Yanmar Ke-13 to Ke-18 Maintenance Schedule & Adjustment Values
A good maintenance schedule keeps your Yanmar Ke-13, Ke-14, Ke-16 or Ke-18 reliable for years. This article follows the original schedule from the Yanmar Ke-series manual, supplemented with all adjustment values and the lubrication schedule.
Suitable for the entire series: Yanmar Ke-13, Ke-14, Ke-16 and Ke-18 (all versions).
Yanmar Ke-series maintenance schedule (by operating hours)
| Component | First service | Thereafter |
|---|---|---|
| Change engine oil | 50 hours | every 100 hours or annually |
| Replace engine oil filter | 50 hours | every 200 hours |
| Change transmission oil | 50 hours | every 300 hours |
| Clean/replace transmission oil strainer | 50 hours | every 300 hours |
| Change front axle oil | 50 hours | every 300 hours |
| Replace fuel filter element | — | every 300 hours |
| Drain/clean water separator | — | every 100 hours |
| Clean air filter element | — | every 50 hours (replace at 400 hours) |
| Clean radiator screen | — | every 50 hours |
| Change coolant | — | annually |
| Check/charge battery | — | every 100 hours |
| Check fan belt | — | every 100 hours |
| Grease (all fittings) | — | every 50 hours |
| Check fuel lines/power steering hoses | — | every 50 hours; replace every 2 years |
| Retighten wheel bolts (147–186 Nm) | 10 and 50 hours | every 100 hours |
| Check brake, clutch, steering | daily | |
Do you use fewer hours per year? Then follow the calendar instead: engine oil annually, hoses every two years. You can find which oil and how many liters you need in the Yanmar Ke-series oil and fluids guide.
Yanmar Ke-series adjustment values
| Adjustment point | Value | Adjustment |
|---|---|---|
| Clutch pedal free play | 15–25 mm | turnbuckle with locknut |
| Brake pedal free play | 25–35 mm, left = right | turnbuckle per pedal |
| Fan belt deflection | 10–15 mm at 10 kg push force | move alternator |
Important with the brake pedals: unequal free play left/right causes one-sided braking — dangerous on the road. After adjusting, also check that the parking brake lock engages when the pedal is fully depressed. If the fan belt still slips even with the alternator moved to its maximum position, the belt is worn and needs replacing; recheck a new belt after 50 hours. The original belt number from the manual is 119650-42291 (for reference).
Yanmar Ke-series lubrication schedule (every 50 hours)
The manual specifies greasing: the clutch and brake pedal shafts, the center pin of the front axle, the drag link and tie rod of the steering linkage, the power steering cylinder, and (Ke-14/16/18 only) the pitman arm. Use multipurpose EP2 grease. After working in mud or wet conditions: grease the same day, otherwise water pushes the grease out of the bearing points.
Yanmar Ke-series: small checks that prevent problems
Check the oil level daily, the coolant in the sub-tank (0.4 L), and whether the pre-glow lamp and charge lamp go out normally. An oil pressure lamp that stays lit for more than 30 seconds after starting indicates a faulty oil pressure switch — see the Yanmar Ke-series troubleshooting guide for the complete diagnostic table.
Product tip: want all the filters for the 200/300-hour service in one go? Order the filter set Yanmar Ke-13 to Ke-18 (SKU-10090). The glow plug (SKU-551216) is a smart spare for the cold season.
