My 2015 GC1720TLB and the issues I've had and still have.

AxleHub · Feb 4, 2016

Greetings StlMatt,

Its been awhile

I'll just start right in:

1. I don't know of a scut regardless of brand that reverse isn't slower than forward in either range. All brochures show that. That doesn't mean what you are experiencing . . But it does mean there is always a difference.

2. I'm not a service mechanic . . . But TSO mentioned something as a possibility. Do you keep your backhoe on the machine all the time? If you do . . it a pretty simple thing to take it off and see if you notice any difference in power.

3. You stated a couple things that might be clues. You're engine isn't bogging down - - - and the unit had more power when the hydro punp was first replaced - - - but then has declined again - - - your low range is ok??? Or is it not working properly either?

a. I understand that an hst is fluid driven not friction/clutch driven . . . so if low works ok . . then does high gear have any special bypass or reroute circuit for pump flow ? Or does that gear itself have some set screw or bolt that could slip under pressure (I'm looking for things that are distinctly high gear engagement . . After all . . That lever is attached to a mechanical linkage).

b. Assuming the new pump helped but now hasn't maintained that improvement . . . it would indicate that the change from better to not so good implies the problem was only partially pump related. Are you losing fluid and need to replenish? Could your 3pt hitch lift circuit be partially bypassing for some reason? Or could you have air in the fluid?

My point in all this relates back to the 1st dealer. He fumbled around a bunch . . and in an effort to fix a leak (and didn't do that very well) . . could have done something else as a problem. The 2nd dealer may have done a fine job replacing the pump and things were improved . . But then some infrequent action could have restarted a problem that the 1st dealer created. So I'm thinking of something stuck partly open or partly loose or unsecured etc.. thats why I suggested taking the backhoe off and trying unit without it in the testing.

By the way for other readers . . I followed StlMatt from the beginning before and first after he got his unit as you may have noticed in the early parts of this thread . . I think he is genuine and likes the Massey product but has had dealer service issues with his 1st dealer.

P.S. lightbulb thought . . . New pump helped but then improvement reduced. Any chance the cooling fan for the hydro fluid has become damaged or limited in its capacity . . So the fluid temps/transmission temps are getting too high causing easier bypassing or ???? Note: I did not say engine temps which atr not hydro fluid related.

P.s.s. getting a gauge to check hst pressure is a positive. And once you've tested that and tested unit without backhoe on it . . then its time to go back to the second dealer and if need requires . . Back to your area support rep. again.

Nobody chooses to have the things happen to them and their unit . . that have happened to you Stl Matt . . but that is why a 5 year national warranty is a key advantage to Massey GC1700s . . Nobody desires to use it . . But its sure nice to have it when you need it.

plowhog · Feb 4, 2016

I don't know enough about tractors, or the OP specific problems, to lend any assistance.

I can say I was aware of his earlier posts/problems during my time of shopping and researching tractors. Like someone else posted, I watched carefully since I didn't want to repeat the similar experiences. At the time, it seemed to me to be a dealer problem, some sort of weird undiscovered problem only with his unit, or maybe a combination. For some reason, it still feels that way.

I have since purchased a Massey GC1710 and I am very pleased with it. I only have 10 hours of time on it, but so far it is an impressive piece of machinery and I am pleased with my choice. And I hope the OP can sort out whatever is preventing him from getting to that same level of satisfaction. This is the first tractor I have owned and I am amazed at what it can do.

Stlmatt · Feb 8, 2016

Well...I might have stepped on my dick with this most recent thread, I was able to get the tractor out yesterday. I drove the tractor around and let it heat up best I could as it still had the backhoe on it from when the dealer dropped it off last week, I tried making some videos by myself but it was hard to tell just how steep the incline was in the video and after watching them I realized they all sucked...I really needed a camera person to video me while I operated the tractor, but too my surprise the tractor performed pretty well.....even in high range it would climb a mild incline (based off some other post I did feather the pedal and would let the transmission kind of catch up before applying more flow) and in low range it seemed to have plenty of power going forward......I took the backhoe off and ran the same test...I still have one hill that it wont make it up in high range, but then again it's a fairly steep incline.....and maybe if I took the FEL off it might make it. After about an hour of driving around and trying some new things and trying some place that I know I had problems with before....it seems the unit is performing a lot better. In Low range I even pushed on the big tree and was able to just spin the wheels in low 4x4......the engine never bogged down, as I broke traction before that happened. In high range performing the same test, I never broke traction and the engine kind sounded like it was under a slight load....and as I pushed the pedal down it sounded like it went into bypass. I will say it was pretty cold out and the tractor never really got hot (or as Hot as it does in warmer weather, it stayed at maybe 20% based off the temp gauge) .......I'm kind of wondering if things would be different on a warmer day or even a HOT summer day. This week I should have my hydro pressure gauge and I want to take some readings and see where it's really set.....the last dealer told me they checked it and that it was at factory spec (not sure what that was/is, but ill find out in a few days) I will post pictures and or video of test when it comes in. Overall the unit performed well, I'm wondering if getting my transmission hydro leak fixed might have helped with the lack of power.......I mean I know when I got the tractor something was wrong with it, as confirmed by the factory service rep and the replacement of the hydro pump, and I did notice a big difference after that repair.......but still had the leak and few minor issues, but at least it was useable. Reverse still seems slow (especially in low) but it never stopped going. So all in all, NO leaks and the tractor performed the best it ever has. I still want to do more with it and will test the pressure myself (anyone ever turn it up to say 2100psi for some added power) from what I can see they should be set about 1900psi from factory....I could see where a 10% bump in the PRV might help or give some added power, without running the risk of damaging anything......but not to get off topic, my GC170TLB seems like it might actually be running as it should for the first time in its life. I should have done some testing when the unit got dropped off from the leak fix, before posting....but it sure seemed to be the same way it was, so overall I'm happy with the performance based on yesterdays testing....I'm still disappointed about the issues I had when new and the lack of service I received from the dealer I bought it from....after all I bought a NEW tractor so I wouldn't have any issues that one might have with a used one, and I'm still not impressed with the time frame that it took to get the issue fixed (2 months total without a tractor is tough when you have to make that payment and you don't have the machine) I think a lot of blame can go to the first dealer, I don't think anything was checked, prepped and adjusted before they brought it out and after having it there several times I had to call and get the Service rep involved and he's the one who got things done. A big Thanks to Axlehub for a lot of great input and advice. I still have some test to run and want to use it more before reporting back but I promise to update this thread with pics, videos and text.....weather the news is good, bad or indifferent.

