DavesTractor
Elite Member
Roy,
The Max 25 video was showing the lift from shoulder height or so. I have not tried a Max28XL yet. It should lift a little more.
Mahindra Max 28XL or Kubota B2920?
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Roy,
The Max 25 video was showing the lift from shoulder height or so. I have not tried a Max28XL yet. It should lift a little more.
So, just got back from my local Mahindra dealer and spent about an hour with the Mahindra MAX 28XL TLB. Initial impressions are that it seems like a nice, solid machine. I am by no means a qualified critic, but wanted to share my thoughts on various areas...
Fit & Finish
I think the fit and finish on the Kubota is a tad bit better. I like the paint quality on the Kubota and its implements better, it seems thicker, flatter, and more durable, but that's just me being picky because I want a good looking machine with a quality finish so I don't have to worry about thin paint and rusting over the years even though I will be keeping my tractor indoors when not in use and keeping it clean. The paint on the wheels of the Kubota is definently better than the Max's since the Max's is just a basic silver wheel paint and looks like it would rust easily with a few light scratches. The black painted operators foot area of the Max 28XL BH seems like the paint is thin and could easily wear away and rust if not kept after unlike the Kubota, but this is just speculation on my part.
Operator Comfort
The seat and seating position on both the Max 28XL and B2920 is comfortable with perhaps the Max being slightly more comfortable, but then again I wasn't on either of these tractors more than 15 minutes at a time.
Implements (FEL & BH)
I played with both the loader and backhoe on both machines (but didn't do any digging or loader work) and the feel of the hydraulics was about the same i.e. I could get the backhoe to move very gently without jerking which is key when you are working close to delicate objects, etc. The loader digging depth below grade on the Max 28XL is only 2.6" whereas the B2920 I think is south of 6". I'm not sure if this is something that would make a big difference or not as I will be doing a fair amount of skimming / ground removal with the loader? I have various areas of my yard where I will be removing the grass and soil to bring in more quality loom. Will I still be able to do that type of work having a lesser below grade capability with the Max 28XL? The loader lifts about 4" higher on the Max XL vs the B2920. I like the integrated loader control valve / lever design on the Kubota MUCH better than the Max 28XL. The Max setup seems like it was an after thought and there is a lot of exposed quick disconnects/hoses/and valves bolted to the loader frame. The Kubota setup is very discrete and packaged nicely and completely integrated. As far as the BH's are concerned, the Max 28XL has a curved boom and the Kubota's is straight, not sure if there is any advantage or disadvantage of either design? The specs on the B2920's BH are noticeably better than the Max 28XLs. Bucket clyinder digging force is 2,585lbs on the B2920 and 2,145 on the Max. Dipper stick cylinder digging force on the B2920 is 1,686 and only 903 on the Max. Sounds like the backhoe on the B2920 will be a stronger/better performer than the Max's?
HST
The HST of the Max 28XL is VERY quiet, with virtually no noticeable whine unlike the B2920 which seemed to have noticable whine. Not sure if HST whine really means anything or matters, but the Max 28XL drives very quietly in comparison. I like the 3 range HST of the B2920 over the 2 range of the Max 28XL. Both the Max 28XL and B2920 seemed to have a nice HST feel and operated smoothly.
Engines
There is a Mitsubishi motor in the Max 28XL and a Kubota motor in the B2920. They both sounded strong and started/stopped/idled, etc identically. The Mitsubishi motor seemed to want more glow plug time when re-starting and the Kubota didn't care, but that's about the only difference I could tell. Servicing both motors seems like it would be generally an easy experience.
Driving / Stability
I drove both machines on pavement, uneven surfaces of pavement/dirt, and on a slight hill to get a feel for stability. Without being able to drive both machines on identical surfaces, I'd say they both feel about the same stability wise with a slight edge to the Max 28XL given it's longer wheelbase and wider stance. The 28XL feels heavier, but that could just be my brain telling me that it should feel heavier because it weights 300 lbs more.
My Mahindra dealer quoted me $22,299 @ 0% for 60 months. or $20,899 @ 4.25% for 84 months. The Mahindra cash price is $20,499 and the Kubota's is $23,250.
At this point, after trying the Mahindra, my decision has been made more difficult than ever, ugh!
Some summary thoughts and points that I'm considering... some of you if not all of you may think I'm nuts on some of these, particularly the first one, but here they are...
