New here

[SteveM70]

Hi all, I have had a Massey Ferguson GC1720 for a couple of months now and have put 104 hours on it, mostly digging up stumps and moving dirt/rocks. My previous tractor was a Kubota L3400 that I used to clear a couple acres of woods and sold 3 years ago. From lurking here I see the general consensus is "weight is your friend." Well, in general I agree with that but since I live on a rocky hillside (15 to 30 degree sloped) once I got somewhat of a yard established the L series Kubotas weight became a nuisance. So my situation is unique in that I actually ended up downsizing to a scut.

So far there's not a huge amount of negatives to harp on. The seat could be better, I'm still not sold on the merits of hydrostatic but my chief complaint would have to be it just doesn't go up hill safely with the hoe on. Sure, I can back up hill or load the bucket but since all my work is basically being done on a hillside there are times when neither is a good option.

Now for the good news. So far, the first 104 hours have been trouble free and I firmly believe the best warranty is one you never use so that's a big plus. The backhoe and loader are both stouter than I expected. I have pushed both to do things that I wouldn't have thought possible with the little tractor. So far it has met and surpassed my goal of helping me get things done without tearing up to much of what's already been done!

Ok I'm done for now again, hello from WV

 

[irvingj]

Similar observations from a lot of folks who've purchased GCs; they're great little machines, quite a bit heavier & stronger, IMO, than the Kubota BX- series SCUTs (especially the BH).

Mine's an older one, the last of the 2300 series, just before the 2400 series came out. One thing I've done, as you're 100% correct on going upslope with the backhoe on: When I really prefer to go up in FORWARD as opposed to backing up, some heavy objects in the FEL can make a huge difference, but I see you've tried that; I use three heavy 16" long 25" dia. log sections. My tires are not filled, but some people feel that also helps a lot. I know I eventually removed my BH when snowblowing (front-mount, obviously), as I had pretty much zero steering control going uphill.

But you're right, going uphill with the BH on can be interesting.

Welcome to the forum!

 

[davesl708]

Hi. Welcome.

 

[SteveM70]

Thanks irvingj and davesl708!

 

[Wagtail]

G'day Mate and welcome to TBN from Downunder.

Enjoy the site.

 

[AxleHub]

!

Welcome. You should be able to offer some unique viewpoints to the forum as it sounds like you're coming to the gc1700 series from a diffeent direction than many of us lol.

What distance are you covering going frpm top to bottom of your slopes ? And those slopes are lawn or padyure or ????

Again welcome

 

[SteveM70]

AxleHub, distance varies. In the yard that I have cleared distance up slopes can be from 50' to 100 yards guesstimate. I live at the bottom of a mountain so the trails that I have cut up the mountain are on an incline there whole distance.

The slopes are not pasture but this is a rough, rocky work in progress. For two years after we moved in I cut grass with a weed eater. Gradually clearing by hand with a Stihl 029 and and ATV until I graduated to a walk behind weed eater for a season. Then tore up several push mowers, got the Kubota and started making some real progress. Now we have approximately two acres cleared and can mow most of it with a riding mower.

After the major rock moving and stump digging was done I sold the Kubota but realized I still needed a tractor in a bad way but one a little more maneuverable with a lighter foot print. The GC has fit in real well although I'm starting to regret not getting a mower deck with it.

Anyone know what size rear wheel spacers can be used with a deck?

 

[AxleHub]

AxleHub, distance varies. In the yard that I have cleared distance up slopes can be from 50' to 100 yards guesstimate. I live at the bottom of a mountain so the trails that I have cut up the mountain are on an incline there whole distance.

The slopes are not pasture but this is a rough, rocky work in progress. For two years after we moved in I cut grass with a weed eater. Gradually clearing by hand with a Stihl 029 and and ATV until I graduated to a walk behind weed eater for a season. Then tore up several push mowers, got the Kubota and started making some real progress. Now we have approximately two acres cleared and can mow most of it with a riding mower.

After the major rock moving and stump digging was done I sold the Kubota but realized I still needed a tractor in a bad way but one a little more maneuverable with a lighter foot print. The GC has fit in real well although I'm starting to regret not getting a mower deck with it.

Anyone know what size rear wheel spacers can be used with a deck?

Regarding spacers . . . Bro tek offers quite a few sizes dor the gc1700s. Under "normal" deck designs . . They claim a 1.5 inch is about it for a 54 inch mmm and a 60 inch deck can do most sizes.

One option you may want to consider if thinking of a mmm . . is something Massey offers that other brands don't have. Its a 54 inch mulcher. Well all brands offer mulching attachments or something but this is far different. Its 6 blades (3 spindles with 2 blades per spindle). There is no exhaust chute. And a 54 inch cut means the full width of the deck is only about 55 inches. It really works well. The GC1700s also have 3 other deck choices.

Do you have any erosion issues with your lawn because of steepness or tire wear or too much rock and not enough dirt?

 

[SteveM70]

Thanks for the deck info! I really like the sounds of a true mulching deck but on the other hand, the ability to go with thicker spacers with the 60" deck may be the deciding factor. Also I have a couple long ditch lines that the wider deck could reach out over better.

I do have issues with erosion and water in general. The majority of them have been cleared up now though. Since my original post I have put 7 more hours on the tractor hauling dirt and filling some of the ruts created by water. If I can get some grass growing in these areas before the next big rain it will stay. Otherwise all my work will literally be washed away.

 

[Fiziksgeek]

I've never had a problem going up hill with eh backhoe on...which I guess means my "hills" are like your hills! Though I did leave the back hoe on with just my front blower this winter. That was scary. A sneeze was just about enough to bring the front wheels off the ground. I won't repeat that next winter!

I wonder if you can add some weight to the front of the tractor. If you remove the brush guard, would there be enough room between the loader and the frame to add some weights?