3550 hst problems,cheap built,lemon?

DavesTractor · Feb 16, 2016

steve stiller said:
never heard of blair auto before. I have contacted Mahindra 8 times and never a call back I did walk in on rubin once at dealership and left multiple messages with him on voice mail with Mahindra and never a call back. again the tractor stalled just after they replaced fuel tank and hoses and etc. no eng light on, it did before when new. leaking at a few places, temp gauage doesn't move unless its 80 degrees out, tilt system for steering wheel out. cruise doesn't work. tractor just is under powered, im going to try to find a dyno to put it on and try that. the dealer said they took it to a tractor place before and it was fine although they couldn't or wouldn't give me a name of place and never told me they took it to a place until last time I picked it up. i'm very well known in tri state area and own stiller motorsports, and are known for our customer service and live on rt422 hwy. thinking its time to put big sign up and park tractor out front for 45,000-50000 people to see it daily. hate to do it but still dealing with stuff from day one. its a shame as the tractor does lift extremely well and no tractor in this size does that much lifting. just need to mow more than 1-2mph and not to keep buying fluid for leaks

Steve, I sent a note into Mahindra and asked them to read this post. Not getting a call back is a show stopper. You own your own business, and I bet you call people back, even unhappy people. I'm a dealer and not a Mahindra representative, but I apologize on their behalf anyway. I hope the note I sent prompts some action.

As mentioned before, your 3550 has almost the exact same PTO power as your old Ford/New Holland, but is a hydro not a gear and it is heavier by a long shot, so I would expect a little less performance as far as ground power when mowing, not more performance. But it ought to be very close, and what you are describing seems to indicate an issue. It ought to handle a 6' mower easily. As far as leaks, it sure shouldn't have any.

This thing needs to go on a dyno to look at power issues. If it has plenty on the PTO shaft, then we need to make sure there is not a hydro issue or a brake dragging issue. Then solve the leaks. The tilt system is easily damaged by pushing too hard and bending the cylinder. It takes a gentle touch, yet is foot operated. I think if it takes a gentle touch, the lever should be up where you push the lever by hand, not with a big heavy boot.

Steve, I wish you well on this and hope the dealer and Mahindra come through for you.

Jsupport · Feb 16, 2016

Hey Guys,
Sorry I have not been here for a while. I did get Dave's email forwarded to me.
I have been working for Mahindra almost 10 years so lots of folks on here have my contact information.
I will post it again and i will contact Mr. Stiller myself. According to my records I spoke with him almost a year ago on 04/24/2015.

steve stiller · Feb 16, 2016

Thank you Dave, my new Holland was hst also. and going from salesman and my self 5hp more should be better if not the same. never had the slightest of being underpowered before though. I do love the front end loader with forks its a beast and lifts very good! I just got a call from Brenda! so hopefully we will be hearing back from ruben soon as he is in school and she forwarded the link. as of right now problems are
stalled out just sitting there again. last time at dealer they were bringing it around and stalled before they could load it up on trailer. it did start right back up only few revolutions
hyd leaks behind big nut from hyd pump & seems to be back along right rear wheel also, been a on going issue since new and have personally seen other tractors at dealer same problem
cruise doesn't work
tilt steering broke again, steering wheel stuck all the way up
temp gauage doesn't move unless your mowing and its 90 out, seen on here they are to be coming out with a fix?
diesel fuel on garage floor around filter housing and lines
oil leaking out of cooler I'm thinking as front diff is soaked in oil & puddle on floor
lack of power can only mow in lower gear and rpm goes down on slightest grade
controller for front end loader sticking or froze up for some reason, it was below freezing, but never had issue on other tractors

ktmhans · Feb 20, 2016

Ewwww, I hate these kind of threads

ktmhans · Feb 20, 2016

My dealer has been great with the issues I've had.

If your thinking of buying and with in a day's drive or 2 of Dave's Tractor. I'd make the drive with a smile.

Never met him. I'm on the other side of the country. But he's an ambassador to Mahindra and customer service.

Thank you

steve stiller · Feb 24, 2016

it was nice to talk to Brenda on 2/16/2916. Honestly seem concerned I thought. She was to have Rubin to call me and or get back to me as he was in class, still waiting as normal with no call back from anyone?? hmmmm great customer service right there! Ive seen the posts saying the rep's are real busy i'm starting to know why, there are so many issues with these Mahrinda's they can't hire enough rep's to help out?

DavesTractor · Feb 24, 2016

Steve, I understand the sarcasm as you are frustrated. At our dealership we will go months without the need for a visit or even a call into our service rep, and we are a volume dealer. A time or two a year we get a situation that stumps us, and we need help and find the reps to be quick to help. But we have trained techs and more importantly we care enough about our customers that we will not let a situation simmer. That being said, there is no excuse for the dealer or the rep to not stay engaged on this. Ignoring an unhappy customer never solves the problem. We never turn the customer over to the rep. We figure that we sold it and it is our issue to solve, and the rep is a tool in our toolbox to help us solve issues. Is your dealer out of the loop?

Jsupport · Feb 24, 2016

Hey Guys,
I have contacted Mr. Stiller again and I also contacted the dealer and spoke to the service manager. He was not aware what was going on so I filled him in and he will contact the customer and make arrangements to get the tractor in for service and repairs. Sorry about all the confusion and frustration!!! Please let me know if I can be of further assistance to any of you.

TSO · Feb 24, 2016

I can't believe all the problems you guys are having with your Mahindra built machines ... Seems completely unacceptable to have all these leaks. I've had 5 new machines from 3 different manufacturers, and none of them had chronic issues like these.

Steve... engine HP really means squat. Depending on how they publish their HP, those two tractors (TC45 & 3550) could be much closer than you think. It could be that NH listed the TC45 at 45 net HP, while Mahindra listed that 3550 at gross HP, which if that was the case, the net HP would probably be closer to 47. Someone already mentioned parasitic losses, and it could also be that the TC45 has less driveline loss than the 3550, especially since the TC45 was listed at higher PTO HP.

steve stiller · Mar 4, 2016

well, got a call from rubin last Friday. we went over a lot of things and was going to call dealer to come and pick it up for no charge and get back to me. seems there are some problems with my dealer. Well week later and no call backs. I told him at this point get me out of this tractor with my cash back or get me a new one as this is totally unacceptable on there behalf. waiting for someone to call me back! Brenda can you start a buy back for me? or get me another tractor?