New GC1715 - Its fine . . . and its mine.

[AxleHub]

Well I'm 63 machine hours and 8 months into the Massey experiment and soon it will be mid winter (feb. 1st) in wisconsin. I have to say I knew I would have uses for tjis GC1715 scut . . . but I didn't anticipate there would be so many different directions of use. Once Spring rolls around I'll be doing some loghing and tearing out some sidewalks . . Not to mention landscaping and some lightweight trenching. All that is on top of the many activities of ladt year.

I'm hoping to be able to afford a mini grapple this spring andvto complete a couple more adfons to the teactor.

If a person would ask me what is my biggest surprise to date . . . Without a doubt its the traction I have on a steep concrete driveway in snow and ice conditions. I thought sure I'd have to get chains and have some issues . . . But traction with my turf tires and balladt invention is outstanding. I never thought I could back up the steepest part on pure ice . . So easily. I didn't think I could help tow my truck up the hill when the truck couldn't make it up the icy hill.

Nothing is perfect of course and its only 63 machine hours so far . . So there are plenty of chances for things to go sour in the future. But so far its been all good . . But I need to get those nice led lights attached and a couple remotes added in the early/mid part of 2016. The bucket quick attach was a doorway to a number of benefits . . Just as a grapple and remote in the front will be this year's doorway

And I'm all ears for more new learning and ideas.

 

[AxleHub]

In early 2015 as I read TBN it seemed that the Massey forums were pretty "calm" in activity except for model numbers of equipment I didn't (and still don't) recognize. A few posts from time to time on GC2400 or Gc2300 etc . . Issues . . . but "calm". The GC1700 series came out in 2013 . . . yet it seemed odd that with the full 2013 and 2014 model years already in history . . . there just wasn't a whole lot of responses in the owning or buying categories for the GC scuts.

Now I don't know what happened in later summer of 2015 . . but it seems like all of a sudden things started to change. Whether in the General Forum area or in the Massey area . . there were alot more posts and interest in the MF scuts. At first I thought it was a seasonal thing but its continued to expand more as fall and then winter started. It seems like in a 9 month period there are more new gc1700 owners on tbn than there were in a combined 2013/2014/early 2015 years. And there seems to be an expansion of post participation by owners of the prior GC23/24/26 scuts as well.

Any ideas why this pattern has developed? It certainly doesn't seem to be geographic concentrated, as the whole East Coast, Midwest, South, my area of the upper Midwest are all represented. And its not like I find bunches of new current reviews or media articles that would have spawned new awareness of the MF scut models past and current.

And it seems that Massey's scut model changes have worked well. I'd never known or heard of the history of the GC23/24/26 products until early 2015 . . . even though I'd been looking at scuts since 2006. Like Kubota has done, Massey has transitioned its scut line smoothly . . . making improvements but keeping all the strong points and designs of the gc23/24/26 series. In other words . . owniing the prior scut models is a very good thing . . even if alot of people never heard or saw one.

So what is my point? Kubota is still the largest recognized brand in scuts and in impact . . no question. But the Massey scut products seem to be doing alot better than just "surviving" . In fact it seems posts from many of these new owners show Massey scuts winning in head-to-head comparisons with Kubota or j.d.. In other words . . As media call it . . . Are we "trending" lol ?

Now wouldn't it be nice if Massey's website was as capable as its machines are. And whoever thought it would be smart to have a GC1700 series . . and a 1700s? Talk about creating unneeded confusion in the marketplace.

 

[AxleHub]

In a few days I will have owned my gc1715 for 10 months and just about 80 hours of use (by machone clock . . not actual running hours. If you're tractor experienced you already understand . . if you aren't . . . then what it means is a tractor hour clock is counted based on a certain rpm for a certain period of time. If you run your tractor at less than the rpm the clock uses . . you will be at a percentage. So someone like myself operating at 2400 rpm instead of 3000 rpm part of the time will have more actual use hours than my machine count shows.

