Dealer responsiveness

[doneill127]

I have a 2 year old Max 22 with about 150 hrs on it that has really not had any problems. I have gone to the dealer a couple of times with minor issues and questions and for the most part they've been very good as long as they don't need support from Mahindra. The latest issue is the FEL will not curl up when it's in float which makes it difficult to use the FEL to clear my gravel driveway. The dealer didn't have an answer and submitted a request to Mahindra. It's been a couple of weeks and I've heard nothing back. Last week I contacted the dealer and was told they are still waiting to hear back from Mahindra. Is this a normal response from Mahindra ?

 

[tracydj]

I have had two issues that required a response from Mahindra. The first was a warranty issue on a backhoe bucket and the second issue dealt with the dash light functions. Both issues required an exceptional amount of time for a response back. During this time I submitted a question off of the Mahindra website and received a phone call back four weeks later. The gentleman was professional and was able to answer my questions, so overall it was a good experience.

 

[jb1390]

I have a 2 year old Max 22 with about 150 hrs on it that has really not had any problems. I have gone to the dealer a couple of times with minor issues and questions and for the most part they've been very good as long as they don't need support from Mahindra. The latest issue is the FEL will not curl up when it's in float which makes it difficult to use the FEL to clear my gravel driveway. The dealer didn't have an answer and submitted a request to Mahindra. It's been a couple of weeks and I've heard nothing back. Last week I contacted the dealer and was told they are still waiting to hear back from Mahindra. Is this a normal response from Mahindra ?

Doneill127, where are you located? Can I ask where you purchased the tractor?

 

[doneill127]

Prefer not to name the dealer because I don't want anyone to think they are the problem, in fact I think they've been quite good. When they delivered the tractor they took the time to show me how to operate it, dismount and mount the FEL,backhoe and MMM. Did a good job on the 50 hr service too. On the issues I've had including replacement of the curl cylinders under warranty, the delays have always been attributed to the dealer not receiving a response/parts from Mahindra in a timely manner.

 

[jb1390]

Prefer not to name the dealer because I don't want anyone to think they are the problem, in fact I think they've been quite good. When they delivered the tractor they took the time to show me how to operate it, dismount and mount the FEL,backhoe and MMM. Did a good job on the 50 hr service too. On the issues I've had including replacement of the curl cylinders under warranty, the delays have always been attributed to the dealer not receiving a response/parts from Mahindra in a timely manner.

I've had a similar experience on a couple issues with my machine. It was not the dealer, it was Mahindra corporate. Where are you located in CT? Can you pm me the name of the dealer?

 

[oldpilgrim]

During this time I submitted a question off of the Mahindra website and received a phone call back four weeks later. The gentleman was professional and was able to answer my questions, so overall it was a good experience.

four weeks to get a call back and you say that's a good experience?

 

[doneill127]

I was thinking the same thing. It's good that the problem was resolved, however the response time leaves something to be desired, or maybe I'm just a little more impatient.

 

[BobG_in_VA]

doneill....when your FEL is in float...nothing will happen anyway. For lack of a better way to put it, Float means that the circuit is open...ie. fluid could flow in either direction, depending on where the bucket is...that's why you can backdrag the bucket and it will go up or down..following the grade of the land...the curl function is identical....BobG in Va

 

[doneill127]

Right now in float, the lift cylinders are open and float. The curl function while in float will curl down, but not up. If I curl down in float the lift cylinders retract and the front of the tractor does not lift up. Sometimes I back drag with the heel of the bucket in float. If I try to curl up, the joy stick will not move into the left hand position. Nothing happens. The is another post about this problem on a Max and it turned out to be issue with the hydraulic controller. However when I was at the dealer we tested one one their lot and it operated the same as mine. That's why the dealer contacted Mahindra because of the two different descriptions of the correct operation. The hydraulic schematic should clarify it.

 

[s219]

doneill....when your FEL is in float...nothing will happen anyway. For lack of a better way to put it, Float means that the circuit is open...ie. fluid could flow in either direction, depending on where the bucket is...that's why you can backdrag the bucket and it will go up or down..following the grade of the land...the curl function is identical....BobG in Va

Float should only affect the lift cylinders, not the curl cylinders. Most all loaders will have separate valves for lift and curl. The lift valve has the detent and float position, curl does not. So I think it's right for the OP to expect curl control whether or not the lift valve is in float.

