I don't like it but you better use Mahindra filters

[crbonline]

So I checked these forums to try and find replacement filters for my 2615 because Mahindra prices are freakin ridiculous. I mean $68 for an air filter...that's getting bent over when the napa equivalent is a 1/3 the cost. Well I went the cheaper route and am now paying over $1000 to get my engine repaired. The Napa filter didn't look exactly the same but folks on this forums said it'd work...WRONG. There is a dust trail down my intake to my rear cylinder which is now fried...new piston/rings, hone the cylinder, etc. All because Mahindra specifically makes filters so only theirs works with the tractor and then bends you over the table when you go to buy one. Thanks Mahindra...I guess the chinese manufacturing method has caught on in India. Sell it cheap and then screw people on the parts to fix it when it breaks. Besides this BS, I really like the 2615.

 

[kootch88]

So I checked these forums to try and find replacement filters for my 2615 because Mahindra prices are freakin ridiculous. I mean $68 for an air filter...that's getting bent over when the napa equivalent is a 1/3 the cost. Well I went the cheaper route and am now paying over $1000 to get my engine repaired. The Napa filter didn't look exactly the same but folks on this forums said it'd work...WRONG. There is a dust trail down my intake to my rear cylinder which is now fried...new piston/rings, hone the cylinder, etc. All because Mahindra specifically makes filters so only theirs works with the tractor and then bends you over the table when you go to buy one. Thanks Mahindra...I guess the chinese manufacturing method has caught on in India. Sell it cheap and then screw people on the parts to fix it when it breaks. Besides this BS, I really like the 2615.

Isn't this tractor equipped with a 3 cylinder, 26 hp Mitsubishi engine, which is Japanese made with a Indian made chassis and US made wheels, tires, Loader and any other attachments?

 

[crbonline]

Isn't this tractor equipped with a 3 cylinder, 26 hp Mitsubishi engine, which is Japanese made with a Indian made chassis and US made wheels, tires, Loader and any other attachments?

I've heard a 100 different iterations of where these things come from...Japan, India, etc. My understanding is Mahindra is an India based company that may source some materials from other places. Hope that answers your questions. Regardless of where the company is headquartered or where it sources materials, the compliant is still the same...and considering I have a Chinese made backhoe that required me to pay my local hydraulic specialist to custom build fittings when some of mine broke because it was still significantly cheaper than buying the replacement parts from the manufacturer...let's just say I'm pretty sure it is by design and not accident. I think that's how drug dealers work, "this one is free but the next one I'm gonna have to charge you."

 

[kootch88]

I've heard a 100 different iterations of where these things come from...Japan, India, etc. My understanding is Mahindra is an India based company that may source some materials from other places. Hope that answers your questions. Regardless of where the company is headquartered or where it sources materials, the compliant is still the same...and considering I have a Chinese made backhoe that required me to pay my local hydraulic specialist to custom build fittings when some of mine broke because it was still significantly cheaper than buying the replacement parts from the manufacturer...let's just say I'm pretty sure it is by design and not accident. I think that's how drug dealers work, "this one is free but the next one I'm gonna have to charge you."

I agree it absolutely stinks to be bent over the barrel and speared, but it is up to the aftermarket manufacturers to make a LKQ part, not Mahindra , LS, IH, JD or Kubota to ensure there are aftermarket parts. Where something is manufactured has pretty much nothing to do with availability of aftermarket parts. I am betting it has everything to do with demand.

 

[crbonline]

I agree it absolutely stinks to be bent over the barrel and speared, but it is up to the aftermarket manufacturers to make a LKQ part, not Mahindra , LS, IH, JD or Kubota to ensure there are aftermarket parts. Where something is manufactured has pretty much nothing to do with availability of aftermarket parts. I am betting it has everything to do with demand.

I hear ya...but I find it interesting that I've never had this issue with any other piece of equipment I've owned...there are the OEM parts and the non-OEM parts and they have always been 100% interchangeable. I've never had to go to the Chevy dealership to get an over priced air filter (although they'd like me to). I would also say that Mahindra has a lot invested in making sure their customers are happy; if I were a Mahindra exec, I would ensure anybody selling OEM equivalent parts adhere to some quality standards...I wouldn't trust that everyone is working my my best interest...chances are the non-OEM manufacturers said "good enough" and called it a day but in reality its Mahindra that ends up with the black eye.

 

[kootch88]

I hear ya...but I find it interesting that I've never had this issue with any other piece of equipment I've owned...there are the OEM parts and the non-OEM parts and they have always been 100% interchangeable. I've never had to go to the Chevy dealership to get an over priced air filter (although they'd like me to). I would also say that Mahindra has a lot invested in making sure their customers are happy; if I were a Mahindra exec, I would ensure anybody selling OEM equivalent parts adhere to some quality standards...I wouldn't trust that everyone is working my my best interest...chances are the non-OEM manufacturers said "good enough" and called it a day but in reality its Mahindra that ends up with the black eye.

