1523 vs. GC Differences?

[Paystar]

Hello everyone. Just registered but have been looking at the site for two days now. Found it while searching for Massey Ferguson info. There's lots of good info here. I am interested in the future purchase of a small tractor for my yard work. I have a John Deere and Kubota dealer within an hour of me, but that is it. I am interested in a Massey, just because I've always wanted one, and from what I've been reading here, they aren't a bad choice.
What I want to know is how much of a physical size difference is there between a GC2610TLB and the 1523? I got some brochures from MF and the dimensions seem close? I do see the 1523 has bigger tires. Is the turning circle much bigger? The GC is probably all I need but want to know the differences. And it seems like it has more standard features. I have 2 acres of lawn with trees, so it needs to be maneuverable, and I want it for the loader and backhoe for light landscaping. I also have a long driveway so a snow blower is also on my list. I currently plow with my Polaris Sportsman 500 H.O. and it is a 2 hour job, so it would be faster with a blower versus pushing. Antone have pics of the two together?
I'll likely have more questions after I do more research. Thanks.

 

[WilliamBos]

Welcome aboard. Where in Ontario are you from?

I am not sure if you can get an MF BH for the 1523. We love ours. Turns on a dime, a little more flow than the GC, heavier frame and deck than the GC.

We love our 1523. I only wish it had a few more options, like a little more flow, and more tranny options. Love the hydro though, don't regret it at all!!

Hello everyone. Just registered but have been looking at the site for two days now. Found it while searching for Massey Ferguson info. There's lots of good info here. I am interested in the future purchase of a small tractor for my yard work. I have a John Deere and Kubota dealer within an hour of me, but that is it. I am interested in a Massey, just because I've always wanted one, and from what I've been reading here, they aren't a bad choice.
What I want to know is how much of a physical size difference is there between a GC2610TLB and the 1523? I got some brochures from MF and the dimensions seem close? I do see the 1523 has bigger tires. Is the turning circle much bigger? The GC is probably all I need but want to know the differences. And it seems like it has more standard features. I have 2 acres of lawn with trees, so it needs to be maneuverable, and I want it for the loader and backhoe for light landscaping. I also have a long driveway so a snow blower is also on my list. I currently plow with my Polaris Sportsman 500 H.O. and it is a 2 hour job, so it would be faster with a blower versus pushing. Antone have pics of the two together?
I'll likely have more questions after I do more research. Thanks.

 

[TigerfaninAR]

That's one good looking tractor.

Didn't get a chance to go check it out because of a health situation but can't wait to do so.

 

[WilliamBos]

That's one good looking tractor.

Didn't get a chance to go check it out because of a health situation but can't wait to do so.

Best wishes to you, hope your health improves. We love it, and hopefully you will too.

Take care, and get well soon!!

 

[LBrown59]

1*What I want to know is how much of a physical size difference is there between a GC2610TLB and the 1523? 2*I do see the 1523 has bigger tires.
3*The GC is probably all I need but want to know the differences.
4*And it seems like it has more standard features.

1*The GC is a Sub Compact tractor.
2*That's due to it being a bigger Compact tractor .
3*Probably so.
4*Like a BH on the GC2610.

 

[Paystar]

Thanks for the info everyone. Ya, it would be nice to have the extra flow and lifting capacity of the 1523, but with all the research I've done, I think it would end up a whole lot more expensive by the time you put a loader, BH, mower, and snow blower on it. I'm doing all my work now with a 16 horse garden tractor and my atv with plow and dump trailer now, so I think even the smaller GC will make things a whole lot easier. The GC 2610TLB should still be able to run a wood splitter and chipper right?
That sure is a nice setup you have there WilliamBos. I'm in Goulais River, north of the Sault. Actually I was in your area the last three years. I was working my dump truck on the 400. I had lots of friends in Coldwater, Midland and Barrie, so I was through Innisfil many times. What dealer did your tractor come from?

 

[LBrown59]

Here are my 3 Kubota versions of the MF GC Series tractors.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/1378422-post10.html
Don't limit your self to just The MF.
Try out all the Sub Compacts : Kubota BX & the JD 2305 as well as the MF GC series.
Set in all the seats
Compare all the dealers ;Then buy the one you like best for the best price from the best dealer.