But these last 10 months certainly teaches a person a bunch even though I'd run skidsteers and other equipment before.

But what is ahead? Well, soon a friend and I'll be doing a 50 hour service (at about 80 hours) . . which originally I planned to have the dealer do. Why the change? Well at 40 hrs. I changed my engine oil and filter and started using a synthetic. And its no different than doing a truck or car or motorcycle. So doing all the other patts of the 50 hour will not only save money . . Use the SAME or better components . . and give me the control and awareness of my fluid conditions and filters. I'll know if there are contaminates. I'll know if the fluids contain something they shouldn't.

And there is absolutely no issues about maintaing warranty either (I asked the dealer and their service department too). In fact several of the filters and the permatran came from the dealer. My point is . . don't use "the warranty" as an excuse for not doing it "intelligently" yourself. If you want to have the dealer do it . . thats perfectly fine. But don't use the warranty as an excuse for not learning new things or doing as good of a job as your dealer would do. If you want the dealer to do some adjustments to brakes ir tension controls . . fine . . but properly doing the fluids and filters will reduce you costs by $200 or more using thevexact same products purchased from your dealer. In my case it will reduce the cosr by $300 plus tax . . and then I'll spend $100 of that on a highly skilled person to show me all the tricks and adjustments needed too.

And I also had contact with Mobil Oil about their various choices of products as well.

My point is . . often you read on TBN that unless you have "a real tractor" . . that you can't do "real work". And I'm here to state that in my first 10 months . . that "real work" has been done and alot more will be accomplished in 2016 and doing an excellent job of lawn mowing is only a small part of a much busier and bigger group of work. And I'm not retired either . . so time is an issue too.

In fact time is a big issue and for many jobs a small but well equiped tractor is much faster than a larger sized one. A 40 hp tractor has no more intelligence than a 25 hp. The operator is the difference in how intelligence is applied. The point is a bigger tractor can do certain things well . . but its also limited in how well it can do other things. In addition, some things are better hired done . . it can be cheaper and safer than using either a scut or a cut. And of course the considerable cost differences in tractor size choices leaves money available to occasionally hire it done better.

Choose smart choices of implements designed for your tractor size . . because implements and add-on items are not created equal. In 2016 I'm helping provide more ideas on more priduct design ideas to multiple builders of implements . . just as our fathers and grandfathers developed new ideas to make their 25 horse tractors accomplish their entire farming needs.

If you have an idea for a better mousetrap . . then don't just duplicate what exists now . . Create it or find a way for your ideas to be used. But to do it . . get to know your tractor or your potential tractor.

This year I also want to find a new trailer capable of my expanded needs . . a single axle 5000 pound gvwr . . because my tractor would be handy to have at other locations and needs of mine.

I'm always looking for ideas and new product ootions. I'll always listen . . as long as the the contributor isn't focused on what I can't do . . but what I can "or could" do lol. Or maybe . . learn to do or create

Learning and humility go together. A couple times I made a mistake and I learned from it and from tbn posters. Several times I was in the minority . . yet I've been right even though I wasn't like others.


I've learned alot in the last 10 months from tbn posters and actual operation . . I expect I'll learn a great deal more in the next 12 months and add to my implement and invention arsenal

My point is . . explore. Our forefathers were inventors and creators. They didn't have degrees to say they could . . they just did. I'll be a newbie the rest of my life . . just as I was for most of my past many years.

A tractor is a way to multiply your own ideas and talents. Have opinions and debate others on their viewpoints . . but machine strength is not the same as inventive capacity. I've got a lot to learn and attempt in 2016.

 

[Pixguy]

Thanx for the post Axe.

Happy Easter to all.

 

[AxleHub]

Well it's just over 2 years now as an owner and operator of a Massey GC1715. I think it's time for some new topics to be added and updated on this thread. . . and some new pictures too. Stay tuned.

