Snowback
Platinum Member
If you look at the specs side by side you'll find the machines to be very similarly capable in my opinion. (Links to spec sheets at bottom.) The main difference that you have already pointed out is that the 1538 HST is a Mitsubishi based machine and the 2538 HST is a TYM based product. Everything flows from there. I picked up from the guys that the 2538 is slightly more basic in terms of features, but fully capable for what I needed, and in fact I preferred the beefier front end and tires on the 2538 for the loader work I do. Having the mCRD engine in both caused it to be essentially a choice to save money and get a slightly more basic fit and finish. The 2538 is still a very nice product and excels in some areas over the 1538 in my opinion.
Any dealers or other owners on here please augment or correct my notes. Pictures side by side would be cool too if anyone has them. These are both fine machines.
Some notes:
Clutch - The 1538 HST has a manual clutch that you depress to start engine and engage the manual PTO lever, etc... The 2538 does not have that. My prior machine was a Max 25 which was essentially a smaller version of the 1538. I thought I would miss the manual clutch for engaging the PTO, or for quickly releasing cutter engagement in heavy stuff. In reality, the electrically actuated PTO on the 2538 works great too and having a manual and automatic switch gives you some flexibility that the 1538 does not have. I did like feathering on the PTO with my Max's clutch setup, but throttling down the 2538 still allows for a relatively smooth engagement. (I did opt for a Medium Duty 6' cutter which has a slip clutch, so that might help too...)
Loader control on the 1538 is by your right knee, whereas the 2538 is a traditional reach out front design. Some like the lower right set up, but I often stand up to get on material I am grappling and the front lever is better for me. Also, the bucket visibility in a tiny bit better on the 1538 than on my machine, but no biggie.
Front tires are a bit larger on the 2538. For all the loader work I have, I wanted the wider R4s. (This item was a big factor for me. Maybe silly and certainly not the most important thing, but I am glad the 2538 has beefy front tires.)
The 1538 front steering hydraulics are better shielded than the 2538 which has cylinders in front of the axle. This helps with turning radius, but if you were in heavy rough woods with skinny stumps in your way you may want to weld on some skid protectors there.
Turning radius is tighter on the 2538. It almost feels as good as my little Max 25. The specs show 2538 at 7.87 ft vs 9.2 ft for the 1538. (May help in your situation where space is tight.) Please check the overall lengths with loader though to make sure they are similar. Also, the brakes on the 2538 are on the left, so you can use true independent skid steering while running the hydro pedal. On the 1538 and also my Max the brakes are on the right which require you to be in cruise mode in order to make those super tight turns by slowing or stopping one of the rear tires while turning.
The 1538 uses a heel toe rocker HST pedal and the 2538 has forward/reverse pedals next to one another. Lots of controversy on that topic as to which is better, but I find both are very workable setups.
The 2538 fuel fill location is at the rear while the 1538 is in front of steering wheel. I prefer the rear location for easier access.
The 1538 has a suspension seat and cruise whereas the 2538 did not have either. I remedied that by swapping a suspension seat from a 2540 and also adding a cruise control upgrade for a total of +/- $500 negotiated during purchase.
The 2538 with loader is about 155 pounds heavier than the 1538 with loader so that is close to a wash. (2538 = 4,110# 1538 = 3,955#)
Both machines have quick detach loaders, but the 1538 stores the support leg inside the front loader cross rail, whereas the 2538 legs just fold back along the loader arms. Not quite as smooth looking, but did not bother me. Also the hydraulic lines on the 1538 run inside the loader arm for a bit whereas the 2538 has hard lines along the inside of the right frame. (Another minor detail, but worth pointing out.)
At the end of the day I would say the 1538 had a few nicer finishing touches. Perhaps a bit more "refined" in places, but I am quite pleased with the TYM/Mahindra workmanship of the 2538 and it is very close to what I was used to with the Mitsubishi based Max that I had. Also - the benefits I have noted above pushed me towards the less expensive machine that met more of my needs. I think you'll be pleased with either one and hope that the comments above help out. I really encourage you to try and get both of them side by side so you can touch, feel and put them through their paces.
Here are the spec sheets showing them to be almost identical on paper:
2538 http://mahindrausa.com/sites/default/files/tractor/pdf/23105 MAH5417 25Ser_8pg 010716_5.pdf
1538 http://mahindrausa.com/sites/default/files/tractor/pdf/23101 MAH5415 1500 Ser Bro 010716_0.pdf
Good luck!
Last edited:
In actuality - Gene did a great job and when he became tired of my non stop questions, he just suggested I call and head down to corporate to wear those folks out for a while. I could have stayed there for hours. Although not a retail location there were new Mahindras as far as the eye could see.