Branson versus Mahindra 28xl

[EddieWalker]

I have a Century, which was the same thing as Branson with interchangeable parts. I've found that getting parts can be hit or miss, just depends on the part you need. I would give them a C grade in having what I want, and how long it takes to get it. My dealer has been suggesting aftermarket parts to use instead of dealing with Branson in getting them. Things like a fuel pump are very expensive and it takes several weeks to get one. Instead I installed a Mr Gasket electric pump for diesel fuel at a fraction of the cost that works great.

Having said that, I saved thousands on buying it compared to the other brands I looked at. It's a solid running tractor that I've had for over ten years now and would look at buying Branson again.

Eddie

 

[bajabum]

I had the same problem for a bit, idled ok, but not much power.
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It helps to turn on the fuel valve...:duh:

 

[Stimw]

I have had my 3510 for 9 years and still LOVE IT!
The biggest selling point for me was having a Cummins engine.
The overall quality impressed me from the start. I went to the dealer to look at one of the Chinese tractors and was very disappointed in their poor quality, lack of features, even crude castings that looked like they were made in someones backyard!
I have never seen a Mahindra in person but do question their choice of pitch men? (Limbaugh) Wonder how many hours he has spent on a tractor? He seems to be a Golf Cart person.

 

[DavesTractor]

We are a dealer for both Mahindra and Branson. Hands down Mahindra is better for parts. I mean way, way better. Yet the Branson tractors are dependable tractors that rarely require parts beyond filters and such. If being down for a little while for parts is something that is super frustrating to you, pass on Branson. On the other hand, if you want a really good solid tractor that is a super value and you are not easily frustrated with parts issues...Branson is hard to beat.

As far as which company is the most stable, Mahindra is huge. #1 in the world in tractor sales, #3 in the USA. They also build cars, trucks, even airplanes. They have over 140,000 employees. So they are here to stay so long as they are inclined to stay. Branson is much smaller, yet is growing and profitable and everything looks positive except their reluctance to stock enough parts. They are good tractors.

 

[Texasmark]

I shopped one spring for a tractor of 60-70 hp, cab, MHFWD. Looked at all the popular colors which had good representation in the area. The local Ford/NH house sold Mahindra and I looked at them too. Personal opinion: Good stout tractor, basic amenities and functionality. I couldn't find what I wanted in the lot of them and quit looking.

That fall I saw a Branson lineup and liked what I saw.....built like a tank in Korea, heavy equipment manufacturer and building small ag tractors for the past 20 years. Mine too has the Cummins B 3.3 NA engine which definitely scooted the purchase along the completion path, had all the whistles and bells I wanted and then some, great price. Plus the dealer took 3 tractors of mine in trade that the other colors wouldn't touch. No biggie for him, before we set the deal, he had already lined up a buyer and he and the buyer came to the house and the buyer (used tractor dealer) gave him a bid.

My dealer is about 50 miles away and that's no biggie. I call him up, tell him what I need and in a few days I have it. If I wanted to pay express shipping charges I could have it sooner.

Case in point was a right cab door I blew out with a rock while mowing with a side mounted drum mower. I had a new one in my hand in 3 days. They had 7 in stock in the Plainview warehouse. Can't argue with a dealer on who is best for parts replacement. Some parts may not be commonly used items and have to come from the mfgr. However, my tractor has needed little maintenance over the 7 years I have had it.

Iterating, the Mahindra was certainly a consideration but was lacking the amenities I wanted and as I said, the dealer didn't take trades....I had 7 tractors at the time and was retiring...didn't need that many.

Would buy the color again.

Mark

 

[sandybeach]

Last time I was shopping, I narrowed it down to what I could afford. I lost interest in the Chinese crap, but would consider Korean. Today's Korean products' quality is close to Japanese ... in fact a lot of "Japanese" rigs are assembled from Korean parts (and sometimes the pre-shipping units are assembled in Korea)

I had such bad experience with Indian anything that I didn't consider buying anything from India. Except maybe curry.

That said, the same dealer had both Mahindra and Branson. So I went shopping there so I could compare. I was able to put trough their paces (sans implements).

1. For that limited test of performance, it was close, but it was advantage Branson.
2. The Branson felt sturdier. Advantage Branson.
3. The cost was close enough that it was a draw.
4. Branson had easier access to everything for servicing (or so I thought - see below). Advantage Branson.
5. I don't recall what it was, but the Mahindra had something installed on the undercarriage; my thought - that's going to snag on something and turn my life into **** getting untangled and repairing damage. Advantage Branson.
6. The Branson was more comfortable for sitting and egressing and ingressing. Advantage Branson.
7. I liked the Branson's controls layout better. Advantage Branson.
8. The Branson had more metal body parts - to me, a sign of quality. On the other hand, the Mahindra's plastic is less likely to show damage (if that matters). Advantage Branson.
9. The claimed horsepower was almost identical, but I felt the Branson would lift and haul more. Advantage Branson.

