Used GC1715 -- what to look for?

[jima1]

I'm in the process of deciding about updating my old Kubota B7200HST. Main requirement is to run my existing attachments (5' rear mower, 5' rear blade, 4' core aerator). Most of my hours are mowing 3 acres, then blading or plowing the drive, and maybe aerating no more than once a year. Power steering!

Since I need to keep this under $10k, I'm assuming buying new is off the table. Seems like a 5-8 year old used unit could work, if the hours are reasonable.

Have a chance to look at a 2015 GC1715 in a few days on consignment at a dealer an hour away, only about 200+ hours. Not familiar at all with them, having only the Kubota for the past 22 years. Are there any particular maintenance concerns to look for on these tractors? Have read that BX is easier to overheat because of tiny radiator, did MF cheap out anywhere on the GC sub-compact?

Will it run my 5' rear mower ok? (Lots of tractors around with mid mowers, but that just doesn't work for me, want to keep my rear mower)

Will I miss the position control on my old tractor? My old rear mower has rollers up front, only two wheels in the back, so I set the position where the rollers are just touching the grass -- seems to reduce wear and prevent scalping better that way -- can the equivalent be easily set on the GC1715 or would it need check chains?

Is the loader easy to get on/off, even without QA?

Thanks for you input.

 

[cglaser104]

I'll start at the end. Yes, if you require positional 3pt control you'll need check chains for every subcompact except a JD1025 as far as I know.

Beyond that, MF GC1715's are good machines and are under the Tier IV requirements so they have no extra exhaust requirements. A GC1715 is made by Iseki of Japan which is been a prominent partner of AGCO/Massey Ferguson for about the last 30 years or so. The FEL loaders are amount the strongest in this class of tractor and the build quality is consistent with about any Japanese tractor (Kubota, Yanmar, etc). I have a GC1710TLB of the same year which has been absolutely bulletproof. The GC1715's produced a little more HP and had nicer amenities like upgraded seat & tail light guards.

 

[cglaser104]

Oh... Also. I run a 5' rotary cutter and 4' offset tiller on mine without issue. Massey also sells those machines with either a 54" or 60" MMM so I don't think running your listed equipment shoud be an issue.

 

[jima1]

Thanks for the comments, great to hear you have had a good experience with the TLB. There is a local JD 1025R for sale by owner, too. Maybe I'll go look at that just to see the 3-pt difference.

The dealer says they only recommend 4' rotary cutter with GC1715, but thought the 5' finish mower would be ok.

 

[cglaser104]

Thanks for the comments, great to hear you have had a good experience with the TLB. There is a local JD 1025R for sale by owner, too. Maybe I'll go look at that just to see the 3-pt difference.

The dealer says they only recommend 4' rotary cutter with GC1715, but thought the 5' finish mower would be ok.

The finish mower will be fine on a MF GC1715 or JD 1025R as they essentially put out the same HP. JD 1025R uses a Yanmar motor I believe and is designed and assembled in the US

 

[jima1]

So the used GC1715 seems to be in decent shape, everything I could think to try during the test drive worked comfortably well. Seems like a good machine. It would need some service (oil change, air filter, battery, radiator cap), but nothing major. The only thing I did not understand was that the front tires (industrial) were more worn on the outside edges, does that commonly happen? Not a lot, but enough to notice.

The hitch can be lowered to a position fairly accurately and then stays there, I would try that first with my mower before going to check chains.

Before tax, could probably get it for ~$9000, give or take depending on what the consignee will accept. Seem reasonable?

Naturally, he quoted me on new models (1723, 25) as well, says I should want the 5 year power train warranty. Could that really be worth $4000+ more? I'm just getting done with a tractor that was 10 years old when I bought it, probably have not put $4000 into it in all 22 years of operation! If a used MF tractor comes anywhere near that experience4 or what others have described here, it seems like a 200 hour GC1715 should easily get through another 10 years.

The big unknown here is what to do with my old tractor, which needs some significant structural repairs, even though the engine is still fine (maybe I'll post over on the Kubota forum about that).

