I have around 28 hours on my new 1538 HST with FEL so far and thought that I'd share some of my experiences. My previous tractor was a JD 790 that I'd had for 10 years and was just a little too small to handle some round bales. I had priced out a JD 50 series in 2014 but felt violated with the trade in offered. I really had intended to just buy smaller bales and keep the 790 until I went shopping for a new brush mower and started looking at the shiny new tractors on the dealers floor. While I was looking at a NH unit the salesman suggested a Mahindra. He had a 50hp model at an unbelievable price until I realized it was 2WD, but it got me thinking. He suggested a 3616 but didn't have one in any of their locations. Then he suggested the 1538 which was in stock 60 miles away. I took a look, drove it a little and decided it would work. They offered me almost as much as I thought I could sell my 790 for as trade credit and the 0% made it affordable. Since I initially went there to get a new brush cutter I went with the Mahindra 72" unit and a set of bales spears and forks.
After that my first purchase was a set of Pat's Easy change hooks. The 790 had a QA and I liked it but there were a few of my implements that it wouldn't work with; PH auger and finish mower. And at times it was difficult getting a PTO attached with the QA in the way. Really happy with the Pat's so far but I did have to adjust the top link out quite far, almost to the end.
I really like the HST and the additional power of the 1538. And with the added weight of the tractor itself and loaded rear tires I'm able to move more soil with it than the 790 with the same width bucket. It is a bit taller and a few inches wider so I have to be careful maneuvering through the trails and under the tree branches. I was at first going to get the shuttle unit as there should be better transference of power to the ground and no degradation of that throughout the life of the tractor. However there is a female on the drivers list and the HST seemed friendlier and she is used to it on her Cub. I'd heard horror stories of failure of JD hst and was concerned, however the postings on the forum praised HST in all colors. Also my dad had bought a Case 220 with HST in the 70's. Of the few problems we had with that unit, it never was with the HST, so I'm feeling more confident of my decision.
My first experience with the brush cutter was disappointing. There was excessive vibration and I thought that the blades were not balanced. Took it back to the dealer and they spent the day with it. Blades were matched, but just tight on the bolts and needed running to loosen up some. The 3pt stabilizer arms broke once I got the cutter back and started using it. Welded them back together filling in the 1st hole as other posters had suggested. Still working on engineering something better though. My previous experience with brush cutters had been almost 40 years with the same 60" IMCO that my dad bought before I got a license. Sure I had some repairs to it, but it was 40+ years old. I don't think the Mahindra mower will make it that long. The steel isn't as thick and that will make a difference long term.
I've used the bale spear a couple of times and it has performed well, the extra lift capacity allows me to purchase larger bales so that is an advantage. I opted to purchase a Walco set of forks as they were $150 less than the Mahindra brand and this is where I really saw a difference between the 790 and the 1538. I had purchase 5600# of retaining wall block that had been loaded on my trailer in 3 skids. I had to move some around and ended up splitting them onto 4 skids and was able to pick them up and move them to the site with little effort, about 1400#each.
That being said, the manual for loader states that there should not be more than 500# on the forks or the bale spear to preserve the warranty. Also using other skid steer attachments will also void the loader warranty, so be forewarned.
The tractor has started easily and does not smoke as much as the 790 did which helps in the barn. Exhaust does have different smell to it as well. There is some sheet metal vibration at over 2000 rpm and I notice the steering wheel bouncing around some while brush cutting. I think the steering wheel thing is due to the allowance for the tilt? Access to the engine requires raising the loader to the top so that you can release the brush guard and then release the hood. It raises easily and stays in place on a gas strut. Lower side panels remove with a large plastic nut with 2 pins to access the dip stick.
