basic 3ph question

[jrdellaratta]

I am planning to make frequent use of our refurbished rotary mower this season, a Bush Hog RZ-60 attached to a Ford 340A (industrial). I am concerned about the amount of "play" there is currently on the drawbars---I get a couple of inches of sway, mostly to port, even on level surfaces. Can this not-perfect alingment damage or stress the PTO driveshaft at all? I have heard arguments for and against having the drawbar and top link locked up tight, and I need some expert opinion. I've dealt mostly with belt-driven MMMs and therefore am a neophyte on rotary mower ops.

Depending on how hard (or easy) the mower is to manage, I may upgrade to a larger 7' unit next season---the Ford's got the HP.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

<font color=blue>...Can this not-perfect alingment damage or stress the PTO driveshaft at all? ...</font color=blue>

I don't believe you have enough "angle" sway to make any difference on the PTO driveshaft or yoke assembly...

It's something like 45 degrees you can change to before you start running into any problems on the yoke ends...

You can pick a "stay strap" for about $10. and mount it on one side to lock it in... it's more critical in the transport position driving down the road or through the field having the unit "sway" or start oscillating back and forth as your moving fast... it becomes dangerous if you don't address that situation...

 

[duanet]

I bought a pair of 3PH stabilizers for my 2N which took care of the problem very nicely, not only with the rotary cutter, but kept that sway out of everything I used. There's a bracket that bolts under each axle and a flat bar that goes from the brackets to the 3PH lift pins between the balls and the linch pins. This may be the same thing that John is suggesting, but as I recall, they came in pairs when I got mine. I got them at Central Tractor (boy, do I already miss them!), but they should be available elsewhere.
Duane

 

[poorboy]

I run a 4000 with only one stablizer bar. I'd recommend using at least one to keep it off the wheels. However 2 keeps the stress off of the single bar, since mine really only keeps the strain off one direction. Use two especially if you plan on backing up with the cutter alot. Cost is usually around 10 bucks for the bar type and more if its the turnbuckle type. Some models are side specific and some it doesn't matter and any dealer should stock them and be able to identify your needs.

Patrick