MF GC2410 what to look for when inspecting

[Burt Shaver]

Facebook

www.facebook.com

I’m supposed to be going to look at this tomorrow, seller says it has 381 hours on it, comes with roto tiller and the backhoe and bucket shown in pics.
Wondering what to look for when I go see it? I e watched one video so far that says to check k the pins for play, lift the front wheels with the loader.

 

[Hooked]

I would add, lift the rear wheels with the backhoe, raise both FL and BH and leave them lifted while you check other things. Check for fluid leaks(oil, water, hydraulic, etc), oil pressure(if it has a gauge), maintenance records.

 

[Burt Shaver]

So I did my best, I forgot to look at some things, I had a list of things to look at but didn’t look at the list.
Anyways, try to paint a picture here, show up weeds everywhere , house is pretty rough, old rusted out truck, little shed is a disaster, everything is a disaster really. No e guy to talk to,
So the first thing I do is Check the oil, oil looks good, just below the full line, nice color for a diesel. I look it over, front tire is soft, all tires have significant weather checking, he mentions 3 of the tires have tubes in them, keep looking wires cut on both sides going up to the roll cage, super faded, he’s the original owner and stored it outside with no cover since new, broken plastic wheel well, rust on the rims, the seat is toasted, 391 hours or so I believe.
I had asked him not to start it, he lets the glow plugs do their thing for 30 seconds, starts right up, sounds nice, he raises the loader, gos through the hydraulics, seems fine but I don’t know, I ask him to lift th front end, he does and easily, he then lifts the rear and with the backhoe, the stabilizers only lift the tires about a half inch off the ground, seems odd, but they are off the ground.
I wiggle the loader and the backhoe, lose pins or whatever they are called, everything looks dry, probably never greased them once in 391 hours, while I’m checking the pins I’m able to push the loader pistons into the cylinders about 2 Inches. Seals, low on hydraulic fluid? He did mention having a hydraulic hose changed.
I asked him if I could try to drive forward with the brake applied, from what I seen online if the transmission is good, it should stall out the engine, it didn’t stall, it did put some torque on the engine, but I didn’t want to go on with that for long, I was surprised he even let me do it.
Drove it forward 10 feet and backwards 10 feeer a couple times, goes much slower in reverse? Normal? The pedal for reverse is sticky, pretty much have to hit the forward pedal to get it to come up and stop. While I’m moving I notice so play in the front wheels, I had already noticed cracked boots, get off wiggle the front tires, some really worn front end components.
So what I’m wondering is, what can I get myself into here, I’m handy if I have some guidance, any ideas what is wrong? Costs? From a dealer? Doing things myself?
I messaged on the way home after researching a bit on the pistons going into hydraulic cylinders that 2 inches and it didn’t seem expensive or hard so I offered 8500.00 CDN. He said he couldn’t go that low yet as he has other people coming. It ran good, he said it needs to be plugged in if it’s -15 Celsius or colder, but it’s rough, I would say no maintenance

 

[Burt Shaver]

Well, the tractor sold, I just didn’t know what to look for to be sure everything was good, like the big components. I was the first guy to look at it, must have been the second guy bought it. Normally this tractor with say 700 to 900 hours with the backhoe, loader and tiller attachment would be listed for 18500.00 to 21000.00 CDN without the tiller so may have been a good buy for someone or maybe not?
Anyways even though this one is gone I would love to hear anything about these sub compact tractors.

 

[manwithtools]

I'd say you dodged a bullet on that one. If you are needing to do any amount of work with a TLB, I'd move up one size to at least a CUT. Something in the 24 - 30 HP range. The sub compact's are handy, but it's going to be slow work with one of those. A CUT will have limitations too, but not as much as a sub compact.

 

[Burt Shaver]

You may be right, but I’m pretty bummed out

 

[Firebrick43]

I cant believe the steering links and joints are worn in that short of time even if they were not greased. A lot of vehicles now have 500 hour service intervals (I don't agree with that but?) and you still see 10 times those hours or more before wear.

 

[Burt Shaver]

 

[Burt Shaver]

Had some wiggle here as well, not sure if it should have.

 

[mm08822]

Had some wiggle here as well, not sure if it should have.

Those look like machined flats.

 

[mm08822]

You never know what you are buying used w/o learning the wear issues. A lot can be said for overall appearance telling the care it received.

Keep learning what to lookout for and dont be bashful about checking those things on the next one.

 

[Firebrick43]

Those look like machined flats.

I am assuming that those are wrench flats to remove the gland head for a cylinder rebuild.

