Need Suggestions for 45 HP

[DaBear3428]

WR long makes a 3rd function kit for the 5100 series and that is what my dealer recommended / installed for me, the factory 5100 loader control is prewired for a diverter valve but it was not available at the time and IMO is not as good as a true 3rd function.

 

[Torvy]

Generally Mahindra is an Indian, Massey is Chinese, Koti and Branson are Korean. Those brands to me represent large risks in supply chain disruptions and parts availability. I had never seen Massey's up close to around Christmas time last year and was really impressed so started researching them, to many issues already with supply chain stuff for me.

JD, NH, and Kubota all have significant portions of their manufacturing here in the US and two of those brands have very good reputations and market share with no anticipated issues. Supply chain issues are everywhere but it doesn't seem like critical parts are hard to come by in these colors.

I disagree. Kubota near me cannot get and keep things in stock. Branson has considerably more availability. TYM, which owns Branson has assembly facilities in the US, too. Only some of MF tractors are made in China. NH tractors are largely rebranded LS...at least until you get into the big ones.

The myth of domestic production does not really reflect reality.

 

[DaBear3428]

I disagree. Kubota near me cannot get and keep things in stock. Branson has considerably more availability. TYM, which owns Branson has assembly facilities in the US, too. Only some of MF tractors are made in China. NH tractors are largely rebranded LS...at least until you get into the big ones.

The myth of domestic production does not really reflect reality.

my research agrees with you, most CUT and SCUT tractors are made from offshore parts (that includes JD) NH are mostly LS you can even order NH parts if you do not have a LS dealer near you that will fit exactly in the corresponding LS model.

 

[3gunr]

Mahindras are made in 3 different countrys according to what model you are looking at , India , Japan and south korea, I have a new local mahindra dealer , He has 5 or 6 on the lot , Says he has 20 on order,

 

[OzarkChris]

I am considering the new Mahindra 5145 (45 HP). I am concerned about future availability of parts. I got burned buying a MF 451 years ago that was made in Brazil (I didn't know) and now it is very hard to find parts for it. The Massey is a separate story, but now I am worried about getting parts some day for this foreign brand. Is discontinued parts an issue for even JD, New Holland, etc.? I would like any advice on this Mahindra model (no reviews here yet), Mahindra in general, and brands in general in this category, especially as it pertains to reliability and future parts availability.

If money was no object (not that it's not), what new tractor would you buy in the 45 HP PTO class? I am mostly mowing in an orchard, so a cab and even a sun shade is out due to tree limbs. Also, I want to get a grapple out front, so recommendations there are welcome too. While looking at the Mahindra, I noticed that they offer a grapple, but some online said it was rather light duty -- which is all I probably need, mostly picking up piles of fallen limbs -- but is there a hands-down "get this one" recommendation?

Any advice on any/all of the above would be greatly appreciated. I thought my Massey would be a once in a lifetime purchase, and I have kept it like a baby, but electrical failures got to it and I can't find parts anywhere (and I've looked everywhere) -- so this will be another once in a lifetime purchase for me and I don't want any regrets, and am willing to pay extra for that outcome.

Thank you!

While looking at the Mahindra, I noticed that they offer a grapple, but some online said it was rather light duty -- which is all I probably need, mostly picking up piles of fallen limbs

I have the Mahindra grapple, it really looks like it's made by Titan (palletforks.com). Not extremely lightweight but not the heaviest duty either. Only has one cylinder (my preference would have been two - with a split claw).

I also have the 2555, albeit a cab model, as far as parts, I haven't had any issues getting anything from the local Mahindra dealer and maybe being made by TYM, this model might have additional TYM parts that would fit it. Haven't needed to try, but it sounds good on paper.

 

[WVH1977]

my research agrees with you, most CUT and SCUT tractors are made from offshore parts (that includes JD) NH are mostly LS you can even order NH parts if you do not have a LS dealer near you that will fit exactly in the corresponding LS model.

My New Holland is not an LS. It was built with the Shibaura engine back in the early 2000's. As of now I can still get parts for my tractor. Messick's carries almost all parts for my tractor. Not all New Hollands are LS built.

 

[cathy liebchen]

Kubota MX or Grand L. You would never buy a car made in India so that rules out the Mahindra

 

[rScotty]

Hello, I'm curious about your Massey 451. That was a model I looked at seriously and it made my own "short list" back in 2006. I ended up buying a Kubota instead - which has been a remarkable machine. A keeper for sure.