That said, based on the description the OP is giving, I'd say that Mahindra has probably put some sort of budget loader control on the tractor that can't support independent lift and curl, so when the lift valve detents into float, input flow is bypassing the curl valve. An easy way to test this would be to try to lift up and curl up at the same time under normal operation -- I'm betting the tractor can't do both simultaneously.

Deere put a similar loader valve setup on the 1-series tractors, and many people have noted the inability to lift and curl at the same time. Not a huge deal for most folks, but I know when I am doing serious dirt work with the front loader on my tractor, I am frequently using both functions at the same time and I'd miss that. Saves a bit of time on every trip to/from the pile and that adds up when doing hundreds of trips to the pile.

 

[RNeumann]

I have a Mahindra 1538. The loader valve floats on lift and still allows curl while floating.

 

[doneill127]

I appreciate the responses but there's already a couple of posts addressing float and curl and there's even one specific to the Mahindra Max. I was trying to find out if it's typical for Mahindra to take a long time to respond to their dealers. The couple of responses received seem to indicate it is.

 

[Big Chief]

I'm in southwest CT, I have a 2016 emax 22. Never had a issue. What was the problem and did they fix it?
There are only a few dealers in CT and one I know is not selling mahindras anymore.

 

[mike69440]

I Know the FEL on my L39TLB will curl both directions while in float, as I do it all the time plowing light snow. I want the front end to float, and I am adjusting the plow's shoe contact so as not to scar up the gravel.

I'll check out how the Max28 Behaves this weekend and post.

The L39 Dump cycle is always in regen, while the Max28 has a detent on dump regen. I wish the detent was easier to feel while running the tractor hard, as there is a dead spot right after the detent where the loader does almost nothing.
Big difference in fine control and feel between an expensive Kubota and a lower priced machine, however I have gotten used to the Max28.

 

[DavesTractor]

I appreciate the responses but there's already a couple of posts addressing float and curl and there's even one specific to the Mahindra Max. I was trying to find out if it's typical for Mahindra to take a long time to respond to their dealers. The couple of responses received seem to indicate it is.

I'm a dealer. If my service rep isn't back to me with a response in 24 hours, then he gets another email and a call. If he needs longer to figure out something or needs more information he needs to tell me that so I can set my customer's expectations. If a couple days go by with no response to multiple requests, I speak with his boss. Rarely do we need to do that, but a dealer needs to make sure his prompt and excellent service is not hurt by slow support from the OEM. Overall we find Mahindra to be responsive. I have found on the rare occasion of slow responsiveness from MUSA, generally a bunch is going on in the back ground to solve the problem, but it is not communicated. And if we do not know they are working on the problem, we assume the worst.

In this case, it may be complicated because the valve may not have a flaw, it just may not be designed to properly handle two functions at once. So then it is not a warranty issue, but a design issue or a specification vs cost issue. And for the loader manufacturer response, they may tell MUSA that the ability to float and tilt the bucket was not designed into the cost of the valve, etc. Those sort of issues are harder to handle than a clearly failed part.

I honestly do not know if that particular valve ought to float and tilt by design, but that wasn't the question.

 

[doneill127]

Dave thanks for the input. I agree with your philosophy, I spent most of my career providing customer service on large construction projects and communication is key. Most people can deal with delays and issues if they understand whats going on. It's the silence that gets to you.

I also think your assessment that it's more complicated is correct. I've found a few posts where Max owners claim they can curl up while floating, there's even a thread about a repair at another dealer in the area. However when my dealer and I went out on the lot to test a new one, it would not curl up when in float. So it may or may not be warranty issue and someone's probably looking at the design, or maybe there are different valve suppliers with slightly different specs. Hopefully I'll find out soon.

 

[melroebobcat]

when people call my employer you can expect an answer back right away, for warranty work we try to get in the shop as quickly as possible. usually turn around is a week for transmission rebuilds, on small issues like updates, sensor replacement 4 days only because of the wait on ground parts from Texas . Some dealers are so small I wonder if the workout is to much however at our dealer only 1 person handles Mahindra warranty. but 3 people can do parts lookup

 

[Big Chief]

Last nite I fired up my emax 22. I can curl and empty the bucket when the loader is in float mode.
What valve do you have? There should be a tag on it.

 

[rback33]

It depends on whether it is a series or parallel valve as to whether you can use both functions at once. I think all KMW valves are parallel so you can run both functions at once. Series valves only allow you to run one or the other at a time and I don't know what Mahindra's other suppliers use.

 

[DavesTractor]

A Max22 would have a KMW loader I think, whereas an eMax22 would not?