Sort of a crappy way to mount a steering cylinder IMHO

 

[Burt Shaver]

You never know what you are buying used w/o learning the wear issues. A lot can be said for overall appearance telling the care it received.

Keep learning what to lookout for and dont be bashful about checking those things on the next one.

True, I’m pretty sure he didn’t do any maintenance, I have a feeling he bought it new, worked it a bit for the first 4 or 5 years and then moved on to something else, he had mentioned that he just had a hydraulic line replaced, probably to get it ready for sale. I’m pretty disappointed in myself knowing a little more now. In hindsight I think the, key word is think the major components where good with 381 hours. I could have gotten it for near 10,000.00 less than one that was well cared for.
Anyways, yes. I want to learn more about what to look for and how they work. So I’m ready next time
If I could go back in time one day, I would have offered him 10,500.00 and probably have went up to 11,000.00

 

[Burt Shaver]

I cant believe the steering links and joints are worn in that short of time even if they were not greased. A lot of vehicles now have 500 hour service intervals (I don't agree with that but?) and you still see 10 times those hours or more before wear.

Makes you wonder how hard it would be to make it appear as 381 hours? I would have thought the days of rolling back were long gone,

 

[Burt Shaver]

Makes you wonder how hard it would be to make it appear as 381 hours? I would have thought the days of rolling back were long gone,

With that being said, I do believe the hours, I just think it never seen a lick of grease

 

[Firebrick43]

Makes you wonder how hard it would be to make it appear as 381 hours? I would have thought the days of rolling back were long gone,

Unplug the hour meter or replace it with a new one. I am assuming due to the low HP that it is not an electronic injection engine that would have an ECM that you could check via a laptop

 

[mm08822]

Buy a new hr meter? But that takes some early thinking/scheming.

Just leaving it 100% in the weather will add years from UV.

Even a tractor shed/carport would help tremendously.

 

[manwithtools]

Even a tractor shed/carport would help tremendously.

Agreed, my 24 x 32 carport is being installed next Tuesday for just that reason.

OP, that machine has been mistreated and neglected. If you found the things you did with just a cursory overview, there are more surprises coming. Just a thought, many of the CUT manufacturers will offer 0% financing for new machines. If you need a machine that you don't have to work on everytime you want to use it, that could be an option.

 

[mm08822]

Agreed, my 24 x 32 carport is being installed next Tuesday for just that reason.

OP, that machine has been mistreated and neglected. If you found the things you did with just a cursory overview, there are more surprises coming. Just a thought, many of the CUT manufacturers will offer 0% financing for new machines. If you need a machine that you don't have to work on everytime you want to use it, that could be an option.

Also have it sooner, without the uncertainty.

Buying something used in good condition in timbuckto can still be a big PIA.

Ive heard two owners say that for the high price of used equipment, it made little sense to buy used vs new with warranties.

 

[Firebrick43]

I had a neighbor during the 2003-2005 time frame that I lived in California that would rent a fairly new Kubota CUT every year to muck out the shelters and corner of the pasture where his horses pooed.

I was talking to him over the fence as he was playing around up under the dash. He was unplugging the hour meter after running it for 6 hours.

I guess the rental yard considered a day 8 hours and if you rented over the weekend even though you were in possession for 2 days as long as the hour meter was under 8 when returned it was a single day rental. He ran that thing like a borrowed mule all weekend, even his buddy a 1/2 mile up the road was pushing dirt in his yard.

One of the many reasons I was happy to leave California.

Looks like the the MF uses an old school mechanical tach/hobbs. Disconnecting the cable would accomplish the same thing. And unless you are running specific implements that are RPM sensitive tach's are relatively unneeded on a governed engine. Many of the old tractors didn't have them and the only ones that I found useful were the ones with ground speed indications on them when plowing/planting/cultivating.

 

[manwithtools]

Also have it sooner, without the uncertainty.

Buying something used in good condition in timbuckto can still be a big PIA.

Ive heard two owners say that for the high of used equipment, it made little sense to used vs new with warranties.

I've faced this delmia 3 time in the last 18 years. Everytime I found a decent tractor, it was priced close to new. Otherwise the price was right, but they were junk. I gave up and just bought new, it was the easiest path and I knew the history and maintenance because I was doing it myself.

 

[Burt Shaver]

Agreed, my 24 x 32 carport is being installed next Tuesday for just that reason.

OP, that machine has been mistreated and neglected. If you found the things you did with just a cursory overview, there are more surprises coming. Just a thought, many of the CUT manufacturers will offer 0% financing for new machines. If you need a machine that you don't have to work on everytime you want to use it, that could be an option.

I wanted to get something pre emissions, would I be smart to do that? Or is that just hype?

