Any one seen a GC2300 with a backhoe?

Tom_W · May 28, 2003

I am looking for a sub-compact tractor. I understand that the GC2300 is available with a fel and bh. How's it compare to the Kubota BX22? Does anyone here own one or know someone who does?

Anonymous Poster · May 28, 2003

talked to my dealer and he said that it will be a 2310. It has more hp than the orange and will operate at lower rpm. I liked some things, some I didn't. It is about 200.00 higher than the orange. the orange is 14400.00 and the red is 14600.00 with out a mmm. I am really considering one. let me know if you see one, he said his will be in about the 7th of june /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Tom_W · May 29, 2003

The guy I talked to quoted me for a TBL, 700.00 less than bx22 quote I got from another dealer. I saw the spec about the pto vs engine speed. The backhoe digs 6" deeper than the bx and it's lifting and digging capacity is a bit better. Just a bit. I understand it's an Iseki tractor. Are those good? I've heard of them but don't know much about them. The dealer is going to call me when his comes in, in june. If I like it and the bx22's aren't around, maybe I'll get this. Oh the financing is better for the 60 months. 2.5 instead of 2.99 .

I just wish there was some info and a pic on there web site to look at.

Anonymous Poster · May 29, 2003

Tom, from everything I've seen, heard and read, I believe the Iseki tractors are every bit as good as good in terms of quality, performance, and reliability as any on the market. I think the major difference is in the marketing of them and possibly dealer network. Other "colors" seem to be pushed at the consumer more so one tends to believe they are better. If I had the scratch (and could get the CFO to agree), I'd buy the MF in a moment.

Tom_W · May 29, 2003

The more I find out about this tractor, the better I like it. I might as well share what I found.

The dealer found a engineering sheet for the back hoe. Here's a link to a pic of it. If you want the whole pdf file. email me
MF gc2310 backhoe

spb1971 · May 29, 2003

The model is a GC2310 TLB (Tractor Loader Backhoe). Here is a picture of the unit.

zuiko · Jun 24, 2003

So has anybody seen one of these yet? I am looking at the BX22 right now and this sounds interesting. The 2 extra PTO HP would be nice.

JerryG · Jun 24, 2003

I look one over two or three times. They are a nice looking tractor.

jimg · Jun 25, 2003

*If* you can find one. My dealer said he tryed to get just one but hasnt yet been successful. I think theyre in very short supply and selling very well.

Pacesetter300 · Jun 25, 2003

I drove one (without BH) a while back and was very impressed with it. One concern is that I understand (was told, didn't personally notice) the axle/transmission housing is cast aluminum. I would be a bit concerned about that with the added stress of a backhoe. .02 and you might want to give me change back
Pacesetter

JerryG · Jun 25, 2003

That's what my dealer said. He ordered two at the meeting at the first of the year at their introduction to the dealers. He said that he wished that he had ordered a lot more. I guess he didn't because compacts usually don't sell much in my immediate area (not urban at all) but do about 40 away. He has gotten one and still waiting for the other. They are selling before they can get them put together at most dealers from what I understand.

zuiko · Jun 25, 2003

Anybody know if there is any difference between the base 2300 tractor and the 2310? MF doesn't have the 2310 on their site, I have just been going off the 2300 stats.

I got a quote from a dealer (who doesn't have any) for about the same as the Kubota BX22. I have some more dealers to check out though.

jimg · Jun 26, 2003

Hi Jerry,
Right...may dealer couldnt even get a 1423! He said MF underestimated CUT sales by a huge margin and was trying to get some extra production scheduled. In fact he only had 3 or 4 on the lot. Anything else he'd have to transfer from another dealer - if he could. I did test drive a 1428 and it was pretty nice. The dealer (Knoxland Equip in Weare, NH) gives above par service, far better than any other dealer in the area. jimg

dirtydog · Jul 15, 2003

Where did the quote for 14600 come from? I'm in the market for a bx 22 or a gc2310. I just got quoted 16800 for a 2310. I can't imagine talking him down that much. What do guys/gals think?? I'm in the central to southern indiana region frequently. I actually got a quote in the area for 15500 on a bx 22. Doesn't seem like there is enough competition in the area. Anybody know of a dealer in the area that would get down betweene 14000 and 15000 range on either machine. I've got a trailer and I'm willing to travel to KY, IL, OH. The 2310 looks like a really nice machine. The orange is nice too. Thanks.

gsganzer · Jul 15, 2003

I looked at one in the N. Texas area over the weekend. You'd have better luck finding a unicorn. I have to say that I was a little disappointed in the lack of dealer enthusiasm in the model and the quality of the tractor. I contacted 3 dealers, one wouldn't carry them, one lost his to another dealer (MF dealers share inventory) and the third had one, but couldn't answer a single question about it.

