Must use Mahindra Brand fluids or void warranty?

[ameador1]

I am approaching the need to do some maintenance of my Mahindra 3535. I'm at 47 hours. Per the Owners Manual, at 50 hours I need to "Grease All Nipples" do a few checks and such, and at 100 hours need to do first Engine Oil change.

The dealer I bought the tractor from is about a 2 hour drive from me, but we have places like Tractor Supply, and other auto parts places around where I can get the oil - I'm sure. However, the dealer I bought from said that Mahindra brand fluids (including the engine oil) must be used otherwise they will void the warranty.

Is there anything to this? I haven't found that in the docs so far and did find in the Owner's Manual where is said other oils can be used as long as it matches a set of specifications listed.

I assume I will need to order filters and such from the dealer, but they said they cannot ship the oils/fluids as they are considered hazardous and UPS, FEDEX, etc... will not handle them. But I can't see driving 2+ hours just the get a few dollars worth of oil.

Also, I can't find where the manual says what kind of grease to use on the nipples. Is there any kind of special grease gun I need to get to attach to these nipple? I do not have a grease gun and need to get one, but don't want to get the wrong thing. Also, how do you know how much grease to use? Overall and per nipple?

Thanks in advance!

Oh, and the tractor is a 3535 Gear with ML120 FEL and 485 Backhoe

 

[Coyote machine]

Manufacturers CANNOT void your warranty due to using a particular brand oil. You should match the oil you buy with the tractor's specified type of oil: for instance, EXAMPLES ONLY!! 80-90 gear oil for front axle, 15-40 diesel oil for engine, etc.
Oil filters etc, that are cross referenced for matching your OEM filters are also allowed. Those may be harder to find locally sometimes, but you can order them from a Mahindra dealer by UPS, etc.
Your selling dealer is just trying to sell his oils, etc, and is not to be trusted if making false statements about voiding warranty. It is illegal to require a brand/manufacturer's specific brand to be used exclusively; I believe it is the Moss-Magnum Act.
An except from same detailing your rights regarding specific product being required or warranty voided:
From: MLM Law - Lawyer Grimes & Reese PLLC - Attorney Specializing in Multilevel Marketing - Understanding the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act
"Tie-In Sales" Provisions :
Generally, tie-in sales provisions are not allowed. Such a provision would require a purchaser of the warranted product to buy an item or service from a particular company to use with the warranted product in order to be eligible to receive a remedy under the warranty. The following are examples of prohibited tie-in sales provisions.

In order to keep your new Plenum Brand Vacuum Cleaner warranty in effect, you must use genuine Plenum Brand Filter Bags. Failure to have scheduled maintenance performed, at your expense, by the Great American Maintenance Company, Inc., voids this warranty.

End Quote.

Get a Lincoln or other name brand grease gun with either lever or pistol grip, a whip flex hose, and some high quality grease from TSC or elsewhere locally.
Grease all nipples on tractor, hoe and FEL, and while doing so check all bolts for tightness and snug up any loose ones. Make note of which ones were loose and check again in 10 hours.
Push a couple to 3 squeezes of the gun or until old grease moves out of the joint. Clean each nipple before adding grease, and note if any refuse grease. Don't force grease into nipples that don't take any, but do report back results of first greasing so we can advise if there are issues, how to fix them.

 

[Sysop]

Agreed, your dealer is being dishonest if they told you all fluids need to be Mahindra. First week I had my tractor there was a hydraulic fluid leak, I had refilled it with some Tractor Supply universal fluid. When I told my dealer, he gave me a free 2 gallon jug of the Mahindra fluid as a "refund" of the purchase price of the TSC fluid.

As for grease, any good EP2 (Extended Pressure) rated grease is fine for all fittings (FEL, BH, Axle, 3PT) except the spindles of the finish mowers. They take a high temp grease like wheel bearings (I forget the rating). I like to use a good synthetic and not need to bother with the deck spindles often...

You will want more than one grease gun most likely. Some fittings require a rigid metal tube on the grease gun to get it on the nipple, some there is not room for the rigid tube and a hose on the grease gun works best. Most good grease guns come with the rigid tube and the hose, you just choose which to use. Switching back and forth is a pain, a waste, and a mess; just get two good quality high pressure grease guns and set one up with the hose and the other with the rigid tube.

 

[ameador1]

Thanks Coyote Machine!

I thought that sounded weird and inconsistent with the manual. I don't have a problem ordering from the dealers for filters and such. But I will not driver there for the oils.

I'll check the other items on the list and work on this stuff probably in the next week or so. There's one filter that the book says to change at 50 hours - trying to recall - it's a Transmission/Hydraulic filter of some kind. So I will order that and oil filters and get fluids locally. There were a few other items to check - like wheel lugs, some bolts, etc... Just can't remember now. I'll post any issues back here.

What kind of grease would qualify as 'high quality'? Is there a certain type - like I know of lithium grease? Some other type and brand? I have no problem using good stuff - I want a happy tractor

Thanks again!

 

[Sysop]

I used Royal Purple synthetic in my mower spindles. The EP2 rated grease I use on everything else is the local NAPA branded stuff.

 

[ameador1]

I'm looking at Amazon and see a few grease guns - one saying it is a 2-way grease gun and they are talking about connecting to a 'zerk' - it this the same as the Mahindra referenced nipple - or is this a different connection?

Looking at: Lincoln 1133 2-Way Loading Lever Action GG with 18" Whip

Also looking at: Lincoln 1134 Heavy Duty Pistol Grip GG with Whip and Rigid Pipe

I don't understand the difference in this 2-Way verses not. On appears to have flex hose only, the other has both, so I could configure as you suggested using two. What is the 2-way thing?

Anyway, what do you think about these two GGs?

 

[ameador1]

How about this grease?

Lucas Oil 10301 X-Tra Heavy Duty Grease - It says EP fortified - for use with automotive, agricultural, heavy-duty and iundustrial applications - or do I need to find something that specifies EP2?

 

[Coyote machine]

You're welcome.
I use whatever TSC has enough of on hand, or sometimes on sale, Lucas red, (? brand) green, etc. The synthetics are more costly but have 'mo better 'stuff' in them to resist thermal break-down, water disbursement, etc.
Buy a box of shop towels, you're gonna need them for grease clean-up. :confused3:

 

[Sysop]

I think the "2 way" bit is the fact it will accept tubes of grease as a cartridge or it can be bulk loaded without a cardboard tube.

Yes, I would find the EP2. I am not sure what all the differences are exactly, but I know my manual specified EP2 for all the backhoe, loader, axle, 3pt, etc. In looking, many of the manufacturers make EP0, EP1, and EP2. Here is a (slow to load) PDF about the mobile1 EP0 EP1 and EP2 greases and the only difference I see are in the "penetration" rating.

 

[jimpen]

I dropped my MMM at the end of fall and hung it again this spring. I greased it before re-hanging it. It called for lithium grease so that was what I used.