Buying Advice New Holland vs Kubota vs Mahindra

[CajunRider]

It's a popular saying that people should want a heavy tractor since more weight = more pulling power, but you may be one guy for which that's not the best advice, considering your place is half-wet and half-dry, with standing water for extended periods. A heavier tractor, if it's not getting stuck, will certainly tear things up more. Something to consider as you compare different brands and models.

The other things that come to mind are reliability and durability in your wet environment. I have yet to see a tractor brand that takes corrosion protection seriously, even though virtually all under 60 hp tractors are made somewhere in the Far East, particularly in Japan or Korea, where you might think wet, humid field conditions are pretty common. Wouldn't know which brands might be better or worse in this respect, but it's again something to consider.

I'd go with one of the brands with local support due to your tough operating conditions; hopefully the local dealer is good to deal with and can provide good service if/when you might need it. If your dealer is a straight-shooter, he might even give you his honest opinion about which brands or models have worked well in your area. On forums like this, you'll mostly hear people recommending the brand they own. Nothing wrong with that, and it does suggest that most of the major brands sell decent equipment.

Probably makes sense to find something of the same general size and power as your DK45 since it evidently got the job done before it started having problems. That also lets you keep your existing attachments.

Local support is why I narrowed my choices to the 3 brand above with a reputable dealer 20 miles from me. Others either have poor reputation or at least 2 hr drive away.

 

[CajunRider]

New Holland Workmaster 50/60/70 series offers a lot of value for the dollar. If my knee goes out completely and I go HST then the only option in that size is a Mahindra, Kubota, ot perhaps LS. The smaller Workmaster in New Holland has HST but is not the same size class tractor as the MX or larger Workmaster.

I'm waiting for a day where I can take off and go test all the New Holland out.

 

[CajunRider]

I agree it is, I love my Workmaster 60. I looked at all the major brands in this size tractor and the Kubota M6060 & Workmaster was my top two, obviously picked the NH. But, with having a bum knee myself I thought the same thing, the clutch isn't stiff at all and I'll be just fine. After a long day of constant loader work I need a couple ibuprofen. So I can see the OP's worry here.

OP, go test them all, compare specs, see which one fits you as in the comfort and control layout. I would say the dealer is most important, but you say this dealer carries all three.

Thanks. I'm planning to test them all. As for the clutch, with my DK45 I can deal with the clutch if I'm mowing but when I use the FEL much at all, my left knee wants to buckle and it feels like driving a spike right through the side of the knee.

 

[martyk]

My Max26 wasn't flooded, it just refused to start because of a temperamental relay or safety switch. I found the culprit. Every time I get on and off the tractor, my butt must graze the lever by the seat which has a safety switch. Another problem I have incurred is noise. The hydraulics whine terribly and the stabilizers rattle. Every cylinder on my backhoe leaks down, I have less than one hour of use on it. I bought it because of the price and size. Here is another example of you get what you pay for.

 

[Grumpa Wally]

This would be my order of preference / advice

Kubota - Gold Standard of CUTs, but has that silly treadle for the hydro - Grand Series are nicer than the L Series
New Holland - Solid tractor, but liked the Shibaura made ones better than the current LS Made Ones
Mahindra - good value but too many reports of sketchy quality

I would get a third function or additional rear remote

I would get a 40-50 hp and keep your current implements.

R4 or Turf tires for flotation on your wet conditions

I second airbiscuit. I've owned Fords, Mahindra and now Kubota. The older Ford tractors were tank tough. The Mahindra appeared to be tough but I had many repairs of cheaply made parts breaking down leaving me in the field multiple times. I think Mahindra would be better suited to lighter jobs, not heavy ag type work. That'll really make you mad. The Kubota hands down is tops on quality. Not enough hours on the M7060HD12 to prove its toughness factor yet.

 

[troverman]

Mahindra doesn't use a DPF (diesel particulate filter) to meet Tier IV emissions, they spent $30 million to redesign the engine so it meets the requirements. No DPF means no regen or emissions related issues down the road.

Regarding tractor size, how much PTO HP do you need?

TractorNH, Which Mahindra dealership do you own?

Old thread, but just reading through it now.

