Mahindra 3525-- Check your sway bars/brackets

xlr82v2 · Aug 31, 2007

I finally got to do a good bit of 3PH work today with my new 3525, and it always seemed that when I would raise the hitch, the arms would want to spread outward. I thought that was kind of wierd, but didn't think too much about it.

When I took my lunch break, I got out the owners manual, and looked at the 3PH section, didn't really see anything that caught my attention, except that I learned that there are 2 pull pins that the lift arms can attach to, and that they should normally be attached to the upper set of pins. OK, cool, didn't think too much about it.

After I was done for today, and removing the bushhog, I noticed those 2 sets of pins. Pretty cool feature on this tractor, I thought. Yep, they're attached to the upper set of pins, just like they should be. Then I happened to notice that the sway bars were attached to the LOWER set of holes on the brackets. AAAHHH HAAA!!! That's why my 3PH seemed to be binding a bit and spreading out when I would lift it up!!! So, I moved the sway bars from the lower set of holes up to the upper set, to match the lift arms. Now, the geometry is all correct, and everything works smoothly, like it should.

So, make sure your sway bars are mounted in the correct holes. If your arms are on the upper pin, then your swaybars should be in the upper holes, and vise versa.

Mine came from the factory set up wrong, and if it happened on mine, I'm sure it happened on others out there also!! This could be what is causing the loosening of the sway bracket bolts which has been reported by others here on TBN. When you raise the 3PH with the sway bars in the wrong holes, it puts a LOT of stress on those brackets I could see mine flex!

Other than that, I'm 98% totally satisified with my 3525 so far...this thing is a beast!! With the bushhog, things that would kill my old 8N dead in it's tracks only makes the 3525 grunt a little bit

... I love it!!! With 10 hours on the clock, the only thing I really don't like so far is the location of the engine oil dipstick... with the FEL installed, that thing is a real #%$&% to get to. Actually, getting it out isn't so bad, but getting it back in is the hard part. Maybe I need to find an alternate route to snake my arm in there to get to it...

And don't sell the 25 series tractors short... they do just fine without 4WD when using the FEL!!

bindian · Sep 1, 2007

xlr82v2 said:
I finally got to do a good bit of 3PH work today with my new 3525, and it always seemed that when I would raise the hitch, the arms would want to spread outward. I thought that was kind of wierd, but didn't think too much about it.

When I took my lunch break, I got out the owners manual, and looked at the 3PH section, didn't really see anything that caught my attention, except that I learned that there are 2 pull pins that the lift arms can attach to, and that they should normally be attached to the upper set of pins. OK, cool, didn't think too much about it.

After I was done for today, and removing the bushhog, I noticed those 2 sets of pins. Pretty cool feature on this tractor, I thought. Yep, they're attached to the upper set of pins, just like they should be. Then I happened to notice that the sway bars were attached to the LOWER set of holes on the brackets. AAAHHH HAAA!!! That's why my 3PH seemed to be binding a bit and spreading out when I would lift it up!!! So, I moved the sway bars from the lower set of holes up to the upper set, to match the lift arms. Now, the geometry is all correct, and everything works smoothly, like it should.

So, make sure your sway bars are mounted in the correct holes. If your arms are on the upper pin, then your swaybars should be in the upper holes, and vise versa.

Mine came from the factory set up wrong, and if it happened on mine, I'm sure it happened on others out there also!! This could be what is causing the loosening of the sway bracket bolts which has been reported by others here on TBN. When you raise the 3PH with the sway bars in the wrong holes, it puts a LOT of stress on those brackets I could see mine flex!

Other than that, I'm 98% totally satisified with my 3525 so far...this thing is a beast!! With the bushhog, things that would kill my old 8N dead in it's tracks only makes the 3525 grunt a little bit ... I love it!!! With 10 hours on the clock, the only thing I really don't like so far is the location of the engine oil dipstick... with the FEL installed, that thing is a real #%$&% to get to. Actually, getting it out isn't so bad, but getting it back in is the hard part. Maybe I need to find an alternate route to snake my arm in there to get to it...

And don't sell the 25 series tractors short... they do just fine without 4WD when using the FEL!!

Brian,
Try turning your wheels all the way to the left or away from the side the dipstick is on before you shut the engine off when you park it. It is a little easier like that. It is on the right on my 6520. Glad to hear you are loving your Beast.

hugs, Brandi

xlr82v2 · Sep 1, 2007

bindian said:
Brian,
Try turning your wheels all the way to the left or away from the side the dipstick is on before you shut the engine off when you park it. It is a little easier like that. It is on the right on my 6520. Glad to hear you are loving your Beast.
hugs, Brandi

Brandi,

Thanks!! I'm not sure if turning the wheels will help or not... on the 3525 the dipstick is toward the back end of the engine block on the right side, almost directly behind the upright part of the loader frame. I have to snake my arm in from in front of the frame, under the exhaust pipe to where the dipstick is. Removing the dipstick is generally not a problem, but it's difficult getting it back into the hole and screwed back in. I noticed the other day when I was doing the 10 hour inspection of everything, that if I raise up the loader, it's a little bit easier... but since you have to reach under/behind the exhaust pipe/manifold... checking the oil is a cold engine only proposition.

Right now, that's my only complaint with the whole tractor!!