Advice requested an trading in new GT2550

[wallace]

Why not look at the Massey Ferguson GC series subcompact?

 

[JSharp]

Well I solved the belt fraying issue. Got on the ground and looked along the pullys front to back and noticed the bottom of the belt was touching the front lift rod/bracket assembly. So I took that off and with an angel grinder notched out 2 gentle 'U' groves for belt clearance.

Like I said it's not a bad tractor it's a bunch of little things. Just say'en I do have a Kubota B1750 btw.

I can't believe everyone here is so acceptable of the new mower decks that are open and become debris collectors. imo these newer decks are intentionally made to be disposable. Most of us here have been buying CC for years because of quality, right?

Personally I service the top of the deck every time I mow with it now...and that's my main complaint with this tractor...it's needs more maintenance than an aircraft.

I read what you had done to solve the belt fraying.

Under the covers of my 2554 deck would pack full of grass in an hour of mowing with the stock blades. The grass wasn't getting in on top where there is no cover, but around the spindles due to the lift of the blades. A full cover would have made it worse since there would have been no exit for debris at all without pulling the covers.

I installed a set of GatorBlades recently and thanks to their reduced lift the top of the deck no longer packs with grass.

I never worried about it much anyway. I blow out the grass as best I can after every use and every 25 hours I pull the deck, remove the covers and clean everything completely before I grease the deck.

I agree that the front PTO idler isn't perfect. It's right out front where things will get tangled in it if you try to use the mower to brush hog. I wasted my initial PTO belt in about 45 hours from large sticks ( and small trees ) jamming in the assembly.

That, and the other things I mentioned along with getting mine hung up on some rough ground were what prompted me to buy a tractor and 3PT brush mower. It just seemed like I was using the Cub far beyond what it was designed for. I still use it occasionally around my windbreak in the prairie tall grass, I'm just careful about what I nose into and keep it away from really rough ground where I'll run out of ground clearance.

One consolation that may or may not make you feel better - My neighbor has a JD 455 4 wheel steer he bought new a few years ago. $10K plus for that mower. He used it to mow some of the tall grass around his place and within the first 40 hours had smoked the high $$ multi sided deck belt.

The JD dealer wouldn't warranty the belt and told him not to use the mower for grass that thick or tall...