My GC1720TLB is a POS. Buyer Beware!!!!

onionfmr · Jun 7, 2017

I can really sympathize with Stlmatt and JWR more than either of you two can know! I've owned 3 Massey tractors over the last 17 years. The last two have had issues. The last one is a MF1754 hst. Probably the last Massey product I will ever own! I love the size and capability of this tractor. However, I don't feel like I can count on it. Went to use it the other day, really slow moving to the back field. I lost a couple of MPHs since last use while all settings remain the same. Used it yesterday, everything back to normal. What? Working in a field a couple of weeks ago. Stalls, won't restart. Tank was 3/4 full. I left it. Came back an hour later, it started but spit and stalled it's way back to the pole barn. A couple of days later, went out to move it. Started and ran fine. Decided to take it out in the field while it was running and ir worked fine. What? Helping a neighbor move some wood a couple of weeks ago. Going down a hill with a load, tractor jumps out of gear and starts rolling fast. Startled me. Narrowly missed a large tree. Dealer is responsive and good people. But, staring at the tractor and not having a solution is not helping me.

I ended up buying a side by side to move firewood, drag harrow the lawn, pull a small trailer, etc... My wife always wanted a side by side, so this works out fine! Put 80 miles on the side by side in a couple of weeks doing a lot of stuff I would normally use the tractor for.

Bottom line, really disappointed in Massey!

Stlmatt · Jun 7, 2017

Update 06-07-2017

Yesterday afternoon I got a call from the regional factory service rep......after I had called Agco on the morning of 06-02-17....why does it take several days for a call back????
Anyway, I have talked with this person before when I had some of the original issues and he was up to date on the new issues. They decided to have the part welded by a certified welder, since they did not have any of these loader mounts available....I indicated that was not what I was told by the dealer.......they said it would be replaced with a New one, he then said the loader only has a 1 year warranty and this really shouldn't be covered, but he was doing me a favor. That's when I almost lost it.....I then warned him that this was a manufacturing defect and that I might have been injured and that I wanted them to do nothing, and I would come get the machine. This is when he changed his tune.....he asked what I wanted and I told him. I want tractor that's safe, operates like it should, tighten, lube, check everything and anything.....and return my tractor to me so I don't have to take a day off to get it. I asked him if this was his tractor what would he think is fair??? He had no response........but he said let me talk to the dealer and he would call me back.
A few hours later he called, I agreed to let them have the mount welded/painted and they agreed to service the tractor including changing all the fluids/filters, go over the entire machine and make sure everything is tight, lubed, and 100% correct, they also agreed to deliver the tractor back to my home so I don't have to get it.......they are still saying everything checks out with the hydro high range, so maybe that really is for just flat ground (still sucks)
I should have the tractor back this Friday and I'm hoping it's the last time I ever have an issue.......I'm moving in a year or so, and I wont shed tear when I have to sell this machine.

thanks: Stlmatt

irvingj · Jun 7, 2017

Thanks for the update. Hope all works out!

plowhog · Jun 8, 2017

Stlmatt said:
That's when I almost lost it.....

I have rarely had to go up the chain to resolve an issue. But when I do, I am extremely careful to be respectful and polite to the higher-ups. After all, they are in the middle, probably hearing from the dealer how angry and unreasonable their customer is. So I am careful not to do anything to reinforce that observation--whether it was true to begin with or not. Sometimes I will "chew on" a dealer if that's needed, but never a factory rep.

I'm not taking sides, as it is obvious there have been excessive problems that were not fixed correctly. But when the regional rep quotes a fact (1 yr loader warranty) and gets an emotional response (almost lost it) I don't think that is a good situation. btw, since the rep was "up to date on the new issues" it seems to me the reason it took a few days to get a call back was that the rep was doing his homework. Again, not defending in any way, but it would have been worse to have had a quick return call from someone entirely uninformed about what was going on.

You bought a tractor because you have work needs. Those work needs are not getting done while your time is siphoned away due to machine problems. I sympathize with that and hope this last iteration of problems/service turns the corner for you. I now own two Massey tractors and they are both workhorses. I hope you get to begin to have that same positive experience.

atsah · Jun 8, 2017

FWIW OP, I use high range very little, it really isn't of much use for pulling hills with a lot of weight (TLB or heavy equipment attached), I use it mainly for transporting over the road or light work. Hope all works out for you.

It's hard not to get upset but it doesn't helps if you do.

PILOON · Jun 8, 2017

Interesting in that I never purchased new but have a 1980's Mitsubishi.
OK. I'm handy, can weld and fix a lot.
Anything that went wrong usually had operator contribution of some sort which I overcame, like shattered 3 point pivot shaft (cloned and replaced).
Rims that rotted out so I had discs machined ($50) that I welded into trailer rims and remounted new tires.
If you own and operate a tractor you simply have to be handy and resourceful or wealthy. LOL.
Owning a welder sure helps.
A POS? not all sure I agree.
Give that dealer a chance and don't confront him from the 'get go', confrontation rarely works but simply creates blockages.
Try the diplomatic approach, like can you help me? seem to have a problem.

AxleHub · Jun 9, 2017

As nobody has noticed it yet, I'll mention three issues:

1. A gc1720 is a unit - a backhoe (cb65) a loader (dl95) and tractor gc1715 - combined. Other than switches and battery and bulbs and belts that are specifically warranty specified . . . A gc1720 has a 2 year warranty except power train which is 5 year. The loader is not a specified exception in a gc1720 warranty. So the 1 year concept is baloney.