Stl Matt

rjmack · Feb 8, 2016

Stlmatt said:
Well...I might have stepped on my dick with this most recent thread, I was able to get the tractor out yesterday. I drove the tractor around and let it heat up best I could as it still had the backhoe on it from when the dealer dropped it off last week, I tried making some videos by myself but it was hard to tell just how steep the incline was in the video and after watching them I realized they all sucked...I really needed a camera person to video me while I operated the tractor, but too my surprise the tractor performed pretty well.....even in high range it would climb a mild incline (based off some other post I did feather the pedal and would let the transmission kind of catch up before applying more flow) and in low range it seemed to have plenty of power going forward......I took the backhoe off and ran the same test...I still have one hill that it wont make it up in high range, but then again it's a fairly steep incline.....and maybe if I took the FEL off it might make it. After about an hour of driving around and trying some new things and trying some place that I know I had problems with before....it seems the unit is performing a lot better. In Low range I even pushed on the big tree and was able to just spin the wheels in low 4x4......the engine never bogged down, as I broke traction before that happened. In high range performing the same test, I never broke traction and the engine kind sounded like it was under a slight load....and as I pushed the pedal down it sounded like it went into bypass. I will say it was pretty cold out and the tractor never really got hot (or as Hot as it does in warmer weather, it stayed at maybe 20% based off the temp gauge) .......I'm kind of wondering if things would be different on a warmer day or even a HOT summer day. This week I should have my hydro pressure gauge and I want to take some readings and see where it's really set.....the last dealer told me they checked it and that it was at factory spec (not sure what that was/is, but ill find out in a few days) I will post pictures and or video of test when it comes in. Overall the unit performed well, I'm wondering if getting my transmission hydro leak fixed might have helped with the lack of power.......I mean I know when I got the tractor something was wrong with it, as confirmed by the factory service rep and the replacement of the hydro pump, and I did notice a big difference after that repair.......but still had the leak and few minor issues, but at least it was useable. Reverse still seems slow (especially in low) but it never stopped going. So all in all, NO leaks and the tractor performed the best it ever has. I still want to do more with it and will test the pressure myself (anyone ever turn it up to say 2100psi for some added power) from what I can see they should be set about 1900psi from factory....I could see where a 10% bump in the PRV might help or give some added power, without running the risk of damaging anything......but not to get off topic, my GC170TLB seems like it might actually be running as it should for the first time in its life. I should have done some testing when the unit got dropped off from the leak fix, before posting....but it sure seemed to be the same way it was, so overall I'm happy with the performance based on yesterdays testing....I'm still disappointed about the issues I had when new and the lack of service I received from the dealer I bought it from....after all I bought a NEW tractor so I wouldn't have any issues that one might have with a used one, and I'm still not impressed with the time frame that it took to get the issue fixed (2 months total without a tractor is tough when you have to make that payment and you don't have the machine) I think a lot of blame can go to the first dealer, I don't think anything was checked, prepped and adjusted before they brought it out and after having it there several times I had to call and get the Service rep involved and he's the one who got things done. A big Thanks to Axlehub for a lot of great input and advice. I still have some test to run and want to use it more before reporting back but I promise to update this thread with pics, videos and text.....weather the news is good, bad or indifferent.

Stl Matt

given the fact that all you need is a tree, 3 nails, and a cell phone to make decent resolution videos these days, I'm starting to wonder. If you don't have a tree, you can still make a basic no frills video w' a sawhorse, a cell phone, and a piece of wood to prop the phone up on. all you have to remember is to hold the phone sideways instead of straight up and down. if you can figure out how to set up an account on an online forum, you can set up a youtube channel.

here is a video that took about 1 minute to prepare the 'technical aspects'.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhQOzBnsAWQ

jlgurr · Feb 8, 2016

Is there even a tractor still photo?!?! LOL!

