Buying Advice Massey gc1715 or 1526

[Shooty220]

Ah, I see. I think I'd opt for the little mower on the bank like you used to use--something small enough to hang your rear off the high side. I'd personally be too chicken doing that on a hefty tractor, sitting up that high. I think the 1526 weighs right around 2500# with the loader on. Figure another 600 plus for the mower. I'll be Evel Knievel all day on a lawn tractor, but not that thing.

No, I didn't bother loading the tires yet, but I usually have a boxblade for ballast when doing any heavy bucket work. I mow with the fel on, but only when the ground is dry, so ruts haven't been a problem. The lawn is flat as a pancake so not much to worry about.

 

[Shooty220]

Oh, my mistake--I guess that jd2305 was almost as heavy as a 1526. Well, I guess it falls to whatever you're comfy using on the bank. Being lower to the ground might be a good thing.

 

[KYThunder]

Oh no sideways on this bank, straight up and down only. From what Im hearing the 1526 will be fine for what Im wanting. The jd2305 is the same size/comparable to the gc 1715.

 

[radrock]

We have a big community lake and the dam has to be mowed several times during the summer. I do not have loaded tires but as I said I take the loader off. With the loader off you are basically dragging that mower behind you. I go to the top of the dam on the less steeper side and come down forward on the steeper side. I never have any problems but I have came off that dam with the FEL on before and it got spooky. I think that tractor would mow fine with a MMM without loading the tires but then if you use that FEL without loaded back tires you would probably wish you had it. My finish mower weighs 538 lbs so it makes pretty good ballast. Now if you go up a steep hill without the FEL and try to lift that mower it will take the front tires off of the ground.

 

[KYThunder]

Thanks thats good info. Guess Im headed to the dealer Friday for one more look around and use them one more time and decide. I already went last week and though I had made my mind up but I keep second guessing myself. When I leave his lot Friday I will have one of them on my trailer. Thanks for the responses and help.

 

[radrock]

Well like I said. I demo'd the GC 2600 and the 1526. I'm not going to bash those little guys because they are very good tractors but if you park them side by side you can see a very large difference. One of my other concerns was plowing snow. There quite a bit more ground clearance with the 1526. But no doubt I am partial to the tractor. I think Shooty is too.

 

[KYThunder]

Unless something changes from last week to Friday, it will be the 1526. The one he has on the lot has ag tires that I dont want so he has to get one from another dealer so it may take a week. He also said the R4 tires jumped the price up $800 which I thought was crazy. I went to the MF site and it shows it as an $877 add on.

 

[radrock]

Wow they are proud of those tires. I have the r-4 tires and sure like them. My last tractor had the ag tires and they did tear up the grass.

 

[Shooty220]

That is crazy for the tires. I have yet to see a new one without the R4s; I'd think at this point the ag tires would be the option.

 

[KYThunder]

I agree but the Massey site agreed with his pricing.