Dumb questions that deserve good answers.

[Kenneth S]

Axlehub, there was a thread here on this site a while back about people mounting the tractor of a GC series 23xx series using the steering wheel.

IIRC, the owners were having problems with the seals of the power steering starting to leak under the dash.

They found out that mounting the tractor by using the steering wheel caused the seals to start leaking. You may want to search on this topic to find your answers.

Yes, I realize it is easier to mount the tractor using the steering wheel, but it's best to break a bad habit before it gets firmly seated. Pun not intended.

The first I've heard of that causing a problem, but its a GC series 23xx series.

 

[AxleHub]

Greetings windcatcher and ken,

I figured using just the steering wheel would be a fair amount of stress. I always have used the handle grab on the left fender to start . . But there isn't anything on the left side for balance except the steering wheel.

The hand grab works fine for the first part but if I was 6'2" instead of less than 5'9" I probably wouldn't need anything else . . I always wondered what happened to the "growth spurt" in high school

Masseys have that convenient diamond plate welded on to their mower decks that can make a convenient step also but I've never been too confident of using it if I don't have the deck in contact with the ground.

Someday I'd like to see what a gc23xx or gc 24xx looks like. Pictures look similar to the gc17xx series but I assume there were some changes too.

Maybe I'll have to develop a grab bar version of a "pick and roll" like on gymnastics parallel bars or rings where you horizontal pull to a certain level then roll over and vertical push. I don't know . . its been a long time since those days. Maybe I better find my mouth guard before I start practicing lol.

 

[windcatcher]

The first I've heard of that causing a problem, but its a GC series 23xx series.

Here's the story: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/massey-ferguson-owning-operating/123494-how-repair-leak-gc2310.html

I just happened to stumble upon it myself. I'm glad I did as I now try my best to not use the steering wheel as a mounting point.

 

[AxleHub]

Here's the story: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/massey-ferguson-owning-operating/123494-how-repair-leak-gc2310.html

I just happened to stumble upon it myself. I'm glad I did as I now try my best to not use the steering wheel as a mounting point.

Wow . . nice find windcatcher . . interesting older thread. One post said 6 of 79 gc tractors at one dealer had warranty work alone on thst issue. Given the short length of warranty for those models it would seem like over 5 or 6 years it could be a much larger number/percentage. Plus some said theirs weren't covered under warranty too . . implying they still had warranty but the dealer couldn't get it approved. Yep . . I can see it now . . find mouthguard first then practice my "pick and roll" skills again lol. $700 . . no way I want that type of dealer repair bill.

And for those that might not understand the "mouthguard " part, doing a pick snd roll on parallel bars sometimes results in mouth contact with wood if you do it wrong in practice oe learning it lol.

 

[windcatcher]

On another note: I've discovered I have the dreaded strange flashing light(s) syndrome on my tractor. You can have the tractor key turned on, and turn the right or left turn signal indicator. IIRC, the lights on the ROPS will light up, but not flash on the dash. The lights on the ROPS will flash but dimly.

I think this is for the right side only. I'm going to run a test as soon as I can get enough time to record everything. It's under warranty, but I don't want to burn my one and only free pick up/delivery on a stupid turn signal if I can help it.

I have a digital multi-meter and a test light, so I can trace the wires to see what's going on. I'm thinking either a bad ground, pinched wire or something else along that line.

Other than that, I'm super happy with my GC1715.

 

[AxleHub]

On another note: I've discovered I have the dreaded strange flashing light(s) syndrome on my tractor. You can have the tractor key turned on, and turn the right or left turn signal indicator. IIRC, the lights on the ROPS will light up, but not flash on the dash. The lights on the ROPS will flash but dimly.

I think this is for the right side only. I'm going to run a test as soon as I can get enough time to record everything. It's under warranty, but I don't want to burn my one and only free pick up/delivery on a stupid turn signal if I can help it.

I have a digital multi-meter and a test light, so I can trace the wires to see what's going on. I'm thinking either a bad ground, pinched wire or something else along that line.

Other than that, I'm super happy with my GC1715.

It could also be some mild corrosion on the switch contact. Makes me think ive used my tractor on a 1 mile county road a number of times and haven't recently checked all my lights since after the origi al homecoming arrival.

Forgot to mention . . Check it with key on but not tractor running as well as with tractor running.

Darn . . My to list keeps growing

 

[windcatcher]

"Forgot to mention . . Check it with key on but not tractor running as well as with tractor running."

First test from memory: Turn key on, no tractor running. Turn on emergency flashers. This mimics the same function on an automobile for inspection purposes. All lights flash. Right rear signal, left rear signal, both left and right turn signal indicators on dash flash.

Turn emergency flashers off. Turn on parking/head lights. All headlights burn, and orange (amber) lights on rear of tractor mounted on ROPS burn on both sides. Turn off parking/head lights.

Turn on Right side signal flasher: Lights on dash for right side only flash. Red lights on ROPS for right side flash. Turn signal off.

Turn Left side signal flasher: Lights on dash for left side flash, and lights on right side of dash light and stay on - no flash. Red lights on left side of ROPS Flash as well as the amber parking light. Red lights on RIGHT side of ROPS come on, but do not flash.

I think I'm correct in reciting what I tested yesterday.

I will take video and confirm. I'll need to contact my MF salesman and let him know. I'm almost positive it will the the dash switch as all other functions work normally.

 

[jlgurr]

"Forgot to mention . . Check it with key on but not tractor running as well as with tractor running." First test from memory: Turn key on, no tractor running. Turn on emergency flashers. This mimics the same function on an automobile for inspection purposes. All lights flash. Right rear signal, left rear signal, both left and right turn signal indicators on dash flash. Turn emergency flashers off. Turn on parking/head lights. All headlights burn, and orange (amber) lights on rear of tractor mounted on ROPS burn on both sides. Turn off parking/head lights. Turn on Right side signal flasher: Lights on dash for right side only flash. Red lights on ROPS for right side flash. Turn signal off. Turn Left side signal flasher: Lights on dash for left side flash, and lights on right side of dash light and stay on - no flash. Red lights on left side of ROPS Flash as well as the amber parking light. Red lights on RIGHT side of ROPS come on, but do not flash. I think I'm correct in reciting what I tested yesterday. I will take video and confirm. I'll need to contact my MF salesman and let him know. I'm almost positive it will the the dash switch as all other functions work normally.

Wind catcher,

Pretty sure my GC1705
works the same as you describe. I'll double check next time I get outside with my tractor.

Jeff

Sent from my iPhone using TractorByNet

 

[AxleHub]

Just a reminder . . if you are taking off your mmm deck for winter purposes . . in my case I dropped 231 pounds of mid located ballast and need to add more somewhere else.

 

[AxleHub]

Well, I really didn't imagine the need at the one 18 months ago, but I need to start thinking 'inventor' again lol.

After buying the GC1715 near 2 years ago, the idea was to create something clever in a 3pt. weight ballast unit, because I didn't like anything I'd seen. It took till berate in 2015 to take a combination of ideas and needs and make it into a single item and then test it for a year. Works just as desired.

But now I need to create something for the front. . . because my 3pt. Tank sprayer is such a labor saver that I want to use it more in 2017. Why. . . because with hills like I have I don't want to have my gel on and on hills a 40 gallon sprayer on the back needs some steering counterbalancing weight upfront. So now it's a reverse of the 3pt ballast unit with most of the same features to design in. Nuts . . Tractors sure can stimulate the mechanical inventorying a user lol.