Gc1710 & GC1720 . . true or false ??

AxleHub · Apr 13, 2015

Greetings,

I was told something today I'm uncertain if it is accurate . . . so I'm asking others.

A Massey dealer saleperson told me that if I bought a GC1710 or GC1720 . . . Everytime I put the backhoe on - I'd first have to take the belly mower deck off and then put the subframe on and then the back hoe.

Then when I wanted the mower deck on . . .I'd have to take the backhoe off in order so that I could take the sub frame off to have room for the mower deck.

It sounded nuts to me because the gc 1710/1720 are specifically produced to be backhoe oriented sub compacts (just like kubota bx25d or yanmar sc2450) . . . . But he claimed the regular frame wouldn't take the stress of the backhoe unless the subframe was on . . . But the subframe doesn't allow enough room for the belly mower . . So you can't keep the subframe on all the time if you use a belly mower.

How is this possible ??

Is that accurate for those two models gc 1710 & gc1720 ?

irvingj · Apr 15, 2015

Weird. Have the new models changed? Do the new ones really have a separate, removable sub-frame for the BH?

My 2310 has a permanent beefed-up rear frame to support the BH; the only add-on "sub-frame" I use is for the front mount snowblower.

Other than possible interference with the 3PH, which operates when the MMM is raised or lowered (and is easily remedied), I don't believe there's any issue with mine as far as having the BH and the MMM on at the same time. Never tried it, however: I remove the BH when mowing, as it makes it easier to maneuver and reduces weight on the lawn. I just drop the BH (park it on a stump) and install the MMM.

madhatter · Apr 15, 2015

AxleHub said:
Greetings,

I was told something today I'm uncertain if it is accurate . . . so I'm asking others.

A Massey dealer saleperson told me that if I bought a GC1710 or GC1720 . . . Everytime I put the backhoe on - I'd first have to take the belly mower deck off and then put the subframe on and then the back hoe.

Then when I wanted the mower deck on . . .I'd have to take the backhoe off in order so that I could take the sub frame off to have room for the mower deck.

It sounded nuts to me because the gc 1710/1720 are specifically produced to be backhoe oriented sub compacts (just like kubota bx25d or yanmar sc2450) . . . . But he claimed the regular frame wouldn't take the stress of the backhoe unless the subframe was on . . . But the subframe doesn't allow enough room for the belly mower . . So you can't keep the subframe on all the time if you use a belly mower.

How is this possible ??

Is that accurate for those two models gc 1710 & gc1720 ?

Nope. My new gc1710 is the same as my old gc2310. Subframe removal is not needed. I kept my mower deck and it fits perfectly. And a Massey dealer told you that ? Wow !

kaymaxi · May 10, 2015

I will be taking deliver of a 1710 later this week and was also told by my dealer that the backhoe and MMM could not be on/used at the same time. Could you describe how to remedy the 3PH interference you mentioned? While I plan to have the backhoe and loader off for most mowing, it would be good to know there is a way to have both backhoe and MMM on simultaneously if the need arises!

irvingj said:
Weird. Have the new models changed? Do the new ones really have a separate, removable sub-frame for the BH?

My 2310 has a permanent beefed-up rear frame to support the BH; the only add-on "sub-frame" I use is for the front mount snowblower.

Other than possible interference with the 3PH, which operates when the MMM is raised or lowered (and is easily remedied), I don't believe there's any issue with mine as far as having the BH and the MMM on at the same time. Never tried it, however: I remove the BH when mowing, as it makes it easier to maneuver and reduces weight on the lawn. I just drop the BH (park it on a stump) and install the MMM.

irvingj · May 13, 2015

When raising and lowering the MMM, the 3PH arms will also go up & down, and there's no way to stop that. When I first used the tractor for mowing, I discovered that the lowered 3PH arms would dig into the turf when I started up a steep incline, leaving two pretty deep grooves. (Took me a bit to figure out where that was coming from.)

What I did to remedy the situation was to remove (pins & clips on one end, 7/8" --wrench size-- bolts on the other end, second pic) the two links from the 3PH arms at the top of the transmission and "store" the lower arms behind a piece of EMT tube that I slipped through the BH mounting holes. Making sure the hydraulic hoses were held out of the way (used a piece of #10 copper wire), the 3PH transmission arms could then go up & down all they wanted to (verify clearances!) with no issues. I also use two small bungees to hold the lower 3PH arms spread out so the transmission arms won't touch them when they go up & down.

