Tips/Suggestions for 50 hr service on GC2610?

ScottAW · Jul 7, 2009

Going to do the 50-hour service myself, just curious if anyone here who has already done this service has any tips or suggestions? I figured I will need to remove the backhoe to make servicing the hydraulic fluid easier. Also read here that the Amsoil synthetics seem to be the way to go for the engine oil, hydraulic oil, and the gear lube for the front axle.

Any tips on draining/filling the front axle? How aboue the main hydraulics? Come to think of it, is there a fill port for the engine oil? I know I've seen the drain, filter, and dip stick locations on the engine, but can't recall if there is an actual fill port. LOL!

Thanks in advance!

amkfken · Jul 7, 2009

Read your Operators Manual!!

irvingj · Jul 8, 2009

Ditto amkfken- it's all in there!

Some tips:

1. Removal of BH WILL make it easier, especially being able to see sight glass; you'll probably still want a flexible-neck funnel for filling.

2. You'll need to remove one of the rear tires to get the hydraulic strainer out- have a jack & torque wrench ready.

3. You'll need either a large drain pan or be prepared to empty a normal-sized pan several times (after temporarily replacing plug) when draining the transmission- there's a lot of fluid in there.

4. If you get a 5-gallon pail of hydaulic fluid, it'll be a lot easier if you first transfer that to a one-gallon container(s) for actual lifting & pouring to fill.

5. Front axle's no problem- just remember there are TWO drains.

6. After replacing hyd. fluid, it takes a few minutes of running to get the fluid pumped around & pressure up to snuff in the system; hydraulic stuff won't work immediately, just be patient.

7. Changing oil in the engine is no different than doing it in any other vehicle engine- diesel oil's just blacker! (Disposable mechanics' gloves are not a bad idea.)

8. Who says homework stops when you "finish" school? Study that owner's manual!

ray66v · Jul 8, 2009

I will add:

Make sure there are still no missed grease fittings.

Check the entire length of all hoses, (including the radiator hoses), and make sure that they are not rubbing on anything. Sometimes they get routed differently than they were designed too. This can result in wear points, and sudden failure.

ScottAW · Jul 8, 2009

amkfken said:
Read your Operators Manual!!

LOL - I did that the first weekend I owned the tractor!

irvingj & ray66v - This is what I was looking for. Tips/tricks from those who have owned this model tractor for a while and seen some of the things to keep an eye out for.

Grew up on my folks farm with a handful of Allis Chalmers, International, and John Deere tractors and equipment, so this is not new for me. We never had Masseys, and I was curious if there were any issues to be on the look out for on the GC2610. I already noticed some of the hoses on the backhoe need to have some abrasion mesh added, the bends are wrapped too tight around metal edges. Also noticed the loader hoses are not the best layout design either, and the hoses rub near the base of the cylinder for the bucket dump.

Oh, and one of my grease fittings on the backhoe will not take grease. Pulled the zerk out to make sure the fitting was working...it was. So it's either not drilled through, or the pin does not have any relief feature on it to allow the grease to enter. Unfortunately, this grease fitting is the toughest one on the backhoe - It's on the rod end of the cylinder for the main boom, tucked about 6-8" down in the channel of the structure for the main boom. Would have been nice if they provided an access hole closer to the zerk fitting rather than asking one to get their hand down in the tight spot.

ray66v · Jul 8, 2009

ScottAW said:
Oh, and one of my grease fittings on the backhoe will not take grease.

I assume you cleaned the paint off of it. This is the most common reason they won't take grease.

Most of us can help you based on recent experience, with similar tractors. As far as the 2610 goes, congratulations

, you volunteered to be the ginea pig. It's new, so there aren't enough people out there yet, to really give you the low down. You will have to man that position for the next guys.

ScottAW · Jul 8, 2009

Oh, there were a few 'red' grease fittings that had to be tweaked.

I do love the 2610 so far. I'm completely impressed with the capabilities it has for such a small tractor frame. It is my first hydrostatic drive though, so that took some getting used to. I kept pushing the 'clutch' in and developed a sore neck for some reason....

ray66v said:
I assume you cleaned the paint off of it. This is the most common reason they won't take grease.

Most of us can help you based on recent experience, with similar tractors. As far as the 2610 goes, congratulations , you volunteered to be the ginea pig. It's new, so there aren't enough people out there yet, to really give you the low down. You will have to man that position for the next guys.

irvingj · Jul 9, 2009

Yes, Scott- congrats on the 2610- I'm really envious of your "dashboard", WITH temp AND lights AND all covered with one piece of window....

I also had a few fittings that were difficult to get grease into, but it sounds like you know what you're doing. I think I've now gotten all the fittings to accept grease- some I replaced with angled fittings to make it a bit easier to get on to. Perhaps the clearances are just a bit tight on a new tractor?

And yes, there were some that appeared to be totally clean-- i.e., they never got hit at the factory....

ray66 brought up a very good point- check those hoses. I re-routed one, added some protection to another, and I believe there was a thread here concerning an abrasion point on a new 2610's backhoe, too-- the hose wasn't given enough slack further up to allow flexing at the boom joint, as I recall. Tore a hole & was replaced by dealer. You might want to search for that.