I find it very interesting how Mahindra markets their "mCRD technology" like it's at the forefront of emission control, when actually it's just a cheaper way to meet Tier IV Final. Mahindra implies the competition (namely Kubota and JD) don't use high pressure common rail fuel injection, but of course they do. In fact, "mCRD" simply stands for Mahindra Common-Rail Diesel. All tractors that use a DPF like Kubota and Deere also use high pressure common-rail fuel injection like Mahindra.

Mahindra uses a stand-alone diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) to control CO, HC, and PM. A DOC is basically a catalytic converter specific to diesel engines. The DOC has limitations - it does not start working efficiently until it has reached about 400 degrees F, and after 750F the catalytic reaction includes the production of harmful sulfuric acid which is released to the atmosphere. DOC's attempt to oxidize particulate matter (PM) and at peak efficiency can burn off 70-80% of PM.

Now competitors like JD or Kubota that use a DPF are indeed also using a DOC. However, the DOC is configured a bit differently since oxidizing PM is no longer a primary function. Rather, the DOC still converts CO and HC but is used to generate heat to support the DPF. During a DPF regeneration cycle, raw diesel fuel is combusted inside the DOC in order to oxidize soot in the DPF.

What Mahindra says about a DPF requiring much more complexity as far as pressure and heat sensors, operator involvement, and possibility of failure or simply scheduled replacement is generally true. However, what they fail to point out is that the DPF system is much more effective...greater than 95% of all PM is captured compared to the 70-80% of a DOC only. Furthermore, a DPF is fully effective at capturing soot immediately upon engine startup when EGTs are cold, unlike a DOC-only system. So while their DOC-only system does meet EPA Tier IV final standards, it does so "just barely" while the DPF-equipped tractors well exceed the minimum requirements.

Mahindra tries to tout their "$30m investment into new clean engines" while "competitors just bolted on a DPF" as if they did something wonderful. The truth is that Mahindra's then-current engines were mostly old, mechanical indirect injection engines that could never meet the new EPA standards while the competition was in some cases already using common rail, or at the very least, mechanical direct injection. Mahindra invested in their engines because they had to, but elected to take the cheapest and least efficient path to gaining T4F certification.

One last point - if DOC was such a better solution, why does Mahindra suppose Kubota, Deere, Kioti, and the rest have not tried it? Especially considering they are running much more expensive and complex emissions systems, yet already have all the hardware needed for DOC only? And why do they suppose the on-road diesel cars and trucks universally run DPFs in addition to DOC (and SCR)? The answer is because DOC-only cannot meet the more stringent on-road emissions standards, and off-highway equipment manufacturers like Kubota and Deere are simply future-proofing their product. In the process, they are also making cleaner machines for the environment and for the operator.

 

[tradosaurus]

I was just about to reply to the OP when I saw the date. :laughing:

The reason I would never buy a Mahindra is the false advertising.

 

[MechanicalGuy]

Mahindra doesn't use a DPF (diesel particulate filter) to meet Tier IV emissions, they spent $30 million to redesign the engine so it meets the requirements. No DPF means no regen or emissions related issues down the road.

Regarding tractor size, how much PTO HP do you need?

Marketing hype. The engine simply runs hotter. Loud and crude in comparison to a kubota engine also.

 

[troverman]

Marketing hype. The engine simply runs hotter. Loud and crude in comparison to a kubota engine also.

Mahindra tractors get the job done, but they feel crude all the way around, like a hodge-podge of parts thrown together. It's kind of like comparing an entry level Kia / Hyundai to a Lexus. Both get you from point A to B, but one feels refined and better built.

The sad thing is that Mahindra is not much cheaper than Kubota in many cases, but people think they are and just go that route on assumption.

 

[nards444]

Mahindra tractors get the job done, but they feel crude all the way around, like a hodge-podge of parts thrown together. It's kind of like comparing an entry level Kia / Hyundai to a Lexus. Both get you from point A to B, but one feels refined and better built.

The sad thing is that Mahindra is not much cheaper than Kubota in many cases, but people think they are and just go that route on assumption.

Seemed like a lot of smoke and mirrors with them when I looked this summer before I bought my kubota. And yeah they werent any cheaper either. Kind of noticed that on a lot of off brands on price. Initial sticker seemed great, but by the time it was all put together not so much. Now LS and TYM were to brands that gave you a lot for the money