596 troubles

chh · Jun 16, 2008

Well I've posted on here several times about the 500 series MF's and I thought I would give an report on some problems that I'm having with my 596 over the last few months. I have talked to several other people that have 596's like mine and none have had any significant trouble, so I guess I may have gotten the odd one.
Shortly after delivery the heat knob breaks and the sun shade was broken, no big deal, new parts sent and all is well. A couple of minor glitches is to be expected anymore right?
At around 100 hrs while using the loader one of the main hydraulic lines blew nearly emptying the system before I noticed it. The dealer brought down a new hose and fluid. No other problems found and we thought it was an odd bad hose.
2 weeks later and at about 110 hrs the other main line blew, while not doing loader work. I took the tractor in and everything was tested, line replaced, and new fluid. No other problems found.
About 2 weeks later, while loading hay, the tranny locks up in first gear. I take the tractor in and it was inspected, the trans unstuck, all linkages checked and lubed, once again it was given a clean bill of health.
4 weeks or so after that, the trans locks up again, once more, I load it up, the dealer keeps it for 2 weeks, replaces all the shifters, linkages and adjusts everything. I am at this point expressing real displeasure at the idea of starting the custom hay season with a tractor I don't have confidence in. Total time at this point is about 150 hrs.
Well haying has been off to a slow start, so the hours have not been racking up too fast. Sunday afernoon, we rush to finish a small field, before the next front blows in(its raining as I post this). 190 hrs on the tractor. Cleaning up afterwards I notice a line in the grass. The hydraulic line that was changed out first is leaking

and no fuild is visible on the dipstick, but no warning lights have come on yet.
First thing this AM I was on the phone to the shop foreman. I'm getting the same song and dance, bring it in and we will check it out. This week is going to be a bust haying wise because of rain chances all week, I'm really ticked off, so I start calling around to different dealers and brands getting quotes on new/near new tractors. I call the MF dealer back and tell him about whats going on and what the shop has had to say. Long story short he has offered me my money back out of the tractor in trade on a 5455 with the Dyna 4 tranny. His price quote is better than the other quotes I have been getting, but still it is more money.
I'm planning to run up tomorrow and look at what he has. I didn't want the 5455 to start with because I am a bit nervous over all the electro/hydraulics in the trans ect... But the Dyna 4 is supposed to be a bullet proof trans. The wife is screaming for me to take the trade and get out of the 596 before it goes down in the middle of a big job. But I'm still reluctant, after all this is an 8 month old tractor with over 2 years left on the warranty. The wife's argument is that I will never get offered my money back out of it again(no other dealer was even close).
This is the fourth new MF I have bought, 3 from this dealer, up to this point my total warranty claims was 2. A hydraulic seal kit in a loader valve and a bent loader bracket(my fault, but they warrantied it anyway).
Suggestions or comments anyone. (And don't suggest going JD. That dealership ticks me off everytime I talk to them and the local shop is a joke)

MAHINDRA OF OHIO · Jun 16, 2008

The loader was made in Iowa and it could have been installed on a 5455
Try looking at a 3645--nice tractor

chh · Jun 17, 2008

The lines that I have been having problems with are the lines going from the tractor to the loadblock, not the loader lines. These are compression fitting lines that can't be made up locally.

Would the 3645 be marginal on a 2746A round baler? The 596 does a very good job with it.

MFRED · Jun 17, 2008

That 5455 will quickly make you wonder why you bought the 596. Try one with the 940 loader made by ALO. Perfect fit.

The 596 remotes are fed by steel lines right? Could rubber be used to eliminate the vibration? I've done that before.

DMW · Jun 17, 2008

Blowing one hose may be part quality, but the 2nd and 3rd would have me looking at the hydraulics system relief valve. The system will fail at the weakest point. Your relief valve could be sticking causing excess pressure buildup.JMO

Dennis

WilliamBos · Jun 17, 2008

MFRED said:
That 5455 will quickly make you wonder why you bought the 596. Try one with the 940 loader made by ALO. Perfect fit.

The 596 remotes are fed by steel lines right? Could rubber be used to eliminate the vibration? I've done that before.

The new MF series loaders ARE ALO loaders, so go with the one that gives the better price.

Good Luck.

chh · Jun 17, 2008

Well I brought this back today on a 2 week approval. '07 5455 with a DL280 FEL sold Sept. 7 last year. Traded in last month on a new 5465. Currently has 208 hrs, about 30 of those by they dealer baling his own hay over the last couple of weekends. Everything checks out good so far and it still has the plastic on the seat and the shipping cover on the floor. I pic is of the tractor and 1 is my baler moniter installed. They are still thinking a sticking valve in the hydraulics on the 596, but the deal I was offered gives me my money back out of it and about 5 grand off the price of a new 5455 on this tractor.
It looks like the weather is going to keep us from cutting before about Sat. So I've got a bit to get set up and used to the controls.

mark.r · Jun 18, 2008

I think you did/are making the right choice. The 5400 series is the only tractor that I am really considering outside of the NH T5000 series. In my research I am understanding that the Dyna 4 is based on the Fendt tranny? At any rate, I would love to get my hands on an '08 5460. Do let us know how you like it. It should be great. Good luck!!!

On a side note, the 3645 is also a looker. I like that as well.

chh · Jun 18, 2008

I have not seen any of the 3645's in this area yet. The MF dealer says he has some coming, but none available yet.
The plan is for the 596 to be repaired and tested again by this weekend. The dealer plans to use it as a baler tractor and see if the can figuire out what is going on with it.
As far as liking the 5455, we will have to see. So far it is pretty impressive, but I have not really been able to get it out and work it. According to the dealer the only 2 possible outcomes to the 2 week approval period are;
1. I keep the 5455
2. I call and take the new 5455 he has on the lot and send the 200+ hr one back for him to sell.
Either way is a win for him.
He doesn't see me asking for the 596 back at all, but I guess we will see.

The wife wouldn't come with me yesterday to look at the 5455, but she ran it around the yard after I brought it in. Her only complaint was that it had too many buttons to learn.

WilliamBos · Jun 18, 2008

chh said:
I have not seen any of the 3645's in this area yet. The MF dealer says he has some coming, but none available yet.
The plan is for the 596 to be repaired and tested again by this weekend. The dealer plans to use it as a baler tractor and see if the can figuire out what is going on with it.
As far as liking the 5455, we will have to see. So far it is pretty impressive, but I have not really been able to get it out and work it. According to the dealer the only 2 possible outcomes to the 2 week approval period are;
1. I keep the 5455
2. I call and take the new 5455 he has on the lot and send the 200+ hr one back for him to sell.
Either way is a win for him.
He doesn't see me asking for the 596 back at all, but I guess we will see.

The wife wouldn't come with me yesterday to look at the 5455, but she ran it around the yard after I brought it in. Her only complaint was that it had too many buttons to learn.