I love my 4035HST. It has been a beast of a machine that's done more than I ever expected from a compact (granted it is one of the heaviest machines in the compact segment). I've been mostly earth moving with mine and it handles that task with ease like a machine twice it's size. I've had two issues so far, upon bringing it home from the dealer and removing the backhoe, I learned there was a hydraulic issue in the 3 point lift arms. After letting me try a couple things under the advise of the service manager, they came and took it on a Friday, returned it on the following Monday, and it's been flawless.
I noticed at the end of the season last year there was a small hydraulic fluid leak somewhere under the front. I mentioned it to them when I stopped in over the winter to see the new showroom they built, they said toss a wrench on the loader lines, they had seen a couple leaks at that area. So next time I went to the barn to start the tractor for a while to keep the charge up in the battery and lubes circulated, I checked the loader lines and all were dry. By this time the tractor had sat in one spot long enough and been ran a few times setting in that spot I was able to tell the leak was on the opposite side as the loader lines, but still couldn't see anything that looked "wet" and wasn't going to take it apart in the dead of winter to find a minor drippy wet spot. Well, this season is underway and I've been hard at work and noticed today while greasing the backhoe and loader that the leak had actually gotten a bit worse and had went from an occasional drop to a fairly steady drip. I located the source as being somewhere in a couple lines that run around the left side of the engine by the starter. They are somewhat difficult to get at, so I'm going to let my dealer advise me on the next step.
As you said, things to get loose over time. Sometimes vibrations can wear something that isn't positioned just perfect. Nothing man makes is perfect. What sold me on Mahindra was the overall build quality when compared to others, everything just seemed more stout. When I started digging into it, I learned there are more good parts on the 4035 than on the competition. Perkins engine design, topped with Bosch injection and emissions, KWM loader, Bradco backhoe, all the hydraulic lines were good KURT branded US made hoses.
I think too many folk get hung up on spec sheets and this number versus that number when comparing colors. You really need to dive into what is built how and by who to make a good decision. Knowing I was going to be moving earth as a primary task, I laid down and looked at how the components and castings of every detail of the front axles were made since this is always the wear and break point for loader work. Many of the other brands 50HP tractors don't come with as beefy of components in the front axle as the 40HP 4035 does.