2. It would seem to me that "lemon classification " may be involved here.

3. I'm suspicious that although the issues past and present could be individual. . it should also seem apparent to others that they are related. 1st, from history as well as present, it's always been apparent that stlmatt is not a lightweight user. His number of hours from the beginning were considerable and did not come from lighter use activities like lawn mowing. It's not saying its his fault. . It's saying he operates more like a contractor use than like a residential use.

Next, let's consider Stlmatt is a more "get ur done" personality where he has a fair amount of "emotional energy". Again that doesn't mean it's his fault. . . . but it again does mean he is doing heavier work in that "get ur done" emotional viewpoint.

Now let's look at some of the past and present issues more in a progression rather than as individual issues. Because many of us have a good history of use with our Massey GC1700s, it's not logical to point at Massey as the problem unless you want to debate that this is a "Monday morning" or "Friday afternoon" manufactured machine which seems unlikely to get this many issues in one machine n different component areas. But there is a pint where logic meets and that is something many might not consider an important point. . . . Dealer prep.

Now I know many consider dealer prep as a lightweight part of dealer activity . . . But let's consider it in a different viewpoint. Stlmatt a heavy user in hours and types of work and also emotional motivation to complete . . . . Combined with a machine not prepped properly means items not properly aligned and bolts and nuts not properly torqued or secured and settings not properly checked (like PSI on hydro limits etc.).

Why would I indicate this possibility? If you look at the picture of the broken weld Stlmatt showed . . . The 1st reaction is it's a poor weld. However it could also be a "shear tear" which is caused by mis-aligned parts repeatedly "stressed" at unexpected angles. Even a good weld under fracture stress conditions can break as we all know. . . But a shear tear is side force oriented and often straight.

But poor prep also would explain numerous past maladies also. Too much pressure in hydraulics or pieces not properly aligned and torqued too little insomeareasand too much in others he combined with heavy and repeated work activities etc. etc.. In a "get ur done" method could explain much of what stlmatt's tractor has had to deal with.

Just thoughts. And a hope that either thru "lemon law" method or proper dealer repair that stlmatt's unit gets this situation finally resolved.

But my point is. . . I just don't see in past issues or present. . . that Massey is the issue. And you " could" have a good dealer who had a temporary employee problem or procedure process in the prep and assembly dept. at the dealer location that could have started this whole thing in motion for stlmatt's who is a heavier user.

AxleHub · Jun 9, 2017

Stlmatt said:
Update 06-07-2017

Yesterday afternoon I got a call from the regional factory service rep......after I had called Agco on the morning of 06-02-17....why does it take several days for a call back????
Anyway, I have talked with this person before when I had some of the original issues and he was up to date on the new issues. They decided to have the part welded by a certified welder, since they did not have any of these loader mounts available....I indicated that was not what I was told by the dealer.......they said it would be replaced with a New one, he then said the loader only has a 1 year warranty and this really shouldn't be covered, but he was doing me a favor. That's when I almost lost it.....I then warned him that this was a manufacturing defect and that I might have been injured and that I wanted them to do nothing, and I would come get the machine. This is when he changed his tune.....he asked what I wanted and I told him. I want tractor that's safe, operates like it should, tighten, lube, check everything and anything.....and return my tractor to me so I don't have to take a day off to get it. I asked him if this was his tractor what would he think is fair??? He had no response........but he said let me talk to the dealer and he would call me back.

Stlmatt, why does it take from the 2nd of June calling AGCO till the 7th to get a call from the regional two ???

How about Memorial Day vacations ? Or about the fact regional reps are not at Corporate ? Or the fact the rep. isn't carrying your file around with him and he is out-in-the-field doing his/her job? Or the Rep. Wanted to talk to the dealer first who also may be (or his guys may be) on Memorial Day vacations too?

Or the "I almost lost it" comment. My point is Stlmatt . . . As in the past too. . . you have legitimate issues and concerns but your emotions are not your friend. You can be firm yet not be emotional. You can be persistent but impatience on little things hurts your perspective on resolving the big things.

A delay from some time June 2 till June 6th after a national holiday timeframe is not exceptional at all. And the Rep. was probably correct that he was doing you a favor in responding with a solution so quickly. He was NOT the one who said it would be a new replacement piece. . . and how would he have even known someone at the dealer even told you that ?

JWR · Jun 9, 2017

AxleHub said: If you look at the picture of the broken weld Stlmatt showed . . . The 1st reaction is it's a poor weld. However it could also be a "shear tear" which is caused by mis-aligned parts repeatedly "stressed" at unexpected angles. Even a good weld under fracture stress conditions can break as we all know. . . But a shear tear is side force oriented and often straight.

I say: it is one of the most obvious poor welds any of us will ever see on a major manufacturer's tractor. Very clearly from the picture the weld DID NOT melt the metal on one side of the weld. An obvious manufacturing defect if there ever was one. "Shear tear" of a weld is a strange invention grasping at straws. There is no plausibility argument how you get clean shear in this situation. Call it what it is -- a very bad defective weld.

Sounds to me like the dealer, with appropriate regional rep consult, is getting it fixed. I think it should have been replaced instead of re-welded but done properly it should be fine.