I have long wanted a small tractor with a loader bucket and backhoe attachment to allow me a bit more “muscle” when attempting to tackle some of my less ambitious terraforming initiatives around the property. When the most severe part of the main rocked driveway started washing out with some regularity, it seemed the perfect time to sell a little stock and jump into tractor ownership. I visited my local Equipment Supply over the river in Cannelton and made a deal on the Massey Ferguson CG1725M. The transaction was delayed over a weekend while waiting for the funds transfer to clear but they delivered the tractor with backhoe to the property in short order after presenting them a check.
The MF GC1725M came with the FL1805 Front End Loader and the folks at the Equipment Supply had frame mounted a BH2720 Backhoe on the tail end. I poured over the provided documentation so I had an idea of what all the levers did and what should be checked before firing up the 3 cylinder diesel engine. I’d purchased two yellow 5 gallon diesel cans and filled them at the Farm Supply. It took one can to fill the tank and I was ready to get the feel of the tractor and start learing how to smoothly operate the front loader. Started slow and was able to push the rock that had washed to the side of the main drive and the intersection of the dam road back into the washed out portion of the road.
With just over 4 hours on the tractor, I noticed a stream of hydraulic fluid was falling from the backhoe area. After getting the tractor back up the hill to a level area on the side of the house, I started trying to determine where the hydraulic fluid was coming from. A couple of shop rags later, it appeared that one of the quick couples for the backhoe hydraulics had partially separated. Called it a day to figure out what I needed to do next.
Called the Equipment Supply the next morning to make sure I wasn’t voiding the warranty if I tried to determine what was wrong with the backhoe section of the tractor and knowing they would have to come pick it up, I was pretty sure what they’d say. Sure, they said, just don’t torque anything past limits. This was their way of saying, “you bought it and we’ll only fix it if you don’t break it”. I made sure they knew that it was leaking from the backhoe attachment that they had installed. Wrenches in hand, I tightened the 6 connectors for the backhoe and separated the quick connects and reset them.
I knew I needed more hydraulic fluid and ordered a quart of Massey Ferguson recommended fluid from Amazon. When the fluid arrived two days later, I had issues seeing the fluid fill level bubble on the back axle hidden behind the backhoe so I decided to remove the backhoe attachment. I had read that it was very easy. It was OK, but for a rookie, I wouldn’t necessarily classify the procedure as easy. Anyway, I was successful separating the backhoe from the frame mount on the tractor and could now see the fill bubble without obstruction. Emptied the quart into the fill tube and there was no change in the fill bubble. You are supposed to be able to see the fluid level bisect the fill bubble.
I did a quick lookup on the recommended 821 hydraulic fluid (oil) to see what made it special and to see what locally available substitutions could be made. Discovered it was a 10W-30 synthetic of a certain viscosity and there were multiple oils that coukd be used without issue or voiding any warranty. I made another trip to the Farm Supply and bought a 2 gallon jug. Used a manual fluid pump I had to fill the transmission to the correct level and then reattached the backhoe.
I have used the tractor to carry my 15 gallon weed sprayer to a sloped area where I didn’t dare attempt to take the truck. The tractor has a 12V plug that worked great with the sprayer pump. Have used the loader and backhoe to dig a trench for a new 8 inch culvert and move some earth to attempt to divert water and limit or stop the driveway washout. Beginning to believe this tractor’s usefulness is only limited by imagination and the use of certain available attachments.
