Max 26 Xl with backhoe

[yorkinson]

I am shopping for my very first tractor. I had been trying to decide between a Kubota B2601 and a JDeere 2025R. In my internet research I found this site and read some about Mahindra tractors. We have a dealer about 40 minutes away and I talked to him and he has an excellent price and seemed like a good guy.

My question is about quality and reliability and useability. I am going Saturday to drive the Max but I was hoping for some good discussion from you guys that have lived with one for a while.
Thanks for the help

 

[j wilson]

i have the 28max, very happy with it,

 

[oldpilgrim]

the Max is a Mitsubishi built for Mahindra machine and is a very well made, dependable unit. You'll hear very few complaints about them. Mitsubishi makes VERY good tractors.

 

[Texas Dawg]

I also have the Max 28 XL with a backhoe. Little over a year on it now with no complaints except I don't have as much time to play with it as I would like.

 

[RJI]

just got the Max 26xl w/backhoe a couple of months ago... so far very durable and reliable
for a so called compact it does a great job poppin out stumps and boulders

 

[mike69440]

Re: Max 26 Xl with backhoe, Get some seat time, Like +1 hour on each if possible.

I am shopping for my very first tractor. I had been trying to decide between a Kubota B2601 and a JDeere 2025R. In my internet research I found this site and read some about Mahindra tractors. We have a dealer about 40 minutes away and I talked to him and he has an excellent price and seemed like a good guy.

My question is about quality and reliability and useability. I am going Saturday to drive the Max but I was hoping for some good discussion from you guys that have lived with one for a while.
Thanks for the help

It's best to get some seat time, like +1 hour on each if possible.
Ask yourself what you will be doing with Tractor.

I think the smaller Deeres are just too much money for what they are.

3 speed HST has a lot going for it with Kubota.
I like the 8x8 Shuttle of the Max.

Suggest you read,
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/.../343307-50-hour-mahindra-max28xl-shuttle.html

Note: I have thousands of hours on Kubotas, as well as other equipment.

 

[yorkinson]

Re: Max 26 Xl with backhoe, Get some seat time, Like +1 hour on each if possible.

Thanks for the comments and the link. Very helpful.

 

[s219]

The Max is a good little tractor -- my neighbor has one. I will say, however, that the fit and finish is a step below Kubota and Deere. Not a big deal, but noticeable. The loader control valve is a bit abrupt for my taste. And I am not a fan of the seat, it's pretty basic.

 

[MAX28HST]

I've owned my Max 28 for (just over) a year and have little issue... It just needs armor underneath belly! I've done a lot of "damage" with my BH clearing my property...

 

[linuxman51]

26 is the new 28, the quick attach bucket is nice. The seat is awful, though. I have around 16 hours on mine so far, clearing the back 40. I like the tractor (even though I've had some problems and caused problems for myself), for the price it would have been more than a little step down in performance vs a kubota, and the JD's are just painful around here.

 

[bigredcustoms]

Pretty happy with my Max, have just over 70hrs on it. Added a thumb for the bucket off the remotes and disabled the seat switch (known issue). Been an excellent machine! I cleared a bunch of 3in to 5in pines in the back of the property (1.5 acres) that had sprung up from lack of care when I bought the place. Lifted things that I never thought I could with it (12in to 24in trees I'd cut up into 9ft sections) but saved me a ton of backache. Even building my HVAC to lift my heat pump onto the pad riser. The latest was digging 140ft at 3ft deep for my electrical service, literally had dug it in about 4hrs, used about a 1/4 tank of fuel working it pretty hard through roots and asphalt chip. It's been a great investment, found out after the 50hrs service, using the rotella hyd/trans (Mahindra approved) oil for all motion fluids was a big difference in response and cold weather performance. Hydro sounds smoother as well! Yes the loader valve is kinda picky, but when that one wears out, maybe I'll change it up. Seems to be getting a little better with hours. It's just a bit notchy for my tastes, but does the job Best of luck!

PS. Sorry bout the pics, they were right-side up originally, must be a bug in the upload box.

 

[linuxman51]

hm, yours has a better seatbelt configuration than my 26. wish they'd stop jacking around with the **** seat. That's a pretty awesome thumb on the FEL there!

 

[bigredcustoms]

Thanks! Yeah the seat is pretty basic but it works. The seat rotation lever can really smart if you fingers are in the way, peeled some skin off of them a few times getting used to the sequence...lol. The thumb is built pretty solid (added the 4x3in 1/4 wall to the back of the bucket for a cantilever so the top doesn't bend), even added a bunch of steel to the backhoe thumb as well after I bent the two fingers at the end uprooting pines. Added some 3/4 angle and channel to stiffin' that up in the process. I may have been overworking the machine a bit, but modified some of the weaker components to bring it to my standards

 

[Navasot]

:thumbsup:

 

[RJI]

what weight rotella... or does it say hyd/trans on the container?
do you use it in the axles as well?

thanks

 

[MAX28HST]

what weight rotella... or does it say hyd/trans on the container?
do you use it in the axles as well?

thanks

Check out page 81... http://www.mahindradispro.com/manuelOperateur/Mahindra/Max28/MAX 28 XL_OM_en.pdf#page80

 

[bigredcustoms]

I used Rotella T 15w-40 for the motor, and Rotella HD Hyd/Trans (550039811) from Tractor Supply for everything else that moves or turns (incl the front axle). Says Mahindra right on the pale. Not listed by name but properties are comparable to the Rotella listed in the manual. No issues after working it very hard, lots better cold weather performance as well, controls are quicker as well as steering response.

 

[mike69440]

The Max28 got the easy job backfilling.

Darn digging in NH is tough!

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/345269-kubota-l48-2.html
See post #11

This is why I have no use for a hoe on my Max.

 

[whizdbiz2]

I used Rotella T 15w-40 for the motor, and Rotella HD Hyd/Trans (550039811) from Tractor Supply for everything else that moves or turns (incl the front axle). Says Mahindra right on the pale. Not listed by name but properties are comparable to the Rotella listed in the manual. No issues after working it very hard, lots better cold weather performance as well, controls are quicker as well as steering response.

Are you sure about the hyd. oil in the front axle? My eMax22 specifies a much heavier gear oil, something like 80W/90 in it (manual is at home so the weight might be off). If that's what they say to use, so be it, just seemed like it would be a bit light for that application.

 

[mike69440]

Are you sure about the hyd. oil in the front axle? My eMax22 specifies a much heavier gear oil, something like 80W/90 in it (manual is at home so the weight might be off). If that's what they say to use, so be it, just seemed like it would be a bit light for that application.

In Moderate Climates Gear oil is fine in a front Axle.

In cold I would use a synethetic gear oil.