AxleHub

 

[araw0727]

I thought the GC1720 was going to be too small to be useful , and I'm a complete novice. It's constantly at the limit, moving big stumps around (not very quickly...), or unable to move large rocks. I almost feel bad for it. Things get done, but it takes a little more time. My technique sucks too. I'm learning that. I managed to grade my driveway, kinda, with a Ratchet Rake which was fun.


With that said, I couldn't use anything larger anyway. I have a very fragile obstacle course of a yard, that I inherited when I bought this house. I love this thing to death, and wouldn't trade it for anything else. If I get something bigger, I'm hanging onto the GC1720! 100%!

I get to mess up smaller too... You don't want to see me with a backhoe when the RPMs are tapped out lol...

 

[AxleHub]

Araw,

The whole goal of having a tractor is using it. Its sad to see a tractor that just sits because the owner either doesn't have time or doesn't have any projects or activities to do with it.

For me - I've found that very specific additions of certain accessories or implements plays a real big part in the use and comfort of the unit. The weight rack unit I developed for my 3pt. is narrow yet positions weight in just an excellent position for my needs on slopes. Soon I'll be getting spacers to make the sidehill situations even better than it already is. And when the money comes to be able to put a mini-grapple on the front - there will be another whole grouping of uses.

My point is - sometimes maxing out the unit is needed - and sometimes it gets maxed out because you may not have the right accessory or implement to make it more efficient. But that is the whole challenge of owning a scut that some compact owners don't understand - doing more with efficiency instead of with brute power. The other day I had a casual visitor stop by while I was using my GC. He has a compact tractor and he was telling me how much more I could do with what he has than what I have . . . . . but then he looked at my slopes and he said - "well, you couldn't use a compact so much on these slopes or your lawn . . . but boy you could really do a lot more on the flat areas than that small unit".

To me - that's just plain illogical. Why would someone buy something too big for the areas they have? (but I didn't say that to him) Of course a compact is bigger and stronger - but I don't have the type of land for a compact. So this casual visitor said - "and if you got more land someday - a compact would really give you flexibility".

Now that's just plain silly - why would I buy something for a purpose I don't have LOL. so my response to him was this "well what you say is true - but what if you bought some land like mine instead - you said its nice out here? Oh but then your compact wouldn't work out here would it and you'd have to buy a scut ).

The last thing the casual visitor mentioned was this. "you sure have some slopes and sidehill angles - I'd be a might unlikely to want to be riding around on these . . . you know if you leveled off a bunch of these areas - you could use a compact like mine on it real nice."


Sometimes - the lengths guys go to in order to justify getting the "big boy toy" instead of the unit they need - is just strange.

Araw - just keep using your GC - if its being used - its being beneficial LOL. Bigger is not always better - sometimes its just bigger and nothing better about it (unless of course you had entirely different land). LOL

 

[araw0727]

Hah! I totally get that. My neighbor has an extenda-hoe JD, a big mother. If I need that grunt, he's reaching over the fence with that thing and helping me out. He was actually really kind to help me out with the bigger stuff. If it weren't for him, I'd be considering something construction grade for VERY specialized use case, so I'd go big and very used. Then just resell.

Funny thing is... my neighbor loves the GC. He's been using a JD Jonny Bucket as his go to tractor for work. And he was saying he really wishes he had a 3 pt and something nimble. He called the GC "incredibly smart"


The GC has been tons of fun and I'm humbled by it. Do I wish I had something bigger sometimes? YES! Would I get rid of my GC? Absolutely NOT!

You can find me digging with that ripper and a weak beer (don't wanna get too loaded). Makes the time fly

-A

Araw,

The whole goal of having a tractor is using it. Its sad to see a tractor that just sits because the owner either doesn't have time or doesn't have any projects or activities to do with it.