 

[cglaser104]

So the used GC1715 seems to be in decent shape, everything I could think to try during the test drive worked comfortably well. Seems like a good machine. It would need some service (oil change, air filter, battery, radiator cap), but nothing major. The only thing I did not understand was that the front tires (industrial) were more worn on the outside edges, does that commonly happen? Not a lot, but enough to notice.

The hitch can be lowered to a position fairly accurately and then stays there, I would try that first with my mower before going to check chains.

Before tax, could probably get it for ~$9000, give or take depending on what the consignee will accept. Seem reasonable?

Naturally, he quoted me on new models (1723, 25) as well, says I should want the 5 year power train warranty. Could that really be worth $4000+ more? I'm just getting done with a tractor that was 10 years old when I bought it, probably have not put $4000 into it in all 22 years of operation! If a used MF tractor comes anywhere near that experience4 or what others have described here, it seems like a 200 hour GC1715 should easily get through another 10 years.

The big unknown here is what to do with my old tractor, which needs some significant structural repairs, even though the engine is still fine (maybe I'll post over on the Kubota forum about that).

That's normal for fronts to wear quicker that rears. They rotate far more often than the rears do given size disparity and stress/pitch when turning. 200 hours is very young on a diesel motor. With good care you should see 4000+ hours easily. As for the price new vs used... That's all about personal preference and how handy you are. I fix most anything and don't value the warranty as much as someone who doesn't have the tools or know-how might. Good luck on your decision.

 

[jima1]

That's normal for fronts to wear quicker that rears. .

I was commenting about uneven wear just on the front tires -- the outside edge was more worn than the inside edge on both front tires. If my car tires did that, I would get an alignment.

 

[polarred21]

Pics? Sounds like a good price. FWIW the 1715 was the higher HP model for that year.

 

[jima1]

Sorry no pics other than the dealer listing. That seemed like a good price to start at, if they will take it, have not heard yet. The asking price seemed too high after seeing the tractor in person and noting the service required to start using it.

One more question: does the Cat I 3-pt hitch have any limitations I need to be aware of?

My rear mower and blade both have side pins that are 32" apart. No issue there I would hope with spreading the side arms.

What I'm wondering about is my 4' aerator. Sitting on its stands, the side pins are 18" off the ground. Does the 3715 hitch have enough lift height to get it off the ground? I checked the height of the hitch against the length of my arm, just did the same with the aerator, I'd estimate there was maybe 1-2" difference.

Just want to be totally sure about this before it's too late...

 

[cglaser104]

Sorry no pics other than the dealer listing. That seemed like a good price to start at, if they will take it, have not heard yet. The asking price seemed too high after seeing the tractor in person and noting the service required to start using it.

One more question: does the Cat I 3-pt hitch have any limitations I need to be aware of?

My rear mower and blade both have side pins that are 32" apart. No issue there I would hope with spreading the side arms.

What I'm wondering about is my 4' aerator. Sitting on its stands, the side pins are 18" off the ground. Does the 3715 hitch have enough lift height to get it off the ground? I checked the height of the hitch against the length of my arm, just did the same with the aerator, I'd estimate there was maybe 1-2" difference.

Just want to be totally sure about this before it's too late...

Sub compacts have limited cat 1 systems. The limit is the up and down travel height. I sometime shorten the toplink to help lift an implement for travel and clearance purposes.

As for the front tires... They aren't like a car. Cars use double a arm which keeps wheel travel perpendicular to the ground where as a tractor has an axle with a center pivot. As it articulates the edges of the tires get warn. Also, steering pitches slightly when you turn on these machines and rounds the outer edges of the tires...again, perfectly normal stuff.

If you want I can grab pictures of my machine which has 300+ hours for comparison

 

[DMW]

That is a lot of paint worn off the operators platform for a 5 year old tractor.
Is there an issue with the left rear fender beside the ROPS mount?
Is the tire wear the same on both front tires, or only on one side?
Is it just the light causing the deformation?

 

[jima1]

That is a lot of paint worn off the operators platform for a 5 year old tractor.
Is there an issue with the left rear fender beside the ROPS mount?
Is the tire wear the same on both front tires, or only on one side?
Is it just the light causing the deformation?
View attachment 645538

Don't know what to say about the paint other than it has been sitting outside at the dealer (in the rain as you can see in the pics) for a while.