I'm in the same fix you are in since I have a Mahindra, but how can Mahindra limit or require LKQ parts quaility from third parties? You said earlier this was akin to drug dealer methods of marketing, more or less, and my point in all of this is Mahindra, Chevy nor anyone else has the power to control after market parts, nor do I want them to because that would be no different than the original manufacturer selling the parts themselves, thus killing any capitalism/competition in the parts market. All a third party has to do is test the item, measure the specs and size, and crank them out.

Every time we have to buy low demand or no demand items we pay a premium, that is just a scale of demand and manufacturing.

 

[crbonline]

I'm in the same fix you are in since I have a Mahindra, but how can Mahindra limit or require LKQ parts quaility from third parties? You said earlier this was akin to drug dealer methods of marketing, more or less, and my point in all of this is Mahindra, Chevy nor anyone else has the power to control after market parts, nor do I want them to because that would be no different than the original manufacturer selling the parts themselves, thus killing any capitalism/competition in the parts market. All a third party has to do is test the item, measure the specs and size, and crank them out.

Every time we have to buy low demand or no demand items we pay a premium, that is just a scale of demand and manufacturing.

Dude I'm not really up for a debate on macro economics and global supply chain management. All I wanted to do with this thread is to caution folks when buying replacement parts (and vent a little). I did my homework and it turns out I got some bad info. My two cents...pay the additional price, let mahindra bend you over, and get the OEM parts. Oh and by the way, Mahindra has recently stated they are the worlds largest suppliers of tractors. If that is true, does the supply/demand theory really hold up?

 

[kootch88]

Dude I'm not really up for a debate on macro economics and global supply chain management. All I wanted to do with this thread is to caution folks when buying replacement parts (and vent a little). I did my homework and it turns out I got some bad info. My two cents...pay the additional price, let mahindra bend you over, and get the OEM parts. Oh and by the way, Mahindra has recently stated they are the worlds largest suppliers of tractors. If that is true, does the supply/demand theory really hold up?

I got a quote to day for having a full service of $230 bucks, which, same as you sent me into shock, so as far as prices, you are preaching to the choir on that account.

As far as the rest, regardless of how large their manufacturing base, they still have no control over aftermarket parts, unless there is a conspiracy I am not aware of in the tractor industry.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Any chance that you shopped around at different Mahindra dealers, either in person or on the net? There can be as much as double the price charged for filters from one dealer to the next. I have seen it first hand. For my 7520 it is cheaper to get the OEM filters from my dealer 650 miles away than it is any aftermarket filters, and the aftermarket guys did not even have a listing for all of the filters required for my tractor.

The 2615 is a Mitsubishi tractor, built by Mitsubishi in Japan for Mahindra USA and is now a 16 series machine.

 

[Cpjlube]

No offense to the OP but if it looked "different" I would be skeptical. I have used aftermarket parts almost exclusively when given the opportunity and have seen some situations where my gut tells me this isn't the right part, no matter what anybody else says. Unless the person telling me is willing to step up if there is a problem, dont use the part.

To the OP

If NAPA sold you a part that listed your machine as an application, I would start there. Napa doesn't build filters, they have companies build them. NAPA will be very interested to know if one of their filters was manufactured incorrectly. True, the problem doesn't lay with Mahindra but I would be sure to contact NAPA if they listed a part that failed.

Good luck

Chuck

 

[WilliamBos]

You bought a cheap flea market china mart crappa Napa air filter, ran it on your tractor, lost a cylinder, and have the nerve to blame Mahindra? Seriously? Chances are Mahindra farms filter production out to a reputable company, not anyone that crappa napa would deal with.

Unless you are changing that filter weekly, why bother cheaping out on something as critical as that? Does Donaldson make one that will cross?

Like suggested above, shop around for parts. Most will ship them to you.

 

[SPYDERLK]

You bought a cheap flea market china mart crappa Napa air filter, ran it on your tractor, lost a cylinder, and have the nerve to blame Mahindra? Seriously? Chances are Mahindra farms filter production out to a reputable company, not anyone that crappa napa would deal with.

Unless you are changing that filter weekly, why bother cheaping out on something as critical as that? Does Donaldson make one that will cross?

Like suggested above, shop around for parts. Most will ship them to you.

Not sure why you would need to change an air filter much. I knock the dust out of mine every 100hrs or so. 1050 hrs and still in fine shape.
larry

 

[Texan4Life]

What was the napa part #?

either they gave you the wrong filter or it wasn't installed properly. or you have an intake leak between filter/engine

if it was the filter, kinda odd dust wasn't being sucked to all cylinders.

edit:

should have been wix #46483 (napa #6483... napa generally drops wix's first number)

if that is the filter you used, it was installed correctly, and is the real cause of failure. not sure about napa, but if that was any other brand (baldwin, wix, ect) I would try and get them to cover cost since they specd the wrong filter. but honestly that is pretty dang rare for a big mfg to make that mistake. Wix has a good reputation. I also highly doubt it was a media quality issue. unless it somehow got a tear it in.

