Need Suggestions for 45 HP

[DaBear3428]

WR long makes a 3rd function kit for the 5100 series and that is what my dealer recommended / installed for me, the factory 5100 loader control is prewired for a diverter valve but it was not available at the time and IMO is not as good as a true 3rd function.

 

[Torvy]

Generally Mahindra is an Indian, Massey is Chinese, Koti and Branson are Korean. Those brands to me represent large risks in supply chain disruptions and parts availability. I had never seen Massey's up close to around Christmas time last year and was really impressed so started researching them, to many issues already with supply chain stuff for me.

JD, NH, and Kubota all have significant portions of their manufacturing here in the US and two of those brands have very good reputations and market share with no anticipated issues. Supply chain issues are everywhere but it doesn't seem like critical parts are hard to come by in these colors.

I disagree. Kubota near me cannot get and keep things in stock. Branson has considerably more availability. TYM, which owns Branson has assembly facilities in the US, too. Only some of MF tractors are made in China. NH tractors are largely rebranded LS...at least until you get into the big ones.

The myth of domestic production does not really reflect reality.

 

[DaBear3428]

I disagree. Kubota near me cannot get and keep things in stock. Branson has considerably more availability. TYM, which owns Branson has assembly facilities in the US, too. Only some of MF tractors are made in China. NH tractors are largely rebranded LS...at least until you get into the big ones.

The myth of domestic production does not really reflect reality.

my research agrees with you, most CUT and SCUT tractors are made from offshore parts (that includes JD) NH are mostly LS you can even order NH parts if you do not have a LS dealer near you that will fit exactly in the corresponding LS model.

 

[3gunr]

Mahindras are made in 3 different countrys according to what model you are looking at , India , Japan and south korea, I have a new local mahindra dealer , He has 5 or 6 on the lot , Says he has 20 on order,

 

[OzarkChris]

I am considering the new Mahindra 5145 (45 HP). I am concerned about future availability of parts. I got burned buying a MF 451 years ago that was made in Brazil (I didn't know) and now it is very hard to find parts for it. The Massey is a separate story, but now I am worried about getting parts some day for this foreign brand. Is discontinued parts an issue for even JD, New Holland, etc.? I would like any advice on this Mahindra model (no reviews here yet), Mahindra in general, and brands in general in this category, especially as it pertains to reliability and future parts availability.

If money was no object (not that it's not), what new tractor would you buy in the 45 HP PTO class? I am mostly mowing in an orchard, so a cab and even a sun shade is out due to tree limbs. Also, I want to get a grapple out front, so recommendations there are welcome too. While looking at the Mahindra, I noticed that they offer a grapple, but some online said it was rather light duty -- which is all I probably need, mostly picking up piles of fallen limbs -- but is there a hands-down "get this one" recommendation?

Any advice on any/all of the above would be greatly appreciated. I thought my Massey would be a once in a lifetime purchase, and I have kept it like a baby, but electrical failures got to it and I can't find parts anywhere (and I've looked everywhere) -- so this will be another once in a lifetime purchase for me and I don't want any regrets, and am willing to pay extra for that outcome.

Thank you!

While looking at the Mahindra, I noticed that they offer a grapple, but some online said it was rather light duty -- which is all I probably need, mostly picking up piles of fallen limbs

I have the Mahindra grapple, it really looks like it's made by Titan (palletforks.com). Not extremely lightweight but not the heaviest duty either. Only has one cylinder (my preference would have been two - with a split claw).

I also have the 2555, albeit a cab model, as far as parts, I haven't had any issues getting anything from the local Mahindra dealer and maybe being made by TYM, this model might have additional TYM parts that would fit it. Haven't needed to try, but it sounds good on paper.

 

[WVH1977]

my research agrees with you, most CUT and SCUT tractors are made from offshore parts (that includes JD) NH are mostly LS you can even order NH parts if you do not have a LS dealer near you that will fit exactly in the corresponding LS model.

My New Holland is not an LS. It was built with the Shibaura engine back in the early 2000's. As of now I can still get parts for my tractor. Messick's carries almost all parts for my tractor. Not all New Hollands are LS built.

 

[cathy liebchen]

Kubota MX or Grand L. You would never buy a car made in India so that rules out the Mahindra

 

[rScotty]

Hello, I'm curious about your Massey 451. That was a model I looked at seriously and it made my own "short list" back in 2006. I ended up buying a Kubota instead - which has been a remarkable machine. A keeper for sure.

Back in message #1, about the Massy 451 you wrote, "I have kept it like a baby, but electrical failures got to it and I can't find parts anywhere."

And that is what puzzles me. The 451 ought to be lasting longer than that. Another 20 years easy....Is it a matter of not having exact replacement parts? If it is just keeping it going, why not use similar parts? Most electrical parts from tractors of that era are similar enough in function that not getting an exact original part doesn't matter. The 451 is an old style Tier 1 mechanically injected Perkins diesel. I'd expect common parts.

Of course if you just want a new tractor that makes sense. Tractors have gotten a lot more convenient to operate in the past decade or two.

BTW, it's pretty easy to check Kubota parts availability. Messicks.com has every Kubota parts manual online along with number of parts available and price today. An estimate of when they can get is is there.
I've used their parts order half a dozen or more times and it has been accurate.

Right now I'd say the best bet for parts is going to be Kubota and John Deere. I have no idea which one is in first place. Both seem good. I have both makes & no problems with parts.
rScotty

 

[jaydee325]

Agree with rScotty. Deere and Kubota have historically been the best at long term parts availability.

A good dealership is also a big part of helping a customer find parts they don't have on the shelf. Case in point, late last fall I mounted up the snowblower to my recently acquired Deere X584 AWS (new August 2020). When I did a test run, the blower just did not sound right. I traced it to a tight bearing on one of the idler wheels on the blower. I looked up the part on JD Parts website and e-mailed my dealer to inquire. I promptly got a reply from the parts department that they did not have it in stock and Deere was showing 0 inventory nation wide! They would keep me updated. 2 days later, I get a call from the dealership and they tell me they have the pulley and wanted to know if I wanted to bring the blower to them for warranty install or would I like them just to ship me the pulley and I'd install myself. I said ship it!

Not sure how they pulled that rabbit out of the hat!

Overall though, the supply chain is still a mess, but showing signs of recovery.

 

[Number15]

My Branson dealer has good parts inventory right now, but in 5 years who knows.

I purchased it based on the fact that it has no computers, is not common rail and has an engine that should be easy to get parts for if needed on the open market. Dead simple. Now if other things go it might be more difficult, for example I think a user was having an issue finding an alternator. But alternators can be rebuilt locally. I think all tractors are going to come with some risk, roll the dice.

On the other hand my AC is computer controlled everything, if it fails I am going to need dealer support. My dealer is established with a good reputation and can get parts locally or shipped straight from Italy. Still it's a dice roll for sure.