Why did I buy this thing?

[Beaglenut]

I also have a max and can't say I'd ever thought about checking the oil being that hard. Yes you have to raise the hood and remove the side panel. On the dipstick it is down there a ways but a small flashlight in one hand and getting it in and out with the other has never seemed that tough. I change my oil every 100 hours and check it 2 or 3 times in between and have never had to add oil.

I have long legs and I'm constantly hitting the turn signal and headlights switches too but I consider that the price of using a little tractor instead of a bigger one.

After almost 10 years and 800 hours with the tractor I think the only problems it's had were the result of me being dumb a few times. The power that little thing has in both the front loader and the 3 point never fails to amaze me.

 

[njjeter]

Mahindra 1626 HST.

Yeah, it was cheaper than a Kubota, but really, I have never seen a piece of machinery so badly engineered. The manual tells me to check the engine oil every day. What a laugh! I have to raise the hood, remove the starboard side panel, raise the bucket to the ceiling, thread a trouble light past the loader arm and hydraulic cylinder, and SEARCH for the dipstick. Taking it out is hard enough, but find the hole with my left hand and guiding the dipstick into the hole with my right hand, all the while being careful not to dislodge the trouble light, is one of the most aggravating tasks of my life. Then of course I have to put it back together again. It takes me, all in all, about half an hour. Ridiculous.

And that's hardly the only bit of bad design. I rarely get down from the cockpit without accidentally activating the left turn signal. Nothing is placed logically to my mind. From 1975 to 2019 I enjoyed a Japanese Bison tractor with International Harvester sheet metal (IH 284). How I miss it! How I wish there had been a shop closer than 50 miles so I could have kept it operating. (It went into the shop only once in forty-four years. Mahindra Baba has been there twice already.)

Everything is going to be different on different machines. That being said, I totally agree with you about checking the oil. Mine is a 3016 shuttle shift with a 3 cylinder Mitsubishi diesel, probably similar or same engine as yours. I do not check my oil level every time I start the tractor as pointed out by others. Overall I have been happy with my machine, but given the times, you can probably sell yours for what you paid, or maybe more, and buy what you like. As to being a Mahindra lover, can't really say that as this is the first new tractor I have owned. I did look at JD and Big Orange before going with Mahindra. Most bang for my buck since I do not use my machine day in and day out. Still looking for a good modification for the oil dipstick. My dealer actually pointed this defect put before I bought.

 

[HEC]

That oil filter is going to be fun to change as well!

Hey Kubota isn't all great....my X1100C HST filter is a PITA to get to (remove skid plates). Also the oil filter has a plate I have to remove..

Engineering has much to be desired these days for sure , I have to take off a skid plate on my Honda CRV to get the oil filter off and that is more than a pita with the many cheap adapters they use , I can see this as about impossible after a couple of years just to get the plate off with all the salt and crud on the road during the winter .
I was hoping my friend would buy a Kubota but he went cheaper in price for the Mahindra . It went back to the dealer at least 4 times I know of , maybe more . He did have a good dealer so it made it a little more bearable .

 

[alpacalips]

Mahindra Baba after all has a Yamaha engine.

 

[KennyG]

I'm watching this thread with some amusement. On my JD (Yanmar engine), you can check the oil, change the oil filter, and add oil without raising the hood (or removing the loader, although that's only a few minutes). The only reason I raise the hood is to clean the radiator screen or change the air filter. It's not that hard to design a tractor correctly (although JD missed on the driveshaft lubrication.)

 

[LittleBill21]

I'm watching this thread with some amusement. On my JD (Yanmar engine), you can check the oil, change the oil filter, and add oil without raising the hood (or removing the loader, although that's only a few minutes). The only reason I raise the hood is to clean the radiator screen or change the air filter. It's not that hard to design a tractor correctly (although JD missed on the driveshaft lubrication.)

Is that a good thing? i rather have that stuff protected from the elements and tree's...

 

[NEPA guy]

All tractors have problems. ALL OF THEM. I've got a kubota. Not thrilled about it. Lotsa stupid issues. LOTS. But when it works, it works and for that much I can say, I'm glad I can utilize the machine for its intended purpose. Even if the hdyro whines and screams at me every time I sit in it. It still saves me money by not having to hire guys to do my work, and from breaking my back. So we deal with it.

 

[KennyG]

Is that a good thing? i rather have that stuff protected from the elements and tree's...

Hasn't been a problem over the last 10 years. I've never worried much about oil filters, dipsticks, and oil filler caps getting hit by trees or rusting out.

 

[newbury]

<snip>
I wouldn't be surprised if a Kubota was likewise difficult to work on. Mahindra Baba after all has a Yamaha engine. Making tractors PRETTY was a very bad mistake.
<snip>

Neither of my Kubotas are difficult to check the oil. But then except for fluids (oil, grease) and tires about the only things I've had to do in 13 years of ownership is replace some hoses and one cylinder on my 95 M4700.

 

[JBF43]

Neither of my Kubotas are difficult to check the oil. But then except for fluids (oil, grease) and tires about the only things I've had to do in 13 years of ownership is replace some hoses and one cylinder on my 95 M4700.

