Comparison Mahindra 1526 or Yanmar YT235 or Massey MF1734H

NHHomesteader · May 12, 2018

Hi all...

As per the title, I am trying to decide what model to get (or none of these models). I have never owned a tractor, so have nothing to compare it to. I used to have a Bobcat skidsteer, but that's it. Based on the lay of our land (20ish acres), hilly, lots of woods to move around, I thought compact was the right size.

I know about how JD used to get all their tractors built by Yanmar until 2006 (I believe), so I imagine the Yanmars are good.

These are all new units with a back hoe. Woods backhoe on the Yanmar & Massey, not sure what is on the Mahindra.

I drove the Mahindra and the Yanmar... the Yanmar was alot smoother and the auto throttle seemed nice compared to the Mahindra. I have no use for the cruise control (at least I do not think I do), and the tilt wheel, ok... sure. I also drove both shuttle and hydrostatic transmissions, I *think* I like the hyrdo better.

I have dealers (and service shops) for each within 20 minutes of me. Both say parts are not an issue. The Mahindra dealer supposedly was a Massey dealer once and lost the Massey contract (and went Mahindra), so not sure if that means anything. The Yanmar dealer says Mahindra is junk, and I am going to buy it, hate it, and be trying to trade it in somewhere and take a loss doing so. He has Masseys on the lot too, and says those are "economy" machines although both are great, he would try to put me in a Yanmar.

The Mahindra is the cheapest by about 6-7K.

I plan on pulling some logs, brush hogging, lifting up my pigs, moving rock, moving hay, some trench work, maintaining a very long driveway, maybe some plowing. No mowing.

Any input you owners can provide before I pull the trigger would be appreciated.

Thanks!

GirlWhoWantsTractor · May 12, 2018

As a fellow shopper who has learned a lot here, and also shopped a lot..... the Yanmar dealer's remarks sound like pushy salesman-talk. Never seen any of the top brand CUTS these days called "junk" here on TBN.

Good luck!

mddorange · May 13, 2018

:welcome:
To TBN Homesteader. You came to the right place as we love to spend other people's money.

How much land are you maintaining? Be sure and ge one that is big enough to handle what you plan to use it for.

Ffphil · May 13, 2018

I to recently went through the same process. We looked at LS, John Deere, Kioti, Kubota, Massey Ferguson and Yanmar. All seem to be quality tractors. In the end it came down to comfort, ease of use (controls/levers/pedals) and capacities, not to mention price. Writing out a spreadsheet so we could easily compare numbers help a lot. In the end we chose a Yanmar. Good luck with your search.

Tractorable · May 13, 2018

Three red tractors, cool. Based on a cursory review of the specs they all seem pretty close in size/weight except obviously the 1526 is down 8-10hp compared to the Yanmar or Massey.

Two things. Understand what you're buying and make sure you're buying enough tractor. Yanmar makes Yanmar, builds everything from the wheels up in Japan.

The Mahindra is a rebadged Mitsubishi and the Massey is a rebadged Iseki with a Shibaura engine. They're all Japanese and the Japanese build good stuff. I personally prefer it when the name on the tractor is the company that actually built it.

Second, buy enough tractor. You mentioned that you needed to move hay and rock. What kind of hay? What kind of rock?

Ffphil · May 13, 2018

Like Tractorable said, get enough tractor. We have a 22hp that is too small. Think 35hp would probably do, decided on 45hp to be sure. Ended up buying 60hp because it was same price as 45hp tractors we looked at.

rScotty · May 13, 2018

GirlWhoWantsTractor said:
As a fellow shopper who has learned a lot here, and also shopped a lot..... the Yanmar dealer's remarks sound like pushy salesman-talk. Never seen any of the top brand CUTS these days called "junk" here on TBN.
Good luck!

I agree and think you called it right. That said, there is a difference in brands in tractors and it is the same as in manufacturing anything else.

Yanmar emphases quality and doesn't mind charging high dollar for it. The company is internally owned, they make most of their parts in house, and their involvement in farm equipment isn't their biggest division. Yanmar farm equipment apparently started as a CEO's hobby in agriculture. Yanmar makes something like 30% of the worlds large ship diesels power plants - diesels as big as small houses. And they are big in commercial fishing & aquaculture. In all these things, they tend to do their own manufacturing and assembly.