For me - I've found that very specific additions of certain accessories or implements plays a real big part in the use and comfort of the unit. The weight rack unit I developed for my 3pt. is narrow yet positions weight in just an excellent position for my needs on slopes. Soon I'll be getting spacers to make the sidehill situations even better than it already is. And when the money comes to be able to put a mini-grapple on the front - there will be another whole grouping of uses.

My point is - sometimes maxing out the unit is needed - and sometimes it gets maxed out because you may not have the right accessory or implement to make it more efficient. But that is the whole challenge of owning a scut that some compact owners don't understand - doing more with efficiency instead of with brute power. The other day I had a casual visitor stop by while I was using my GC. He has a compact tractor and he was telling me how much more I could do with what he has than what I have . . . . . but then he looked at my slopes and he said - "well, you couldn't use a compact so much on these slopes or your lawn . . . but boy you could really do a lot more on the flat areas than that small unit".

To me - that's just plain illogical. Why would someone buy something too big for the areas they have? (but I didn't say that to him) Of course a compact is bigger and stronger - but I don't have the type of land for a compact. So this casual visitor said - "and if you got more land someday - a compact would really give you flexibility".

Now that's just plain silly - why would I buy something for a purpose I don't have LOL. so my response to him was this "well what you say is true - but what if you bought some land like mine instead - you said its nice out here? Oh but then your compact wouldn't work out here would it and you'd have to buy a scut ).

The last thing the casual visitor mentioned was this. "you sure have some slopes and sidehill angles - I'd be a might unlikely to want to be riding around on these . . . you know if you leveled off a bunch of these areas - you could use a compact like mine on it real nice."


Sometimes - the lengths guys go to in order to justify getting the "big boy toy" instead of the unit they need - is just strange.

Araw - just keep using your GC - if its being used - its being beneficial LOL. Bigger is not always better - sometimes its just bigger and nothing better about it (unless of course you had entirely different land). LOL

 

[edgarrian]

I initially wanted a compact but I didn't want to spend the money. The 1705 has been great to have as I have used it lots. Over a hundred hours in the first year of ownership. I to have some big rocks id like to place in a landscape bed but it won't lift them. A reason for me to rent a decent size excavator in september. I have some other things i need to do with that to justify my renting one. I sold my wife on the 1705 b/c it was small enough to mow our yard plus all the other capabilities with the loader, tiller, and box blade. I told her if we bought a mower from lowes or home depot that those are generally considered throw aways after some years of ownership. I bought a carry all which my dad is out fitting for me. I just don't have time with my work schedule (2 weeks out of state and 1 week off) to get it done. It was going to be my winter project. So thats awesome he is doing that for me. I saw it when I went to there place to mowed their yard while they were vacationing and it looks real nice.

I have many more ideas for the machine like building a walking trail through our woods. That would be found at the bottom of the list as of now. Im hoping to start that next summer.

My neighbor tried to talk his wife into getting one but she didn't want to spend the money for one. I understand it but they really are handy to have. It beats a wheel barrow any day and twice on sunday. Plus you can hold a beer and steer this where as a wheel barrow you can't

 

[AxleHub]

Edgarian

How big are these rocks? Are they use flat thick rocks or more oval/round in shape? Greater than 28 inches thick? Any idea how heavy they are? Do they have to be taken out of the ground or are they on top of the ground? Do they have to be lifted up more than 3 feet or so?


Here is why I ask these specific questions. A backhoe like the cb65 can lift from low to ground level. It a rock grapple is a fel item and lifts from near ground level up to about 3 to 5 feet. If the rock is more than 700 to 800 pounds. . . Then forks or mini grapple on the fel won't handle it on a GC series (the gc1715 will lift more than the gc1705 . . . Same for backhoe on the 20 's. 10). A mini grapple is half the weight of the bucket and 30% lighter than the forks. . . but in either case it is closer to the pins so offers better leverage lifting advantage.

Not saying the GC could lift or move your rocks. . . but I am saying that with a certain implement it could move certain rocks better than your backhoe or bucket. Just a thought lol