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

[irvingj]

Couple of updates:

1) Yes, I also agree those de-sulfator-mode chargers/tenders are a great idea. I have a couple and do use them, though I haven't had to touch the battery in the tractor yet.

2) First report on the new hardened-steel blower scraper blade:

A) In the past, using the OEM mild steel scraper blade --and remember I take mine right down to the pavement surface, with no "feet" on the blower at all-- I get about three "edges" used up per season. That is, after some usage, I flip the scraper around and use its other edge, then have to replace the blade altogether before the end of the season.

B) What happens is that the starting-out "square" edge. 1/4" thick, first gets ground off to a knife-edge. As it gets worn further, it eventually begins to grind off the bolt ends on the underside of the blower housing, then the nuts. Yes, I keep a jar of replacement short carriage bolts, washers, lock washers and nuts on hand.

C) So far, I've used the blower for four "snow events," each of which entails a number of trips up & down the driveway as well as a large turn-around area at the bottom in front of the garage.

D) Did my first inspection today -- so far it looks great, with only about 1/16" worn off the bottom front edge of the 1/4" thick blade. Ordinarily, I'd be looking, after four uses, to see if it was time to flip the blade around yet!

So it remains to be seen just how much longer this expensive hard steel blade lasts, but it's looking very good so far.

3) Shawn, if you think it's tight getting a draincock on your tractor.... try fitting an oil quick-drain on an O-320 plane that has tricycle gear!

 

[Shawn T. W.]

Oh, it wasn't too tight to get the petcock in, but once in, the "spout" for the hose is very tight against the block because of how the block is shaped in that area, not sure why it's cast like that ...

This is a guy I know from over on the green tractor talk forum that started his own retirement business, he lives in the snow belt of Michigan, and has come up with all kinds of solutions to "wear edges" for snow removal ... He loves a challenge, and if he doesn't have what you need, he will work with you as long as you can take pictures and run a tape measure ... SulleyBear Solutions

I got another 300 gallons out to my trees again this afternoon in two trips ... I was hoping to be able to start using my Kubota ... I picked up my new three point forks yesterday, and to my disappointment they were built to cat 2 spec's, not the cat 1 I wanted, and had ordered, so I took it back so they can fix it the way I want it ... Yes, I could use it the way it is, as the Kubota has cat 1/2 capabilities, but it defeats the purpose of the quick hitch ... I have 2 cat 1 quick hitches, one for each tractor, so I can share attachments ... The Kubota can lift 3900 Lbs on the 3 pt, so I figure I'll give my poor overworked Little Baby Fergie a bit of a break on that job ... Carrying 50 gallons up front, and towing 100-150 gallons in the back, plus the 700+ Lbs ballast box is a lot of sloshing weight to pull up and across bumpy hills ...

 

[Shawn T. W.]

Last night shortly before coming in from my creek project I noticed the BH control tower was wobbly, rocking forward and back, this morning I took the plastic cover off, and 2 of the 4 mounting tabs have cracked! While I could weld it mounted on the tractor, I prefer to wait until I take it off to weld it ... In the meantime I used a rachet strap to secure it.

Today I dug out the generators and welder, and headed out to the barn ...

I ended up taking the whole tower off ...

Welded a piece of 1/8" thick 1" angle iron just above the broken off tab, then turned it over and welded the little broken off piece to the angle iron and the tower ... It really is kinda wimpy thin steel, I didn't measure it, but it was thinner that the 1/8" angle ... I'm far from a good welder, but it's much sturdier than before ...

Then since I had the welder and generator our I went out back to add a cross tie to my future gate post ...

 

[Dmacleo]

well....9 deg and wind chill around 0 this morning, presently 16 with wind chill of 8. tractor left in wind stupidly.
guess what happened.
so I just tossed some diesel 911 in tank and plugged block heater in.
I'll swap filter shortly I keep 3 or 4 on hand always as it fits 3 other masseys here i deal with.

 

[MF RED in MT]

Last weekend with about 15" of new snow really forced me to get motivated and finally install the GC's

tire chains front and rear, install the rear weight box, install the front quick hitch with the PTO drive

shaft, and install the MF Dozer Blade.

The tractor started right up without the block heater since it wasn't too cold, only about 18F.

Lost about 5 trees with this "cement type heavy snow" which we don't get too often.

I did feel old and had sore bones and joints yesterday, KC

Attached are 2 bad pictures taken in the back of the property where some of the trees went down:

 

[Dmacleo]

decided I needed to keep 3 more 3608255M1 fuel filter elements on hand. checked amazon, 17$ per element (last order was 12 per...) but I would not have to drive 35 mile round trip.
hmmm.
so called dealer.
11$ per and 50 on hand and now 3 set aside for me. I'll go to breakfast in morning with friends then drive to dealer.
its crappy outside, prob gonna just unplug block heater and call it a day. I can see the wax in my bowl. just not able to lay in snow today.
anyways more products from powersave ordered that will be here soon.
meant to service that filter earlier but physical therapy on lumbar crap took its toll.

 

[MF RED in MT]

decided I needed to keep 3 more 3608255M1 fuel filter elements on hand. checked amazon, 17$ per element (last order was 12 per...) but I would not have to drive 35 mile round trip.
hmmm.
so called dealer.
11$ per and 50 on hand and now 3 set aside for me. I'll go to breakfast in morning with friends then drive to dealer.
its crappy outside, prob gonna just unplug block heater and call it a day. I can see the wax in my bowl. just not able to lay in snow today.
anyways more products from powersave ordered that will be here soon.
meant to service that filter earlier but physical therapy on lumbar crap took its toll.

Sorry to hear about your fuel issues.

I have only and always used the Power Service in the white bottle in my offroad diesel in the winter

and also the summer ever since the MF was new.

Summer I used the #2 and in the winter I use #1 winter blend, both with about 2 times the

recommended dose of the Power Service.

My tractor has always been stored in an unheated garage and our winter temperatures frequently

drop to -20F and usually have a few as low as -40F to -45F (the lowest).

I have never had a fuel issue due to the cold (I'm knocking on wood now), KC

 

[Dmacleo]

yeah I was out of power service treatment. ordered but not yet arrived. so letting some 911 soak in and tomorrow will swap filter. just other crap like fiber internet being installed today that took precedence. if needed I got 2 massey GC units and a 1532 I could use but not needed.
look at filter bowl now and you can see differentiation between wax and fuel. if was emergency I'd toss a kero salamander on it but not emergency. unplugged block heater as was waste of electricity, filter is BAD.

 

[ray66v]

well....9 deg and wind chill around 0 this morning, presently 16 with wind chill of 8. tractor left in wind stupidly.
guess what happened.
so I just tossed some diesel 911 in tank and plugged block heater in.
I'll swap filter shortly I keep 3 or 4 on hand always as it fits 3 other masseys here i deal with.

Not that this will make you feel any better,

The wind chill temperature is how cold it can feel to people.

It affects people, because we generate heat. Wind will remove heat faster than just the ambient air, making you feel colder.

It can only affect equipment in the sense that it will remove any heat in there, faster.

Since the wind temperature is usually no colder than the ambient, it's not going to get colder than the OAT.

 

[Dmacleo]

true, never gets colder than OAT but...battery is chemical reaction that creates heat. wind removes heat faster. it all matters. and if I had not parked tractor with filter bowl in wind the residual heat from running it earlier may still have been there.
it all matters.