GC2300 Issues

[cdaigle430]

You should add one, it was the first thing I did.

Hi Rav66,
Thats a great idea-do you have a right up on how to do this?

 

[pl1338]

Well, I thank you Irving. I'm pretty well familiar with engines, but not diesels, and not really tractors. But basics, I can do.

I was out there today trying to check to see if these glow plugs were getting juice and boy howdy did I find a mess! The wiring harness going out to the headlights, the solenoid, three grounds to the block, one of which is a larger unwrapped ground going under the dash & grounded, a sensor on the block, and a sensor on the water temp (looks like) has had a large ground wire fried all the way down inside the wrap. I found the other end of it attached to the frame under the dash (same side of the tractor) along with the previously mentioned ground it was black with a yellow collar. .

The large grounded wire that fried is inside the wire wrap along with other wires and melted all the way down to the oil filter area. I can not find where it might have connected to anything, I can稚 find any plugs missing a connection etc. A lot of the wires are melted together as I take off more and more of the black wrap. I had my wiring schematic out there but that thing mostly confuses me. If you can understand this gibberish Irving, maybe you can help me out here. I am probably going to go pick up the wiring and re-wire all of this crap to insure that no wires are exposed and touching etc. Then I might get to checking the plugs I took some snapshots on my phone, but not sure how to get them here.
I only got so far as the wires go under the frame and floor area and then apparently are connected to another wiring mess because I can稚 just pull this bunch up to work/remove them. I really do not want to take the floor out. I have some areas of various wires that have been exposed etc. so they are definitely going to need replaced. And I don't know that I want to order a whole new wiring harness from MF, they are pricey enough and 46 miles away.

Again, thanks much for the help and if anyone else is an expert or not, please feel free to jump in.

PJ

 

[ray66v]

Hi Rav66,
Thats a great idea-do you have a right up on how to do this?

It was a while ago, I don't remember anything other than:

When you energize the glow plugs, the metal strip, (bus bar), that runs between them has +12 Volts dc on it. If you get a 12 volt light, ground one end, and hook the other to the bus bar, you have a glow plug light.

Ideally, you use an instrument lamp that has the right socket to lock in one of the unused holes in the dash. You can get these where they sell aftermarket gauges. Or, even just buy a cheap gauge that comes with one, if they don't sell them separately.

There are also lots of bright led's now you could use. Keep in mind, unlike a light bulb, they do have polarities you need to observe.

If you cannot find a bulb that has the socket to fit securely in one of the empty holes in the dash, use aluminum foil tape to hold the lamp in the hole from the underside. You won't know the difference.

The lamp is not on long enough to get particularly hot, so there is not much need to worry about how well you connect it to the dash.

 

[mjerrott]

Hello All,

I have a GC 2300 a 2005 I think, I have had a few problems and thought I was just asking too much for the little girl but all we do is mow the yard 2 acers and plow the driveway 675 feet and a bit of dirt from time to time.

But we have had to replace both loader cylinders, starter, seat mounting frame, rewelded the muffler to the flange and the bracker it is attached to.

I am happy to see others are having simular problems and it is not just me beating it up. And come to think of it there is some slack in the steering wheel.

has anyone heard of recalls and repairs by massey on any of these items.

 

[rjmack]

has anyone heard of recalls and repairs by massey on any of these items.

if you power down on your bucket enough to lift the front wheels off the ground, you can check for slop at the tie rod ends, i think they call them ball joints, i have had one replaced on warranty at 235 hrs and the other has some play.

boom and curl cylinders are also in need of seal kits.

i doubt that the parts for either amount to much cost.

 

[mjerrott]

Thanks, I will check the ball joints this spring, my tractor's warrenty is up so parts and labour are on me.

 

[irvingj]

Wow-- sounds like some folks have had a lot of problems with their GCs... I've only had a couple of hydraulic hoses pop and the ground strap break. It may be that by the time mine was made (2007) they took care of a lot of stuff.

pl1338-- did you ever get yours straightened out? Sounds like you had a real mess; sorry, I must have missed this post for a time.

