So I got a call from my salesman at Abele Tractor last week that the "latest and greatest" replacement for my tractor is finally here! I have a 2006 vin GC2310TLB that I bought in late August so they consider it a 2007. I have lots of goodies to go with it...MF Snowplow/Dozer blade, Cammond Box Blade, Cammond York Rake, TS Post Hole Digger (yet to use), quick hitch and Sears soft side cab I jerry rig for snowplowing. I have been researching the new tractors ever since I bought mine (which I love!). But there were a couple things I felt they could improve on;
1) better location of parking brake lever
2) use a 'big tractor' joystick usually located on right hip
3) hard plumb fittings for backhoe hoses (no safe place to put them)
4) better key/ignition (my key turns then comes right out)
I have been researching this new tractor ever since MF introduced it and after seeing the tractor in person, I did see several nice updates, including the styling. The hood cover and headlight combination is far and away much nicer looking than my 2006. The dealer felt the most important upgrade was a hood latch. It was hard getting the hood up on mine, I can't say it deterred me from checking fluids or cleaning the engine compartment, but he did think it was an issue with owners not properly servicing their machines. I can see his point. They relocated the parking brake where you can easily reach it, and there is a better key/ignition setup. They did redesign the loader joystick (now longer, eliminating the need to stretch for the lever). The cutoff switch for the seat is no longer attached to the seat (on mine the wires got cut when they got caught in the seat spring). They also relocated the hydraulics below the loader joystick tucked between the frame and right loader arm. We'll see if it makes it difficult hooking up those line when I take the loader off and put the Snowplow blade on. The dealer tells me the motor is quieter and this is the last year for a non-emission motor. He tells me the price will be going up considerably for the late 2013/early 2014 models. Even though I didn't see the most important upgrade (Massey Ferguson PLEASE take NOTE!) hard plumb fittings for the backhoe connections would be a GREAT upgrade...I am always concerned the 3 pt hitch will cut them like a knife...they always seem to be in the way, and for almost $20K I shouldn't have to zip tie them! And hopefully they will incorporate relocating the loader joystick like John Deere did on the 1026R.
We sat down for a few minutes and talked numbers, they gave me a great trade in price and we did the deal for $6k. I felt real comfortable with that number so I signed right there. New machine comes this Friday.
I only have 300 hrs on my 2006, but I plan on using the GC1710 almost 300 hours this year alone if I build a new house, so I will have plenty of seat time to test the new machine out...so look forward to a more in depth review in the spring, and some pics shortly! I have a feeling I won't be disappointed, the GC2310TLB served me well.
1) better location of parking brake lever
2) use a 'big tractor' joystick usually located on right hip
3) hard plumb fittings for backhoe hoses (no safe place to put them)
4) better key/ignition (my key turns then comes right out)
I have been researching this new tractor ever since MF introduced it and after seeing the tractor in person, I did see several nice updates, including the styling. The hood cover and headlight combination is far and away much nicer looking than my 2006. The dealer felt the most important upgrade was a hood latch. It was hard getting the hood up on mine, I can't say it deterred me from checking fluids or cleaning the engine compartment, but he did think it was an issue with owners not properly servicing their machines. I can see his point. They relocated the parking brake where you can easily reach it, and there is a better key/ignition setup. They did redesign the loader joystick (now longer, eliminating the need to stretch for the lever). The cutoff switch for the seat is no longer attached to the seat (on mine the wires got cut when they got caught in the seat spring). They also relocated the hydraulics below the loader joystick tucked between the frame and right loader arm. We'll see if it makes it difficult hooking up those line when I take the loader off and put the Snowplow blade on. The dealer tells me the motor is quieter and this is the last year for a non-emission motor. He tells me the price will be going up considerably for the late 2013/early 2014 models. Even though I didn't see the most important upgrade (Massey Ferguson PLEASE take NOTE!) hard plumb fittings for the backhoe connections would be a GREAT upgrade...I am always concerned the 3 pt hitch will cut them like a knife...they always seem to be in the way, and for almost $20K I shouldn't have to zip tie them! And hopefully they will incorporate relocating the loader joystick like John Deere did on the 1026R.
We sat down for a few minutes and talked numbers, they gave me a great trade in price and we did the deal for $6k. I felt real comfortable with that number so I signed right there. New machine comes this Friday.
I only have 300 hrs on my 2006, but I plan on using the GC1710 almost 300 hours this year alone if I build a new house, so I will have plenty of seat time to test the new machine out...so look forward to a more in depth review in the spring, and some pics shortly! I have a feeling I won't be disappointed, the GC2310TLB served me well.