Back in message #1, about the Massy 451 you wrote, "I have kept it like a baby, but electrical failures got to it and I can't find parts anywhere."

And that is what puzzles me. The 451 ought to be lasting longer than that. Another 20 years easy....Is it a matter of not having exact replacement parts? If it is just keeping it going, why not use similar parts? Most electrical parts from tractors of that era are similar enough in function that not getting an exact original part doesn't matter. The 451 is an old style Tier 1 mechanically injected Perkins diesel. I'd expect common parts.

Of course if you just want a new tractor that makes sense. Tractors have gotten a lot more convenient to operate in the past decade or two.

BTW, it's pretty easy to check Kubota parts availability. Messicks.com has every Kubota parts manual online along with number of parts available and price today. An estimate of when they can get is is there.
I've used their parts order half a dozen or more times and it has been accurate.

Right now I'd say the best bet for parts is going to be Kubota and John Deere. I have no idea which one is in first place. Both seem good. I have both makes & no problems with parts.
rScotty

 

[jaydee325]

Agree with rScotty. Deere and Kubota have historically been the best at long term parts availability.

A good dealership is also a big part of helping a customer find parts they don't have on the shelf. Case in point, late last fall I mounted up the snowblower to my recently acquired Deere X584 AWS (new August 2020). When I did a test run, the blower just did not sound right. I traced it to a tight bearing on one of the idler wheels on the blower. I looked up the part on JD Parts website and e-mailed my dealer to inquire. I promptly got a reply from the parts department that they did not have it in stock and Deere was showing 0 inventory nation wide! They would keep me updated. 2 days later, I get a call from the dealership and they tell me they have the pulley and wanted to know if I wanted to bring the blower to them for warranty install or would I like them just to ship me the pulley and I'd install myself. I said ship it!

Not sure how they pulled that rabbit out of the hat!

Overall though, the supply chain is still a mess, but showing signs of recovery.

 

[Number15]

My Branson dealer has good parts inventory right now, but in 5 years who knows.

I purchased it based on the fact that it has no computers, is not common rail and has an engine that should be easy to get parts for if needed on the open market. Dead simple. Now if other things go it might be more difficult, for example I think a user was having an issue finding an alternator. But alternators can be rebuilt locally. I think all tractors are going to come with some risk, roll the dice.

On the other hand my AC is computer controlled everything, if it fails I am going to need dealer support. My dealer is established with a good reputation and can get parts locally or shipped straight from Italy. Still it's a dice roll for sure.

 

[DaBear3428]

My New Holland is not an LS. It was built with the Shibaura engine back in the early 2000's. As of now I can still get parts for my tractor. Messick's carries almost all parts for my tractor. Not all New Hollands are LS built.

I do not know about the 20 year old NH CUT tractors but my recent research indicates that most of the new SCUT and CUT NH tractors are built by LS. Do you happen to know which of the new NH SCUT and CUT tractors are built by anyone other than LS?

 

[DaBear3428]

Kubota MX or Grand L. You would never buy a car made in India so that rules out the Mahindra

I would/did but a tractor from India.

 

[DaBear3428]

Mahindras are made in 3 different countrys according to what model you are looking at , India , Japan and south korea, I have a new local mahindra dealer , He has 5 or 6 on the lot , Says he has 20 on order,

i'm lucky my local dealer is in better shape but it is not great right now, I had to wait a month for my 5145. he had and still has a 5155 on the lot (i think it is the same one). Yes an Indian company rebadging a Korean tractor for the US market lol, But it is assembled in the US and has a US made FEL, rolls eyes.

 

[WVH1977]

I do not know about the 20 year old NH CUT tractors but my recent research indicates that most of the new SCUT and CUT NH tractors are built by LS. Do you happen to know which of the new NH SCUT and CUT tractors are built by anyone other than LS?

You are correct about current compact tractors being LS made except for the New Holland Boomer 46 and 54D (not sure if they are still in production but they are recent I think until 2019). They were Italian built. I was just making a statement that they are not all LS. Shibaura built tractors for Ford and New Holland starting back in the late 70's through to around 2010 I believe but not 100% sure.

 

[kthompson]

Not sure have seen NAPA mention on tractor parts at all here but years ago had a Case / Massey dealership recommend the Masser over the Case. When I asked why he said NAPA carries all the Massey parts. Not sure his exact works but close. Years ago had bought some parts from NAPD for my in laws old Ford tractor with no issue, never thought to go to the tractor dealership.

