Backhoe Broken Joystick after 10 Hours (GC1725M/CB65)

[coldsteelva]

Then all they really need to do is design/form/create a plastic shield to go over the control levers that will limit them from over-travel just like the gates in a stick shift. Yes, it may slow down hydro operation of the backhoe, but that's better than NO operation because it broke.

 

[jeepcj7]

MF released a bulletin with a new pivot bracket last month. I see some people made their own pivot brackets and are selling those as well over the internet.

 

[Jboyorak]

@Shuey79 and @Jboyorak - digging out a stump for my neighbor this weekend. LH Stick broke AGAIN! (4th time total). I'm afraid it WILL keep happening until MF gets the part redesigned. About to call my dealer (if he hasn't blocked my number yet!). Best of luck with yours. I will update here with any new news.

The dealer replaced mine a month ago, but gave me a bunch of crap on how I was to hard with it and they only will replace it once.

How have you made out with your fix?

 

[Shuey79]

Mines been holding up. I have noticed that the new levers hit the metal handle that is behind it. I guess this acts like a stopper. I had my nephew over who I let play around with the bh and he put it through it's paces without issue. Since nothing really was changed in the design, I'm just waiting for it to break again. So far so good.
In regards to your situation, I'd report that dealers butt to massey. Buying a tractor for that much then having to worry about something so little not be covered under warranty would tick me off.

 

[Seabeelt]

New here, Thanks for all of the insight. I find myself in the same scenario. 75 hrs on the MF tractor with the CB backhoe attachment. I've been very very gentle with the controls and in fact was forewarned about the tendency for them to break. Yet here I am disappointed to say the least that the construction of the control is so skimpy. Looking a the casting, it indeed seems very porous (thus weak). I've contacted the dealer here in MA to come get it for repair (they are coming today). Is there a better solution or part number that will work for doing this myself after the warranty expires? I suspect this will be a re-occurring problem. Thanks in advance
best Michael

 

[Cortland]

Well, the joystick bracket gremlin has laid low another unsuspecting backhoe owner. I was digging stumps yesterday with the CB85 on my 2760 and the dipper/bucket joystick went all floppy.

I'm calling my dealer first thing Monday morning, but in the hopes of getting myself operational I started trying to braze the broken ear back in place until I could get the new part. Only -- and yeah in hindsight this is pretty obvious -- the bracket isn't aluminum it's zinc!

I see somebody mentioned someone making replacement brackets but I can't seem to turn up anything. My backhoe is less than a year old and I'm sure my dealer will get me fixed up, but it'd sure be great to have this part in aluminum or stainless.

 

[WranglerX]

Looks like something any fab shop or semi skilled back year fabricate could fabricate out of steel.......... Maybe somebody with CAD programming and CNC shop could make small fortune making more robust unit the out of something more robust than cast zink.... Even machined aluminums would be better....

 

[GeneV]

Ok guys, so I'm hearing Agco is finally addressing this and supplying dealers with an upgraded bracket to replace this POS that is breaking on everybody. True or nah?

 

[Fixastuff]

There are grades of steel. No confusion there. But I often wonder, how are castings, alloy and other speced? Like throw in two old BBQs and one bycycle? Would this QC be the same across all manufactuers?

From my experience very few/none of the tractor manufacturer s actually make the hydraulic valves/levers themselves. After you work on enough you see the same valves/handles used by many different makes.

 

[isaac338]

Ok guys, so I'm hearing Agco is finally addressing this and supplying dealers with an upgraded bracket to replace this POS that is breaking on everybody. True or nah?

Yep, the new one has a counterbore for the nut instead of machined flats, so it eliminates that stress riser corner at the base of the flats (where they break). I've broken both mine and the dealer sent me a new plate both times. Probably best to just do them both at the same time (mine is a 2019 GC1723E TLB with like 50 hours on it).