Normal Operating Temp for a 3525?

[Etch]

Just curious as to what temp you 25 series tractor owners are seeing. The green part of the gauge reads up to around 235 and there is a tick in the middle that reads 221. I'm usually running around 221 or just over.

 

[Shemp]

I'll be on it tomorrow and I'll let you know.

 

[hudr]

I don't know about late model stuff, my 5005 runs around 190 when I am really working it, and around 180 just tossing hay bales around. I am not a fan of any diesel engine running over 210 for any length of time. Sometimes I think those "green" areas on guages are there for looks. The temp guage on my 97 6.5TD chevy doesn't show red until 260 and I think that would be way after something melted and ran out the exhaust pipe.

 

[Shemp]

Just curious as to what temp you 25 series tractor owners are seeing. The green part of the gauge reads up to around 235 and there is a tick in the middle that reads 221. I'm usually running around 221 or just over.

Maybe I'm looking at it wrong but I thought the 221 was at the end of the green part. My temp guage read about a 1/16th over the middle line. Well below the end of the green scale.

 

[xlr82v2]

Hey Etch, and others with a 3325/3525...

How slow is first gear? Is it slow enough to use a rotary tiller with the tractor? On the 3325, how is the manual steering? Is it pretty light, or is it more heavy steering?

I've got a 52 Ford 8N that I'm just about fed up with (for the past 6 years)... and the 3525 looks like just the ticket for me. I'm leaning toward the 3525 because of the hydraulics and power steering, but a 3325 would fill the bill for me also... except that I'd like to possibly add a fel down the road.

I grew up on a dairy farm, and have been driving tractors since I was old enough to reach the pedals... and even though I don't work on the farm anymore, I know that this tractor will surprise most people with how much it will pull... 4wd helps, but isn't mandatory. I'll mostly be mowing my 5+ acres of grass, bushhogging the remainder, and then hauling firewood, skidding logs, plowing, etc... all the stuff you use a tractor for!

 

[Etch]

1st gear is pretty slow, so I don't think you'll have any problem tilling. The power steering is great and the wheel is super easy to turn. Not sure how it compares to the 3325 without power steering, but I'm glad I got the 3525. If you plan on adding a FEL, you should just go with the 3525. I was originally going to go with the 3325 until the dealer said it probably wouldn't handle a FEL.

So far I'm loving the 3525. It has handled everything I've thrown at it so far. I've bush hogged about 8 acres or so, cut a 6ft wide drainage ditch, spread and leveled three 13 ton piles of top soil, cut a narrow ditch with my mid buster, resurfaced part of my gravel driveway, etc.

 

[Etch]

Maybe I'm looking at it wrong but I thought the 221 was at the end of the green part. My temp guage read about a 1/16th over the middle line. Well below the end of the green scale.

You know, maybe you're right. I was thinking the 221 was the break in the green area, but now that I look more closely at it, it does look like it is the top end of the green. That makes me feel better!! And usually I'm running around the same temp as you, just over that break in the green area.

 

[Shemp]

Hey Etch - did that cover come with your setup or was that something that you added on. I could kick myself in the "arse" for not getting a cover to block out the sun. I looked on the Mahindra site and don't see it offered anywhere.

 

[Shemp]

1st gear is pretty slow, so I don't think you'll have any problem tilling. The power steering is great and the wheel is super easy to turn. Not sure how it compares to the 3325 without power steering, but I'm glad I got the 3525. If you plan on adding a FEL, you should just go with the 3525. I was originally going to go with the 3325 until the dealer said it probably wouldn't handle a FEL.

So far I'm loving the 3525. It has handled everything I've thrown at it so far. I've bush hogged about 8 acres or so, cut a 6ft wide drainage ditch, spread and leveled three 13 ton piles of top soil, cut a narrow ditch with my mid buster, resurfaced part of my gravel driveway, etc.

The way my dealer told me was that a FEL could not be added to the 3325 because it doesn't come with power steering. Didn't get into much detail as to why. I was actually looking at the 3325 but needed one with the FEL.

 

[Etch]

Hey Etch - did that cover come with your setup or was that something that you added on. I could kick myself in the "arse" for not getting a cover to block out the sun. I looked on the Mahindra site and don't see it offered anywhere.

It was an option. When I bought the tractor I asked if they had a canopy to add on. It was $350 I believe. It is definitely nice having and only becomes a problem when getting close to trees with low branches. The canopy is made of fiberglass if I'm not mistaken. It's a must have when cutting acres and acres of grass under the hot Texas sun in August.

As for the 3325 and FEL, that is what the dealer told me as well. Probably too much weight in the front for you to be able to turn the wheels while carrying the FEL, not to mention the dirt/gravel in the bucket.

 

[xlr82v2]

1st gear is pretty slow, so I don't think you'll have any problem tilling. The power steering is great and the wheel is super easy to turn. Not sure how it compares to the 3325 without power steering, but I'm glad I got the 3525. If you plan on adding a FEL, you should just go with the 3525. I was originally going to go with the 3325 until the dealer said it probably wouldn't handle a FEL.

So far I'm loving the 3525. It has handled everything I've thrown at it so far. I've bush hogged about 8 acres or so, cut a 6ft wide drainage ditch, spread and leveled three 13 ton piles of top soil, cut a narrow ditch with my mid buster, resurfaced part of my gravel driveway, etc.

Etch,

Thanks for the reply, I think I'm sold on the 3525, as I forgot yesterday when I posted that it also had the Live PTO... That's the deal sealer for me. Anything that that will remind me of this 8N has got to go!! So, no transmission driven PTO for me... It has to be Live.

 

[xlr82v2]

As I think about it, once I get this tractor, I'm probably going to think that I've died and gone to Heaven... I won't know what to do... but I'm sure I'll figure it out ;-)

Power steering!!!
LIVE HYDRAULICS!!! LIVE HYDRAULICS!!! LIVE HYDRAULICS!!!
LIVE PTO!!!
Front end Loader!

Have you ever been bush hogging with an 8N (or any Ford N for that matter) and have the 'hog run up on a hump on a hillside, and just kill the tractor dead before you even have time to react? That's the makings of a bad day! You're stuck there until you can get a jack and either jack up a rear wheel or jack up the 'hog and let the pressure off the gears... or maybe you can get lucky and hammer it out of gear (I hope I don't break anything...) And, you can't slow down to try to see and avoid... every gear is too dang fast, and if you throttle back, then you don't have enough power to get through what you're cutting down. Well, there's no shortage of hillsides or humps here where I'm at...

You happy 8N owners will know what I'm talking about.



I can't wait to get this tractor!