Max 28 Owners

JButze100 · Apr 27, 2014

Been reading this forum for over a year and figured I should contribute. I just pulled the trigger on a new Max28 HST with fel, rfm, and rake. Managed to put a few hrs on her so far. I'm curious as to how other Max 28 owners are making out as the hrs start creepin up and our machines see some abuse. Anything to becare of? Dos and Don'ts? Major issues? Dealer told me to expect some glow plug issues as that is common. Thanks.

jimpen · Apr 27, 2014

Well I have about a 70 hours on a Max25 FEL, MMM, and BH. The only issue I have had was some misrouted hydraulic lines about 20 minutes after delivery and that was warranty repaired.

It has cut the grass well. Between the FEL and the BH I've been able to clean up my property that after 14 years I might be able to mow it all this year for the first time. It started every time this year even in winter. That allowed me to get my driveway cleared so I could get my car out.

I would look at getting a set of pallet forks. I have a bunch of railroad ties that don't weight that much, but are longer than the FEL. The forks let me lift and move them to the burn pile much easier than trying to drag them.

JButze100 · Apr 27, 2014

one thing I am noticing that i didn't notice when test driving it is a lack of power in reverse. The hst seems to make a hissing nice or whistle noise and just seems weak. Is this the norm or should I be contacting the dealer. On a positive note I dragged about ten cord of poplar out of a small area I'm clearing for a garage this morning. hst is forward no problems...reverse different story.

mitchash · Apr 27, 2014

I have had great luck with my MAX 28 (backhoe, mmm, loader). I only have 7 hours but it has really impressed me every time I have used it! I haven't noticed anything different with reverse, mine seems to have power in reverse. I pulled a small deck out with the loader and dragged it backwards with no problem.

JButze100 · Apr 27, 2014

any noise when pushing the pedal to reverse? Almost like its sucking air or a whistle..

j wilson · Apr 27, 2014

i dont have any noise pushing for reverse... i know i dont get the same speed for reverse, has power in reverse as long as rpm's are up...there is a stop bolt on reverse pedal under tractor...dont know if you could back that out a little and get more speed

LindenBruce · Apr 27, 2014

well, the HST's are notorious for being noisy. But if you are having problem in reverse I would have a tech take a look at it just to be safe. The two times a machine are prone for failure are at the very front end of their service life and at the end of their service life.

As an example, the company I work for builds nut orchard harvesting equipment. We use four cylinder Cummins engines in one of our machines and buy them in lots of dozens at a time. We had just built this machine and it ran great for the first 20-30 minutes or so. It got parked for a day or so. When we went to run it to finish some work and charge the A/C system and make final adjustments one cylinder was dead. Totally baffled. Had the Cummins guy come out and one injector wasn't firing correctly and he also found one of the rocker arms was way out of specs and had pulled loose. They fixed the problems and the engine ran great. So you just never know. Just because it's new doesn't mean it's perfect. Bruce

j wilson · Apr 28, 2014

JB...just another quick thought, the noise you are hearing, could you be low on hyd. oil, is there air in the lines?

Shift4200 · Apr 28, 2014

JButze100 said:
any noise when pushing the pedal to reverse? Almost like its sucking air or a whistle..

Not trying to be captain obvious here, but are you in High Gear? My Max25 def is has alot more HST "Whine" in High vs Low. In addition, I will say that High gear is a bit lacking in the working power department. A quick downshift and I'll be willing to bet you have all the power you need.

Welcome to the forum, and good luck with your new machine. :thumbsup:

-J

JButze100 · Apr 28, 2014

Dealer ressures me everything is alright...as for a lack of power I think i confused the slower speed for lack of power.

It is an amazing machine in my eyes. Not the 50up nh I'm used to but managed to grade my driveway in no time before work this afternoon. think dad might be keeping hos nh at home as I'm falling in love with this little tractor.

jimpen · Apr 28, 2014

I haven't had found a single complaint about my Max25 yet either. Granted this is the first real tractor that I've used since I was a teen many years ago. My only whine is the $100/hr for a 30 minute oil change and grease job that took two hours. But that is a dealer issue and not a tractor one.

Though I thought it was priceless when I used the tractor to pull my car out of the driveway in the snow this winter. That made it totally worth it to not to have to depend on the kindness of neighbors to cover my butt.

