What have you done with/to your GC Series 2300, 2400, 1700 Tractor TODAY

[Dmacleo]

Because at first glance they look like those cheap straps found in $9.99 bin at hardware store...

they're not. 75$ for 4 of that hook size rated 1500 took bit to find, lowes had them in stock one day and I grabbed them.
forget brand name now, was 4 years ago I bought them. they have hauled many different GC series many thousands of miles on multiple trailers.
when you run commercial plates up here you are eligible to be pulled over anytime for safety inspection. these (and everything else with me) always passed fine.

 

[kenmbz]

Moved a few sticks today, 6-10' 10-20" round. about 10 total.
Had to put rounds in the bucket at one point to keep the weight distribution nose heavy.

 

[Dmacleo]

not so much what I did with MY GC but...what my car did.
hauled a 2021 1725MB back from dealer after input shaft seal replace. 120 hrs on machine.
will put MMM on the 1725 for neighbors in day or so, dealing with weekend tilling appts right now.

 

[Pixguy]

Moved a few sticks today, 6-10' 10-20" round. about 10 total.
Had to put rounds in the bucket at one point to keep the weight distribution nose heavy.
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Sure, we've all had the hoe end tip us forward when not prepared. Sometimes over the edge of a hill picking up some boulders which made us check our knickers afterwards.

 

[Dmacleo]

stump lowering to get ready for stump grinder. at some points this hybrid poplar is 68 inches.
there are 2 main roots that are 18 inches.
I got it within 3 inches grade all sides.
each chunk of stump weight about 80lbs.
in one pic there is curved piece of root that is 5ft long and 5 inches think.
1 20 inch chainsaw chain destroyed on this, tree grew around a small rock. course my saw hit it when pushing in.
20 inch saw was not big enough, had to section then weaken then put bucket into cracks to weaken further.

first load to neighbor (today, I did load 3 weeks ago for first 1.5 ft tall of stump) for wood pile.
biggest section was 78 lbs smallest was 35 lbs.
that root mentioned is shown here.



after first load (keep in mind I have already cut 1.5 ft off stump(few weeks ago no pics and delivered wood to neighbor) and I have just this large part to cut.

time for new chain on the saw. FWIW 2.5 years (Oct 2018) ago I took a chance on a 43cc 20 inch reminton saw (RM4620 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01KC4W9TS/ ) and its been flawless. after 5 months sitting 2 pulls and running. I digress.




for many of the cuts I had to sink bucket into slots and break free with tractor. I would also press bucket against other cuts to break/weaken.




last load 2 pieces. 65-80lbs each



final, ready to call stump grinder or wait for family member with one. seeing as how the roots run 18 inches diameter I may have to wait for family member.



throughout much of his I had to push saw nose in full depth (with the bar on engine end full depth 18 inches) then do blind cuts outwards MANY times. I also had to do cuts from top of chain.
I always positioned myself so ANY kickback would hit chain brake.
I hit the brake today on a kick back when nosing into the cut.
those chain brakes can save you.
anywhoo I used GC bucket to dump the sections into trailer and hauled to neighbor to burn.

friggin hybrid poplars...this one tree at year 4 to year 12 gained 10 feet in height and 15ft in width every year until I downed it at year 18. sister tree was same on height but gained 20ft in width same time period. I could look at a branch (easy to do on poplar) and see 10-20ft of green stuff every year.
this and its sister tree planted in 2003 and in downed Sep 2021 were 82ft tall.

the sister tree I cut at 5ft height and just left, I got bunch of hostas surrounding it. its base and grade was 62 inches so I bet foot below (this was always bigger tree) grade I would be looking at 80 inches.
screw it leave it.

 

[kenmbz]

I have an Echo 490 with 18 or 20" bar. It was not enough, so I bought a 620P with 24" bar.
That helps in the bigger stumps so I don't have to chunk them out.
For root cutting, I use a sawzall, saves me from buying chains.

I use the backhoe to dig out roots, but Tulip Poplars are a bit much, don't blame you for going the stump grinder route.

 

[Dmacleo]

I have an Echo 490 with 18 or 20" bar. It was not enough, so I bought a 620P with 24" bar.
That helps in the bigger stumps so I don't have to chunk them out.
For root cutting, I use a sawzall, saves me from buying chains.

I use the backhoe to dig out roots, but Tulip Poplars are a bit much, don't blame you for going the stump grinder route.

24 would have helped but I spent with tax 170$ on this off brand and have been pleased.
Really when stuff is 60+ inches you are screwed anyway
Now just got to find grinder willing to dig down 18 inches to deal with those 3 roots.
Most around here only willing to go 8 below grade. I got 3 main roots sitting 2 below grade that are 18 thick.
Oh well if they will do a slice across each I'll use backhoe to open hit with saw then pull with mf1532.
Having many tractors around gives me options

 

[Whitbread]

Many hands make light work, so it was a good opportunity to take down a 32" white pine that died 2 years ago when the water levels were crazy high. 1740m got a workout running the Hudson 35m winch to pull the logs up to a flat/dry area to work on them, carrying logs, and then running the woodmaxx wm8m chipper to deal with all the brush. Have one pile left to chip tomorrow but otherwise a successful afternoon that saved an easy $4k over a tree service!
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[Dmacleo]

R1 rears removed and R4 put back on for summer/fall work.
R1 traction rocks but the damage they do to lawns when hauling a tiller across lawn not worth it.
so come november I'll toss the 10ply R1 back on and mount the snowblower.
I did cheat and left the R1 on the front.

 

[PJRAM]

I used just one pallet fork on my GC1723 to dig a trench to bury some landscape lighting wires. Now I just need to spread a little more gravel to clean up the walkway.