General Mahindra Questions

[kakker]

All-

I have been viewing the posts for a few weeks now and am now in need of some advice/ thoughts on a Mahindra tractor. First off I will be using the tractor on a 130 acre farm mainly for bushhogging, skidding trees, and misc. bucket work. The mowing will be done on both level pastures and fairly steep hills- all rather thick due to neglect. I am looking at a 6500 4WD w/ FEL for a 7-8' mower, but have some general questions before I pull the trigger.

I am assuming this will be plenty of tractor, but am still a little wary of buying a Mahindra due to its relatively small dealer network and lack of general knowledge out there about the brand. I am not a full-time farmer/ mechanic and need a reliable tractor that will be ready to go in the limited amount of time that I have. I have grown up around/ on farms my entire life, so I do have most of the basics as far as maintenance and general repairs.

I am obviously impressed with the pricing of these machines based on what I am getting for the price, but am I being short-sighted by not going with a more recognized brand and paying more right off the bat?

Any thoughts or general comments that might help someone in my situation?
Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[jwcinpk]

You sound a lot like me! I have 160 acres here in Ky. I also have the 6000 Mahindra 4x4 with FEL. So far 600 hours of hoggin, skidding, mowing, haying, clearing, tilling, and hauling. I did have electrical things wrong at the start. Dealer replaced the starter. Also burst a fel hose. I would recommend a Mahindra. I really like the way these things are built. Not just that they are heavy and sturdy, but that they are easy to work on. All straight forward mechanical things not a bunch of electro garb. Metal fenders, not plastic. Oh yeah and best of all a whole bunch cheaper than most of the others.
Rest assured that Mahindra will warranty the tractor if problems arise!

 

[BobG_in_VA]

Lotsa steel/iron. No complaints from me. I've had mine for about 4 years. I like traditional tractors....the 00 series are just that. I don't think it has any electro-hydraulic or electronic gizmos to go wrong or stick. When the PTO is engaged, its engaged until you move the mechanical lever to the Not Engaged position. Has both 540 and 1000 rpm PTO. Well designed engine, with direct injection. NO Turbo---which I like---one less thing to go wrong down the road (the 7520 is the 6000 engine with a small boost turbo unit which makes an addtional 15HP). Just about 2 tons of lift capacity at the 3pt hitch....I'm never gonna need any more than that...I'd buy another one in a heartbeat. BobG in VA

 

[hudr]

I have had my 5005 since 2000. One major repair and one warranty issue. Mahindra tried to buck me on the warranty issue. Tractor was running hot, I carried it to the dealer. They replaced the thermostat. Mahindra said they didn't warranty "minor repairs". But the dealer went to bat for me. I don't know if Mahindra paid or they just ate the part/labor, but it only cost me the fuel to drop it off and pick it up.
Major repair happened when the hyd pump locked up and shaved the gears off the front of the motor. Even w/ an $1800 parts/labor bill I was a couple grand ahead of what a comparable JD or Kubota would have cost me at the time. The dealer didn't seem to have too much trouble getting the parts either.
And yes, like the other posters have stated, the tractor is fairly simple: both to use and work on. They are actually a little light compared to what I am used to using (old JDs). My 5005 weighed in at about 5000# before I filled the rear tires. Our old 720 JD 2 cyl weighs almost 7000#. But the Mahindra is heavier than a lot of late model tractors in its class.
My only regret... I should have spent the extra money and gotten the 4wd 6000 that was sitting next to it at the dealer.
They do have their drawbacks. I played w/ the idea of trading it about a year ago. The local JD dealer wouldn't even quote me a trade in price. The red paint has faded pretty bad. It is now the prettiest pastel pink on all the upward facing surfaces. The hyd pump is a little slow by modern standards but is plenty strong. And I wish the operator's station was built for someone taller than 5'6" (i'm 6'1" on a good day).
But, it steers easier than my old 720, rides better and is smoother and quieter. Yes, I am comparing it to a 50 year tractor but then again, the 5005 is built off the old IH 245 toolings.
Long story short, I like the little beastie and would probably buy another.

 

[Dougster]

I played w/the idea of trading it about a year ago. The local JD dealer wouldn't even quote me a trade in price.

The last thing a JD dealer needs these days is to have a used Mahindra sitting on his lot making his lime green machines look weak and puny in comparison... potentially costing him the sale of a big dollar green machine. JD survives by making otherwise smart folks think that there are no alternatives to lime green. There are, of course! Never trade! Always sell outright!

The red paint has faded pretty bad. It is now the prettiest pastel pink on all the upward facing surfaces.

No question that the upper red painted surfaces will fade over time. I was lucky that mine was garaged when not in use so it still looks 100% brand new after 2-1/2 years. I think they must have left the UV blocker out of the paint mix! I say get thee to a paint shop and make that fine old beast look like brand new again!

Dougster

 

[shvl73]

Any red paint will fade noticeably, no matter whether the person applying it was Asian, European or American. Red is a tough color to keep. I garage my tractor and it still looks new. Well, new in dirty sorta way.

 

[Dougster]

Any red paint will fade noticeably, no matter whether the person applying it was Asian, European or American. Red is a tough color to keep. I garage my tractor and it still looks new. Well, new in dirty sorta way.

Actually, from what I've seen lately, Kubota and Kioti orange don't do any better.

Dougster

 

[hudr]

the pink doesn't bother me, most of the fade happened while it was sitting on the dealer lot. It lives under a shed now, only been rained on a couple of times. Anyway, I've spilled enough diesel on the hood to cover that up and slung enough mud and manure on the fenders to mask the color.
Actually, most folks think its an International or Massey until they get real close. Some don't even realize it then.