What have you done with/to your GC Series 2300, 2400, 1700 Tractor TODAY

[hube2]

I've been unable to do much of anything for a while. 3 weeks ago today I dumped a quart of boiling water on my right foot resulting in a very large 2nd degree burn. Lots of stuff going undone. Lawn looks like a hay field but three is no way I can drive the tractor more than a few minutes at a time, pushing on the go peddle is still a little painful, so it will have to go until spring I guess.

I was finally able to get out and do something today in my slippers because I'm still bandaged and can't get a shoe on my foot yet. Started getting ready for winter. Took the mower deck off and put the FEL on and moved the snow blower onto the driveway. Took me all day to get that much done.

Might try to get the chains on tomorrow while it's still nice out depending on how my foot feels in the morning.

 

[irvingj]

Ouch, sorry to hear that. Makes my failing left knee sound simple.... (A lot slower, but at least I can still manage...mostly...)

 

[Dmacleo]

dang get better soon.

 

[kenmbz]

Wow, heal quickly, feel better.

 

[masseyrider]

I've been unable to do much of anything for a while. 3 weeks ago today I dumped a quart of boiling water on my right foot resulting in a very large 2nd degree burn. Lots of stuff going undone. Lawn looks like a hay field but three is no way I can drive the tractor more than a few minutes at a time, pushing on the go peddle is still a little painful, so it will have to go until spring I guess.

I was finally able to get out and do something today in my slippers because I'm still bandaged and can't get a shoe on my foot yet. Started getting ready for winter. Took the mower deck off and put the FEL on and moved the snow blower onto the driveway. Took me all day to get that much done.

Might try to get the chains on tomorrow while it's still nice out depending on how my foot feels in the morning.

Congratulations on improving.
But aren't you "jumping" the gun dropping the mower? I still expect a few more cuts before the snow is even close.

 

[Dmacleo]

grass only grown about 1 inch here over last few weeks, got few warm days ahead I am going to use to clean/service/store my mower.
morning temps from 27-33 last week.

 

[hube2]

Congratulations on improving.
But aren't you "jumping" the gun dropping the mower? I still expect a few more cuts before the snow is even close.

Yea, my lawn looks like sh**, but it hasn't grown that much in the last 3 weeks. I don't keep my lawn manicured in the first place and usually only mow it every 2 weeks in the summer when it's growing. I'm sure my neighbors think I'm a lazy SOB for the way I keep my lawn, but that's their problem. I don't like spending the money on diesel and I have more important things to do with my time. My lawn is better for the environment, it is a friendly place for native bees and other beneficial bugs and I create less pollution by not running my tractor as much.

As far as jumping the gun, I'd rather be prepared for winter early and do the work when it's nice outside rather than do it in the cold or wait until it's too late. And this year I have to pick very dry and warm days since it will likely be December before I can put on shoes.

I did manage to take care of a few things today. Knocked down the corn in my garden so it does not create a fence to pile up drifting snow. Put the chains on and got the blower all prepped and hooked up. Now I can relax knowing that when the snow arrives I'll be ready for it.

I probably could have waited till my foot was a little more healed, but it was over 60 the last 2 days. Not likely to see a better weekend this fall for working outside.

 

[kenmbz]

We have not had rain since mid-July and not much even back then.
This is the first year I have had to water the lawns.
Tractor has been mostly helping with firewood, didn't even mount the flail.

 

[Dmacleo]

more horse manure to myself and 3 other people.
the 30x60 x14ft high (well higher thats just what pile was stacked at) building is now missing its s*it.
no worries, starting tomorrow morning it starts getting filled again.
I got approx 70 cu yds here, 20 tied up in tarped pile with sunflower/weed residue needing to melt that will not be touched for 2 years (really...I will walk by it and ignore it) and 50 yds (my gawd that pile is huge LOL ) set aside I will rotate every 2 weeks or so and not use until next September. over the next 12 months that will self reduce by at least 35%.
glad I only do this once every 5 years.
for some reason my neighbors say their lots smell like a horse stable

 

[cdaigle430]

Almost ready for winter-just need to put the softcab and edgetammers on.

