New Max 26xl

[legrandice]

A QA plate does reduce lift capacity, but by a fairly minor amount (still, if you're counting lbs near a margin, it's a factor). The weight is one issue, and the added lever arm is another. Again, both minor, but they will have an impact if you're on the ragged edge of capacity.

What I do now is remove the bucket and insert a steel bar in the lower pin holes. This puts me right at the best lift point. I then chain the docks up and put them on a trailer for launching in the water.

Sorry for the hijack...i will start my own thread on this in in a bit.

 

[John Dougherty]

Congrats on the 26xl. I especially liked your comparison picture. Like young dog meets big dog. I was able to get one of the last tier 3 28xl's from a dealer, but I would have been okay with the 26xl. I saved some coin getting it and just hooked up a chipper this morning to try it out. It's no 'self feed', but awesome chips! Good luck with your purchase. Powerful units!

 

[tonka800a]

Congrats on the 26xl. I especially liked your comparison picture. Like young dog meets big dog. I was able to get one of the last tier 3 28xl's from a dealer, but I would have been okay with the 26xl. I saved some coin getting it and just hooked up a chipper this morning to try it out. It's no 'self feed', but awesome chips! Good luck with your purchase. Powerful units!

Thanks, I scoured the internet for info on the 26 before I bought it. There really isn't a whole lot out there. Everything I did find basically said it was identical to the 28 except the EPA rating was tier 4. I am hoping other 26xl owners will start putting there opinions and knowledge out so anyone considering these can get some info on them.
I have a Troy Built chipper that will take 3" limbs that works pretty good. Be nice to have a 3 point one though

 

[John Dougherty]

Thanks, I scoured the internet for info on the 26 before I bought it. There really isn't a whole lot out there. Everything I did find basically said it was identical to the 28 except the EPA rating was tier 4. I am hoping other 26xl owners will start putting there opinions and knowledge out so anyone considering these can get some info on them.
I have a Troy Built chipper that will take 3" limbs that works pretty good. Be nice to have a 3 point one though

I know what you mean. The things you want to know and are important just don't seem to be there. I think that you did pretty good with the Mahindra. I feel good about mine. It's a really strong machine. I used my neighbor's BX22 for some time and it was fine, but smaller. I was happy when I found the 28/26. These are stout little machines. I looked at the Orange, but it was about the same price. No comparison. I owned a JD 310D, which is a full size/ real deal backhoe. It had an extendahoe. The joke with ours is, they have an extendahoe, but it's called reverse!
Good luck and good luck to me as well.
JD

 

[s219]

I have been reading and searching this site for a few years now, finally decided to register. I looked at the Max series a couple years ago and almost bought one then. I ended up buying a used MF 65 with loader which has been a good tractor, but I really needed smaller tractor with a backhoe. A few weeks ago I went back to my tractor research then last week I visited the dealership. They had a 26xl on the lot but the backhoe they would have to order. After working out an agreeable price I had them order me a tractor. I got a new 26xl hst w/backhoe and thumb delivered yesterday morning. Only problem right now is that it has been snowing ever since and I only got to play with it for about 20 min. before I had to go to work yesterday!! (I did get the tires muddy though)

Looks good! My neighbor has a Max 28, and it's been great.

 

[tonka800a]

I know what you mean. The things you want to know and are important just don't seem to be there. I think that you did pretty good with the Mahindra. I feel good about mine. It's a really strong machine. I used my neighbor's BX22 for some time and it was fine, but smaller. I was happy when I found the 28/26. These are stout little machines. I looked at the Orange, but it was about the same price. No comparison. I owned a JD 310D, which is a full size/ real deal backhoe. It had an extendahoe. The joke with ours is, they have an extendahoe, but it's called reverse!
Good luck and good luck to me as well.
JD

I barely have 2 hrs on mine as of today, but so far I think it's going to be fine. My old boss bought a small orange a couple years ago when I first looked at the Mahindra's. His is a little bigger than my cadet 1046vt and does work quite well. I needed/wanted something a little bigger. So far it is so much easier to maneuver than my old tractor. Give me a couple weekends to use it and I might sell off my massey!! The loader bucket isn't much smaller, but the lifting height/ability is less.