(1) Like the paint color and fit and finish of the Kubota better
(2) Love the integrated loader controls/valve/lever and cleaner overall look on the Kubota
(3) Like that the Mahindra has 400 lbs greater loader capacity, but is a total lift capacity on the Kubota of 950lbs vs. the Mahindra's 1,400lbs really that big of a deal?
(4) Like that the Kubota has a very powerful BH. Is the curved boom on the Mahindra an advantage in anyway?
(5) The Mahindra weights 300 lbs more than the Kubota and the Mahindra dealers have told me that it has a beefier / stronger frame and axles. Is this true? The weight has to come from somewhere. Should I be concerned about the Kubota being lighter? Will the heavier machine perform better in general?
(6) The Mahindra is probably the more stable of the two given it's longer wheelbase and wider stance and being 300lbs heavier?
(7) Love the quiet HST on the Mahindra
(8) The Mahindra is cheaper, but do you get what you pay for or is the Max 28XL just a smoking deal right now?
Interested in everyones thoughts... Please pardon my review/impressions being kind of all over the place and not as thorough as they could be.
Fit & Finish
I think the fit and finish on the Kubota is a tad bit better. I like the paint quality on the Kubota and its implements better, it seems thicker, flatter, and more durable, but that's just me being picky because I want a good looking machine with a quality finish so I don't have to worry about thin paint and rusting over the years even though I will be keeping my tractor indoors when not in use and keeping it clean. The paint on the wheels of the Kubota is definently better than the Max's since the Max's is just a basic silver wheel paint and looks like it would rust easily with a few light scratches. The black painted operators foot area of the Max 28XL BH seems like the paint is thin and could easily wear away and rust if not kept after unlike the Kubota, but this is just speculation on my part.
Operator Comfort
The seat and seating position on both the Max 28XL and B2920 is comfortable with perhaps the Max being slightly more comfortable, but then again I wasn't on either of these tractors more than 15 minutes at a time.
Implements (FEL & BH)
I played with both the loader and backhoe on both machines (but didn't do any digging or loader work) and the feel of the hydraulics was about the same i.e. I could get the backhoe to move very gently without jerking which is key when you are working close to delicate objects, etc. The loader digging depth below grade on the Max 28XL is only 2.6" whereas the B2920 I think is south of 6". I'm not sure if this is something that would make a big difference or not as I will be doing a fair amount of skimming / ground removal with the loader? I have various areas of my yard where I will be removing the grass and soil to bring in more quality loom. Will I still be able to do that type of work having a lesser below grade capability with the Max 28XL? The loader lifts about 4" higher on the Max XL vs the B2920. I like the integrated loader control valve / lever design on the Kubota MUCH better than the Max 28XL. The Max setup seems like it was an after thought and there is a lot of exposed quick disconnects/hoses/and valves bolted to the loader frame. The Kubota setup is very discrete and packaged nicely and completely integrated. As far as the BH's are concerned, the Max 28XL has a curved boom and the Kubota's is straight, not sure if there is any advantage or disadvantage of either design? The specs on the B2920's BH are noticeably better than the Max 28XLs. Bucket clyinder digging force is 2,585lbs on the B2920 and 2,145 on the Max. Dipper stick cylinder digging force on the B2920 is 1,686 and only 903 on the Max. Sounds like the backhoe on the B2920 will be a stronger/better performer than the Max's?
HST
The HST of the Max 28XL is VERY quiet, with virtually no noticeable whine unlike the B2920 which seemed to have noticable whine. Not sure if HST whine really means anything or matters, but the Max 28XL drives very quietly in comparison. I like the 3 range HST of the B2920 over the 2 range of the Max 28XL. Both the Max 28XL and B2920 seemed to have a nice HST feel and operated smoothly.
Engines
There is a Mitsubishi motor in the Max 28XL and a Kubota motor in the B2920. They both sounded strong and started/stopped/idled, etc identically. The Mitsubishi motor seemed to want more glow plug time when re-starting and the Kubota didn't care, but that's about the only difference I could tell. Servicing both motors seems like it would be generally an easy experience.
Driving / Stability
I drove both machines on pavement, uneven surfaces of pavement/dirt, and on a slight hill to get a feel for stability. Without being able to drive both machines on identical surfaces, I'd say they both feel about the same stability wise with a slight edge to the Max 28XL given it's longer wheelbase and wider stance. The 28XL feels heavier, but that could just be my brain telling me that it should feel heavier because it weights 300 lbs more.
