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

[AxleHub]

Greetings,

Today is day one of an investment in my first diesel tractor . . Its red and running.

For those who have had many past tractors . . its just another model . . just an improvement in a continuing category of improving sub compacts.

But to someone who wanted and waited for 9 years like me . . this is a tool of my future.

You've seen them in real life or brochures . . but maybe the mower deck will surprise you. I know the dealer had never seen one before. Its a Massey mulching deck 54".

No I don't mean it has mulching ability . . it is a unique mulching deck. It has 6 mower blades. It has no right ejection port. Its shallower than a "finish" deck and smaller in appearance than any of the other massey decks. But boy does it mulch and cut grass.

I'll have a few pictures this weekend.

Already after 45 minutes on the unit I had the tools out and got an additional 2 inches of leg room . . really good for those with long legs or sore knees. And another hour running and I was greasing zerks. And then back running again.

I'd consider the unit quiet compared to a riding lawn mower. And surprisingly the word "nimble" seems to apply. It rides smooth and sure like a highway cruiser motorcycle . . but maneuvers like a spoet motorcycle.

More later.

"Boys with their toys" . . or "men at work" ? Maybe a little of each.

 

[zudnik]

After all of this and yet no pics? :bat:

Congrats. Out of curiousity, why the 1715 instead of the 1705?

 

[AxleHub]

After all of this and yet no pics? :bat:

Congrats. Out of curiousity, why the 1715 instead of the 1705?

I took quite a number of pics today . . but I have to crop and resolution resize so they don't get too big.

Why the gc1715 instead of the gc1705?

a. Much better seat as far as durability and comfort.

b. 2.5 more hp . . so if I do some 3 pt. hitch activity I have some room to grow.

c. Armoured directionals and a work light. I'll also be adding some led
lighting front and rear for broad lighting using same wiring paths.

d. Heavy duty battery.

Now had there been thousands separating the 2 models it might have been different . . but I didn't want to be short sighted on something I'll have for years to come.

 

[madhatter]

You've seen them in real life or brochures . . but maybe the mower deck will surprise you. I know the dealer had never seen one before. Its a Massey mulching deck 54".

No I don't mean it has mulching ability . . it is a unique mulching deck. It has 6 mower blades. It has no right ejection port. Its shallower than a "finish" deck and smaller in appearance than any of the other massey decks. But boy does it mulch and cut grass.

I have had my 2315 Mulching deck since my first GC2310 back in 2006. Now I have a GC1710 and it fits perfect. I think I am the only one around my area that has one, as my new dealer was confused when I went to buy new blades for it as they had never sold one. It works great, wouldn't trade it for anything ! I have tried to find Gator blades that would fit but no luck.... so take care of your blades, they are not cheap from Massey !

 

[AxleHub]

I have had my 2315 Mulching deck since my first GC2310 back in 2006. Now I have a GC1710 and it fits perfect. I think I am the only one around my area that has one, as my new dealer was confused when I went to buy new blades for it as they had never sold one. It works great, wouldn't trade it for anything ! I have tried to find Gator blades that would fit but no luck.... so take care of your blades, they are not cheap from Massey !

Well that's what I was wondering also. Obviously with only 24 hours old . . I haven't taken them off yet

do they have a unique center hole design?

I was expecting them to be a "high and low arrangement" but they are right next to each other in an X . Well betw
een the 2 of us . . We're bound to run into a #3 lol . . or maybe an after market alternative to oem.

Keep in touch

One other question . . I was thinking of spraying a "no cling" deck spray on the whole underside . . or using a car wax . . either one to keep the deck really smooth and "grass slippery". Have you ever tried anything like that?

 

[madhatter]

I thought it would have been a different blade design as well. The smaller blades actually never lose their edge, so not sure how effective they are. Athough unless you are cutting very tall grass, there is next to zero grass left behind. I have been looking for years for the blades, Gater does not make blades for Massey's standard deck, let a lone the mulch deck so I don't think it will happen as there are very very few of these decks around. As far as spraying the underside, I never bothered. If you try let it, let me know, maybe I will someday.

 

[Citydude]

Congrats!

 

[Pixguy]

Sounds like a great system and even though I don't need a mower deck, I now want one!

 

[AxleHub]

in one way . . I wish I could snowblow with the new unit for an excuse to use it in the winter. But as some may recall . . there is a method to my process and that method is:

1. Get the GC1715
2. Get a unique capability deck and a DL95 fel.
3. Get as many uses for the fel . . which includes forks, a snow blade, and quick attach of bucket and maybe a small sized grapple.
4. Get a near new used secondary lawn mower in 25 hp (gas) that the wife feels comfortable with that is a zero turn Tractor and get a brand new snowblower on that for winter and great grass cutting in summer.
5. Concept is to have full backup for lawn and snow but in different forms . . and the zero turn tractor and snowblower combination cost considerably less than a snowblower for the GC1715 but is more wife friendly.

Why this whole concept? Both units ready whether snow is light or heavy or drifting deep (blade and bucket vs. blower) and mulching/cutting vs trimming/cutting.

 

[AxleHub]

Greetings,

Pictures of the new arrival

 

[AxleHub]

This picture shows the unique mulching deck. Note: one side looks EXACTLY like the other side . . no grass exhaust area on side.

 

[zudnik]

Nice mowing stripes. Congrats.