 

[Firebrick43]

I wanted to get something pre emissions, would I be smart to do that? Or is that just hype?

If you going for a tractor under 25hp they are not required to have DPF or SCR.

Between 25 to ~75 hp they usually can accomplish emissions with EGR plus a DPF or DOC filter which doesn't require the SCR/DEF like 75~ and above does.

Absolutely no way in hell would I want a SCR system. I personally would want a pre emissions without EGR as well

 

[manwithtools]

I wanted to get something pre emissions, would I be smart to do that? Or is that just hype?

Mostly hype now days. Under 25hp there are no emissions. I currently have a 35hp CUT and it has a Diesel Particulate Filter, I've had no issues in over 100 hours. I believe the manufacturers have this sorted out now. Just run them like they are designed to be run and no problems. Mine has entered regen 3 or 4 times and I just keep using it while it does.

I also have a 75hp CTL and it's DPF only as well, I have no concerns with it either.

 

[Firebrick43]

Mostly hype now days. Under 25hp there are no emissions. I currently have a 35hp CUT and it has a Diesel Particulate Filter, I've had no issues in over 100 hours. I believe the manufacturers have this sorted out now.

The filter is not the issue, its the EGR, shits where it eats.

Cummins surely doesn't have it figured out. All our L9 and X15 have constant EGR cooler failures, either holed or plugged. My truck just had the EGR cooler replaced and the turbo bypass cleaned out at 75000 miles which isn't uncommon at all for our fleet of L9 because the amount of off idle pumping. The semis go longer because its more road miles but still will happen without doubt.

Same with JD and Case IH tractors, egr is terrible, just not as expensive as SCR failures. Our counties road drag tractor, a JD, had its egr plug at a little more than 500 hours.

 

[manwithtools]

Everything I've seen says to run the DPF equipped machines hard as they like that better than idling. I guess time will tell with my stuff.

 

[Firebrick43]

Everything I've seen says to run the DPF equipped machines hard as they like that better than idling. I guess time will tell with my stuff.

Absolutely, just not idling but unloaded at even rated speed isn't great. Tractors that pull consistent load implements go much longer as well as OTR trucks on the highway. But how does a property owner with a CUT that is mainly using it as a loader tractor or with a backhoe do that? Its might only load the engine to the 70-80 percent of peak torque less than 10 to 20 percent of the time.

 

[manwithtools]

Its might only load the engine to the 70-80 percent of peak torque less than 10 to 20 percent of the time.

Agreed, I only get to use it relatively hard when I have a PTO implement in use (flail, bush hog, etc.). not going to happen when using loader or backhoe.

 

[Wrench97]

Seeing the image in the ad tells me everything I want to know about that tractor. Guy didn't bother to spin the buckets down so the water runs out when parked, then couldn't be bothered to dump the water out for the sale picture. Left outside in the sun since new never covered, I'd bet the only maintenance it ever got was if something broke.

 

[Firebrick43]

I am really surprised that the SCUT at least and even the CUT manufactures haven't at least offered gasoline engines in light of the emission issues. Kubota and Yanmar both offer EFI gasoline versions of their small diesel engines. Cummins is releasing a gasoline version of their 6.7L diesel.

 

[Wrench97]

I am really surprised that the SCUT at least and even the CUT manufactures haven't at least offered gasoline engines in light of the emission issues. Kubota and Yanmar both offer EFI gasoline versions of their small diesel engines. Cummins is releasing a gasoline version of their 6.7L diesel.

Cummins makes smaller gasoline/LPG/NG engines under the Onan banner I'm surprised we seen them migrate into the small engine supplier market.

 

[Burt Shaver]

Looking through some marketplace ads and I see rentals 190.00 a day 80.00 delivery or 800.00 for 5 days, 80.00 delivery. Not a bad option either.
Rent it for 5 days this year, and if I need to rent it for a day every year after, so be it.

 

[Firebrick43]

Looking through some marketplace ads and I see rentals 190.00 a day 80.00 delivery or 800.00 for 5 days, 80.00 delivery. Not a bad option either.
Rent it for 5 days this year, and if I need to rent it for a day every year after, so be it.

To be honest, if you can work it into your schedule, that is the best option for your wallet.

 

[Burt Shaver]

To be honest, if you can work it into your schedule, that is the best option for your wallet.

