New Max 26xl

[Harry Christopher]

Having made the same upgrade from a XI as you are doing I think the inherent Max capabilities will delight you no end. I am on call 24/7 when it snows because it costs the university $5 million dollars for each day they close the campus in staff pay. It takes my wife 5 hours to clear the drive with a 8HP snow blower when I am gone essentially living out of my car during these storms. I told her that the Max could make 2 passes on the drive and I could get the car up to the house without her having to spend all day out in the storm. That was part of my sales pitch to the President of the Bank of Colleen pursuant to this purchase.

I can't emphasize how important a solid dealer is to this whole purchase. If either one of us lived in California Dave's Tractor would be the best dealer choice to spend money at, but at the moment I live in the People's Republic of Massachusetts so Dave's is not a realistic choice for me until he opens a New England branch office. My insurance company screwed up the insurance binder on the tractor and the dealer owner personally had to get on the phone to straighten them out which he did because that is the way this family owned operation does business. After I paid for the tractor to be hauled home I fired the insurance company and am now dealing with a new business than understands one does not fool around with a man's tractor under any circumstances.

I wanted a tractor that I could reasonably maintain myself at home. The dealer service manager has been extremely helpful on the phone answering my many technical questions and the people on this forum have decades of actual experience that they freely share and which I have found invaluable. I used to look upon maintaining the XI as a chore but with the Max I actually enjoy the process. I am glad that I spent the time with the Toro because it provides me with a solid point of reference when evaluating just what I can do with the Max. I hope that you find both a brand and dealer that you can believe in and be happy doing business with.

Harry

 

[Usmc68]

Thanks again Harry! Good points made. I only have like 3 local 'hindra dealers to choose from in the PR of Maryland so I hope I like the one I am about to visit! We have tons of Kubota folks so that is why I am still considering going back to Orange. I love my 520 but with 5 acres, steep driveway (need 4x4) and the increasing "need" for a FEL I feel it is time to sell the old faithful horse.

Semper Fi

 

[Harry Christopher]

You will discover that after you upgrade all of a sudden all sorts of projects become available due to the increased tractor capabilities. I have not gotten out of 4wd pretty much since The Max arrived. I used to struggle maintaining the trap rock drive and York raking the sand riding ring due to the XI not really being designed for that sort of endeavor but the Max so far has not missed a beat. I was surprised that I seem to only use approximately 1/2 gallon an hour of diesel fuel which is economical given that I am running in 4wd and low range on the transmission.

I sold the 522 for $1800 cash which I felt was a fair price and hope that the new owner enjoys using it. So far I have the same positive feeling of ownership of the Max that I found when owning a BMW motorcycle, Sig Sauer pistols and Snap On hand tools. This particular Max is made by Mitsubishi in Japan and that company seems to have developed a good reputation in the agriculture machinery field. As a point of reference a Max 26XL with FEL and a coolant heater in the lower radiator hose cost me under $18,000 at a dealer that I like very much so far. I would be interested in what you end up with at the end of this journey. Remember if you finance any part of this deal there is NO 0% as a rate as they just up the overall initial cost of the tractor. The 1.99% rate is reasonable.

Harry

 

[mike69440]

You will discover that after you upgrade all of a sudden all sorts of projects become available due to the increased tractor capabilities. I have not gotten out of 4wd pretty much since The Max arrived. I used to struggle maintaining the trap rock drive and York raking the sand riding ring due to the XI not really being designed for that sort of endeavor but the Max so far has not missed a beat. I was surprised that I seem to only use approximately 1/2 gallon an hour of diesel fuel which is economical given that I am running in 4wd and low range on the transmission.

I sold the 522 for $1800 cash which I felt was a fair price and hope that the new owner enjoys using it. So far I have the same positive feeling of ownership of the Max that I found when owning a BMW motorcycle, Sig Sauer pistols and Snap On hand tools. This particular Max is made by Mitsubishi in Japan and that company seems to have developed a good reputation in the agriculture machinery field. As a point of reference a Max 26XL with FEL and a coolant heater in the lower radiator hose cost me under $18,000 at a dealer that I like very much so far. I would be interested in what you end up with at the end of this journey. Remember if you finance any part of this deal there is NO 0% as a rate as they just up the overall initial cost of the tractor. The 1.99% rate is reasonable.