Both front tires were clearly worn on the outside edge, must be the lighting if it looks like only one in the pics. The sales mgr mentioned that might be caused by more work on pavement (e.g. plowing).

I would imagine the owner had used it more heavily at first when it was new, but not much the last year or two (was said be selling due to health preventing its use). Other than that I have no information about its history. The radiator cap was missing, there was electrical tape kluged over the hole -- that bothered me more than anything else, even though it's simple to repair. How do you lose a radiator cap? Do they break that easily?

Thanks for your reply, these are good things to consider pre-purchase.

 

[jima1]

If you want I can grab pictures of my machine which has 300+ hours for comparison

That would be great if they are convenient. Thanks.

 

[polarred21]

Sorry no pics other than the dealer listing.

I had seen this one on FB and wondered if it was the same one, it appears to be:

Loretta Hall - Great condition, low hours 25 HP 2�15... | Facebook

 

[cglaser104]

That would be great if they are convenient. Thanks.

I have 347hrs on this machine, tires are original and always kept to ideal inflation. Looking at the pictures on the listing you shared my guess is they saw a lot of time on pavement/hard surfaces which tear these tires up pretty quickly. I spend my time in lawn and dirt/mud(obviously as my machine needs a bath)

Also, the center of the rear pin fully raised is 23" with a standard cat 1 quick hitch attached would would have the same spacing for you and your cat 1 implements when attached.

1 item of note:. That GC1715 has a DL100 loader. Things like a SSQA and alternative front attachments are harder to come by for that loader. 2015 saw MF switch from DL100 to DL95, the DL95 has a yield of about 30% more lifting capacity than it predicesor the DL100. The DL100 would still be in line with kubota's usual lifting capacity for this size machine.

 

[jima1]

I had seen this one on FB and wondered if it was the same one, it appears to be:

Loretta Hall - Great condition, low hours 25 HP 2�15... | Facebook

Yes that does appear to be the same one, note the (now repainted) toolbox attached to the ROPS.

 

[jima1]

I have 347hrs on this machine, tires are original and always kept to ideal inflation. Looking at the pictures on the listing you shared my guess is they saw a lot of time on pavement/hard surfaces which tear these tires up pretty quickly. I spend my time in lawn and dirt/mud(obviously as my machine needs a bath)

Also, the center of the rear pin fully raised is 23" with a standard cat 1 quick hitch attached would would have the same spacing for you and your cat 1 implements when attached.

1 item of note:. That GC1715 has a DL100 loader. Things like a SSQA and alternative front attachments are harder to come by for that loader. 2015 saw MF switch from DL100 to DL95, the DL95 has a yield of about 30% more lifting capacity than it predicesor the DL100. The DL100 would still be in line with kubota's usual lifting capacity for this size machine.View attachment 645611View attachment 645612View attachment 645613View attachment 645614

Thanks for posting the pics, sounds like my aerator will be ok then. I'm with you, all grass, mud and gravel, no pavement here!

Your comment about loaders is helpful -- it was not obvious (to me) that going to the higher number model (DL100) is actually a step backwards. I don't have much loader work, though, so not concerned about the capacity. For me, it's probably more important to be able to take it off for mowing, and put it back on easily when needed -- any thoughts on that?

Everyone's input much appreciated.

 

[cglaser104]

It comes on and off in 5 minutes or less as you get proficient. The hardest thing for me to take on and off is the mid mount mower which wouldn't necessarily affect you with a rear mount unit. The process is the same on the DL100 and DL95... Put the leg stands out, use hydraulics to roll it out of the tractor mount and disconnect the hydraulic lines which are connected via quick connects for ease on/off operation.

 

[polarred21]

Well obviously it's a used machine that you are seeing a few issues with, probably normal wear. Does not look like a great effort to clean it up for sale, it is a tractor I guess.

Something to think about, with the current volatile market we are in, you may wait a little bit and find a real deal on a new one for just a little more money.