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

[Dmacleo]

the DL100 FEL on the GC2400 makes a GREAT tool (along with a c-clamp) to clean 2326 MMM blades on.
3 blades, only showing 1 blade.


rusty.
wire brush on 4" grinder. only hit my hand/fingers once with grinder.



all cleaned and painted and I will sharpen in few hours.
these 3 blades were bought 5-21-2021 and have over 70 hours usage on them.



every time mower is due service I put fresh blades on.
was one time I had to service unplanned when I broke left rear gauge wheel holder after servicing 2 hours prior. bent it back (torches used) and welded it into place and ....yup...it was off.... blade swap. hard enough getting these things on and off, if in doubt do a blade swap.
thats if you have a fresh set of blades always on hand. I always have fresh set on hand. I have 2 blades from original purchase in 2020, they are not painted but they are good to go. so at ANY time I have 5 blades ready to go. with the lead time on this crap and fact nobody makes aftermarket blades...i'm good and my field (notice I did not say lawn) will get knocked down often.

 

[Dmacleo]

realized there was reason I always curl bucket up after removing the DL100 FEL.
forgot last time, left it sitting on bucket tip. course over 4 days it settled JUST a touch...enough I had to press nipples on hoses to reattach and of course it made a mess LOL

bucket is on and off tractor often, and I make this error about once a year. got it out of way early.

 

[hube2]

realized there was reason I always curl bucket up after removing the DL100 FEL.
forgot last time, left it sitting on bucket tip. course over 4 days it settled JUST a touch...enough I had to press nipples on hoses to reattach and of course it made a mess LOL

bucket is on and off tractor often, and I make this error about once a year. got it out of way early.

I always curl my bucket up when I take it off as well, but for a different reason. I do it to retract the cylinders so that the chrome will not be affected by the weather. But, this gives me another reason to do so as well. Makes sense that pressure will build up as the FEL settles and tries to curl up from sitting.

 

[Dmacleo]

fueled it up today (damn even off road diesel getting expensive again) taught neighbor how to run bucket and watched it go next door with a tear in my eye.
it will be ok he don't know how to beat it like I do

 

[Dmacleo]

blade service time
3 of best tools ever made. tractor with bucket, c-clamps, grinder that takes different heads.
the 3 in rotation already done and waiting for paint, these 2 are hot swap spares, original from 2020 when I got the 2326 deck.

 

[Dmacleo]

replaced one tie rod boot (both dry rotted, dealer only had one. for GC2400 its part # 4265169M1 $37) today, took 12 minutes. on GC24xx there is a small spring type clamp on tie rod end that is not listed in parts break down.
save it.
anyways whole job took about 12 minutes.
been keeping eye on these as I knew they were dry rotting (hey, its a 2010 GC2400) but somehow one (can't explain, no woods sh$t) got torn and the backstop on steering ram (man that item alone is 1100$ if you can order it) was bent in one spot.
anyways the torn side with bent back stop is fixed, in approx 10 days another boot will be at dealer (yeah I paid already) so I can replace the one that has cracks but actually isn't broken.

all driven off that 1100$ steering ram crap. 2 boots. total 77$ with tax. 77 trumps 1100.

 

[dicktill]

Not exactly what I did to it today, but I did a long (it was so long, I had to break it into two posts) writeup thread about the Massey Ferguson GC1723/1725 hydraulic system: How Massey Ferguson GC 1723 & 1725 hydraulics are plumbed in the hydraulics forum.

I've added an update to the How Massey Ferguson GC 1723 & 1725 hydraulics are plumbed in the hydraulics forum: How Massey Ferguson GC 1723 & 1725 hydraulics are plumbed

A drawing of the entire system is included.

 

[Dmacleo]

as mentioned earlier over last 3 weeks have replaced the torn tie rod boots on 2010 GC2400. last one done yesterday. so I checked inner and outer tie rod ends on both sides when doing. both inner (this is reason for last edit) approx 1/8" play and both outers no play, so replace soon but not critical now.
mowed a ditch today, left front tire starts wiggling. approx 5/8" push/pull play left inner tie rod.
yup replace now.
call dealer (they answer hey Dave what you need? yup I am infamous) give them part number for inner tie rod end on 2010 GC2400, 7069211M91, yup we got 2 on hand 140$ each. I say I'll take them.
Service manager says BUT...(ok my spirits sank then) you can buy the whole assembly (part # 7069209M91 ) which is inner tie rod end, outer tie rod end, and the boots (just paid 37$ each as play was acceptable a few short days ago) for 138$ and since they fit many massey models I keep at least 4 on hand.
90 minutes later 2 new ones here, the really crap one done, will do other tomorrow then do my toe in stuff.
side note.
a very small (for me) rant.
the GC2400 service manual really SUCKS on steering stuff. barely mentions tie rod or steering cylinder stuff.
the owners manual gives toe measurements but you would think a service manual that shows you how to tear apart a hydro unit would at least say...oh yeah, toe in is 2-6mm.
/rant over.
anyways this part # 7069209M91 ASSEMBLY (according to dealer) applies to the GC23x series, the GC24x (of course...its a gc2400 sitting here), the GC17x series. even the older GC1700/05/10/15 series (which are different than newer GC stuff) as well as the newer GC1723/25M series.

EDIT if reading on mobile part numbers may show as link, don't click waste of time. Tried to alleviate but didn't work.
EDIT #2 1125est : edited to show was inner with play on both sides while both outer no play.

 

[Dmacleo]

well thats done, mowing a sidehill of 60% (rises just under 6 feet in a 10ft lateral move)suddenly got a lot less interesting. amazing how good these are on sidehills with rear spacers ( 2 inch, clears belly mower fine) and front tires that are not wobbling all over the place by at least 4 inches total (2 inner tie rods, twice the fun) makes it lot safer.
good thing that section is only only 3 passes wide and 190ft long.
been watching these inner rod ends since I bought the unit in 10-2020. replaced boots in 3-2021. replaced boots 7-2024 and it all went to hell. I was prepared.

ok this is funny. when it went all wonky was 666.6 hrs and today after fixing is sitting 666.8 hrs. think I will leave well enough alone today

 

[irvingj]

Spooky.....