 

[AxleHub]

I thought it would have been a different blade design as well. The smaller blades actually never lose their edge, so not sure how effective they are. Athough unless you are cutting very tall grass, there is next to zero grass left behind. I have been looking for years for the blades, Gater does not make blades for Massey's standard deck, let a lone the mulch deck so I don't think it will happen as there are very very few of these decks around. As far as spraying the underside, I never bothered. If you try let it, let me know, maybe I will someday.

Hey madhatter,

I got my 2315 mulching deck off today even though the mower manual they supplued me with is for a 60 inch ride on deck lol.

Anyway . . . Now I see the blades and the baffling. I'm really surprised that the blades are right at the bottom of the deck. What you see on the outside is going to be the grass height . . No need to guess.

Anyway . . In just 5 hours of cutting I already had some grass buildup starting to form . . So I flupped the deck over and cleaned the bottom all up and then coated it with that grass repeling spray to keep it cleaner (blades and rollers/wheels too).

Its very slick and dries to an almost slippery smoothness. I was also very surprised to ser this deck has 2 substatial hidden rear rollers and a total of 11 grease zerks if you count the pto coupler.

 

[madhatter]

Yes it is very well built for sure. I could never figure out why they have that setup for blades. I tried reversing the blades ( short on the bottom ) but it made no difference. You will find the long blade gets dull, but the shirt blade never loses it's edge, so not sure if it does much. I may have to try the spray. Over all I love the deck, just have to go over the grass a couple times if it is taller as it leaves a grass trail at times....

 

[AxleHub]

Yes it is very well built for sure. I could never figure out why they have that setup for blades. I tried reversing the blades ( short on the bottom ) but it made no difference. You will find the long blade gets dull, but the shirt blade never loses it's edge, so not sure if it does much. I may have to try the spray. Over all I love the deck, just have to go over the grass a couple times if it is taller as it leaves a grass trail at times....

Greetings madhatter

Well one thing for sure . . I'm going to make a couple jig n fixture items to make taking the deck on and off alot easier.

I believe the small blade concept is to accomplish 2 things:

1. re-cut the already cut blades that lift and are funneled inward by deck design and then drop to the center. It makes perfect sense they stay sharp because the larger blades are lower and doing the bulk of the original cutting plus hitting any branches/dirt/objects.

2. There is less surface speed in the small blades but they serve to balance the whole deck like a gyro and give a smoother level platform for the cut. Note those hidden rollers not seen from the outside do not alter the deck baffling as is true of no outlet for cut grass other than being forced downward. Unlike any normal deck this one is like 3 totally separated decks running in parallel.

Each sepatate deck channel lifts everything it comes over . . Then forces it "centered" and downward for recut in that same separate channel.

At first I thought it would be a low blade then a couple inches up a second blade. But now I realize that would create "twist " pattern movement and the deck would not be so smooth, highly balanced and stable as it is.

Seeing how well it works . . I'm really surprised more people don't want that specific design. Its not for the person who wants to cut the grass once every 15 or 20 days . . . but for normal lawns . . Its dual direction cutting with no chutes and no grass collection or vibration issues.

 

[OvRnOuT]

I really like your machine Axle. Congrats on the purchase.

What did you do to the seat to gain another two inches?

 

[AxleHub]

I really like your machine Axle. Congrats on the purchase.

What did you do to the seat to gain another two inches?

The seat on a GC1715 has a series of notch catches . . Lift the lever and slide the seat forward or reverse to a notch catch. Pretty typical design for cars or riders and tractors. But I looked at the setup because I wanted to straighten my leg further and nake it easier on my knee.

There is a stop bracket that securely keeps the seat from running off the track or getting out of alignment with the sensors. I took it off and reversed it which gave me another notch catch distance back. I then secured the stop bracket in the reversed position. All the parts still there . . Alignment is perfect and seat is notch catched and solid but with almost 2 more inches of leg room.

Next up is installing some additional led low wattage high lumen lighting. I also plan to build a couple jig n fixture items to make removing and installing the mmm deck much easier and faster. Then some wheel spacers. Then the list gets several items longer with some inventing or repurposing ideas.

 

[OvRnOuT]

I flipped the stop bracket around yesterday and it worked like a charm. Thanks again Axle.

 

[AxleHub]

I flipped the stop bracket around yesterday and it worked like a charm. Thanks again Axle.

Glad to hear you now have more legroom choices. It sure made a difference for me

 

[AxleHub]

I just finished mowing a few ttl acres fron 2 yards. I realize all equipment has breakdowns . . but currently mine has none and I enjoy the few hours I get to have running it till fall arrives.

I'm particularly impressed with several things in my last 5 hours of cutting during heat conditions:

1. My radiator temp gauge never moves above 1/4 on the temp scale. Given the temperatures outside and the continuous hours of operation . . . I'm surprised.

2. The Massey front flow air design keeps the heated engine air off me as well as the dust/dirt.

3. The "diff" control. You get stuck in a washout area etc. Step down on the control and roll right on out . . No strain . . No rocking. Used it several times today and each time it was flawless.

4. The engine and mmm deck just do not bog down. Not even on 8 to 10 inch grass areas.

5. The hidden deck rollers along with the 5 viewable deck rollers keep the deck from scalping even on very uneven and crown areas.

A lot of good specs and fancy brochures is fine. . . but its the things you didn't plan would be so useful and so operationally pleasing . . That makes the difference.

Some day . . there WILL be a problem . .
but once again today . . . Its not a today problem.