Most of the time I don't use the 3PH anyway, and when I need the BH I just push the lower arms up & under the rubber bungee cord that came with the tractor and pul out my EMT tube. When I do need the 3PH (like now, for a tiller), I just re-attach those two links. Sorry I'm probably not using the correct names for these pieces, but hope you get the gist of it.

I'll attach some pics that hopefully show what I'm talking about.

kaymaxi · May 15, 2015

Amazing, thank you so much! That's a great idea and a the pics are a huge help. It would have taken me weeks to get my pea brain around the concept otherwise.

It's very much appreciated! Now if the 3pt hitch will actually function on the new unit I'll be needing to rig something up soon.

Thanks again!!

irvingj said:
When raising and lowering the MMM, the 3PH arms will also go up & down, and there's no way to stop that. When I first used the tractor for mowing, I discovered that the lowered 3PH arms would dig into the turf when I started up a steep incline, leaving two pretty deep grooves. (Took me a bit to figure out where that was coming from.)

What I did to remedy the situation was to remove (pins & clips on one end, 7/8" --wrench size-- bolts on the other end, second pic) the two links from the 3PH arms at the top of the transmission and "store" the lower arms behind a piece of EMT tube that I slipped through the BH mounting holes. Making sure the hydraulic hoses were held out of the way (used a piece of #10 copper wire), the 3PH transmission arms could then go up & down all they wanted to (verify clearances!) with no issues. I also use two small bungees to hold the lower 3PH arms spread out so the transmission arms won't touch them when they go up & down.

Most of the time I don't use the 3PH anyway, and when I need the BH I just push the lower arms up & under the rubber bungee cord that came with the tractor and pul out my EMT tube. When I do need the 3PH (like now, for a tiller), I just re-attach those two links. Sorry I'm probably not using the correct names for these pieces, but hope you get the gist of it.

I'll attach some pics that hopefully show what I'm talking about.

View attachment 424768 View attachment 424770 View attachment 424771 View attachment 424772

irvingj · May 15, 2015

You are most welcome. On that EMT tube, if you look closely, you can see where I drilled holes all the way through it and used a pair of those clevis pin/clip things to keep it from sliding out of the BH mounting pin holes.

One other thing you may not know: While it's not possible to prevent the 3PH (transmission arms, at least) from going up & down when raising & lowering the MMM, it IS possible to hold the MMM (or at least its arms/links) in the up position when using the 3PH.

That's done by 1) raising the MMM/3PH and 2) screwing the MMM height adjust knob all the way out (max height).

The height adjust, which is a pair of steel rods, will pretty much prevent the MMM/arms from being able to drop down. Handy for tilling, if the MMM is still mounted. Kinda embarrassing when the MMM is digging/plowing in the garden right along with the tiller! :laughing: (Guess you can figure out how I know that.:ashamed

And, while I've never had the BH on when the MMM was on, I don't see why that wouldn't be possible, in theory at least.

Enjoy your tractor!

AxleHub · May 15, 2015

Is the situation of simultanious mmm and 3ph movement true just on the GC1710 and GC1720 or on all the GC1700 series?

Seems like it could create problems in winter with snowblowers or brooms or front blade when a back blade was attached.

irvingj · May 16, 2015

Yes, as far as I know that applies to all the GC Masseys (and I bet most other tractors), but it shouldn't be a problem when using a 3PH implement like a back blade, if the under-belly MMM link arms are held in the up position with the height adjustment knob as mentioned above.

I wouldn't want to do it, but that should hold true even if you were snowblowing on the front, using a back blade on the 3PH, and still had the MMM mounted(!). Keep in mind, too, that the up & down of a front-mounted piece is controlled by the joystick, a system totally separate from the 3PH/MMM raise/lower.

Hope this clarifies it.

AxleHub · May 16, 2015

irvingj said:
Yes, as far as I know that applies to all the GC Masseys (and I bet most other tractors), but it shouldn't be a problem when using a 3PH implement like a back blade, if the under-belly MMM link arms are held in the up position with the height adjustment knob as mentioned above.

I wouldn't want to do it, but that should hold true even if you were snowblowing on the front, using a back blade on the 3PH, and still had the MMM mounted(!). Keep in mind, too, that the up & down of a front-mounted piece is controlled by the joystick, a system totally separate from the 3PH/MMM raise/lower.

Hope this clarifies it.

But a snowblower is operated from the mid pto . . as is a broom. So a snowblower in front and a rear blade could be using mid pto and 3pt hitch at the same time.

Similarly a mmm and a 3pt vacuum runs off the rear pto could be operating at the same time. Or you could be using a mmm along with a rear offset 3pt mower.

I'm confused.