LAWALLSTRACTOR · Apr 28, 2014

jimpen said:
I haven't had found a single complaint about my Max25 yet either. Granted this is the first real tractor that I've used since I was a teen many years ago. My only whine is the $100/hr for a 30 minute oil change and grease job that took two hours. But that is a dealer issue and not a tractor one.

Though I thought it was priceless when I used the tractor to pull my car out of the driveway in the snow this winter. That made it totally worth it to not to have to depend on the kindness of neighbors to cover my butt.

After you complete, doing your first complete service, let us know what you think about the charges for the first service.

kootch88 · Apr 29, 2014

JButze100 said:
Dealer ressures me everything is alright...as for a lack of power I think i confused the slower speed for lack of power.

It is an amazing machine in my eyes. Not the 50up nh I'm used to but managed to grade my driveway in no time before work this afternoon. think dad might be keeping hos nh at home as I'm falling in love with this little tractor.

My MAX 22 also is lacking in power in high, but has no power problems in low at all. Just had all my Hydro fluids and filters changed at 107 hours. Should be good to go for quite a long time.

jimpen · Apr 29, 2014

LAWALLSTRACTOR said:
After you complete, doing your first complete service, let us know what you think about the charges for the first service.

Like I said it was a whine. Once I do it for myself, I may change my mind. :irked: I've just gotten used to going into the local 15 minute oil change places and getting a street vehicle done without getting greasy, powering up the laptop and using the wifi, pulling out the toolbox and all the rest and still generally being under $50 for the "top" of the line service.

I know the typical tractor dealer can't set up the assembly line the same way. At the same time the service seemed a bit overpriced.

JButze100 · Apr 29, 2014

I will do the 50 hr service myself. Pick a rainy day and send the old lady shopping or something...I guess if high was geared lower we would all be complaining it had to travel speed when needed. Low gear is fine with me as I got a lifetime to get stuff done...everyone is always in to big a hurry anymore...

jimpen · Apr 29, 2014

JButze100 said:
I will do the 50 hr service myself. Pick a rainy day and send the old lady shopping or something...I guess if high was geared lower we would all be complaining it had to travel speed when needed. Low gear is fine with me as I got a lifetime to get stuff done...everyone is always in to big a hurry anymore...

Please take this as a friendly piece of advice and not anything else.

I was with my lady for 13 year before she passed and while we were never married I always introduced her to anyone we met as a couple as "This is MY lady, Penny." She loved it and it always made her feel appreciated. :cloud9: That made my life much easier. It was a touch of chivalry she just liked.

As far as getting things done fast -- some days I'm guilty of it but I do my best to appreciate craft work compared to assembly line.

JButze100 · Apr 30, 2014

what size rear blade for the tractor...before winter I'm gonna purchase one and put a rubber edge on it to scrap the driveway when we only get a few inches....5fter will probably to small when angled correct? 400-500 ft drive.

Shift4200 · Apr 30, 2014

JButze100 said:
what size rear blade for the tractor...before winter I'm gonna purchase one and put a rubber edge on it to scrap the driveway when we only get a few inches....5fter will probably to small when angled correct? 400-500 ft drive.

I have a Max25 and last year i used a rear blade and loader for snow removal of my 1400ft drive. I used a 5ft blade, and when pinned at 15deg its just wide enough to cover the rear track. Pinned at out at 30deg it's no where near wide enough.

When i bought my blade I was steered to the 5ft because most thought a 6ft loaded with snow would be too much for the tractor to pull. In hindsight I'd have been fine with the 6ft blade. I never once had an issue with power... a couple issues with traction.... but never power.

If you plan to use the blade for dirt as well as snow, I'd follow the suggested size for the tractor (not sure really, i'd guess 25h vs 28h would have little impact on implement size), mine was 5ft. If you plan to use it primarily for snow, I'd be confident in saying you could go up one notch.

-J

JButze100 · Apr 30, 2014

thanks...great info. did you run rear chains? the tires are loaded but we have a gravel drive which tends to ice up...well this year it did as it was only plowed when it became impassable. brutal winter in a brand new home, definitely wasn't ready as we rushed to get in before xmas( especially doing all the work yourself). had to drive 5 miles to get my dads tractor everytime the driveway filled in. 40 hp nh open cap tractor for 5 miles in single digits sucks. Tried to get him to come get it...I bet you can figure out his response. bought the max to end that madness as well as for other reasons. appreciate your input. thanks.