which one, JD 1025R or MF GC1720 or MF 1526 with woods backhoe or NH25s

[bfloyd4445]

All true, but I believe growing up making hay, running old dangerous equipment without many of the safety's of today made people pay attention to what they were doing instead of texting or talking on a cell phone like I see people doing today running equipment..

Many of the stop gaps incorporated into today's equipment save lives no doubt but, they also give people a sense of security they didn't have before to take advantage of equipment. Growing up in the 70's and 80's like I did using equipment everyday, you needed to pay full attention to what you were doing or you could lose you life or take someone elses, simple as that, consequences to your actions had more meaning than it does these days, in my opinion the people growing up in that time period were tougher people, today everyone blames somebody else when they do something foolish, back then they took the blame, suffered the consequences and learned from it and moved on, some of us didn't have the chance to move on, most of us did.

The way I see it is, there are less people farming these days than there was back then and there are more equipment fatalities now then there was then.

chuckle....those pesky safety devices are often a pain but we are struck with them. I got into the habit of not using seat belts because of car accidents in which people died cause of them. Every few years i would get involved assisting people that went over the edge of the canyon below our property for summer range. The road is paved but narrow, steep and winding. People would often be found near the top of the sheer drop off into the canyon ifthey were not belted in but if they were we found them in the twisted wreckage 1500 feet below. That opened my eyes and then in the delta I learned people often drown whenb they drive into the waters because they cannot get out of there belts fast enough.

 

[plowhog]

I have a 4 foot Woods brush hog. I thought this would be my primary implement with the GC1710. It kind of is, but on a seasonal basis. I'm always using the loader for something, and also the backhoe for something a surprising amount of the time. A 1710 TLB with brush hog can do a lot of work.

 

[Phillip w]

If it helps in your decision process, I have some positives about mf. As much as I dislike mf, their little engine and hydrostatic drive seem pretty reliable. Also, the hydraulic s seem pretty quick and reliable. I also like the way the hood opens up. Also, the battery, and radiator area are well thought out. Did not care for the way they designed the locking rear end/posi-track lever. Some engineer really wasn't thinking at all with that mess. Hope this helps.

 

[bfloyd4445]

I have a 4 foot Woods brush hog. I thought this would be my primary implement with the GC1710. It kind of is, but on a seasonal basis. I'm always using the loader for something, and also the backhoe for something a surprising amount of the time. A 1710 TLB with brush hog can do a lot of work.

Sounds like your doing what i will use mine for when i get it

 

[bfloyd4445]

If it helps in your decision process, I have some positives about mf. As much as I dislike mf, their little engine and hydrostatic drive seem pretty reliable. Also, the hydraulic s seem pretty quick and reliable. I also like the way the hood opens up. Also, the battery, and radiator area are well thought out. Did not care for the way they designed the locking rear end/posi-track lever. Some engineer really wasn't thinking at all with that mess. Hope this helps.

Yes, thanks much for your comment. I didn't even look at the rear end lock lever location. Over all it seemed better built than the competition. But i did notice there were no detents in the 3point lift lever and the 1526 has that. Hummm.....I better check that out cause I thoughtthe 1531 is the same as the 1526 except for HP

 

[AxleHub]

Bfloyd,

If you are discussing the GC units. . They don't have detentes on the 3pt control because they are not "position control" - the GC models are quarter inching 3pt units. The 1526 does have detente as you mention and its 3pt is position control.

But correct me if I'm wrong, but the other 1500 series models I don't believe are available as new units nor have they been for a couple years. For a period the 1526 was also canelled in 2015 but MF brought it back to life (just that specific unit) . . Because they had a gap.

My understanding is that the 1526 is the only model in the 1500 series available as new currently.

 

[Phillip w]

One more thing about the little mf: once you get the hood open, anything kind of maintenance or repair you want to do is general a real pain in the a**. This I because everything is so tight and compact. It is like what component you want to work on someone " grabbed the part and built the tractor around it" so to speak. This is not only a mf issue, but just about a everything issue. The older tractors, cars, trucks, etc gave you a lot more room to work on stuff.

 

[atsah]

I have had no problems working on my engine at all, pretty easy actually compared to other things I have worked on.

OP, if you have a need for a backhoe and the GC fits your needs then I say go for it otherwise the 1526 would be my choice, with that in mind I'm sure John Deere has an answer for the 1526, might want to compare, I like the paint, fit and finish of the Deere's better than any tractor honestly, check the prices because the 1526 is not cheap and I'm sure Deere has something close. The other thing is you need to sit on them, the one thing I don't like about the GC is the seat height, it's higher and it gives you a better look when using the loader but I didn't have a problem sitting on the JD2305 with a lower seat and the I liked the loader control on the fender rather than up on the dash..

 

[Phillip w]

I have had no problems working on my engine at all, pretty easy actually compared to other things I have worked on.

OP, if you have a need for a backhoe and the GC fits your needs then I say go for it otherwise the 1526 would be my choice, with that in mind I'm sure John Deere has an answer for the 1526, might want to compare, I like the paint, fit and finish of the Deere's better than any tractor honestly, check the prices because the 1526 is not cheap and I'm sure Deere has something close. The other thing is you need to sit on them, the one thing I don't like about the GC is the seat height, it's higher and it gives you a better look when using the loader but I didn't have a problem sitting on the JD2305 with a lower seat and the I liked the loader control on the fender rather than up on the dash..

Yes, I know jd offers a backhoe for the 1025. I'm studying the situation to see if I think I really want/need one. It sells separate from the tractor, just as you buy any implement from a dealer.

 

[bfloyd4445]

One more thing about the little mf: once you get the hood open, anything kind of maintenance or repair you want to do is general a real pain in the a**. This I because everything is so tight and compact. It is like what component you want to work on someone " grabbed the part and built the tractor around it" so to speak. This is not only a mf issue, but just about a everything issue. The older tractors, cars, trucks, etc gave you a lot more room to work on stuff.

Isn't that typical in todays world? As long as the drain plugs and filter are easy to access I'll be happy. My new jeep has a fifty pound skid plate that covers the front axle and engine that must be removed to access the drain plug! If i would have known that i would not have bought the thing