Tractor 101

Ask The Right Questions

Choosing the right tractor is an important decision - here are some helpful questions to ask yourself when you begin the process.

How many acres do you own?

Horsepower is critical. Buying the right tractor with the right amount of horsepower and features the first time can result in savings over the long run. Think about your needs so that the tractor and equipment can grow with you as your needs grow.

What type of property do you own?

Different properties will require different tractor applications. Your property may include pastures or lawns, large cultivated acres, long gravel driveways, or fenced livestock areas with tough to manage spaces. The work you require from your tractor will vary. Your Mahindra dealer will help you match the tractor to your property and its needs.

Can you operate the tractor?

Taking into account your level of experience will help you find the best tractor size, transmission (gear drive, hydrostatic or shuttle), and control configuration.

What kinds of jobs will you be performing?

Jobs such as mowing, moving hay, grading, landscaping, moving materials, etc., or any combination of these tasks will require different implements & attachments and horsepower.

What should I expect from my Mahindra dealer?

Your relationship with your Mahindra tractor dealer should be a key factor in your purchase, as you'll be working with him or her over a number of years. Make sure the dealer takes the time to help select the right tractor for you, and supports you after your purchase. Speak with the service manager to ensure that you are comfortable with their knowledge, parts availability and hours of operation.

Try it out - Schedule a test drive:

There's no better way to know if a tractor is right for you than to get behind the wheel and take a seat in a Mahindra tractor. The test drive should be the most important thing you'll do before making your final decision. Regardless of your level of experience operating a tractor, your dealer will give you all the help you need to become comfortable during the test drive, so that you can fully evaluate the performance.

While a surprising number of first-time owners buy a tractor without test-driving different models, the most satisfied owners don't skip this important step.

Tractorpedia™

Browse some tractor terms and acronyms that you may not be familiar with:

3-Point Hitch: The 3-point hitch is used to attach rear-mounted implements and attachments like mowers, blades, scrapers, posthole diggers, tillers and backhoes. It consists of two lift arms and one top link where pins attach the implements. Take a look at the Mahindra difference and our heavy-duty construction.

Backhoe: Used to dig holes, trenches, and ditches, the backhoe is made up of two arms and a bucket connected by hydraulic cylinders.

Box Blade: Used to move dirt and gravel, backfill or rip up compacted soil. The box blade uses two position, adjustable shanks to break up packed soil surfaces quickly for seedbed preparation or landscape maintenance.

Chassis: The framework that supports the tractor frame and guts including the engine, transmission, suspension, etc.

Drawbar: A bar on the rear of the tractor used for towing.

Horsepower (HP): The amount of energy it takes to lift 550 pounds one foot in one second.

Hydrostatic Transmission: A hydraulically-driven transmission that offers variable speeds with the use of a foot pedal.

Implement: Rugged, high performance work tools that can be added to the tractor to increase its job functions. These can include landscape tools, mowers, box blades, and many more.

Joystick: The joystick gives the operator complete control of front-mounted attachments such as the front end loader.

Loader: The front-end loader operates like a large shovel with the tractor's power and weight behind it. A quick-attach design allows you to get your loader on and off quickly. The most common tool is the bucket, but other tools that work on the loader include bale spears, pallet forks, and grapple.

Post Hole Digger: Used to drill holes in the ground for fence posts or building piers, or to dig shallow holes for flowers, trees or shrubs.

Powertrain: The Powertrain transfers the power from the engine to the drive wheels and power take off (PTO). Main functions include selecting speed ratios, balancing the power to drive wheels for turning, and allowing the tractor to reverse.

PTO (Power Take Off): Used to provide power to an attachment, the PTO allows the attachment to draw energy from the tractor's engine.

Quick Hitch: The quick hitch attaches to the tractor 3-point hitch allowing the operator to easily hook onto implements.

Rotary Cutter: 3-Point Implement most commonly used to cut pastures.

Stabilizers: Pads that lower to stabilize the tractor while the backhoe is in use.

Synchro-Shuttle: Allows for the shifting of gears on the move without the gears grinding.

Tiller: Tiller: A rotary tiller is used to till soil in preparation for planting gardens and landscaping projects. The tiller has tines that rotate their way through the soil to loosen and break it up.

TLB (Tractor, Loader, Backhoe): This package comes equipped with a tractor, loader and backhoe.

Transmission: A system of gears that determines the speed and direction of a tractor.