Sent from my iPhone 2.0 using TractorByNet

Clipse3GT · Feb 9, 2016

Here is how to adjust the PRV on the GC 100 series. I am running mine at 2100 psi with no issues.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/.../350009-how-adjust-pressure-relief-valve.html

cdaigle430 · Feb 16, 2016

Stlmatt said:
Well...I might have stepped on my dick with this most recent thread, I was able to get the tractor out yesterday. I drove the tractor around and let it heat up best I could as it still had the backhoe on it from when the dealer dropped it off last week, I tried making some videos by myself but it was hard to tell just how steep the incline was in the video and after watching them I realized they all sucked...I really needed a camera person to video me while I operated the tractor, but too my surprise the tractor performed pretty well.....even in high range it would climb a mild incline (based off some other post I did feather the pedal and would let the transmission kind of catch up before applying more flow) and in low range it seemed to have plenty of power going forward......I took the backhoe off and ran the same test...I still have one hill that it wont make it up in high range, but then again it's a fairly steep incline.....and maybe if I took the FEL off it might make it. After about an hour of driving around and trying some new things and trying some place that I know I had problems with before....it seems the unit is performing a lot better. In Low range I even pushed on the big tree and was able to just spin the wheels in low 4x4......the engine never bogged down, as I broke traction before that happened. In high range performing the same test, I never broke traction and the engine kind sounded like it was under a slight load....and as I pushed the pedal down it sounded like it went into bypass. I will say it was pretty cold out and the tractor never really got hot (or as Hot as it does in warmer weather, it stayed at maybe 20% based off the temp gauge) .......I'm kind of wondering if things would be different on a warmer day or even a HOT summer day. This week I should have my hydro pressure gauge and I want to take some readings and see where it's really set.....the last dealer told me they checked it and that it was at factory spec (not sure what that was/is, but ill find out in a few days) I will post pictures and or video of test when it comes in. Overall the unit performed well, I'm wondering if getting my transmission hydro leak fixed might have helped with the lack of power.......I mean I know when I got the tractor something was wrong with it, as confirmed by the factory service rep and the replacement of the hydro pump, and I did notice a big difference after that repair.......but still had the leak and few minor issues, but at least it was useable. Reverse still seems slow (especially in low) but it never stopped going. So all in all, NO leaks and the tractor performed the best it ever has. I still want to do more with it and will test the pressure myself (anyone ever turn it up to say 2100psi for some added power) from what I can see they should be set about 1900psi from factory....I could see where a 10% bump in the PRV might help or give some added power, without running the risk of damaging anything......but not to get off topic, my GC170TLB seems like it might actually be running as it should for the first time in its life. I should have done some testing when the unit got dropped off from the leak fix, before posting....but it sure seemed to be the same way it was, so overall I'm happy with the performance based on yesterdays testing....I'm still disappointed about the issues I had when new and the lack of service I received from the dealer I bought it from....after all I bought a NEW tractor so I wouldn't have any issues that one might have with a used one, and I'm still not impressed with the time frame that it took to get the issue fixed (2 months total without a tractor is tough when you have to make that payment and you don't have the machine) I think a lot of blame can go to the first dealer, I don't think anything was checked, prepped and adjusted before they brought it out and after having it there several times I had to call and get the Service rep involved and he's the one who got things done. A big Thanks to Axlehub for a lot of great input and advice. I still have some test to run and want to use it more before reporting back but I promise to update this thread with pics, videos and text.....weather the news is good, bad or indifferent.

Stl Matt

Generally dealers all suck no matter what you buy. I had to call the regional service rep from Agco 3 times before I got taken care of. Always remember the squeaky wheel gets the oil.

AxleHub · Feb 16, 2016

cdaigle430 said:
Generally dealers all suck no matter what you buy. I had to call the regional service rep from Agco 3 times before I got taken care of. Always remember the squeaky wheel gets the oil.

I have a hard time believing that most dealers "suck no matter what you buy".

But I do believe walking into a dealership with that attitude will be a magnet for problems.

I've been in various dealer locations when service issues came up and I watched issues discussed and problems solved . . . not just 1 dealer but several dealers. I don't think being a squeaky wheel is the best method of solving problems . . its merely the loudest one. Are there poor dealers or blind employees in the world ? Absolutely. But thats just as true with customers too.

Sometimes Dealers make mistakes and sometimes customers do. The squeaky wheel is a ladt resort . . . not the first 3 resorts.

Ooklaa · Feb 16, 2016

rjmack said:
given the fact that all you need is a tree, 3 nails, and a cell phone to make decent resolution videos these days, I'm starting to wonder. If you don't have a tree, you can still make a basic no frills video w' a sawhorse, a cell phone, and a piece of wood to prop the phone up on. all you have to remember is to hold the phone sideways instead of straight up and down. if you can figure out how to set up an account on an online forum, you can set up a youtube channel.

here is a video that took about 1 minute to prepare the 'technical aspects'.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhQOzBnsAWQ