What have you done with/to your GC Series 2300, 2400, 1700 Tractor TODAY

[DMW]

We had 4" of rain a week ago, and it washed out a poorly constructed wall next to a culvert discharge in a ditch. Been pulling all the rocks and dirt out so that I can rebuild it better. 1st photo is "before", 2nd & 3rd are "after", and 4 & 5 show Fergie hauling stuff out. The big rocks in the loader are from the ditch, and after getting them out with the backhoe and chains, I put them in the loader for counterbalance; otherwise, there was almost no steering with another hanging off the back. The green chains are Brush Grubbers and wow did they help.

Same issue on the discharge side of my driveway culvert when I first got the GC. The rocks were just getting washed away. Didn't matter the size, as the loose material under the larger rocks was getting washed away. Realized I had all the tools I needed to install gabions. Couldn't quite fill them both with rock (c.75% full), so I just kept adding over a couple years as I found more. Also changed the height of the driveway so the water didn't wash over the culvert first.

 

[irvingj]

Just lost a front wheel off the MMM... again.

I suspect the sandy fill soil all around my house (and along our dirt road) is the culprit. Looks like the snap ring that secures the washer, and then the swiveling front wheel, had just worn itself down to the point that it wouldn't hold up under lateral/diagonal stress.

After spotting the snap ring and washer in the grass (Is this a good time for "OMG" or "WTF???" !!!) at the edge of my "lawn" (really, the edge of the woods), I spent 20 minutes looking and finally found the wheel about 12' into the woods --a downslope-- and retrieved it. Yep, it got hit by the blades a few times....

Whew! I just replaced the really worn-down rear tires/wheels, at considerable expense. (Gotta love those M-F prices!)

Hopefully, a pair of new snap rings will cure the problem. Looks like a 1" OD shaft, with a 0.9" ID on the snap ring. Hope I can find that locally. There really ain't much meat left on those snap rings... shouldda picked up on that a while ago, I guess; looking at it now, it's obvious they've been worn down quite a bit.

Live & learn.

 

[RjCorazza]

Just lost a front wheel off the MMM... again.

I suspect the sandy fill soil all around my house (and along our dirt road) is the culprit. Looks like the snap ring that secures the washer, and then the swiveling front wheel, had just worn itself down to the point that it wouldn't hold up under lateral/diagonal stress.

After spotting the snap ring and washer in the grass (Is this a good time for "OMG" or "WTF???" !!!) at the edge of my "lawn" (really, the edge of the woods), I spent 20 minutes looking and finally found the wheel about 12' into the woods --a downslope-- and retrieved it. Yep, it got hit by the blades a few times....

Whew! I just replaced the really worn-down rear tires/wheels, at considerable expense. (Gotta love those M-F prices!)

Hopefully, a pair of new snap rings will cure the problem. Looks like a 1" OD shaft, with a 0.9" ID on the snap ring. Hope I can find that locally. There really ain't much meat left on those snap rings... shouldda picked up on that a while ago, I guess; looking at it now, it's obvious they've been worn down quite a bit.

Live & learn.

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I just did the same thing with my Kubota mower, although (this time) I didn't mow over the wheel. Mine mounts with a lynch pin, so I replaced it with a nut and bolt.

 

[hube2]

Just lost a front wheel off the MMM... again.

I suspect the sandy fill soil all around my house (and along our dirt road) is the culprit. Looks like the snap ring that secures the washer, and then the swiveling front wheel, had just worn itself down to the point that it wouldn't hold up under lateral/diagonal stress.

After spotting the snap ring and washer in the grass (Is this a good time for "OMG" or "WTF???" !!!) at the edge of my "lawn" (really, the edge of the woods), I spent 20 minutes looking and finally found the wheel about 12' into the woods --a downslope-- and retrieved it. Yep, it got hit by the blades a few times....

Whew! I just replaced the really worn-down rear tires/wheels, at considerable expense. (Gotta love those M-F prices!)

Hopefully, a pair of new snap rings will cure the problem. Looks like a 1" OD shaft, with a 0.9" ID on the snap ring. Hope I can find that locally. There really ain't much meat left on those snap rings... shouldda picked up on that a while ago, I guess; looking at it now, it's obvious they've been worn down quite a bit.

