Which tractor Kubota/Mahindra?

[tofucurtin]

My First post. I have spent the last few weeks reading everything I can and its amazing how great this community is! I am looking for my 1st tractor to clear some wooded land in CT 10 out of 44 acres and dig a few foundations to start. When thats done it will be used as a general use machine for pasture and road maint. The 2 I have for sale in my area are a 2006 Kubota l4330hst w/Curtis cab,la854, bh90, mid pto, r4's with 200hrs for about 25k. 2nd is 2005 Mahindra 3510 4x4 with ML112 fel, BH850 Bush Hog backhoe, palette forks, 12x12 tran, 550 hrs for a bit over 16k. A fair difference in price and that is where my debate lies. Is the Kubota just that much better? Thanks in advance!

 

[tractordriver]

Mahindra gives more bang for the buck. But take a look at bobcat they have some killer deals right know. You can buy a new bobcat cheaper than used.

 

[flusher]

My First post. I have spent the last few weeks reading everything I can and its amazing how great this community is! I am looking for my 1st tractor to clear some wooded land in CT 10 out of 44 acres and dig a few foundations to start. When thats done it will be used as a general use machine for pasture and road maint. The 2 I have for sale in my area are a 2006 Kubota l4330hst w/Curtis cab,la854, bh90, mid pto, r4's with 200hrs for about 25k. 2nd is 2005 Mahindra 3510 4x4 with ML112 fel, BH850 Bush Hog backhoe, palette forks, 12x12 tran, 550 hrs for a bit over 16k. A fair difference in price and that is where my debate lies. Is the Kubota just that much better? Thanks in advance!

Well, there's the engine hp difference (41 for the Bota 4330 vs 34 for the Mahindra 3510).

I've owned both brands--a 2005 Kubota B7510HST (21 hp engine) with 4WD the LA302 FEL and a 2008 Mahindra 5525 (54 hp engine) 2WD, gear tranny with the ML250 FEL. Both are good machines.

However, I've never owned a tractor with a backhoe, so I can't help you there.

You have to decide if the hydrostatic tranny on the 4330 is what you prefer over the syncro-gear tranny on the 3510 and how much cost differential you think is involved there.

With 44 acres, you need to look ahead 4-5 years to figure out what jobs you'll have for your tractor. Generally, with that much acreage I'd be looking in the 40-60 engine hp range.

 

[Whitey]

I cannot comment on the Mahindra.....but I just bought my first Kubota after having a Deere for a few years. I am really impressed with the Kubota. If I were you I would go over each machine personally and look how the different components are manufactured. I believe you will see a diffrence in the two.

 

[Redneck in training]

I have TYM 330 HST aka Mahindra 3510 except the trany. HST is hydrostatic. M 3510 is made in Korea by TYM for Mahindra. So far I have about 150 hours of mostly FEL work on it. No issues but the paint on cylinders and operator platform could be better. I paid about 17k for my about 2 years ago. The backhoe is worth few (perhaps 3500) thousand too. I wish I had one on my tractor too.

 

[LAWALLSTRACTOR]

Both tractors are very capable of doing the work you have to do, and both tractors are in an hour range that should not alarm you. The Kubota will hold value better due to more years to set their track record on. That is probably why the Mahindra is so much less money.
The cab is nice to have but in the woods it can also be a hinderance. You will have to weigh out your pros & cons.

 

[tofucurtin]

Such quick responses thanks! I drove the Kubota yesterday and am gonna head to the Mahindra tonight. The bota seemed very heavy and rugged and the glass on the Curtis cab came off very easily so I am hoping the woods wont thrash the cab frame. Just today some of my reading is leading me more towards the bota with the higher capacities which I think will pay off in the long run. Any specific things or places on the tractor I should look for easy to find issues or lack of maint? I read a post about the Mahindra loader flex near max capacity. anyone ever see or hear of that?

 

[art]

I hate slotted holes on loader mounts! We have several in our area and the all have issues at this point trying to keep the bolts tight and not sheared seem to be a real problem after they get over 1000 hours. We've offered to weld them on!

 

[LBrown59]

Which one - I don't even have to think about it.

 

[Erik_in_Hoyt]

the $9k difference makes it a seriously tough decision.
the 3510 is a surprisingly capable machine and would likely meet your needs well, once you're done digging foundations.
OTOH, the Kubota with more HP and bigger BH will dig faster and keep you out of the weather while you do it, which may be worth the difference.
On the gripping hand, $9k is a nice slush fund during construction if you have the cash to buy, and a significantly lower payment if you don't.