Looks good! My neighbor has a Max 28, and it's been great.

Thanks, I think it's going to work very well.

 

[John Dougherty]

I barely have 2 hrs on mine as of today, but so far I think it's going to be fine. My old boss bought a small orange a couple years ago when I first looked at the Mahindra's. His is a little bigger than my cadet 1046vt and does work quite well. I needed/wanted something a little bigger. So far it is so much easier to maneuver than my old tractor. Give me a couple weekends to use it and I might sell off my massey!! The loader bucket isn't much smaller, but the lifting height/ability is less.



Thanks, I think it's going to work very well.

I think that you will find this unit very capable. I just started a new thread that spoke to improving our tractors. Good luck with yours, it's a very powerful machine buddy.
JD

 

[tonka800a]

I finally got a chance today to use my 26xl. I now have a little over 5hrs on it. My impressions from today are positive. I am impressed with this "little" tractor. I did some loader work, moved some dirt around and fixed some bad spots in my driveway. Need to drop the backhoe for my box blade to smooth it a little more, but I am satisfied for now. I also used the backhoe for about 45 min. to dig a hole to burn some brush etc. dug about 3 ft. deep and roughly 4' x 5' --mainly just to get the hang of the controls.


This tractor is so much easier to operate than my MF 65 for loader work. The HST makes all the difference in the world. I think the shuttle shift would have been fine too. You just have to decide if you want to work your right or left leg (HST or clutch) and if you want that free left hand to steer.

 

[Navasot]

I finally got a chance today to use my 26xl. I now have a little over 5hrs on it. My impressions from today are positive. I am impressed with this "little" tractor. I did some loader work, moved some dirt around and fixed some bad spots in my driveway. Need to drop the backhoe for my box blade to smooth it a little more, but I am satisfied for now. I also used the backhoe for about 45 min. to dig a hole to burn some brush etc. dug about 3 ft. deep and roughly 4' x 5' --mainly just to get the hang of the controls.



This tractor is so much easier to operate than my MF 65 for loader work. The HST makes all the difference in the world. I think the shuttle shift would have been fine too. You just have to decide if you want to work your right or left leg (HST or clutch) and if you want that free left hand to steer.

The backhoes they put on the XL series are very impressive. I worked one on a 28 which is the same as your 26 and the digging force for such a small machine was hard to believe... I live in the middle of two big drainage creeks so a lot of places are just to hard to get to with a bigger tractor and that little fits the bill well... can get in to tight spaces but has plenty of power to get good size jobs done when you get there. Glad you like it. Oh and try to find the most level spot possible when taking off the backhoe.... there should be some videos online to help with taking it off... youtube I mean

 

[tonka800a]

The backhoes they put on the XL series are very impressive. I worked one on a 28 which is the same as your 26 and the digging force for such a small machine was hard to believe... I live in the middle of two big drainage creeks so a lot of places are just to hard to get to with a bigger tractor and that little fits the bill well... can get in to tight spaces but has plenty of power to get good size jobs done when you get there. Glad you like it. Oh and try to find the most level spot possible when taking off the backhoe.... there should be some videos online to help with taking it off... youtube I mean

I have to agree, it seems to be a stout little unit. I have taken it off and remounted it about 4 times now. Always remove it in my shop with concrete floor. Really simple and quick to do. Think it takes about 5 min. at best to remount it. Removing it is even quicker.

I have about 10 hrs on it now. Spent some time with it today doing some loader work, put the rear blade on and did some touch up on my driveway, filled in some low spots in the back yard etc. So far I am happy with it. Wish I would have bought it sooner. It is so much easier to maneuver around the yard than my MF 65, the loader bucket is smaller and I may have to make 2 trips but I can do it just as quick with the max with no gears to change.