compact |
| Transmission | Hydrostatic | Shuttle |
| Engine hp | 34.2 hp | 41.4 hp |
| PTO hp | 27 hp | 31.0 hp |
| Loader lift | 1,300 lbsat the pivot pin | 2,500 lbsat the pivot pin |
| Three-point lift | 1,764 lbsmeasuring point not recorded | 3,190 lbsat the ball ends |
| Hydraulic flow | 11.2 GPM | 14.6 GPM |
| Drive | 4WD | 4WD |
| Engine | Yanmar | Yanmar |
| Weight | 2,558 lbs | 3,916 lbs |
| Fuel tank | 7.4 gal | 13.2 gal |
| 4WD | Yes | Yes |
| Front loader | Yes | Yes |
| Cab available | No | No |
| Hydrostatic | Yes | 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 YT235
What they like
- Yanmar builds the engines in John Deere's compact tractors, so buying a YT235 gets you the same proven powerplant pedigree direct from the source
- The 10-year/3,000-hour powertrain warranty is the longest in the industry, crushing the 6-year coverage from Deere and Kubota
- The i-HMT hydrostatic automatically balances engine and travel speed, delivering gear-like efficiency owners consistently praise
- The 1,764 lb 3-point lift at 24 inches out-muscles a Deere 2038R and most of the 35 HP class
- 27 PTO HP runs 5-6 foot rotary cutters, tillers, and snowblowers with authority
- It typically prices below a comparably equipped Deere 2038R or Kubota L3901, with owners citing thousands in savings
What they complain about
- The Yanmar tractor dealer network is small in much of the US, so service and warranty work can mean a long drive
- Resale value is unproven compared to Deere and Kubota because the brand's US tractor presence is still young
- Parts beyond engine components can take longer to arrive than the big-two brands
- No cab option was offered for years and cab availability is still spotty at dealers
- The unusual styling and beige-red color scheme isn't for everyone and hurts resale in green-and-orange country
- Yanmar has lost US dealers in several regions, so confirming there is still a servicing dealer within driving distance matters more here than with the majors
Yanmar YM342
What they like
- The 2,500 lb loader lift at the pivot pin is the same figure Yanmar quotes for the YT347, a machine costing roughly $13,500 more
- Category 1 and 2 hitch at 3,190 lb on the lower links opens up implements the Category 1-only YM2 series cannot carry
- 14.6 GPM total flow, with 9.3 GPM on the implement circuit, is generous enough to run a third-function grapple alongside the loader
- 540/540E dual PTO speeds let light work run at lower engine revs, cutting fuel burn and noise on a rotary cutter
- Independent PTO here, unlike the transmission-driven arrangement on the cheaper YM2 series
- 13.2-gallon tank and 15.5 inches of ground clearance suit long days over rough pasture
What they complain about
- 8F/8R synchronized reverser with a dry single clutch means every direction change on loader work goes through the clutch pedal
- 31.0 PTO hp from 41.4 gross is a 25% loss, which is steep next to the YT347's 39.5 PTO hp from a similar-sized engine
- No cab is listed for the YM3 series at all, so cold-weather or dusty work means dressing for it
- Yanmar does not state the aftertreatment for this engine, so DPF or DOC service costs cannot be read off the spec sheet
- 3,916 lb bare weight makes this a two-person job to move without running it, and it needs a heavier trailer than the YM2 machines