 

[Dmacleo]

Almost ready for winter-just need to put the softcab and edgetammers on.

I forget now, what do you use for edge tamers?

presently servicing a GC1725MB now.

 

[cdaigle430]

I got them from R2 Manufacturing 6 years ago. well made and they do the trick until the round freezes. They now have poly pads for them.

 

[Dmacleo]

I got them from R2 Manufacturing 6 years ago. well made and they do the trick until the round freezes. They now have poly pads for them.

been looking at those actual ones. they come off easy when covered in ice? normally (last winter here in Maine was an outlier) I often need bucket to move snow banks at end of road so need to bite in.

 

[hube2]

been looking at those actual ones. they come off easy when covered in ice? normally (last winter here in Maine was an outlier) I often need bucket to move snow banks at end of road so need to bite in.

I have them, but only put them on when I think I need them, only takes a couple minutes to put them on or take them off. More often than not I need to bucket for back bladiing and scraping ice and that can't be done with the edge tamers on.
They can be left on when moving piles of snow, but after you do you need to clear the snow out of them. If you don't it could freeze up and make them difficult to take off.

 

[Dmacleo]

I have them, but only put them on when I think I need them, only takes a couple minutes to put them on or take them off. More often than not I need to bucket for back bladiing and scraping ice and that can't be done with the edge tamers on.
They can be left on when moving piles of snow, but after you do you need to clear the snow out of them. If you don't it could freeze up and make them difficult to take off.

thank you, good info.
my little tractor does end of ROAD clearing.....but its a lot easier with the GC2400 and bucket and 54 inch blower than it was with a circa 2000 yr craftsman kohler 22hp garden tractor with ONLY a 42" front blower.

 

[Cycledude]

Bought the 3 piece set of edge tamers for my 72 inch bucket a few years ago , they have worked excellent on my gravel driveway and on the lawn, very easy to install or remove them depending on conditions.

 

[hube2]

thank you, good info.
my little tractor does end of ROAD clearing.....but its a lot easier with the GC2400 and bucket and 54 inch blower than it was with a circa 2000 yr craftsman kohler 22hp garden tractor with ONLY a 42" front blower.

I'm coming from the same place, 5 years ago I had a little JD garden tractor with a 42" blower on it. Much easier now and I have the same setup. Bucket in front, blower in the back. Do I like blowing backwards? Not really, but I need the bucket for knocking down drifts, moving piles and backblading and I don't want to change implements to do it. Plus, if there is ever a problem with the blower that I can't fix immediately I can always do the everything with the bucket, would be slow work, but doable.

Snow was a choir that I hated but now it is almost fun if only I didn't have to get up at 5am to do it.

Right now mine is all ready and sleeping in the shed.

 

[Dmacleo]

I'm coming from the same place, 5 years ago I had a little JD garden tractor with a 42" blower on it. Much easier now and I have the same setup. Bucket in front, blower in the back. Do I like blowing backwards? Not really, but I need the bucket for knocking down drifts, moving piles and backblading and I don't want to change implements to do it. Plus, if there is ever a problem with the blower that I can't fix immediately I can always do the everything with the bucket, would be slow work, but doable.

Snow was a choir that I hated but now it is almost fun if only I didn't have to get up at 5am to do it.

Right now mine is all ready and sleeping in the shed.

yesterday the final 2326 MMM service was completed and tarped for season. service done 2 days ago, just tarping and cement blocks yesterday.
yesterday the woods 48.30 tiller serviced and tarped for season.
yesterday the blizzard 54" blower untarped (that tarp used on woods tiller)and brought up for chute assembly and service.
service will be easy, every time I store an implement I do full service so when called for season initial service VERY easy.

so basically now, once I finish servicing this GC1725MB (obvious owner does not do checks when used such as oil/coolant/hydro levels....but I digress) and my own GC2400 all I have to do on blower is attach chute, hit a few zirks with 2 pumps grease, fire it up and run chain lube over the drive train.
thats 20 minutes of work.
then store it at end of driveway to screw with people that I told not I am doing their driveways anymore
I am incorrigible.