The more I’m thinking about it, it’s not a bad option at all. I was thinking if I owned the tractor I would want to do an annual maintenance, oil, filter, air filter at minimum. That would be near 80.00 bringing my annual cost for 5 days of work to 800.00
Usually a tractor like the one I looked at is around 20,000.00. 20,000.00 invested at even 5 percent is 1000.00 a year. lol, I’m being ridiculous I know, but really….
I’m still going to keep my eyes open for that perfect deal for me, just have to have my big boy pants on, and pull the trigger when or if that deal comes along, if it doesn’t renting sounds good to me.
I also have an old probably 1950 or 60 something Massey Ferguson tractor sitting in one of my sheds. It was last running maybe about 12 years ago, diesel, going to get around to looking at it. I could use it with a brush hog, also if I get it running again, I’ve seen 3 point hitch mounted backhoe units for sale in the 2500.00 range. We will see….

 

[manwithtools]

I’ve seen 3 point hitch mounted backhoe units for sale in the 2500.00 range.

DO NOT buy a three point backhoe. They are known for breaking rear housings on tractors. Only buy a backhoe that is designed for the tractor it's used on and has a proper sub-frame.

 

[Burt Shaver]

I booked a rental for September 21st to 25th. 550.00 for the week plus 80.00 drop off and 80.00 pick up. This will give me an idea whether a sub compact tractor will suit my needs and will also help me understand if I need to buy one or if a periodic rental is more suitable.
I did see this one on marketplace but couldn’t bring myself to part with that much of my money at this time.

Facebook

www.facebook.com

 

[njk4o5]

I have a 2008 GC2310 TLB in similar condition to the one you looked at. Mine was outside its whole life in rough shape with 750 hrs and zero maintenance history. I bought it anyways since it ran good and had all new hoses and no leaks. I have never had anything hydraulic before this thing. I was able to do an incredible amount of work with it, I'm at 1900hrs now and its been the most reliable machine i have ever owned. Besides oil changes and a battery it has needed nothing. My front steering has been worn out since i bought it just like all the SCUP masseys.

Broken wires on one should be a big issue, they dont have much for electronics. Long as it fires up and can lift itself off the ground and not leak from anything besides hoses it will go for years.

 

[Burt Shaver]

I have a 2008 GC2310 TLB in similar condition to the one you looked at. Mine was outside its whole life in rough shape with 750 hrs and zero maintenance history. I bought it anyways since it ran good and had all new hoses and no leaks. I have never had anything hydraulic before this thing. I was able to do an incredible amount of work with it, I'm at 1900hrs now and its been the most reliable machine i have ever owned. Besides oil changes and a battery it has needed nothing. My front steering has been worn out since i bought it just like all the SCUP masseys.

Broken wires on one should be a big issue, they dont have much for electronics. Long as it fires up and can lift itself off the ground and not leak from anything besides hoses it will go for years.

If I had it over, I would have put my best foot forward on this one, I had offered 8500.00 which was low, really low, but I was hoping he would come back with 10,000.00. He ended up selling it to the guy after me for 11,500.00
It started and ran great, he lifted the tractor with the bucket and with the backhoe. I still feel I let this one get away

 

[MongoTA]

This will give me an idea whether a sub compact tractor will suit my needs...

Facebook

www.facebook.com

I bought a subcompact (LS MT125) several years ago. I knew at the time it was smaller than I needed, that tasks would take longer. But I knew that long-term it would be the perfect size for me.
That has come true. Moving 360 yards of material with a small front bucket? It's a lot of FEL work, a lot of runs. Digging out large oak tree stumps can take several hours picking away bit by bit.
But now that most of my "large projects" are done, in addition to doing regular work, I fire up the tractor a couple times a week just for small convenience things.
I think you did well taking a pass on that machine due to the uncertainties. The only thing worse than not owning a tractor is owning one that doesn't work.

 

[Burt Shaver]

I bought a subcompact (LS MT125) several years ago. I knew at the time it was smaller than I needed, that tasks would take longer. But I knew that long-term it would be the perfect size for me.
That has come true. Moving 360 yards of material with a small front bucket? It's a lot of FEL work, a lot of runs. Digging out large oak tree stumps can take several hours picking away bit by bit.
But now that most of my "large projects" are done, in addition to doing regular work, I fire up the tractor a couple times a week just for small convenience things.
I think you did well taking a pass on that machine due to the uncertainties. The only thing worse than not owning a tractor is owning one that doesn't work.

You could be right in regards to passing on it, we will never know now. I had found an identical tractor, year and model that came with the loader and backhoe but no tiller, the one I was looking at had the tiller attachment which I don’t think I needed but it came with it so it had a value. Anyways the other identical tractor was listed for 20,500.00, so I thought with my 8500.00 offer, that left me plenty of room to make repairs if needed, I do enjoy wrenching on stuff as well, so that helps.