Comparison I purchased a Massey Ferguson GC1720 - here's why

[ThirdMan]

1. The GC units are forward cooled engine compartments. This keeps both operator and engine area cleaner than traditional styles. In addition it doesn't push heat on the operator.
AxleHub

By forward cooled you are talking about the air intake by the operators feet with engine exhaust going out the front near the FEL?

 

[zski128]

By forward cooled you are talking about the air intake by the operators feet with engine exhaust going out the front near the FEL?

Exactly, great in the summer, not so great in the winter

 

[mile9c1]

The GC 1700's have position control on the 3-point hitch? I don't see this advertised on their website.

 

[AxleHub]

By forward cooled you are talking about the air intake by the operators feet with engine exhaust going out the front near the FEL?

That is correct. It means cleaner air coming in and heat going out the front as well. Now in winter heat doesn't come at you but I still prefer it greatly because in winter I don't want air blowing on me any more than nature provides either. Also if you are sponsoring in winter, the engine area stays drier with forward cooling.

But to be clear. . Massey GC units, kubota bx units and yanmar sc SCUT use the same forward flow cooling concept and engines stay much cleaner.

 

[frugalangler]

The FEL (LL1100) on my MT125 has a float position by moving the stick all the way up and it pops into that position. The manual says almost nothing about it though.
View attachment 513795

The LB1107 manual has this to say about the float position. I didn't even know it had this till I search the manual.
View attachment 513797

Why was that such an important option? Do you just use both for flattening out a soft surface?

The LS MT125 I tested didn't have FEL float, but after I made my decision I was at a LS dealer for something else, and looked at what must have been a more recent unit as it did have FEL float. Still, other things outweighed choosing the LS. I suspect either some units got a non-float valve or they changed the build spec.

Yes, float works well to spread material w/ the FEL, and to re-fill a trench or hole w/ boom float on the BH.

Frugalangler,

The only thing in your post that I think as incorrect is that the GC1700s do not have position control on their 3pt . . . they have quarter inching.

And a couple things you didn't mention are:

1. The GC units are forward cooled engine compartments. This keeps both operator and engine area cleaner than traditional styles. In addition it doesn't push heat on the operator.

2. Also the GC handling and geometry is better suited for hills, slopes and turning radius manueveraility. . at least of any competitors I test drove

3. There are lots of good products out there to compete with. However I'm not aware of any offering of insurance coverage by competitors that is equal to the Massey program when it comes to cost and coverage combined.

I'd say you did very well.

AxleHub

argh!!! reading my comparison sheet and read from the wrong column, wasn't thinking which one I was writing about. I deleted the error in the original post.

And, yea, the 3 other points you mentioned are important.
I don't think the GC is way far above for stability, there are some differences in the machines, but it's really about average as far as that goes. The TYM and Branson are scary narrow for their height and weight, the Mahindras are in my opinion spec wise very stable. But it's all about the feel also.
If by insurance you mean warranty, theirs is good, but not the best in the industry, if you mean supplemental insurance/warranty packages, I don't usually go with those so didn't even put them in my comparison data.
As far as reverse air flow, that wasn't one of the things I counted as important comparison data, yes it's a nice design feature, but all in all I didn't see it as something to base a decision on.

I didn't mention some of that as I was way long on the post already.

Hope that makes sense, I wasn't trying to write an advertisement, just my rational of why I chose the GC.

 

[ThirdMan]

The LS MT125 I tested didn't have FEL float, but after I made my decision I was at a LS dealer for something else, and looked at what must have been a more recent unit as it did have FEL float. Still, other things outweighed choosing the LS. I suspect either some units got a non-float valve or they changed the build spec.

That is strange about the float. Based on my serial number and others I have seen online, I suspect mine is one of the first 400 made (only the last three digits were different).

One thing about the FEL is that the manual and brochure state that the lift capacity at the pins is 1,005 lbs. There was a lower number of 886 lbs. In some places online.

 

[nikerret]

This thread continues to show prices and dealer support are so regional its hard to recommend a unit to someone, not close to you.


Let's see some pictures.

 

[frugalangler]

Let's see some pictures.

here's a quick one after I got home:

 

[atsah]

Congrats, I love my little tractor as will you yours..

 

[ThirdMan]

here's a quick one after I got home:
View attachment 513868

The CB65 is a serious backhoe and looks it. I didn't realize it had about 400 lbs. more breakout force than comparable units.