Pimp my Massey: New GC1723EB

[polarred21]

Many thanks! A lot of good links for companies I did not have. Reading up on all this, more to come.

Oh yeah, how about the backhoe thumb? BXexpanded the best option over the factory one? I have not priced the factory one.

 

[dicktill]

Many thanks! A lot of good links for companies I did not have. Reading up on all this, more to come.

Oh yeah, how about the backhoe thumb? BXexpanded the best option over the factory one? I have not priced the factory one.

I do not have the BXpanded thumb, but kinda wish I did; I got the factory thumb thrown in with the purchase. Either thumb is a PITA without a hydraulic cylinder (which I added) though. The reason I think the BXpanded one might be better than the factory one is that it is concave while the factory one is convex, and it sometimes it slips off a log.

 

[WranglerX]

Convexed???....... What were the engineers thinking....

 

[dicktill]

Convexed???....... What were the engineers thinking....

And I should have mentioned that it is even worse on rocks than logs!

 

[polarred21]

View attachment 2907544

And I should have mentioned that it is even worse on rocks than logs!

So this is the factory thumb? Sounds like the BXpanded would be better?

 

[dicktill]

So this is the factory thumb? Sounds like the BXpanded would be better?

View attachment 2907550

My picture was the factory thumb. Your picture is the BX one and "is more better".

 

[polarred21]

Man those Bro-tek spacers are expensive as compared to others, and I didn't know that most all are aluminum.

What makes Bro-tek worth the extra money, and any issues with electrolysis?

 

[hube2]

Man those Bro-tek spacers are expensive as compared to others, and I didn't know that most all are aluminum.

What makes Bro-tek worth the extra money, and any issues with electrolysis?

Why did I choose Bro-Tek?

1. They are machined to exactly fit the GC, both the hub and the wheel. They bolt on the hub exactly the same as the wheel would and the wheel fits the spacer exactly as it would fit on the hub. I do not believe that anyone else makes spacers specifically to fit the GCs, but I could be wrong.
2. They are hub centric vs lug centric, most of the less expensive spacers are lug centric.

I had to look up electrolysis... unless you get a lot of salt on the aluminum or you live near a salty ocean where there'd be a lot of salt in the air, I don't see where this would something to worry about. But I can't really say, I haven't had my wheels off since I put the spacers on in the fall of 2020. I think about taking the wheels off every spring to check that the bolts are still tight, but then I look at the painted marks on the back of the hub and see that nothing has moved, I used loctite and I don't see a reason to deal with taking filled wheels off. I inspect the marks and what I can see of the spacers every spring and I have not noticed any corrosion.

I wasn't really concerned with the cost, I spent more to have custom skid shoes made for my blower than I spent on the spacers.

This is a picture of the underside where you can see the lines painted on the back of the hub and bolts.

 

[hube2]

I missed a point in my last comment.

3) Because of the other two points I made the weight of the tractor is on the hub and the spacer rather than being on the bolts and lugs that them on. Flat spacers that are not made to fit over the hub and into the wheel cause the weight of the tractor to be on the bolts.

 

[polarred21]

I missed a point in my last comment.

3) Because of the other two points I made the weight of the tractor is on the hub and the spacer rather than being on the bolts and lugs that them on. Flat spacers that are not made to fit over the hub and into the wheel cause the weight of the tractor to be on the bolts.

Many thanks for this insight! I have been in touch with Bro-tek. Guess what? They can't give you a price on shipping due to the looming tariffs. Said it would be next week before they can get this sorted out. Great