When my ground strap broke, running the starter motor (until the whole thing quit) caused the starter current to find any ground it could; I know it stressed a few wires, but fortunately nothing burned or melted. Think this may have happened to you?

 

[mjerrott]

I know they had made a few changes when the new model was made, they moved the parking brake lever so it was not in front of the foot peddle,amber warning lights to inside the ROPES (i keep knocking mine off when I mow close to the trees) I hope they changed the muffler attachment point.

 

[bakerg]

I know they had made a few changes when the new model was made, they moved the parking brake lever so it was not in front of the foot peddle,amber warning lights to inside the ROPES (i keep knocking mine off when I mow close to the trees) I hope they changed the muffler attachment point.

My 2010 GC2400 had the lights on the outside of the ROP and I moved them inside because of the same tree problems.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/massey-ferguson-owning-operating/202732-moving-marker-lights.html

 

[buckwheat]

Wow-- sounds like some folks have had a lot of problems with their GCs... I've only had a couple of hydraulic hoses pop and the ground strap break. It may be that by the time mine was made (2007) they took care of a lot of stuff.

We all write in when things break, but seldom when they don't. I have a 2004(+/-) that really hasn't had anything go wrong in almost 400 hours. I'm waiting for the hydraulic pump to fail and the loader cylinders leak a little, but it has never been back to a dealer. I wouldn't say I baby it either.

 

[madhatter]

I have a 2006 GC2310 and ( touch wood ) has been very trouble free. The only issues i had was a faulty o-ring that seeped a bit on the backhoe lever, hydraulic fan blade that broke ( my fault when brush mowing, which then added the fan/filter shield ), shortened my rollbar as it is JUST a little to tall to go under my garage door, and my seat tore on the seat bracket ( which still is, as my dealer would not fix it under warranty ) I do regular maintenance ( overkill, as i swapped all my fluids to Amsoil and still change oil as Massey recomends ) I use my tractor, but try not to over use it as although it is an amazing machine, it is a sub-compact and it does have limits on what it can do. I have used the advice from other on here as well, such as not grabbing the steering wheel to get on and off, cleaning my hydrolic hose connections when i connect them, EASE the rear diff when needed, try not to use 4x4 when on solid ground and when i do engage, pretty much stop before i do, etc.... One complaint i have.... some days i wish it was just a little bigger, but if it was, then it would be too big ! :confused2:

Maybe i got a good one, maybe by 2006 they got the major issues fixed. But overall, after 5 years of owning, i still can't wipe the smile off my face when i use it !!! :thumbsup:

 

[MF RED in MT]

You should add one, it was the first thing I did.

Thats a super simple upgrade and I am going to add a light to indicate when the glow plugs are engerized, :thumbsup:.
This would be a great item to add to the "All newbies, FAQ:" or reference the glowplug upgrade light add on to this thread and post #'s, .
It sure will be nice not to guess how far to turn the key to activate the glow plugs, :cool2:. KC

 

[ray66v]

Thats a super simple upgrade and I am going to add a light to indicate when the glow plugs are engerized, :thumbsup:.
This would be a great item to add to the "All newbies, FAQ:" or reference the glowplug upgrade light add on to this thread and post #'s, .
It sure will be nice not to guess how far to turn the key to activate the glow plugs, :cool2:. KC

Thanks.

I did not realize so many had the same thought, and did not realize it was simple for them to add. Or, I would have mentioned it sooner.

Perhaps we need a GC upgrades thread? :thumbsup:

 

[MF RED in MT]

Thanks.

I did not realize so many had the same thought, and did not realize it was simple for them to add. Or, I would have mentioned it sooner.

Perhaps we need a GC upgrades thread? :thumbsup:

Kudos to ray66v, :drink:. Smart thinking about starting the "GC upgrades thread". I went to Napa today and purchased one of these little round red lights that slips into a 1/2" diameter hole that I drilled near the emergency flasher switch, . This is by far the greatest simple upgrade that I have done! Now I do not have to guess how far to turn the key for the glowplugs, Thanks, :thumbsup:. KC

 

[mjerrott]

MF GC2300-exhaust wed problems.

I have posted earlier about the welds on my exhaust flange to the manifold, and also had the grey (others have a black) bracket that supports the muffler and airbreather it has cracked as well close to the muffler but not at a weld.