Live & learn.

I didn't know there was a snap ring holding the wheel on, I'm gong to have to check it when I take the deck off next time.

 

[dicktill]

Just lost a front wheel off the MMM... again.

I suspect the sandy fill soil all around my house (and along our dirt road) is the culprit. Looks like the snap ring that secures the washer, and then the swiveling front wheel, had just worn itself down to the point that it wouldn't hold up under lateral/diagonal stress.

After spotting the snap ring and washer in the grass (Is this a good time for "OMG" or "WTF???" !!!) at the edge of my "lawn" (really, the edge of the woods), I spent 20 minutes looking and finally found the wheel about 12' into the woods --a downslope-- and retrieved it. Yep, it got hit by the blades a few times....

Whew! I just replaced the really worn-down rear tires/wheels, at considerable expense. (Gotta love those M-F prices!)

Hopefully, a pair of new snap rings will cure the problem. Looks like a 1" OD shaft, with a 0.9" ID on the snap ring. Hope I can find that locally. There really ain't much meat left on those snap rings... shouldda picked up on that a while ago, I guess; looking at it now, it's obvious they've been worn down quite a bit.

Live & learn.

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If it looks like a 1" OD I would guess that it is really 25mm. That's what I've found on my GC although I don't have a MMM.

 

[irvingj]

Yep, metric. Checked it again this AM with a slide caliper -- 24MM ID, 28MM OD, though that may be because it got stretched -- I see where a "standard" M24 external snap ring is only 27mm OD. Ordered a metric assortment; should arrive Friday.

I recall now I had a bit of a time with the non-swivel rear wheels -- they have the same washer holding the wheel onto its axle, but use a (metric, of course) roll pin to hold the washer on. Had a hard time locating the roll pin(s), but now have a bunch of spares; the closest inch-size roll pin was too loose.

Hopefully the M24 on order will work.

 

[dicktill]

We had 4" of rain a week ago, and it washed out a poorly constructed wall next to a culvert discharge in a ditch. Been pulling all the rocks and dirt out so that I can rebuild it better. <snip>

Pardon for the large pictures in my last post; I guess the protocol is thumbnails.

Since that post Fergie and I have labored to get all the rocks and muck out of the ditch, sort of level the bottom, and then building a (hopefully) proper wall. Here's a bunch of photos of the progress. I'd like to say that Fergie built the wall, but all she did was to lug the rocks to a nearby location.



Now all my hard work building a pretty wall is hidden behind lots of rocks and bank run fill. But hopefully it will hold!

 

[irvingj]

Received my snap ring set Friday, now all fixed & re-greased. More pics, including a close-up of my old, worn, silver snap-ring. I think the wear is visible. (The reverse side of that ring is nice and flat, like it's supposed to be -- pic is of the "down" side when installed.)

It was a tight fit, but I did end up using the M24 snap-ring.

 

[masseyrider]

Got a letter from the selling dealer for my 2 beasties (2310 & 1725M).
$550 each for winter maintenance.
Includes free pickup and deliver.
Change engine oil and filter. Check tire pressures.
Check fluids and filters. Minor adjustments as needed.
So for an engine oil change they're gonna charge me $550 and hope to find further repairs to pad their wallets.
Sure! Pick it up as soon as possible.
NOT!

 

[cdaigle430]

Just lost a front wheel off the MMM... again.

I suspect the sandy fill soil all around my house (and along our dirt road) is the culprit. Looks like the snap ring that secures the washer, and then the swiveling front wheel, had just worn itself down to the point that it wouldn't hold up under lateral/diagonal stress.

After spotting the snap ring and washer in the grass (Is this a good time for "OMG" or "WTF???" !!!) at the edge of my "lawn" (really, the edge of the woods), I spent 20 minutes looking and finally found the wheel about 12' into the woods --a downslope-- and retrieved it. Yep, it got hit by the blades a few times....

Whew! I just replaced the really worn-down rear tires/wheels, at considerable expense. (Gotta love those M-F prices!)