My Mahindra dealer quoted me $22,299 @ 0% for 60 months. or $20,899 @ 4.25% for 84 months. The Mahindra cash price is $20,499 and the Kubota's is $23,250.
At this point, after trying the Mahindra, my decision has been made more difficult than ever, ugh!
Some summary thoughts and points that I'm considering... some of you if not all of you may think I'm nuts on some of these, particularly the first one, but here they are...
(1) Like the paint color and fit and finish of the Kubota better
(2) Love the integrated loader controls/valve/lever and cleaner overall look on the Kubota
(3) Like that the Mahindra has 400 lbs greater loader capacity, but is a total lift capacity on the Kubota of 950lbs vs. the Mahindra's 1,400lbs really that big of a deal?
(4) Like that the Kubota has a very powerful BH. Is the curved boom on the Mahindra an advantage in anyway?
(5) The Mahindra weights 300 lbs more than the Kubota and the Mahindra dealers have told me that it has a beefier / stronger frame and axles. Is this true? The weight has to come from somewhere. Should I be concerned about the Kubota being lighter? Will the heavier machine perform better in general?
(6) The Mahindra is probably the more stable of the two given it's longer wheelbase and wider stance and being 300lbs heavier?
(7) Love the quiet HST on the Mahindra
(8) The Mahindra is cheaper, but do you get what you pay for or is the Max 28XL just a smoking deal right now?
Interested in everyones thoughts... Please pardon my review/impressions being kind of all over the place and not as thorough as they could be.
Last edited:
LD1
Epic Contributor
VERY nice write-up.
Basically, They are BOTH excellent tractors and you cannot go wrong with either.
So based you what YOU like, are the features of the kubota worth the $2800 difference to YOU???
For some, the 3-range hydro, stronger BH, and kubota name/network is worth it. Others may not think its worth it. Thus the choice.....
Basically, They are BOTH excellent tractors and you cannot go wrong with either.
So based you what YOU like, are the features of the kubota worth the $2800 difference to YOU???
For some, the 3-range hydro, stronger BH, and kubota name/network is worth it. Others may not think its worth it. Thus the choice.....
beckmurph
Platinum Member
There are several videos on YouTube by Safeway Mahindra concerning the MAX28 tlb.
The only real differences I observed between the b2x20 and MAX28 were the seat, fel hoses, and mmm.
On the Kubota, to use the bh, you just pull one handle, flip the seat around and latch the seat. On the MAX28, it was more involved.
On the MAX28, the fel hoses and qc's were on the outside of the loader frame, and on the Kubota, they are on the inside of the loader frame.
When hooking up the pto shaft for the mmm on the MAX28 (in the video) you have to hook it up from the back. This could have been for the convience of the demonstrater(sp). On the Kubota it can be hooked up from either side.
These are just my observations from a video.
Mahindra did it one way, and Kubota did it another way. They both arrived at the same point, they just took different routes.
The only real differences I observed between the b2x20 and MAX28 were the seat, fel hoses, and mmm.
On the Kubota, to use the bh, you just pull one handle, flip the seat around and latch the seat. On the MAX28, it was more involved.
On the MAX28, the fel hoses and qc's were on the outside of the loader frame, and on the Kubota, they are on the inside of the loader frame.
When hooking up the pto shaft for the mmm on the MAX28 (in the video) you have to hook it up from the back. This could have been for the convience of the demonstrater(sp). On the Kubota it can be hooked up from either side.
These are just my observations from a video.
Mahindra did it one way, and Kubota did it another way. They both arrived at the same point, they just took different routes.
madmax12
Veteran Member
That is an excellent evaluation. Anything that seems important to you, is important, period. I don't think you can make a mistake, either. One has stronger loader. One has stronger BH. Maybe write out any more details that come to you over the weekend, and sit a few days.
Reevaluate your coming projects and potential projects. Go with the tool that will make those projects easier.
Either way, I think, you'll end up with a great tractor.
PS : The only other annoying point, though, would be if you took that extra 3k back to the mahindra dealer... How much above the max28 could u go? Daves tractor pointed out earlier, that the 3016 and even one above that are just not called max...but are same series. I don't remember if staying within the max28 size was important to u (it was for me). If sizing up doesn't matter, that 3k takes u in that direction.... Rabbit trail over
Reevaluate your coming projects and potential projects. Go with the tool that will make those projects easier.
