George
I bought a GC2310 three years ago and now have 385 hours on it. The only mechanical issues I've had are 6 or 7 broken hazard lights on the rops, mostly due to tree branches but the last one was a house, cracked headlight unit from snow coming over the bucket when piling (I don't think that will be an issue for you, but if you get a loader, gravel and dirt or anything else could be if you lift it high enough) and the BIGGY-- broken screwball in the loader joystick, twice!
Parts cost, hazard lights- about 6 bucks ea. at TSC, polycarbonate headlight unit- $102 at the Massey store and the screwballs (pivots)- 20 bucks ea. at the Massey store. For me to go to the nearest Massey store means dig out the passport and drive 64 miles round trip, mostly in a foreign country.
Polycarbonate is a designers dream to squeeze the best possible aerodynamic flow out of the headlight area at the front of a vehicle. A very important consideration for a vehicle with a top speed of 8 1/2 mph. The GC2400 has a redesigned hood that provides at least some overhead protection for the headlights. They also wrapped a steel guard around the hazard lights to protect them. Of couse that guard sticks out even further so that it can hit the trees a little more square on. At least they put a tach on it.
I loved the treadle pedal on my 1655 but the one on my GC2310 is really hard on my knee after 4 or 5 hours of pushing snow flakes.
My attachments include FEL, backhoe and 5' back blade. The weaknesses that I have found are minor in nature as you can tell, but I have heard of one that is serious, but can be dealt with fairly easily. The transmission oil filter is somewhat exposed, and if hit by an obstruction as you drive over, will break the $750 transmission case. A skid plate will protect it. Found this out by Googling 'GC2310'.
Strengths? It's a bear! More push than a Jewish mother-in-law! And pull to match. With low range, four wheel drive and a diff lock, if you get stuck YOU screwed up. Controls are all within easy reach and operate super smooth. Glow plugs will get it started at 10F. colder than that you need a block heater. At -10F a little extra help from a heat gun will ensure starting. Haven't had to boost it yet, but it only went down to -22F last winter.
All around, I'm glad I bought it. I checked out JD and Kubota tractors in the same class, but they didn't have the same level of comfort. Besides, I like red!I put 90 hours on it pushing snow flakes last winter, sometimes as much as 9 hours a day. Turf tires, NO chains and she still pulled a couple of cars out of the snow banks.
Hope this helps.
Bob
I bought a GC2310 three years ago and now have 385 hours on it. The only mechanical issues I've had are 6 or 7 broken hazard lights on the rops, mostly due to tree branches but the last one was a house, cracked headlight unit from snow coming over the bucket when piling (I don't think that will be an issue for you, but if you get a loader, gravel and dirt or anything else could be if you lift it high enough) and the BIGGY-- broken screwball in the loader joystick, twice!
Parts cost, hazard lights- about 6 bucks ea. at TSC, polycarbonate headlight unit- $102 at the Massey store and the screwballs (pivots)- 20 bucks ea. at the Massey store. For me to go to the nearest Massey store means dig out the passport and drive 64 miles round trip, mostly in a foreign country.
Polycarbonate is a designers dream to squeeze the best possible aerodynamic flow out of the headlight area at the front of a vehicle. A very important consideration for a vehicle with a top speed of 8 1/2 mph. The GC2400 has a redesigned hood that provides at least some overhead protection for the headlights. They also wrapped a steel guard around the hazard lights to protect them. Of couse that guard sticks out even further so that it can hit the trees a little more square on. At least they put a tach on it.
I loved the treadle pedal on my 1655 but the one on my GC2310 is really hard on my knee after 4 or 5 hours of pushing snow flakes.
My attachments include FEL, backhoe and 5' back blade. The weaknesses that I have found are minor in nature as you can tell, but I have heard of one that is serious, but can be dealt with fairly easily. The transmission oil filter is somewhat exposed, and if hit by an obstruction as you drive over, will break the $750 transmission case. A skid plate will protect it. Found this out by Googling 'GC2310'.
Strengths? It's a bear! More push than a Jewish mother-in-law! And pull to match. With low range, four wheel drive and a diff lock, if you get stuck YOU screwed up. Controls are all within easy reach and operate super smooth. Glow plugs will get it started at 10F. colder than that you need a block heater. At -10F a little extra help from a heat gun will ensure starting. Haven't had to boost it yet, but it only went down to -22F last winter.
All around, I'm glad I bought it. I checked out JD and Kubota tractors in the same class, but they didn't have the same level of comfort. Besides, I like red!I put 90 hours on it pushing snow flakes last winter, sometimes as much as 9 hours a day. Turf tires, NO chains and she still pulled a couple of cars out of the snow banks.
Hope this helps.
Bob