 

[crbonline]

So I'd like to recap this experience. I bought a mahindra and when it came time to change the filters, I figured I'd search one of the more popular websites re: tractors (TBN) where I'd found a lot of mahindra owners talking about their struggles with locating a reasonably priced mahindra filter. The forum discussed non-OEM filters that are available and even discussed how the non-OEM filters don't fit exactly the same but some folks chimed in saying it worked. So I follow the advice from the forum and the folks at the parts store and bought a non-OEM filter and installed it. Then I have engine issues that seem to indicate a faulty filter as a root cause. So I post my experience online to help others avoid the frustration I'm experiencing and I get a bunch of folks arm chair quarterbacking telling me I shouldn't trust what I read from others which were posted on this forum. You're all right. I should only buy OEM parts and do exactly what the manual says. I guess I'm the only guy out there that believes that while the manufacturer stuff may be right, there are other ways to achieve the same goal. And I think I'm going to take the advice and stop listening to info I get on this forum. Thanks for the help everyone. Well technically it's not help; but I appreciate the input. And why only the rear cylinder had the issue...from what I understand this is the first cylinder that receives the air because it is a serial piping and not parallel so that is why it got all the crud. Not sure if that's 100% accurate but it seems to make sense. I'm planning to pick up the tractor and do the engine work myself. I would like to post what I find and how difficult/easy it is to do, but I'm really not looking to get into irrelevant arguments or being told I screwed it up. Because let's face it, we all screw up but the important thing is to share the experience so others avoid the same mistake...we don't share to be told what we did wrong...I can figure that out for myself.

 

[AchingBack]

When I bought an air filter about 3 years ago, my dealer kindly sold me one made for a Kubota. It looked identical to the one made for Mahindra, and it was $20.00 less. Ironically, my dealer doesn't sell Kubota tractors.

 

[kootch88]

Actually it was a good post regarding aftermarket filters so thanks for the information. It was certainly helpful.

 

[Texan4Life]

When I bought an air filter about 3 years ago, my dealer kindly sold me one made for a Kubota. It looked identical to the one made for Mahindra, and it was $20.00 less. Ironically, my dealer doesn't sell Kubota tractors.

yeah the Wix list the main application for the filter number i posted as kubota. (but the full list includes many others)

fwiw you can always cross wix # to your favorite brand, just go to their website. for example wix #46483 crosses to Baldwin #PA3792, Donaldson #P606953, Fleetguard #AF25578M

I always use wix numbers cuz usually they are the fastest in updating their online filter application search. Mahindra (like all OEMs) doesn't have to reinvent the wheel, if possible they are going to use an "off the shelf" filter that meets their specs and is already being mfg for a another application.

 

[Texan4Life]

So I'd like to recap this experience. I bought a mahindra and when it came time to change the filters, I figured I'd search one of the more popular websites re: tractors (TBN) where I'd found a lot of mahindra owners talking about their struggles with locating a reasonably priced mahindra filter. The forum discussed non-OEM filters that are available and even discussed how the non-OEM filters don't fit exactly the same but some folks chimed in saying it worked. So I follow the advice from the forum and the folks at the parts store and bought a non-OEM filter and installed it. Then I have engine issues that seem to indicate a faulty filter as a root cause. So I post my experience online to help others avoid the frustration I'm experiencing and I get a bunch of folks arm chair quarterbacking telling me I shouldn't trust what I read from others which were posted on this forum. You're all right. I should only buy OEM parts and do exactly what the manual says. I guess I'm the only guy out there that believes that while the manufacturer stuff may be right, there are other ways to achieve the same goal. And I think I'm going to take the advice and stop listening to info I get on this forum. Thanks for the help everyone. Well technically it's not help; but I appreciate the input. And why only the rear cylinder had the issue...from what I understand this is the first cylinder that receives the air because it is a serial piping and not parallel so that is why it got all the crud. Not sure if that's 100% accurate but it seems to make sense. I'm planning to pick up the tractor and do the engine work myself. I would like to post what I find and how difficult/easy it is to do, but I'm really not looking to get into irrelevant arguments or being told I screwed it up. Because let's face it, we all screw up but the important thing is to share the experience so others avoid the same mistake...we don't share to be told what we did wrong...I can figure that out for myself.

personally I feel a filter from a US mfg (wix, baldwin, donaldon, fleetguard) is of equal or higher quality than OEM, so if its available I go aftermarket and save some coin in the process.

JMO

edit:
Also if a dealer is denying warranty repair based on the fact they pulled out a non-oem filter (but according to the filter mfg is the right filter for the application), I'm pretty sure that is illegal. Or at least I know it is for cars, not sure if the same is true about tractors. Or if they say it is the filters fault, then you contact the filter mfg. they have whole legal department and insurance for this very thing.

 

[aczlan]

Also if a dealer is denying warranty repair based on the fact they pulled out a non-oem filter (but according to the filter mfg is the right filter for the application), I'm pretty sure that is illegal. Or at least I know it is for cars, not sure if the same is true about tractors. Or if they say it is the filters fault, then you contact the filter mfg. they have whole legal department and insurance for this very thing.

Ayep, per Magnum Moss they can only deny warranty coverage due to you having aftermarket parts if the parts caused the failure (as it appears is the case here). If that is the case, the aftermarket mfg is on the hook for the repair.

Aaron Z

 

[DK35vince]

What was the filter # you installed?