I looked at a lot of the other available compact tractors: Blue, Green, Orange, Red. All of the more expensive ones were nice, but I had to buy implements, too.

Naturally, I bought the Mahindra. Just kidding. I bought the Branson 3510i.

Mighty Mo (my wife's name for our Branson) has exceeded all of my expectations, with 2 exceptions. Both of those involve servicing, and both are annoying - but they would not be deal-killers.

1. The hydraulic fluid filters are in-line vertically. That means that one is above the other. To access the upper filter you have to remove the lower filter first. That wouldn't be a big deal ... if Murphy's Law didn't rule the Universe.
   
   On my initial service (50 hours) - the new "upper" filter turned out to be defective. The bad news is that the defect doesn't rear its ugly head until you install the lower filter, then add all of the new fluid, and start the engine. That would be an aggravation - if you didn't have to drain the fluid, remove the lower filter, remove the upper filter, reinstall the upper filter, reinstall the lower filter, and fill the fluid. Are you still with me?
   
   When I reinstalled the upper filter, I assumed that it was my fault, installing it wrong. It turns out that the filter was defective. Retrace all of those steps. BUT! The filters are expensive - approx $30 - so I installed the known good filter on top, and as a test, installed the leaky filter on the bottom. Then I refilled, yada-yada-yada. Well, it was confirmed: the filter was bad, and no amount of genius or skill on my part could prevent the leak. So everything came to a halt while I spent the $30 and waited for a new filter.
   
   Then I installed the existing good upper filter, then the replacement for the defective filter, filled the fluid reservoirs, and tested. It worked!
   
   If the filters hadn't been below the level of the reservoirs and hadn't been inline vertically - and if the filter wasn't defective - it would have been less trouble. The defective filter cost me more than $30, I lost some hydraulic fluid, and I gave up a lot of time - many, many hours. And the tractor was not usable during the down time (nor was I usuable).
   
2. There are 12 or so "zerks" (look it up). I can always find the first 10 or so ... and have to hunt for the other 2. Naturally, I never remember where those 2 are.
   

In each case those are not faulty tractor design. They are irritants. I just wish Dr. Murphy would stop hovering over my shoulder.

All things considered, I would buy another Branson in a heartbeat. And for people in Western Washington, I recommend Rod's dealership in Olympia.

By the way .... you're just a stone-skip and a cold swim away from me (Whidbey Island).

 

[arnoldziffel]

Our local Branson dealer has plenty of new tractor inventory. However, it does not sell.

The dealer has sold 2 machines since February. All of the remaining new in-stock models just sit there. Stale inventory.

The dealer has priced them at significant discounts since they arrived.

Makes one think there must be some problems with the brand management, marketing, or the product itself. Or, perhaps it's the economy?

 

[DavesTractor]

Our local Branson dealer has plenty of new tractor inventory. However, it does not sell.

The dealer has sold 2 machines since February. All of the remaining new in-stock models just sit there. Stale inventory.

The dealer has priced them at significant discounts since they arrived.

Makes one think there must be some problems with the brand management, marketing, or the product itself. Or, perhaps it's the economy?

Sounds like a tractor collector, not a tractor dealer. :dance1:

Branson builds a good tractor and it is priced right. I sell Branson and Mahindra. Where Mahindra has the advantage is breadth of product line and a huge investment in parts. The one real downfall of Branson, and remember I am a dealer for them, is parts. I want them next day, not in a week or two or three. Once they figure this out, they can really rock and roll I think. It comes down to investment $$, it cost a lot of money to stock all the parts needed in proper quantities.

 

[Stimw]

Older thread but I got my first look at Mahindra's yesterday on dealers lot.
Since I have a 3510 Branson, 35 hp is what I looked at first.
I'm NOT going to run out and buy one!
A 34.5 hp tractor w/4 WD and FEL- $23,000. PLUS!!! (I don't remember the last 3 numbers, I guess I was in shock)
I didn't open the hood to see the gold plating that must have been there.
I did see that they use outboard gear reduction housings on the rearend and the rear axle looked no where near as heavy as my Branson.
It just overall didn't look as well designed or made as my Branson.
Also their choice of spokesperson is strange since I doubt he would know the front of the machine from the back!
I think he even miss pronounces the name with too much emphasis on the last half of the name.

 

[DavesTractor]

Stimw,

If mouthpieces had to be truly knowledgeable on the subjects about which they speak, the world would be nearly silent.

As to prices, unfortunately Tier IV norm compliance has cranked up the pricing somewhat across all brands on >26HP models.

I like and sell both Branson and Mahindra. Sometimes one seems to have an edge, sometimes the other. You never know what a customer will choose. Often they will pick one or the other with certainty. The next customer looks at or sees the value otherwise and with certainty picks the other brand.