 

[Dmacleo]

GC1725MB service done.

edit: 10-31-24 1445 hrs

fwiw a 2 inch spacer for a 1997 ranger (and other fords used to mention 97 ranger...link) fits a GC series. put a m10x1.5x50 bolt thru back (with loctite) and use a lugnut from a 2013 ford escape to fasten the spacer to the hub. then use the (usually) included open face lugnuts to fasten rim to hub.
so far...1 gc2400, 1 gc1710, 1 gc1723mb, and now 1 gc1725mb.
lot cheaper than massey spacers, they continue to use the lug studs. so with them behind axle plate you got almost 1" of bolt sticking through and only 1 clamp force. my way you have approx 1/4" on back of axle plate and 2 clamping forces for approx 100$ less than approved spacers.

GC1725MB with backhoe service 10-30 to 10-31-2024 426 machine hours.
procedures starting page 91 owners manual. READ THE MANUAL **** LOL
1) engine oil and filter manual page 96 done 10-31-2024 0930 hrs. * see note 5 in findings.
2) hydro fluid manual page 100. service 10-30-2024 1700 hrs. * see note 1 in findings.
3) front axle fluid manual page 103 checked and acceptable 10-31-0204 1015 hrs.
4) engine coolant manual page 105 done 10-31-2024 0815 hrs. * see note 2 in findings.
5) engine belt manual page 107 done 10-31-2024 0815 hrs. * see note 3 in findings.
6) engine air filter manual page 108. done 10-31-2024 0815 hrs. this is last time this filter can be used.
7) fuel filter manual page 110 done 10-31-2024 0845hrs
8) grease chart manual page 95 done on tractor 10-31-2024 1030hrs.
8 A and B loader and backhoe.
8A) bucket done 10-31-2024 1030hrs. 8B) Backhoe done 10-31-2024 1145 hrs.
9) clean air screen for radiator with air. could not find in manual. done 10-31-2024 0815 hrs.
10) service tires and install wheel spacers.

WHEEL SERVICE AND REAR WHEEL SPACER ADDITION. PAGE 121 IN MANUAL, Item 10 in service steps.
REAR TIRES TQ=70FT LBS 20PSI PRESSURE. FRONT TIRES TQ=108FT LBS 22PSI PRESSURE.
Fronts done 10-31-2024 1215.
rears and spacers completed 10-31-2024 1340 hrs. M10x1.5x50 loctited thru rear of hub, spacer lug nuts loctited and attached spacer to hub. wheel placed on used new nuts tqd to 70ft lbs.


* FINDINGS
1) Hydro system was 1/2 qt low-service to 5/8ths on sight glass and added red dye for visibility and leak checking. serviced per manual page 100. 10-30-2024 at 1700 hrs.
2) Coolant at low mark on bottle, serviced according to manual page 105. due to fact I have to service this every time I look at it serviced to approx 1/2 inch high with 50/50 mix. done 10-31-2024 0815 hrs.
3) Alternator/fan belt approx. 1 1/2 inch slack. serviced per manual page 107. done 10-31-2024 0815 hrs.
4) range selector lever stiff due to riding against outside edge of fender. adjusted angle after lever cross brace to free up.
5) oil was just below min mark on dipstick. approx. 3/4 qt low. that is important in system that only holds 3 qts. corrected when oil serviced 10-31-2024 0930 hrs.
6) front hose shield on bucket twisted from a hit, hand bent and is as close as I can get it.

 

[dicktill]

GC1725MB service done.

edit: 10-31-24 1445 hrs

fwiw a 2 inch spacer for a 1997 ranger (and other fords used to mention 97 ranger...link) fits a GC series. put a m10x1.5x50 bolt thru back (with loctite) and use a lugnut from a 2013 ford escape to fasten the spacer to the hub. then use the (usually) included open face lugnuts to fasten rim to hub.
so far...1 gc2400, 1 gc1710, 1 gc1723mb, and now 1 gc1725mb.
lot cheaper than massey spacers, they continue to use the lug studs. so with them behind axle plate you got almost 1" of bolt sticking through and only 1 clamp force. my way you have approx 1/4" on back of axle plate and 2 clamping forces for approx 100$ less than approved spacers.

What Massey approved spacers? My dealer told me none were available and that they would void the warranty!