>>>This tractor is exactly the same as my Ariens 1332.
Surprised by that.
$600 is not so high for that machine if it’s really as good as the picture looks and the engine has had little use. It would probably scooped up by someone who knows about Yamahas. It takes a while to sell one but the faithful are always lurking.
It’s the oldest of the 624 US sold models that I know of as indicated by the gas tank. I generally stay away from those because they are the oldest but I have never come across an old style in such nice condition. The sweetener here or at least for me would be it could have an outstanding engine which is as far apart from a Tecumseh as a Ford is to a Ferrari.
A guy called me a couple of times about Yamahas and itching to get one. He ended up driving from Boston to west of NYC to pickup an 828 track for 600 which was no where near as nice as the one posted. He was ecstatic about finally getting one.
>>>I'd also be afraid that parts could be hard to get and expensive.
Mostly not that expensive for most repair parts sometimes cheaper than for an Ariens. BUT some things are off the map, starter for 800.
Just about everything is available from boats.net. You could scan through a parts breakdown and see just what type of things are available and what isn’t. Most parts are available. A few times something listed as not available from boats.net was found at another site. That’s rare though.
What boats does not stock they can get from Japan in 5-8 days and that happens often for the less than common wear parts. But that happens just as often for Honda parts.
If you go to boats click on Yamaha on the left, then snowblowers in the middle, then click all years. Pick out a YS624T or YS624WW from higher up on the list and check the drawing for having the same gas tank as the one posted. You can then go to the drawings and select any part. On that page at the bottom will be a where used of that part and for most they will show in many later snowblower models as they did not change much over the years. Many parts will show in other OPE. It will give you some confidence that parts (most) are very available.
Bottom line:
6 is not so bad and it would sell around here, Boston. I’m thinking of selling my 624T for 6 but it’s got new rings and a valve job which came out very well, peaked compression. It sounds like a terror and very aggressive compared even to other Yamahas I’ve had that had good compression.
You can fix up a machine so 6 would be burning cash. You could hold out for an 828 to come by at a much lower price and make it whole. My last two 828’s were gotten for $150 each but it took a year of waiting.