I really have no idea how much in tractor parts NAPA is. I am right sure filters and belts type items they have them for JD and Kubota. Well have a auto parts store near me who does and they are not a NAPA dealer.

 

[kthompson]

Well meant to cover this but may be better in separate post: I have a Grand L6060 Kubota using a Wicked Grapple from Everything Attachments. It has worked well for me and have lifted log heavy enough to pick up rear end (normally use flail mower as counterweight but then was running landscape rake to help rake up the limbs for the grapple). The top is one piece and at times have wish it was two sections for varied size of the load. I also will recommend you having a grill protector built and installed on your tractor or do as I am planning to install material on the Wicked Grapple to protect your tractor as limbs WILL COME through it. EA has their reason which makes some sense for not installing any material there but the potential cost of I would say thousands with a tractor with HST and AC all the cooling coils that would be easy to damage out ways their thoughts.
I do recommend their grapple and like the weight of it. Two things I don't like is how open the back of it is and also it really needs stands on it to prevent it falling over when removed from the tractor. I learned to unhook with it fully open and with mouth jaws open which I don't like lining up the quick connect to rehook. Again I do recommend it very much. Word of advice, you want a grapple in postion for unhooking where the top jaw can not close or open any or it will build pressure in that system on it that you must overcome to rehook.

 

[Woodstock Walt]

Mahindra 5155 owner here. As previously mentioned, same chassis as the 5145 you are considering. I can tell you that chances are you would really like the 5145. I believe that anybody who tried out a 5100 series tractor would have to admit that at the very least that they are a very well designed and well thought out machine.

The operators station is ergonomically perfect. Everything is within short easy reach, and at the same time nothing is in the way. The transmission and gear selections are very user-friendly. The 2.7L l-4 has tons of low-end torque, even in it's naturally aspired version found in the 5145. My previous tractor was a Mahindra 4540, which used the same engine as the 5145, with 5 less horsepower. That tractor was not comfortable, or easy to use. But if it was anything, it was tough as nails. I exceeded it's limits and expectations numerous times and it always remained reliable. The 5100 series is most definitely even tougher than the 4500 series, with the features of a premium tractor for a very reasonable price. I live on a mountain and have to drag/haul stuff up it on a regular basis, so I went with the turbocharged 5155 over the 5145. But, my 4540 always did a great job as well.

The transmission was the reason I changed tractors, I needed a shuttle shift for what I do. When I decided to replace the 4540 with a shuttle shift tractor of undecided brand, I closely compared the Mahindra 5155, the JD 5055E, and the Kubota M5660SUH, which are all similarly spec'd machines.
The JD with the 12F/12R PowerReverser trans was $47k.
The Kubota with only an 8F/8R trans was $48k.
The Mahindra with 12F/12R was $36k. Comparably, it has the lowest volume of hydraulic flow at 8.7 GPM, compared to JD's 11.5 GPM and Kubota's 10.6 GPM. But, it has enough flow to operated multiple loader functions smoothly without much decrease in speed. Works for me.

The best thing you can do is to do some research and compare specs between brands. Sit on the different models that you are considering and see what you think of the operators station. I'd definitely try out a 5145 though, they're nice machines.

 

[3gunr]

Kubota MX or Grand L. You would never buy a car made in India so that rules out the Mahindra

Do some research , They are not all made in india,

 

[airbiscuit]

The mother ship is in India, and plenty of Mahindras are made in India.

 

[Woodstock Walt]

Why are people so anti-Indian tractors? I don't get it. If you spend much time on the Mahindra forums, general consensus seems to be that the Indian-made Mahindra's are the toughest of the brand.

I've worked on old Mahindra's before and have never had an issue with parts availability. They're really comparable to old Toyota's in my opinion, they're often much cheaper than comparable brands and are very tough. Simply constructed, generally easy to work on. I would be willing to bet than many people who bash Mahindra have very little actual experience with the brand. I've bought two tractors in the past three years (The 4540 then the 5155), and both times chose the Mahindra over JD or Kubota simply because I liked it more.

Regen and emissions components is another factor to consider between brands. Do some research of your own, but Mahindra MCRD tractors don't require parked regen's like Kubota's or DEF fluid like JD's. Overall a simpler and cleaner design, and arguably more reliable design.