I don't know as much about the range of Mahindra's manufacturing. But from what I see, it could be very large because Mahindra takes a more modern view of manufacturing by doing more outsourcing and putting their emphasis on cost control. Their manufacturing then becomes more assembly oriented. So natually they are going to cost less. It doesn't make them "junk". It's just a different way of doing things.
rScotty

Tractorable · May 13, 2018

rScotty said:
I agree and think you called it right. That said, there is a difference in brands in tractors and it is the same as in manufacturing anything else.

Yanmar emphases quality and doesn't mind charging high dollar for it. The company is internally owned, they make most of their parts in house, and their involvement in farm equipment isn't their biggest division. Yanmar farm equipment apparently started as a CEO's hobby in agriculture. Yanmar makes something like 30% of the worlds large ship diesels power plants - diesels as big as small houses. And they are big in commercial fishing & aquaculture. In all these things, they tend to do their own manufacturing and assembly.

I don't know as much about the range of Mahindra's manufacturing. But from what I see, it could be very large because Mahindra takes a more modern view of manufacturing by doing more outsourcing and putting their emphasis on cost control. Their manufacturing then becomes more assembly oriented. So natually they are going to cost less. It doesn't make them "junk". It's just a different way of doing things.
rScotty

Great post.

Omega Woods · May 13, 2018

Ffphil said:
I to recently went through the same process. We looked at LS, John Deere, Kioti, Kubota, Massey Ferguson and Yanmar. All seem to be quality tractors. In the end it came down to comfort, ease of use (controls/levers/pedals) and capacities, not to mention price. Writing out a spreadsheet so we could easily compare numbers help a lot. In the end we chose a Yanmar. Good luck with your search.

I looked at all of these brands in 2016 and ended up with a Branson. You need to go with a dealer you feel comfortable with. If you have a local Branson dealer, go check them out before deciding.

NHHomesteader · May 14, 2018

Wow... thanks for all the replies!

Ffphil... Drove the Mahindra first... shuttle then hydro. They got progressively nicer. Then I drove the Yanmar... more $$$ but so much smoother. No jerkiness. Was really nice.

Mddorange/Tractorable... 20 acres I have now with option for 275 adjacent acres (prob not until next year or after). But, on side of mountain (hill, really), and lots of woods, lots of hills, recently logged. Some more of my land being logged and some clearcut for fields this year.

LOTS of rocks/boulders. Some we just need to go around. Some can be moved. I plan on moving many to our stone wall by the road. I have a broken dam that needs to be fixed that will get a share of those boulders. I also have a road that goes through the property that gets real muddy and I want to bring in some different grade rock to build it up and make it more useable. Hay.... we use square bales now, but round is cheaper... just can't move them.

I would get a bigger tractor, but their size makes me think I will have a harder time maneuvering around some of the tighter areas, or their weight would tear up the lawn by the house. Plus I do not have an outbuilding (yet) to house one, and I really do not want to drop this kind of $$ on eqiupment to sit out in the weather.

rScotty.... Yanmar caught my eye for some of the same reasons. I had NEVER seen a Yanmar tractor. No idea they existed. I was thinking if JD contracted with them for all their tractors for all those years, must be something to them.

I spent Mother's day driving around with my wife and kids, keeping an eye out for what people had in their fields. Lots of Mahindra's (for the newer tractors). Lots of New Hollands and Fords for the older rusty ones. Not sure why that is, price point, or are they that good? If the experienced farmers are using Mahindra's, should I give them a harder look?

Their are only 3 dealers near me... Mahindra, Yanmar, Massey, and Kubota. I have not tried the Kubota. See alot of them around, but watching some comparisons on youtube, they didn't seem that hot. But I have no loyalty (yet) to any brand, just don't want costly troubles down the road. I have heard that Mahindra's overpressure their pumps/lines to help with strength, and eventually (regularly) they fail.

Either way, thus far, like the Yanmar. Yanmar & Massey are the same money. And the dealer is well respected by alot of the locals (as is the Mahindra dealer).

Again, thanks for eveyone's input!