My first brand new 'tractor'!

[Urbish]

Hey guys, I finally jumped and bought a brand new Massey Ferguson GC1723E subcompact tractor. It came with a loader and skid steer quick attach bucket. I added a frame-mount snow blade with hydraulic angling to my order, but it is not in yet. These have a 1.1L Iseki diesel and the balance of the tractor is made by Iseki as well in Thailand. Massey Ferguson (along with many of the subcompact brands) is offering 0% financing for up to 72mo, which seemed pretty attractive with inflation where it is currently.

I'm looking forward to scoring some Cat 1 three point implements to do a bunch of projects I have been putting off or doing the hard way. I will keep an eye out for some light weight pallet forks and a stump bucket for the front. I may sell one of my Cubs to make space, but will keep the 1958 LoBoy that I inherited from my dad.

 

[ricky racer]

Great purchase! You're young enough that you've got years to use it making it a wise purchase. I wish I would have purchased something like that when I was younger. Take care of it and it will out last you!! Get ballast such as loading the tires, wheel weights or a rear weight rack.

 

[Urbish]

Thanks Rick. I plan to make it last and already have a nice list of used 3-pt attachments I would like to find (including a ballast box). Neighbor has a Kubota of same size with some implements I can borrow, too!

 

[T-Mo]

I like the MF tractors, especially their sub-compacts like the 1700 series. I had thought of buying one myself, but I'll probably use the money to buy other things.

There are a lot of sub-compact and compact tractors out there, brand names like Kubota, MF, John Deere, etc., and other brands like RK, LS, Bad Boy, etc. The MF 1700 series are nice tractors.

 

[Gary Dotson]

I don’t know the exact model number but my late brother bought one of these about a year and half ago. Looks like a nice little rig. I’ve never bought a new one, just stuck with the used compact B series Kubotas. We don’t care for monthly payments.

 

[Urbish]

I’ve never bought a new one, just stuck with the used compact B series Kubotas. We don’t care for monthly payments.

I don't care for payments either, but at 0%, I just tucked my cash into something that will make money instead.

 

[Urbish]

I snagged a nice 3-pt middle buster for gouging up the ground and doing some shallow trenching (seasonally used water line and popup drains for downspouts). Note that I've since gotten the proper bushings and top link pin since I took these photos. Gotta get some light skid-steer quick-attach pallet forks for the loader, 3-pt back-blade, ballast box, and a few other odds and ends yet.

 

[Don McCombs]

I got a set of these for a larger tractor.

https://www.palletforks.com/skid-steers ... GROUP.html

So far, they work well. They do make a light duty set.

 

[Urbish]

I got a set of these for a larger tractor.

https://www.palletforks.com/skid-steers ... GROUP.html

So far, they work well. They do make a light duty set.

I received a set of skid steer quick attach 42" width-adjustable pallet forks from palletforks.com yesterday along with a clamp on quick spade attachment. The quick spade can clamp to my material bucket and also has fork pockets to go out on the end of the forks. With it out on the forks, I don't have much lift capacity remaining, but I sure have a lot of reach! I dug up an old fruit tree root ball in about 15 minutes. It has defied manual shoveling for several years. I am very happy with this combo so far!

I haven't tried the spade on the bucket yet, but will plan to clamp on a thick hunk of reinforcing steel so I don't bend the bottom of the bucket.

Jim

 

[Urbish]

I forgot to post photos of the 62" power-angling snow blade I got with my subcompact Massey Ferguson. I am super interested to see how this compares to plowing with the Cub. I have 60# wheel weights on each rear wheel, 600# in a ballast box, and some light duty chains for the rear tires. Now all I need is some snow to plow!

 

[Gary Dotson]

You’ll never go back to plowing snow with the Cub! You are now officially spoiled! 4 wheel drive and hst trans. make all the difference in the world. My old Kubota, that I use for snow, is about 40 yrs. Old but still does a good job on the snow. I just wish it had power steering and a cab of some sort.

 

[Urbish]

You’ll never go back to plowing snow with the Cub! You are now officially spoiled! 4 wheel drive and hst trans. make all the difference in the world. My old Kubota, that I use for snow, is about 40 yrs. Old but still does a good job on the snow. I just wish it had power steering and a cab of some sort.

I have a feeling I will be real happy with this. My only real concern is resistance to the plow pushing the front of the tractor sideways when windrowing. The Cub usually did okay in this department. I have a 750cc 4WD quad with a plow (but no chains) that does great in light stuff, but just skitters sideways in deeper/heavier snow. I'm hoping this will be a happy medium between the two. I'm keeping my one remaining Cub around over this winter to make sure I don't need it. If the MF does well, then the Cub will go into dry-dock out of state with some other antique tractors my family. I need the space!!!

 

[ricky racer]

That's a nice looking setup! Being 4wd I'm surprised you felt you needed chains. I like the fact that you're keeping the Cub around to bail out the Massy if needed! :lol:

 

[Urbish]

That's a nice looking setup! Being 4wd I'm surprised you felt you needed chains. I like the fact that you're keeping the Cub around to bail out the Massy if needed! :lol:

I'm a bit concerned about how these R4 tires will do if I get ice under the snow. I'm going to try it without the chains (they're hanging on a hook presently). They are a cheap insurance policy and I'll already have them on hand should they be needed.

 

[ricky racer]

:thumbsup:

 

[ajhbike]

Nice little rig. Not sure you can fix the side skittering...it is probably several hundred pounds less than a cub

 

[Don McCombs]

Interesting that the available literature does not give a tractor weight.

 

[Jim Becker]

Interesting that the available literature does not give a tractor weight.

The literature seems to be weak on all the basic dimensions. TractorData says it weighs 1521 pounds.

 

[Gary Dotson]

My plow Kubota has the big turf tires (like a 184) so it wears chains all winter. I’ve never had issue with the front being shoved around but I suspect mine is a little heavier. I think having the front wheels pulling helps a lot too.