New Massey GC2300

[The General]

Well at the beginning of last summer I took one of the needle bearings on a spindle in the old 1450 with around 3000 hours. I then decided to buy a JD 345 with 650 hrs. What a flipping mistake. After using it for 2 weeks the nitorious cam goes (I fix it on my own), then bearings in the deck, water pump, etc. I guess this is what I deserve from going from the best to green dog droppings. So I traded that thing in on a Massey GC2300, snow blower, 60in mower deck. It now has 100 hrs of mowing, snow blowing, and pulling the 100 gallon water tank. What a fabulous machine. I still use the 1450 to pull the garden trailer around. To bad they don't make spindles for them anymore. If anyone is ever thinking about a GC2300 go get one.

[Dragon]

:wwp:

I have the TLB version of that tractor on my short list for when I upgrade to a CUT.

What things stand out in your mind as being the best features and what features could be better?

Did you get it new or used?

Thanks and lets see a few pictures!

[The General]

The 2300 turns on a dime, starts right up in the winter, wet snow doesn't even bog it down. The only thing I feel could be upgraded is a can holder that doesn't allow your beer (pop for the younger people) to get shook up. I forgot to add I also purchased a 3pt spreader for it. 4wd and this thing goes anywhere. I will get some pictures of the beast on here soon. I do know one thing. My buddies always gave me crap about my old 1450 and going green. I did that and it was a $1200 loss in the shorts. Now they are wishing they had what I'm using now. I did purchase it new.

[The General]

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x65/The_General99/100_3946.jpg

I took one pic and then the wifes camera was full. When she deletes a few I'll post some more. We just got 12" of the wet as wet can be snow and this thing has no problem. No extra added weight or anything.

[slkpk]

:congrats: and looking forward to more pics. slkpk

[butchs_hobby]

General, I'm guessing here that you're talking about the spindle bearings and shaft on the mower of that old 1450. The bearings are still available, I got mine at an auto parts, the shafts would have to be welded up and remachined on a lathe. I'd love to have that 2300, been drooling over them for three-four years. One day I'll get me one, heard nothing but good reveiws on them. I've got a 1450(shop push tractor),a 1650, and an 1855 all MF's. Also have a 445JD and that's what I'll get rid of for the 2300MF. The JD's a good tractor but I like my old MF's better.

[The General]

Yeah butch the bearings on the shaft are needle bearings and it ate up the shaft when the bearing went out. I took it to a machine shop and had it smoothed. It lasted about another 20 hours before it took the bearing out again (which I knew it would). By the time I paid to get that done it would be worth more then the mower. So I'll just use it to pull that cart around in my avatar. I suppose I could just take the belt off that side and let the kid mow with it. In 122 hours on the 2300 I have never thought twice about the money and wish I would have just done it in the first place. Maybe someday I'll come across a used shaft. In the 20 years I've had the 1450 I replaced one idler pulley in the front, bearings in both front wheels, and just the other regular stuff i.e. belts, oil, blades.

[Ingersoll444]

Nice. I realy like those GC2300's. Been looking at them sence they came out. Suprised I dont see more of them. Nice price, size, and feachers. IMHO they had a leg up on the Kub BX's.

[butchs_hobby]

General, I should have mentioned that when I reworked the mower off of my 1450 I installed grease zerks in the spindle housings, going on my fifth mowing season with it and no bearing problems. I do give each spindle two pumps of synthetic grease every four hrs of use. Those MF garden tractors were built by Snapper, an old Snapper dealer might have some of them mower shafts, just a thought.

[The General]

Hey Butch thanks for the idea. I did check the local Massey and Snapper Dealers. I have yet to check out the local junk yards. Maybe some day I'll come across one but with the new mower I'd never use it anyway.