I sopke with the dealer and they were quite shy about it but the salesman did talk to the shop forman and they have had a few they have fixed. There was never a warrenty recall. What thay have done was install a CG 2400 muffler. Looking at the exploded diagrams on line the 2300 and 2400 seem to be simular in their mounting.

Has anyone seen or preformed any mods to take the stress off of the muffler, I think the grey or black bracket is just a point of vibration accross the engine to the muffler and airfilter and the only two bolts holding it in place go through the manifold.

I would hate to buy new OEM parts just to see the same thing happen again.

As well I seem to be having starter relay problems when I have been plowing or mowing for a while. I shut off the tractor and it will not start until it sits for a while and cools off?

I would appreciate any help.

 

[ray66v]

MF GC2300-exhaust wed problems.

I have posted earlier about the welds on my exhaust flange to the manifold, and also had the grey (others have a black) bracket that supports the muffler and airbreather it has cracked as well close to the muffler but not at a weld.

I sopke with the dealer and they were quite shy about it but the salesman did talk to the shop forman and they have had a few they have fixed. There was never a warrenty recall. What thay have done was install a CG 2400 muffler. Looking at the exploded diagrams on line the 2300 and 2400 seem to be simular in their mounting.

Has anyone seen or preformed any mods to take the stress off of the muffler, I think the grey or black bracket is just a point of vibration accross the engine to the muffler and airfilter and the only two bolts holding it in place go through the manifold.

I would hate to buy new OEM parts just to see the same thing happen again.

As well I seem to be having starter relay problems when I have been plowing or mowing for a while. I shut off the tractor and it will not start until it sits for a while and cools off?

I would appreciate any help.

Some of the mufflers on the early models had issues. They were replaced with later model mufflers under warranty.

I would weld the areas that have cracked, before spending money to replace it.

As far as the starting problem goes, I would jump the starter next time it won't crank. If the starter cranks, I probably would replace the relay. If it doesn't, I would look at the starter.

Also, have you checked the ground strap between the engine and the frame?

 

[mjerrott]

Some of the mufflers on the early models had issues. They were replaced with later model mufflers under warranty.

I would weld the areas that have cracked, before spending money to replace it.

As far as the starting problem goes, I would jump the starter next time it won't crank. If the starter cranks, I probably would replace the relay. If it doesn't, I would look at the starter.

Also, have you checked the ground strap between the engine and the frame?

I have welded them twice, and now the bracket is rubbing on the valve cover caps. The starter is fine, the ground strap is is intact and corrison free.

thanks for the help

 

[allworkandnoplay]

I've the 2006 gc2300. I had a friend reweld but you can't get the same angle as the factory. Their's the big problem. Wish the Mfg would have the curtesy to notify the customer about the defect!! The diesal shakes to much, putting a lot of stress on the part.
Has anyone had good luck with their dealer or the factory?
a.w.a.n.p.

 

[ray66v]

I've the 2006 gc2300. I had a friend reweld but you can't get the same angle as the factory. Their's the big problem. Wish the Mfg would have the curtesy to notify the customer about the defect!! The diesal shakes to much, putting a lot of stress on the part.
Has anyone had good luck with their dealer or the factory?
a.w.a.n.p.

No, they will not notify you of everything they did that may, or may not fail. I don't know of anyone who does.

As far as these machines go MF has only addressed problems, (including known ones), after it fails. Hoping like every other company, that it happens after your warranty expires. Once it's out of warranty, you may get some relief, but probably not a no cost repair, unless your dealer wants to eat some, or all of it for you.

You certainly could try asking the dealer to put in a request to MF for a new muffler, and see if they will give you one.

 

[jlsmith]

As far as these machines go MF has only addressed problems, (including known ones), after it fails. Hoping like every other company, that it happens after your warranty expires. Once it's out of warranty, you may get some relief, but probably not a no cost repair, unless your dealer wants to eat some, or all of it for you.

Thats not wright. I know of several times MF found a problem, notified the customer and fixed the problem under warranty. Ive even seen a few cases when they did it when the tractor was out of warranty.