Broken exhaust manifold

[DavesTractor]

So they must be seeing this regularly. If a guy has his own welder and can get the OK from the dealer, I'd think it would be fine to give it a quick weld and have it working while they are finding a permanent solution. But don't go that route based on my comments, get dealer approval, take pictures first, etc.

 

[oldpilgrim]

what engine does the emax have? I know the max is a Mitsu, but don't know about the emax series.

 

[Sysop]

Dealer says musa is aware of the muffler problem and I will have to wait for their engineering solution...and no muffler in stock...anyway dealer is 45 min away and 5 acres of grass keeps growing an inch a day. I wired the muffler down securely in two places - 17 ga electric fence wire - and it stays tight at high rpms. Not happy but otherwise I think the emax was engineered well...hit a sweet spot in the subcompact class. I have not patented this broken muffler fix.
View attachment 424609

I would request they order another muffler, new design or not. Either that or make sure they're going to repair any damages from the excess heat escaping the break.

 

[Mikemahindrah]

Gang,
Great News!! I received a call from the Service Manager this AM stating that there was a service Tech. enroute ....I hope your sitting down when you read this....TO MY HOUSE to repair the tractor. I wasnt home so I wasnt here when he worked on it but when I got home I started it up and all seems well!! Couldn't be happier with the the prompt service and courtesy I received. No taking the tractor to the Dealer to make repairs which could have been countless days of not having it. Mahindra ROCKS!!
Mike

 

[DavesTractor]

Sounds like a very good dealer. I bet he went and unbolted one off a new tractor for you. Good for him, that is how you retain customers.

 

[Mikemahindrah]

My thoughts exactly

 

[reevesranch]

I would request they order another muffler, new design or not. Either that or make sure they're going to repair any damages from the excess heat escaping the break.

I did not order the new muffler ASAP and decided to wait for the re-engineered muffler while operating with a wired down temporary fix. Don't do this! - when it came loose enough for heat to escape, and when I saw fumes coming out like dense steam from the fuel cap (somewhat heat-insulated fuel tank is right next to the manifold/muffler break), I decided that death by fire was an untenable risk and welded it back on myself with extra support for the somewhat violent side-to-side vibration that occurs with this engine below, say, 1500 rpm. I get Mahindra corporate as far as quality assurance - engineer a fix that will solve the problem as opposed to quality control with chasing down defects continuously. I will accept the factory fix muffler as a backup replacement - the downward exhaust low outlet is nice in some ways, but I suspect a brush pile will do it in eventually.

 

[DavesTractor]

I hate to admit it, but we had a couple of these fail in the last week or so on customers tractors. A muffler ought to last thousands of hours. On all the new eMax tractors we are retailing, we as a dealer are welding in a brace that we think will keep this from happening. Meanwhile we will wait for Mahindra to engineer a solution. It can't be that complicated. What is interesting is that the eMax is the only rubber mounted engine in the line-up. So the engine shakes and vibrates at certain rpms like a typical small diesel, that shakes the muffler. In the other models, the engines are mounted solidly. The benefit to the rubber mounts is that even though the engine still shakes and vibrates like a typical small diesel, the operator is in theory isolated from some of that vibration. But the muffler isn't. I think a lot of the SCUTS are made this way. I think larger tractors have enough mass to dampen the vibrations so rubber mounts aren't needed.

 

[Mikemahindrah]

Sounds like I should keep an eye on it. I havent used the tractor much lately....only 14 hours on it. Mostly have mowed. So its high RPM for a couple of hours.

 

[reevesranch]

I did not order the new muffler ASAP and decided to wait for the re-engineered muffler while operating with a wired down temporary fix. Don't do this! - when it came loose enough for heat to escape, and when I saw fumes coming out like dense steam from the fuel cap (somewhat heat-insulated fuel tank is right next to the manifold/muffler break), I decided that death by fire was an untenable risk and welded it back on myself with extra support for the somewhat violent side-to-side vibration that occurs with this engine below, say, 1500 rpm. I get Mahindra corporate as far as quality assurance - engineer a fix that will solve the problem as opposed to quality control with chasing down defects continuously. I will accept the factory fix muffler as a backup replacement - the downward exhaust low outlet is nice in some ways, but I suspect a brush pile will do it in eventually.