My tractor is a 2006 Kubota L3130, with an LA513 loader and came with a box blade. I've also purchased a bush hog, finish mower, landscape rake, pine straw rake, and a Woodland Mills stump grinder. One of the things I noticed while looking to purchase my tractor was how accessible everything on this model was. Any of the engine is easily accessible by raising the hood or removing a side panel, (done in like 2 seconds,) and the entire engine is ready to be worked on. Even all the grillwork pops off for easy radiator etc repair/ maintenance. Goes back together equally easy and quickly. the only repairs needed since I bought it in late 2009 was regular maintenance and 2 repairs. I have replaced the hydraulic hoses as one of them for the loader blew out the side one day while lifting. The oil blew right past my face and sunglasses saved my eyes from a high-pressure oil bath. The hoses didn't 'look' bad at all but given their age, I decided to replace them all so that wouldn't happen again any time soon. The whole job was done for under $400 so that wasn't too bad. The only other repairs have been 2 hydraulic cylinder rebuilds on the loader. (2 down, 2 to go.) The seal kits run about $98 per set and I can do it at home. All of these maint/ repair items were extremely accessible and I always think to myself or mention to others how well thought out I find this tractor to be. It's been a workhorse all these years and I am looking forward to many more happy years.

 

[Molalla1]

Yep that tractor is made by Mitsubishi, the entire tractor . . . engine and the rest (don't think the loader is though).

 

[npalen]

With all the electronic devices on today's tractors, it would seem that a gauge on the dash showing engine oil level would not be real difficult.

 

[BubbaBillyBob]

I have a Mahindra 4wd 5545, backhoe, 7' heavy duty brush hog, 7' heavy duty box blade and the FEL.

To check the oil I just unscrew the dipstick. I don't have to raise the hood, FEL or take a side panel off.

When the dealer was changing the oil, I never checked it. Now that I am changing it, I check it quite a bit more often. But i probably wouldn't check it as often if I had to be a gymnast.

I use the backhoe and box blade the most. Currently, I'm working in the forest taking down trees with the backhoe.

I'd be lost without the backhoe and box blade.

 

[AchingBack]

I haven't yet changed the oil filter. Indeed, I paid north of $900 to have the dealer do it (and other things) last fall for its 50-hour heck. That's almost as much as I paid the same dealer rehabilitate my IH/Bison tractor after more than thirty years of rough service, the only repair work I ever had done on it.

It's VERY difficult for me even to FIND the hole for the dipstick. I doubt I could get a wrench around the filter. I'd post a photo here except that the filter and dipstick are almost impossible to SEE. (On the good side, Mahindra or their American assembler did indeed put a splash of paint on the dipstick finger loop.)

I wouldn't be surprised if a Kubota was likewise difficult to work on. Mahindra Baba after all has a Yamaha engine. Making tractors PRETTY was a very bad mistake.

Thanks for letting me vent. I didn't mention the fact that what prompted me to go into Baba's innards was a lot of diesel fuel on the garage floor. It appears to come from the fuel filter. But where is the g-d shut-off valve? I absolutely cannot put my finger on it! And if I can't put my finger on it, I can't turn it off....

Your tractor has a Mitsubishi engine.

 

[lacritz]

How about KIOTI CK25HST Had to increase the distance of the enginge guard because could not get the hood up! The oil is easy enough to check though. Engine shuts down when the 5 amp fuse to the starter solonid comes loose! Many of the hood bolts have fallen out or were loose. This w0ith 200 hrs on the tractor. No response from Kioti, the dealer sold me some screws. Should of purchased a John Deere bot could not understand all there different small tractor models!

 

[arrow]

Wow. This is similar to throat cancer..
I have the Mahindra 3016 which is the same as the 1626 but w more loader capacity. Have owned it for 8 yrs. I've checked the oil on it 3 times. No puddle underneath, I'm good.
If you need to check the oil "every day", leave the side panels off and paint the dipstick.
My previous JD had no side panels and I used it the exact same way I do the 3016.
Or, you can trade in the Mahindra to a Kubota dealer and pay 15 grand more for a more easily accessible dipstick.

 

[Midniteoyl]

KIOTI CK25HST Had to increase the distance of the enginge guard because could not get the hood up!

On my CK3510 the hood clears the guard, but there also 2 pins you can pull so the top part can fold forward. Double check yours.

 

[arrow]

Yep that tractor is made by Mitsubishi, the entire tractor . . . engine and the rest (don't think the loader is though).

Correct. Loader and backhoe are made by KMW in Kansas.

 

[duramaxsky]

I'm watching this thread with some amusement. On my JD (Yanmar engine), you can check the oil, change the oil filter, and add oil without raising the hood (or removing the loader, although that's only a few minutes). The only reason I raise the hood is to clean the radiator screen or change the air filter. It's not that hard to design a tractor correctly (although JD missed on the driveshaft lubrication.)

This was what I was thinking. You must have a 1025R. The drive shaft thing is easier on the 2025R and larger. But on my 2025R I rarely open the hood either.

 

[KennyG]

This was what I was thinking. You must have a 1025R. The drive shaft thing is easier on the 2025R and larger. But on my 2025R I rarely open the hood either.

2320. It's better than a 1025 but still hard. (Until I changed the U-Joints to Moogs.)