Comparing new Massey 1526 to a small Massey 1700

Paystar · Mar 19, 2018

I'd be happy if they just made a nice integrated FEL joystick on the 1526 like Kubota and others have.

I don't care for the stanchion mounted control. And like it has been said here.....they need a backhoe option for it.

AxleHub · Mar 19, 2018

Rock crawler,

Just like most every tractor maker out there, Massey made a couple miscalculations when they were switching out a big part of their lineups to the gc1700s and the 1700 cuts. That error was to have a small frame cut Iseki product ready to go in 2013.

They had the GC line locked down and a large quantity of choices in the 1700 mid frames for economy and premium. They dropped the 1500 series but the 1 true small frame tier 4 Iseki (1526) they brought back. They missed one one thing. . . Other 1500s had the hoe option but the 1526 never did. Meanwhile the 1526 fills a need the 1700s as yet doesn't (mid pto and rear pto and small framed 3 speed tier 4 under the 25.99 hp line.)

I'd venture they plan on next year either restyling the 1526 and also offering a possible backhoe option model and bringing it out as a full Iseki made unit to fit in their lineup (either GC1700 or 1700). But I'm sure the restyling and loader and hoe effort was not the priority for them to alter the lineup at the time. I predict next year Massey's markets will cause some lineup and feature enhancements and refinements. Remember, Massey made some big strides since late 2013. . . . In product and in dealer network

mguitas · Mar 19, 2018

Rock Crawler said:
There is no option to add a backhoe to the 1526. The 1700 series accepts the Woods Ground Breaker series backhoe with full backing of the MF warranty. That would turn me off of the 1526.

Yes there is an option, Wallenstein backhoe, gx620

Tompet · Mar 19, 2018

Ha, good point...also Woods among others

Rock Crawler · Mar 19, 2018

I tried Woods, the MF dealer is also a Woods dealer, I was told no such thing. And no way would I do a 3 point backhoe on a small CUT.

Fiziksgeek · Mar 20, 2018

Rock Crawler said:
Fiziksgeek,

Looking at the 1526, I would personally call it larger than the B2601, more like the B2650 twin. The B2601 is a lot shorter seat height, and the MF 1526 just all around feels a little larger and much more like my B2650. The 1726E/L2501 is spot on from my opinion as well.

For some reason my memory says the B2650 is taller, which made me think the physical size was more comparable to the B2601. But maybe you're right, it was at least a couple years in between the time I had my butt in a 1526 and a B2601/2650. I remember being surprised how much larger the 1726E was than the 1526. When they first came out I thought the 1726 was the replacement for the 1526, but its a decent step up.

Paystar · Mar 20, 2018

I think Massey made another hole in their product line? Because isn't the new 1700's wider and larger than the 1635 was?

I had thought the 1635 was more like the Kubota Grand L 3560 where it was in the 60 inch width range.

I tried a 1526 years ago and I'm pretty sure it was the same size as my B2620, which is the previous version of the B2601.

For me, I like Kubota and Massey equally. It was only having a local Kubota dealer that made the choice for me.

Fiziksgeek · Mar 20, 2018

Paystar said:
I think Massey made another hole in their product line? Because isn't the new 1700's wider and larger than the 1635 was?

I had thought the 1635 was more like the Kubota Grand L 3560 where it was in the 60 inch width range.

I tried a 1526 years ago and I'm pretty sure it was the same size as my B2620, which is the previous version of the B2601.

For me, I like Kubota and Massey equally. It was only having a local Kubota dealer that made the choice for me.

I think its like cars, every new model is a couple inches bigger...when the get to a certain point, add a new model to fill in the gaps! I think the Kubota B2320, 2620, and 2920 were all the same frame size, but with the latest iteration, they split it into 2, the B01 and B50, with different frame sizes, to fill in the gaps between the BX and L series. The Massey 1700E and 1700 premium a bit bigger. They dropped and 1526 and 1529, but brought back the 1526 because of demand. They likely did not revive the 1529 because of emission requirements. I would not be surprised to see new models between the GC1700 and 1700E series in the next couple of years, because as others have stated, the 1526 design is a bit stale. Kubota and others keep adding features, so if Massey wants to stay in business, they need to answer.