GC17xx people, how's all your 3ph stuff stowed up when the backhoe is on.

[GeneV]

Can somebody take a pic of how your 3 point hitch stuff is stowed/pinned up when you have the backhoe on? Mine came with the lower lift arms and top link off the tractor. I understand I gotta pivot the pto shaft guard up, but aint for sure do the lower lift arms fit outside or inside it? The way I have it now just doesn't seem right to me. And the top link I can't make sense off at all other than to take it off.

Also, did your guys' tractors come with pto shaft caps for mid and rear? I saw a cap in some google search pics, like this:

 

[Imold]

Yep I have mid and rear caps with bolts that came with mine.

 

[cglaser104]

I have caps for both that came with mine as well. I just suck at using them LOL

 

[coldsteelva]

I will take a pic this afternoon if I can. I removed the shaft guard entirely; it's in a drawer. I do not put the caps back on my rear PTO ever; I do cap the mid-mount. The top link is stored vertically by locking/extending the implement end into the draw bar hole; the rounded edge of the pin hole seats in the draw bar hole.

Separate the lift arms from the stabilizers and raise (and lock) the 3PH in the full raised position. Allow the arms to hang free vertically.

This leaves you with the stabilizer arms on the ground. Grab a bungee/strap and lift UP the stabilizer arms and tuck them up vertically to the left and right of top-link to the inside of the lift arms. That strap should also capture the hanging lift arms and top link. Use the angled portion of the ROPS support (under the plastic) to hold the hooks.

You can see it here at the 1m47s mark: perhaps better than I described How to remove a backhoe, Massey Ferguson GC series - YouTube

 

[GeneV]

Coldsteel, the top link is what really confuses me, yeh I could use a pic.

Regarding the lower lift arms, I got them up, but the left one is rubbing up a little bit against the plastic fender...not that big a deal but if I could avoid cosmetic damage to the fender, why not. I think all that is coz they're pushing against the PTO shield which you removed on yours.

Would be nice to have those caps, as a I don't use the pto much. I already looked up the p/n, will buy them at jacks or someplace.

 

[coldsteelva]

Coldsteel, the top link is what really confuses me, yeh I could use a pic.

Regarding the lower lift arms, I got them up, but the left one is rubbing up a little bit against the plastic fender...not that big a deal but if I could avoid cosmetic damage to the fender, why not. I think all that is coz they're pushing against the PTO shield which you removed on yours.

Would be nice to have those caps, as a I don't use the pto much. I already looked up the p/n, will buy them at jacks or someplace.

Blue star: rotate the guard to the up position (multi bolt holes for this) or remove entirely
Orange arrow: release the catch and let it hang
Yellow arrow: let your top link hang vertically
Red arrow: extend/adjust the top link so the ball end is sitting in the draw bar hole.

 

[Diggin It]

Different color machine, but I do similar.

Arms held up with shock cords.
Metal PTO Guard Plate removed.
Top Link either removed or hanging down and tied with tywrap.


Plastic/rubber PTO shaft cover could be made from black water/irrigation tube or maybe even radiator hose.

 

[GeneV]

View attachment 627609

Blue star: rotate the guard to the up position (multi bolt holes for this) or remove entirely
Orange arrow: release the catch and let it hang
Yellow arrow: let your top link hang vertically
Red arrow: extend/adjust the top link so the ball end is sitting in the draw bar hole.

As they say, picture worth 1,000 words. Thx! Are you guys worried at all with the pto shaft being exposed like that, what with the hoses in close proximity. I'm usually not a worry wort to the ridiculous extreme, but here I find myself thinking: what if I accidentally flip this lever and then that lever, and the pto starts up and one of the hoses gets wrapped up on it.

 

[GeneV]

Plastic/rubber PTO shaft cover could be made from black water/irrigation tube or maybe even radiator hose.

Yeh I read that before on this site...I think maybe even you posted it, no? But it still spins with the hose on it, so something could wind around it. I'd like the cover coz it fully encapsulates the shaft.

 

[coldsteelva]

There are no concerns with the PTO being exposed (and not in use) because it takes multiple steps to activate the PTOs. The applicable PTO lever needs to be moved from N to Engaged and then the clutch lever has to be moved from Disengaged to and through the locking detent/catch and then further down into Engaged. You would have to have been completely inattentive/unsafe for this to happen.