The example I saw had numerous manufacturing flaws, mainly cosmetic such as a wrinkle in the fender sheet metal stamping, dimples and waves in the hood (from tack welded stiffeners on the underside) and generally poor fit and finish. It also doesn't have a temp gauge (like BX2200), which I believe is important. The dealer said the MMM deck rides on the wheels, although I believe it's suspended like the BX (example of lack of dealer knowledge). I couldn't run it because it hadn't been prepped.

I tried my best to talk myself into buying it, but the price was greater then the BX and I question dealer support and quality of the new model. I'm a big fan of MF and have a lifetime of hours on a MF1085 and 231. I looked at all of the subcompacts and there is no doubt that Kubota rules the roost. The BX model line is fully evolved, the dealers are knowledgeable and the dealer support is top notch.

I also sent a note to MF, letting them know that they are capable of better. I hope I just found a lemon and they are better then the example I saw. I'll be buying a BX2200 this weekend.

JerryG · Jul 15, 2003

I have looked at more that one GC2300 at more that one dealer and none of them have had any of the problems that you saw. The dealers have all been enthusiastic about the new offering.

gsganzer · Jul 15, 2003

I was biting my tongue to keep from saying anything bad about the new GC2300. But I was a little "crest-fallen" after visiting with the dealers and viewing the tractor. I'm a tremendous fan of MF's and believe they're the only tractor to consider in the larger sizes. I was shocked at the dealer attitude toward the new model. Two of the dealers seemed a little peeved at how MF has launched the new product, and the lack of availability. It certainly didn't help my perception of the machine when the dealer is only luke warm to it. My wife gave up on that model after we visited the first dealer.

If there's any MF dealers visiting this forum, take note. I hate to see MF get a bad wrap on the new model because of lack of dealer enthusiasm. If you're going to market your model against orange, green and blue then you better know how to sell the strong points of your equipment and give the customer something besides a product cut-sheet.

ChemEng · Jul 15, 2003

I just received my GC2300 with MMM and FEL a couple of weeks ago, so I thought that I would weigh in here. I haven't put much time on it due to travel and rain. I mowed with it once and have absolutely no complaints at all - it's the greatest thing I have ever mowed with.

( You'd have better luck finding a unicorn )
Around here that could be said about the BX2200, JD 2210, and the GC2300. They have all been great sellers.

( I have to say that I was a little disappointed in the lack of dealer enthusiasm in the model and the quality of the tractor )
I dealt with 2 different dealers and both were more than enthusiastic about the GC2300.

( The dealer said the MMM deck rides on the wheels, although I believe it's suspended like the BX (example of lack of dealer knowledge). )
The MMM can be suspended like the BX, but unlike the BX is can also be run on the wheels like the B7500 MMM. After reading posts that talk about the BX anti-scalp wheels being ruined after running on the ground too long, I see the GC2300 having the advantage. Its wheels are heavy duty and greasable and are designed to be run on the ground. The front two swivel 360 degrees for this purpose. I would agree that the dealer knowledge is lacking, but I attribute this to the fact that this is a new tractor, the likes of which they have never sold. I was told by the guy that delivered the tractor to run the deck on the wheels. That would make the dial adjustment on the tractor not needed so I questioned why it was on there. I called the salesman, and his opinion was to leave the deck suspended and use the wheels on the deck as anti-scalp wheels. I opted to use the latter method just because my yard is very rough and I thought it would be easier on the deck. I did find that I had to adjust the linkage that lowered the deck, though. I started a thread titled "GC2300 mower height adjustment" that talked about this. The deck was set up so that it was level when it was in the raised position. When I lowered the deck and it hit the stop that was set by the adjustment dial on the floorboard, the the right side would continue to drop a little after the left side stopped. After adjusting the linkage, the deck is unlevel in the opposite direction when it is raised, but goes to level when it is lowered. Again I mowed with it suspended last Friday and the grass or should I say weeds looked great. I asked the salesman about this and he hadn't heard of this before. His comment was does it mow okay? Is it a problem being unlevel when the deck is raised? I guess my answers to his questions would be yes and no. I bothers me a little that it is like that, but I guess it's not a problem.

( but the price was greater then the BX )
I got a better price for the GC2300. $11,900 for the tractor, MMM, FEL delivered 1.5 hrs. drive one way. The financing was also a tad better - 2.5% for 60 months.

I just wanted to give my experiences.

F350Lawman · Jul 15, 2003

I am looking for a sub-compact tractor. I understand that the GC2300 is available with a fel and bh. How's it compare to the Kubota BX22? Does anyone here own one or know someone who does?

Unless I am very wrong I saw one this afternoon here, Soslers I noticed it because it was small like a BX yet had a FEL and BH attached. I am almost positive it was a 23XX

They are in Orange county NY, so they're not too far from CT.