Thanks for the info everyone. Ya, it would be nice to have the extra flow and lifting capacity of the 1523, but with all the research I've done, I think it would end up a whole lot more expensive by the time you put a loader, BH, mower, and snow blower on it. I'm doing all my work now with a 16 horse garden tractor and my atv with plow and dump trailer now, so I think even the smaller GC will make things a whole lot easier. The GC 2610TLB should still be able to run a wood splitter and chipper right?
That sure is a nice setup you have there WilliamBos. I'm in Goulais River, north of the Sault. Actually I was in your area the last three years. I was working my dump truck on the 400. I had lots of friends in Coldwater, Midland and Barrie, so I was through Innisfil many times. What dealer did your tractor come from?

 

[WilliamBos]

Here are my 3 Kubota versions of the MF GC Series tractors.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/1378422-post10.html
Don't limit your self to just The MF.
Try out all the Sub Compacts : Kubota BX & the JD 2305 as well as the MF GC series.
Set in all the seats
Compare all the dealers ;Then buy the one you like best for the best price from the best dealer.

If you read his post, he never mentioned any other colour, which means he wants an MF!! There are other brands besides Kubota, you know.

 

[WilliamBos]

Our 1523 has 5.4 gpm at the remotes, and even though 10gpm is recommended, ours runs our splitter just fine. The GC 2610 have 4.8 gpm at the remotes, so it should work good for you, unless you are looking to establish a new speed record. The splitter has a 24" stroke, with a 4" cylinder, and it takes 60 seconds for a full cycle, but like I said in another post, it splits faster than I can, so I am happy. It is the WX310.

http://www.embmfg.com/Forestry/Splitters/WX300-Models.aspx#WX310

Keep us posted. I will send you a PM later, about our dealer experience.

Thanks for the info everyone. Ya, it would be nice to have the extra flow and lifting capacity of the 1523, but with all the research I've done, I think it would end up a whole lot more expensive by the time you put a loader, BH, mower, and snow blower on it. I'm doing all my work now with a 16 horse garden tractor and my atv with plow and dump trailer now, so I think even the smaller GC will make things a whole lot easier. The GC 2610TLB should still be able to run a wood splitter and chipper right?
That sure is a nice setup you have there WilliamBos. I'm in Goulais River, north of the Sault. Actually I was in your area the last three years. I was working my dump truck on the 400. I had lots of friends in Coldwater, Midland and Barrie, so I was through Innisfil many times. What dealer did your tractor come from?

 

[LBrown59]

If you read his post, he never mentioned any other colour, which means he wants an MF!! There are other brands besides Kubota, you know.

Yup just like there are other than MF.

 

[Paystar]

LBrown59: I have a Kubota/John Deere dealer close buy. I think they are all decent machines (the Kubota having the best pricing), but as stupid as this sounds, when I was a kid I grew up around Massey's, so I kinda have a soft spot for them. If they were junk it would be different, but I've read pretty positive reports on them, and they have all the features I need. Just like with trucks, I'm guilty of being pretty brand loyal.
I don't know a lot about Kubota, but they must make pretty good engines, as in the trucking industry, most APU's and reefer engines are Kubota's. I will give them a look, but I wanted to see if MF's would work for me first.

Thanks for the other info Will.

 

[jaybrad]

I'm fortunate that within about 30 miles there are dealers who represent just about every tractor on the market. When I started my quest, I first went to the JD & Kubota dealer and was a bit disappointed that the model I was most interested in (2305 and BX24 respectively) had so much plastic on them. Beyond that was the layout of the controls, which just didn't seem to fit me.

The good part was that, in spite of the lousy salesman I happened to get, the dealer's service department had a good reputation and that 4 of my neighbors all have Kubota's and like them quite a bit.

Then I went to the Massey dealer. Their show room was mostly outdoors, and their shop not as new, or fancy - but the salesman seemed genuinely interested in my business, was much better informed about the various machines, and took the time to show me the features that he felt put the GC2310 ahead of the comparable competitor's models.

He also gave me a good price, tossed in a Bro-Tek thumb and a bucket hook, and we signed the papers. A couple days later it was delivered, and I have been smiling ever since.

For my projects, this has proven to be the perfect tractor. I'm very pleased with how the implements worked this summer and I hope to be able to give the snow blower a workout one of these days.

I don't know how much of a difference the extra horsepower of the 2610 would really make for my purpose, but I can attest that given the opportunity to do it all over, I would buy the same setup again.