Either way, I think, you'll end up with a great tractor.
PS : The only other annoying point, though, would be if you took that extra 3k back to the mahindra dealer... How much above the max28 could u go? Daves tractor pointed out earlier, that the 3016 and even one above that are just not called max...but are same series. I don't remember if staying within the max28 size was important to u (it was for me). If sizing up doesn't matter, that 3k takes u in that direction.... Rabbit trail over
s219
Super Member
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Good writeup -- sounds like you are doing your homework.
Fit and finish is one thing that drew me to the Kubotas. In my case, I was comparing to Deere's that had a lot of plastic everywhere, and the Kubota seemed much nicer. They do have a very good paint job from what I can tell.
Does the Max have position control on the 3-pt hitch? If so, that would be an important advantage. So far I am OK with the 2920's 1/4 incher valve for what I do, but I sure would have preferred position control if it was available.
I have used the 2920 to scrape down an area to make a driveway entrance (used the front loader and box blade) and it was nice to be able to get the loader's cutting edge down into the ground. You probably won't want to be taking a 6" bite on hard ground, but it's doable on soft ground. In my case, I was scraping off organic top material to get down to clay, so I was taking big bites. Once I got down to the clay, I was working in 1-2" layers.
Do you plan to remove the backhoe at all? If so, compare how that works on both tractors. Some are far easier than others.
Finally, I think you can do better on the Kubota price. I haven't priced out the backhoe for the 2920, but I think you can do better than $23K. You might want to check another Kubota dealer for price, contact Barlow's (Barlow Equipment - Home of the Kubota Tractor Package Builder), or see if your current Kubota dealer will work the numbers for you (especially if he knows he's almost $3K higher than the competition).
Good luck!
Fit and finish is one thing that drew me to the Kubotas. In my case, I was comparing to Deere's that had a lot of plastic everywhere, and the Kubota seemed much nicer. They do have a very good paint job from what I can tell.
Does the Max have position control on the 3-pt hitch? If so, that would be an important advantage. So far I am OK with the 2920's 1/4 incher valve for what I do, but I sure would have preferred position control if it was available.
I have used the 2920 to scrape down an area to make a driveway entrance (used the front loader and box blade) and it was nice to be able to get the loader's cutting edge down into the ground. You probably won't want to be taking a 6" bite on hard ground, but it's doable on soft ground. In my case, I was scraping off organic top material to get down to clay, so I was taking big bites. Once I got down to the clay, I was working in 1-2" layers.
Do you plan to remove the backhoe at all? If so, compare how that works on both tractors. Some are far easier than others.
Finally, I think you can do better on the Kubota price. I haven't priced out the backhoe for the 2920, but I think you can do better than $23K. You might want to check another Kubota dealer for price, contact Barlow's (Barlow Equipment - Home of the Kubota Tractor Package Builder), or see if your current Kubota dealer will work the numbers for you (especially if he knows he's almost $3K higher than the competition).
Good luck!
tractchores
Veteran Member
Great write up. I just used my 2920 to redo a lawn and the ability to take big bites to get the old grass off was pretty nice, I took about 4" of top soil off. Not having to make multiple passes was useful. The BH force might make a difference depending on what kind of work you're doing. I've used my kubota's to the max when digging out and moving big rocks or stumps, so I wouldn't want any less power on that. There are probably jobs where more lift force is useful, for me I have found that with tractors of that size you're not going to be able to use much more force than the kubota has because of the bucket size. If you had some serious ballast and often moved stuff with forks or something that might be a consideration. Keep resale in mind with that 3k savings, I would look at a few used models that are comparable and see if there's a big resale difference.
Gittyup
Elite Member
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1400 vs 950 is almost 50% more lift. That is significant, if you think you need it. The 3 range HST is a huge plus on the bota. Tough call because they are both nice tractors. But, $3000 buys a lot of implements and a tractor is only useful with implements. Maybe it comes down to is a life time keeper (Mahindra) or something you might sell or trade in the not too distant future (Bota).
MessickFarmEqu
Super Member
ya know what, I bet I figured this out. I bet the 80-90,000 is the number that they are actually building themselves, the balance are the models built by Mitsubishi, TYM, etc.