Word I got from my dealer is that Mahindra has engineered the fix but they have to wait for the EPA to test it, since any change to a tier 4 engine requires retesting. Might be a while. Sounds like most dealers are putting on braces to keep their customers going, but the whole system will be replaced when the fix is available.

 

[DavesTractor]

Word I got from my dealer is that Mahindra has engineered the fix but they have to wait for the EPA to test it, since any change to a tier 4 engine requires retesting. Might be a while. Sounds like most dealers are putting on braces to keep their customers going, but the whole system will be replaced when the fix is available.

Perhaps, but that muffler is not a DOC or a DPF, so that makes me curious as to why it could involve EPA. But from a manufacturer's point of view, better safe than sorry.

 

[mperry29]

I am on muffler #3, 63 hours on eMax 25

 

[Mikemahindrah]

Have they at least been good about replacements?

 

[mperry29]

Have they at least been good about replacements?

They have been good about the replacement, but each time it happens I am without my tractor for a week. It is very frustrating. I bought new so I did not have any worries!

 

[reevesranch]

The official EPA-tested replacement muffler is out and after about 50 hours seems to be holding up well. Lots of reinforcement. There seems to be quite a backlog - they all need replacing on the eMax but only two to my dealer initially and they drove from 40 minutes away to replace it on site.

 

[mperry29]

The official EPA-tested replacement muffler is out and after about 50 hours seems to be holding up well. Lots of reinforcement. There seems to be quite a backlog - they all need replacing on the eMax but only two to my dealer initially and they drove from 40 minutes away to replace it on site.

Thanks for the update! I will be very glad to have htis problem resolved:cool2:

 

[Digdawg]

Thanks for all this information, I'm an e Max 22 owner with 16 hours on my tractor, my muffler broke in the same spot. My dealer (Morgan Power Equipment, Halifax MA) told me not to believe what I read on the Internet, and is charging $160.00 for pick up and return of my tractor. I guess all dealers are not created equal.

 

[oldpilgrim]

Thanks for all this information, I'm an e Max 22 owner with 16 hours on my tractor, my muffler broke in the same spot. My dealer (Morgan Power Equipment, Halifax MA) told me not to believe what I read on the Internet, and is charging $160.00 for pick up and return of my tractor. I guess all dealers are not created equal.

I prefer not to to business with Morgan Power Equipment myself.

 

[reevesranch]

Thanks for all this information, I'm an e Max 22 owner with 16 hours on my tractor, my muffler broke in the same spot. My dealer (Morgan Power Equipment, Halifax MA) told me not to believe what I read on the Internet, and is charging $160.00 for pick up and return of my tractor. I guess all dealers are not created equal.

Ha . . maybe Mahindra sent out a recall notice as an email and your dealer didn't believe it . . . although I know my dealer was on at least one conference call on the subject. It is possible (but perhaps unlikely) that Mahindra is not compensating for pick-up or onsite replacement. If it was me, I would see if I could get the new greatly-reinforced muffler sent to me - seems like it would take less than an hour to switch it out with a socket wrench. But there is an EPA guideline, according to my honest dealer, that the old muffler must be taken away from the owner for compliance reasons. Also, if it was me, I would see if I could find the regional Mahindra company guy and ask if this is the best you can expect. And, if you purchased your eMax tractor after, what, May? - the dealer should have known this was likely to happen. I am at 150 hours, new muffler is fine, about to do a complete fluid and filter change - was planning to have the dealer do it but a 70-year-old widow woman with a 13-year-old 3000 series heard this and said, "what, afraid to get dirty? - I've done it almost every year for 10 years." Not having any real experience with hydraulics, I am a bit intimidated, but I guess I have been shamed into doing it myself (and saving about $300).

 

[Digdawg]

I don't mean to be unfair to my dealer, but, I only have 16 hours on this machine. I just filled the fuel tank
for the third time, and it's already costing me extra money. Doesn't the dealer who talked me out of the
Mitsubishi, which is the machine I wanted, bear some small amount of responsibility? Anyway thanks for
Letting me vent.