Harry

Harry, you have me feeling quite guilty for having the factory gear oil in my Max 28 for near 300 hours. Regardless of what they recommend, when I do change it it will be Lucas 80W-140 synthetic. Front end of my L39 has gone last 1000 hrs of 2,300 total with that, no issues. I keep at least 700 pounds of ballast on the Max28 rear end and with the stronger 1526 curl cylinders I do not use 4WD much. I use AWD more down hill than up, and carrying heavy loads in the bucket up hill. I can push and scoop out of a pile like no little tractor should. What a difference. Now the curl matches or is stronger than the lift. Great with forks also. The 8x8 shuttle puts way more power to ground than the 2 speed HST. you made correct choice, at least for 70%-80% of the things you may do with the tractor.
I suggest to anyone thinking of the Max, if they can live with a larger machine, get the 1526 3 Speed HST. Me I needed Mighty Mouse.

 

[Harry Christopher]

I have read a lot of opinions regarding the 1526 model being considered an excellent model in its own right but we felt that for our particular property the smaller Max would work out better for us. I try to follow the factory guidelines because I really am enjoying this Max and would like it to last as long as is humanly possible. At age 65 I don't expect to outlive this tractor but hopefully it will still be in solid operating shape for the Mrs. As in all things in life there are multiple opinions regarding what is the best thing to do for the care and feeding of a tractor. In the final analysis in the cold surgical light of dawn the best opinion is the one that you freely choose of your own volition and believe in whole heartedly. All the other opinions are just background clutter of mean value.

Harry

 

[Usmc68]

Well I stopped by the closest dealer and lets just say customer service was not their strength. I went in asking to look at the Max26XL and he said lets go look at the Massey Ferguson GC1705. I looked at it and it was nothing compared to the Max in terms of thickness metals, etc. It looked nice and less expensive by 4K so I might look at it later but not from this guy. I went to the next closet dealer 30 miles away and they had a 2014 Max26 with 60" MMM and nice FEL with 319hrs for $13,900 + taxes. Took it for a drive and it is Nice It sure is heavy duty or at least heavy gauge steel is used.
I will check out the Kubotas tomorrow

Semper Fi

 

[Harry Christopher]

Sounds like the first Mahindra dealer learned his trade by working at a sleazy used car dealer. You definitely don't want to do business with that guy. The only decision and opinion that really matters is your own. I will be interested to hear what you think of the Kubota. The combination of my experience at work with that brand and the local dealer being less than responsive when problems arise in a commercial use setting put me off that brand when I was originally researching buying a diesel tractor. Whatever you end up buying is the best choice because it was made by you and you are paying the bill.

Harry

 

[s219]

Awesome response Harry, much appreciated! After work today I will head over to my local Mahindra dealer to check them and the equipment out. I keep watching comparisson videos on Youtube of how the Mahindra is better built than the Kubota compacts in terms of materials, location of engine, etc. I had a B7800 for years and never had an issue with it.

Thanks again!

Semper Fi

I think those videos are probably fibbing a bit. Mahindra makes a solid tractor that should be reliable, and often is heavier/stronger than competing models, but where they fall behind is fit and finish. Paintwork not as good. Seats not as good. Cheaper materials here and there. Some sloppy assembly. I wouldn't necessarily shy away from a Mahindra, but I would seriously be skeptical of any source/videos claiming they are better built with better materials. That's just not the case in my experience -- it's the exact opposite.

 

[s219]

BTW, my experience is only with the Mitsubishi-built models.

 

[s219]

Well I stopped by the closest dealer and lets just say customer service was not their strength. I went in asking to look at the Max26XL and he said lets go look at the Massey Ferguson GC1705. I looked at it and it was nothing compared to the Max in terms of thickness metals, etc. It looked nice and less expensive by 4K so I might look at it later but not from this guy. I went to the next closet dealer 30 miles away and they had a 2014 Max26 with 60" MMM and nice FEL with 319hrs for $13,900 + taxes. Took it for a drive and it is Nice It sure is heavy duty or at least heavy gauge steel is used.
I will check out the Kubotas tomorrow

Semper Fi

Massey makes some slightly larger models that would be a better comparison to the Max, and they have very good quality.

BTW, the various brands are all over the place when it comes to comparing models. The Max, while classified as a subcompact by Mahindra, is closer in comparison to small compacts from the other brands. For example, the comparable Kubota would be a B2601 (small compact), not a BX (sub-compact). So don't be afraid to cross-shop different categories. In general, compare HP, size, capability, and cost.