Thank you -MAX28 on the way

[EricM28xl]

Well I've finally pulled the trigger and purchased a MAX28 Shuttle TLB this past weekend. Awaiting delivery this Thursday. I just wanted to say a quick thank you to all the members of this forum. I've been searching for my first tractor purchase for the last year and have spent many evenings reading through posts here on TBN. Your insight and opinions have been informative and helpful.

I figured that now was the time to actually sign up and get involved with the forum as I'm sure all of your collective experience will be even more in need over the next several months. I'll post some pictures and add my feelings about the tractor after it arrives later this week.

Again, thank you all for your input to this forum and I look forward to speaking to you all in the near future.

 

[mguitas]

:welcome: an enjoy your new tractor.

 

[j wilson]

you'll love it!!!

 

[EricM28xl]

Well, she arrived yesterday on time! Now I'm ready to go get dirty. Figures it's going to rain for the next 24 hours! Now that I think about it, maybe I don't care!

 

[JButze100]

You are going to love it. You are smarter than me and got the backhoe. Well done. I got 20 hrs on mine now, only complaint was the fan would hit the fan shroud if on so un-even terrian that two wheels would spin. After throwing it out there on this forum with no one else experiencing such a problem I investigated it further to find that a screw was out of the fan shroud which allowed it to flex just enough. 20 second fix and good to go. As you start on projects be sure to take before and after pictures. You will find it is amazing what the little machine will do. In 20 hrs i've made a 25x35 rock garden, brought the grade up 1 1/2 ft around front, sloped and graded the back were it meets the walk out basement, cleared a 50 ft wide bank down to my pond, raked and picked stone and prepared about the whole cleared area (1.5 acres surrounded by woods) for seed, tried the rfm out on 300' of road frontage, skidded out 10 poplar trees, and the list continues... Now if it would stop raining for a few days so i can get some seed down...and for the record she will move a round bale. Enjoy your tractor!

 

[madmax12]

Well done!
:thumbsup:

 

[j wilson]

....JButze, i had the same problem with the fan hitting the shroud... didn't know what the god awful noise was when it was torked on un-even ground, thanks for the heads up, i went and looked at the fan and it was clear that it was hitting the shroud, i loosened the bolts and slid it over a little. haven't had it out yet to see if it clears it yet. thanks again!!

 

[EricM28xl]

Jbutze thanks for the feedback. Haven't seen (heard)an issue with the fan. I did get a few hours in earlier today and almost perfect. The only issue that I identified is the float won't stay engaged. It keeps popping out. I'm not too concerned at this point as my dealer is stopping by in the next day or so to deliver the backhoe thumb. I'll have him take a look and have all confidence that he'll make it right. My take on this type of stuff is there are always a kink or two to work out. As long as the dealer stands by you I'm alright. I won't complain until they prove otherwise.

I am glad I got the backhoe, however I can tell it will take some practice hours to become marginally efficient with it. Along with the backhoe out of the gate I also went and grabbed a Ratchet Rake (love it) and had the tires filled with Rim Guard. Going to spend a few days getting familiar with the machine and then see what other implements of destruction I'll invest in. My initial projects focus on clearing several areas of overgrowth and reclaiming the ground. Lots of vines and small saplings as well as bull briar that would kill a small farm animal.

Boils down to first two hours on the machine and I have a smile from ear to ear. Can't wait to see what I can do.

 

[bigredcustoms]

Jbutze thanks for the feedback. Haven't seen (heard)an issue with the fan. I did get a few hours in earlier today and almost perfect. The only issue that I identified is the float won't stay engaged. It keeps popping out. I'm not too concerned at this point as my dealer is stopping by in the next day or so to deliver the backhoe thumb. I'll have him take a look and have all confidence that he'll make it right. My take on this type of stuff is there are always a kink or two to work out. As long as the dealer stands by you I'm alright. I won't complain until they prove otherwise.

I am glad I got the backhoe, however I can tell it will take some practice hours to become marginally efficient with it. Along with the backhoe out of the gate I also went and grabbed a Ratchet Rake (love it) and had the tires filled with Rim Guard. Going to spend a few days getting familiar with the machine and then see what other implements of destruction I'll invest in. My initial projects focus on clearing several areas of overgrowth and reclaiming the ground. Lots of vines and small saplings as well as bull briar that would kill a small farm animal.

Boils down to first two hours on the machine and I have a smile from ear to ear. Can't wait to see what I can do.

Same issue with the fan, shroud was too high, loosened the bolts and slid her down, no issues since. The float kept popping out on mine as well, but after 10hrs or so, no issues and it stays in float now. I think the spring pressure is pretty firm on the stick when new and maybe the detents are a little weak at first in the loader valve. Just finished a custom grapple setup for my 28, worth every penny and time involved. You'll keep finding things to do with it, trying to make a cup holder for longer time in the seat

 

[EricM28xl]

Thanks for the info Bigredcustoms. I'll keep working the float and see if it helps. Right now it's really not catching at all. Even stopped if I have the bucket up a foot or two and click up into float it's popping out before it even hits the ground.

I toyed with the idea of a grapple on mine as well. Would love to see picture if you have them. There's an "off the shelf" one sold by Everything Attachments that seems to be sized for the smaller tractors. How much of a hassle was it adding the third function line for the grapple? I'm fairly mechanical but never worked on hydraulics before.