The good news is that they are really all good units - I'm sure you will get many years of work and enjoyment out of whatever you select.

Jay

 

[Paystar]

Thanks Jay. You said you have a thumb for your backhoe? Do you have any pics? That was one thing the salesman I was talking to mentioned, he said there is no factory thumb for the GC series but you could get an aftermarket one.
The other thing that puzzles me about the 1500 series, maybe Will knows since he has one: In the 1500 brochure there are pics of the 1523 with a backhoe on it, yet they do not list the 1523 in the BH application charts? The smallest machine in the BH specs is the 1528. What BH will work with the 1523?
Also I see the 1523, 1528 and 1531 have no factory joystick available. What kind of setup do they have.
Wish I had a dealer closer by, I'd like to see them in person.

 

[WilliamBos]

If you get a loader, you get a pedestal mounted controller. I am not sure why MF stopped selling the 1523 with a BH, but I am sure Woods makes one for it.

We have no loader, so right now no controller. The log splitter has a controller on it, so we use that. We will add an aftermarket controller in the spring.

We relocated the hydraulics from under the right step to under the took box below the ROPS bar. We shut the tractor off, plug the lines in, and the restart, then the opposite to remove. We put the loop back in so we do not dead-head the pump.

Look under the floor board, above the deck.



Relocated.




Also in the pics a tool box from Princess Auto, and a bungee cord used to hold the chute up while driving in the garage.

Thanks Jay. You said you have a thumb for your backhoe? Do you have any pics? That was one thing the salesman I was talking to mentioned, he said there is no factory thumb for the GC series but you could get an aftermarket one.
The other thing that puzzles me about the 1500 series, maybe Will knows since he has one: In the 1500 brochure there are pics of the 1523 with a backhoe on it, yet they do not list the 1523 in the BH application charts? The smallest machine in the BH specs is the 1528. What BH will work with the 1523?
Also I see the 1523, 1528 and 1531 have no factory joystick available. What kind of setup do they have.
Wish I had a dealer closer by, I'd like to see them in person.

 

[jaybrad]

Thanks Jay. You said you have a thumb for your backhoe? Do you have any pics? That was one thing the salesman I was talking to mentioned, he said there is no factory thumb for the GC series but you could get an aftermarket one.

I can't answer the questions about the 1500 series, but here are some pictures of mine with the Bro Tek thumb. It works great and uses the toplink from the 3PH. When it's not being used, I just remove the toplink and it folds up against the BH arm.

It is great for lifting stumps and rocks, both of which I did frequently this summer. I'd highly recommend it.

There are times when it would be handy to have one that I could deploy and retract from the control seat, but they cost A LOT more than I was willing to spend.

Good luck.

Jay

 

[Paystar]

Oh, that's a manual closing thumb Jay? Does anyone make a hydraulic one that would fit on the GC?

How come you relocated the lines Will? Just for conveience of hooking up?

 

[WilliamBos]

Oh, that's a manual closing thumb Jay? Does anyone make a hydraulic one that would fit on the GC?

How come you relocated the lines Will? Just for conveience of hooking up?

Yeah, for the ease of hooking up. We do not ever plan on putting a loader on it, so moving them was a no brainer for us.

 

[Paystar]

Oh, OK Will. I spent all my life around trucks but I'm new to this compact tractor thing. Appreciate all the help, trying to learn all I can of what's available before I make any decissions. When the time comes to make the purchase it will likely be around for a long long time. Unless I win the lottery, then I'll buy one of each

 

[jaybrad]

Oh, that's a manual closing thumb Jay? Does anyone make a hydraulic one that would fit on the GC?

Seems like I saw a hydraulic one earlier this year when I was looking at different options, but the price was about 3x the cost of the manual one, which was a lot more than it was worth to me.

Jay

 

[WilliamBos]

No problem. Feel free to ask anything. Remember, a stupid question is the one that is NOT asked.

That is why we are here!!

If I win the lotto, I will gladly buy one one, because I will be buying a few more too!!

Oh, OK Will. I spent all my life around trucks but I'm new to this compact tractor thing. Appreciate all the help, trying to learn all I can of what's available before I make any decissions. When the time comes to make the purchase it will likely be around for a long long time. Unless I win the lottery, then I'll buy one of each