Thread: Old Tractor Service Manual - Lost in Translation

Hello All,

I have a Yanmar Diesel four wheel drive tractor a YM240D that was made in around the 1980s. I have had the tractor for close to 15 years and it did not come with any form of documentation. Since time is marching on I figured that I had better do some research and track down handy things like: An Operator's Manual, a Parts Catalogue, and a Service Manual, while they are still available. I managed to track down and buy each one.

Recently the clutch has been letting me know that it may require some adjustment. So going off past experience: Operator manuals are about how to run the bit of machinery, along with some routine maintenance insights. Parts Manuals are to identify what parts one might need - like the correct filter for the machine. Now here is the interesting bit... Service Manuals from my prior understanding provide more in-depth information about how to disassemble and assemble the machine. This information can include such things as torque settings and any required adjustments. For example, how much travel or free play a clutch rod should have.

The first mention of the clutch adjustment came early in the Service Manual - under the heading of "splitting the tractor." There was a mention about ... 'Clutch Adjustment'. This looked hopeful until I read - See Assembly section page ... Okay, this makes sense because after being disassembled it would need to be reassembled. So, since I am apparently easily led, I went to the recommended page. It did mention about the clutch. However, it said "adjust the clutch".

Okay - that was handy and very insightful. I searched through the remaining pages and found a "Trouble shooting" section. The sub-heading was 'clutch does not engage". The column immediately to the right said ... "Adjust the clutch"

Sigh - it is a Clayton's-like Service Manual.


Kind regards
Lionel

Originally Posted by V8Ian

Dr Lionel has waited fifteen years to consult the good book.

Hello Ian,

Nope, not that bad. I only got the three tomes back in 2020. It is more of a testament to the machine itself. Yanmar's are such good machines that they do not require frequent consultations with the literature about things going wrong with them.

Kind regards
Lionel