Hopefully, a pair of new snap rings will cure the problem. Looks like a 1" OD shaft, with a 0.9" ID on the snap ring. Hope I can find that locally. There really ain't much meat left on those snap rings... shouldda picked up on that a while ago, I guess; looking at it now, it's obvious they've been worn down quite a bit.

Live & learn.

View attachment 1179697View attachment 1179698

Looks like I need to add checking these to my yearly maintenance list in the spring. I just bought a used 60 inch MMM.

 

[irvingj]

Yeah -- I haven't done it yet, but I really need to check the snap ring on the other side. (Put that on the list, would you?)

 

[Dmacleo]

still waiting on steer cylinder. so moving trailers, bucket (had removed it day leak started about 30 days ago and its in way of stuff now), and mower deck at just above idle and only shallow turns is a good way to take up a lot of time.

 

[Dmacleo]

new steering cylinder in hand. way too wet outside to do anything so I will sip bourbon while gazing lovingly at the GC2400.

 

[Dmacleo]

cylinder in, ran full bore 20 minutes going lock to lock (held against lock often too) and no visible leaks in cylinder (as expected) or the hoses. hoses are org and off on a lot over last few weeks so was little worried, but no red fluid when wiping with clean paper towel so far.
over next few days toe adjust and guards/bumper/hood back on.

 

[daman1]

Got a letter from the selling dealer for my 2 beasties (2310 & 1725M).
$550 each for winter maintenance.
Includes free pickup and deliver.
Change engine oil and filter. Check tire pressures.
Check fluids and filters. Minor adjustments as needed.
So for an engine oil change they're gonna charge me $550 and hope to find further repairs to pad their wallets.
Sure! Pick it up as soon as possible.
NOT!

Ridiculous, you can do an awful lot of 3 quart oil changes for 500 bucks!! And check in air pressure in the tires? Any knucklehead can do that, these dealers do anything they can to get a dollar out of you

 

[ray66v]

Ridiculous, you can do an awful lot of 3 quart oil changes for 500 bucks!! And check in air pressure in the tires? Any knucklehead can do that, these dealers do anything they can to get a dollar out of you

While I agree this is too much, and you should do your own maintenance, if you spent, millions of dollars on a property, equipping a shop, financing costs for inventory, training and paying tech's, office employees, a sales staff, liability insurance, property insurance, property taxes, purchase and maintain a delivery truck, electric, gas, water, property maintenance, advertising, employee health insurance, employee 401k, uniforms, vacation pay, sick pay, accounting and tax professionals, to name a few, I think you would see it a lot differently.

It's also the busiest time of the year for them. I bet if you call them in the middle of the winter, it would be a lot more affordable.

 

[Dmacleo]

you don't mow the grass for 6 weeks it gets kind of uppity.
get it

 

[Dmacleo]

you don't mow the grass for 6 weeks it gets kind of uppity.
get it

it normally takes me approx 1.75 up to 2 (at extreme) gallons fuel to mow everything.
between 10-2-2024 and 10-3-2024 mowing done.
4.5 gallons fuel.
normally 90 minutes to 2 hrs max, this time 3.5 hours.
moral of story: never let your grass get uppity.

 

[Dmacleo]

hauled horse manure today.
one person drove MF1648 to reach over far side of trailer



I drove JD2720 to fill near side



end result is this





then unload. second pic is prepping to backdrag.





4 loads today before horse farm has some scheduled rider training so we had to stop. going to get another 8-10 loads sunday afternoon

edit: that was actually the smallest load, was load profile test and we fine tuned it and trailer left yard with axle 1/8" off frame. only a 1 mile drive so no biggie but thats over 2100lbs then.
Measured (weigh scale) 2010lbs in trailer leaves me almost 3/8 inch axle to frame clearance.

 

[ray66v]

it normally takes me approx 1.75 up to 2 (at extreme) gallons fuel to mow everything.
between 10-2-2024 and 10-3-2024 mowing done.
4.5 gallons fuel.
normally 90 minutes to 2 hrs max, this time 3.5 hours.
moral of story: never let your grass get uppity.

how many acres are you talking??