8N Sway Bars

[blount2000]

I have a Ford 8n that has flat metal bars (sway bars?) that parallel both of the 3pt lift arms. When no implement is attached to the tractor these flat sway bars drop ALL the way down, making them dig into the ground if you try to back the tractor up.

I'm thinking of maybe just using a large lynch pin to "tie" the sway bars & lift arms together when not in use, but I'm curious to hear what any other options may be.

Are these sway bars supposed to be somehow permanently attached to the lift arms whereby they won't drop down all the way to the ground when not being used?

 

[PatMcD]

They are acting the way they should, which kinda sucks. The remedy is doing what you did with a linch pin, or a bungee cord, or a handy stick, or whatever to hold them together until you get to your next implement.

 

[beenthere]

They are not sway bars, but are to lock the 3 ph arms in fixed position (won't float up or down). Also, being locked it would allow a one-way ram to be connected (plumbed) into the hyd system for one-way control of a remote ram.

When not in use, disconnect them and lay them to the side. I believe there are chains for anti-sway of the 3 ph.

This is I remember, and best I recall.

soundguy is the member (one of them) that will have the real answer for you and possibly some pics of the use of the steel straps.

 

[jonyyuma]

I have two pieces of wire attached to the arms and wrap them around the swatbars when not attached to implements. Or else, you can dig in when you back up, plus it trys to bend them? I have also had small jack chains for the same purpose.

 

[Snaker]

There are two different types of "bars or links" used for the 3pt arms on those Fords.

The sway bars, as you say, run parallel to the lift arms. They would normally be mounted to pins under the axle on the fender brackets and should be easy to remove if not needed.

The drawbar links tie the lift arms to the top link and would be used with a crossbar (the thick bar with multiple holes that mounts between the lift arms). When these links are used the 3 pt is locked in place and must not be used.

If you have reason not to remove the swaybars then simply tie them to the lift arms.

 

[MMagis]

They are not sway bars, but are to lock the 3 ph arms in fixed position (won't float up or down). Also, being locked it would allow a one-way ram to be connected (plumbed) into the hyd system for one-way control of a remote ram.

When not in use, disconnect them and lay them to the side. I believe there are chains for anti-sway of the 3 ph.

This is I remember, and best I recall.

soundguy is the member (one of them) that will have the real answer for you and possibly some pics of the use of the steel straps.

You're think of something different I believe. The sway bars are supposed to be removed when not needed. They're a bit of a pain when trying to back up to hook something up after taking another implement off. I usually just throw a pin through the sway bar and the 3pt arm. It usually hangs on long enough to get the tractor positioned.

 

[beenthere]

Yes, I was thinking the bars mentioned by Snaker, to tie the lift arms. Do remember the long sway straps, now that I think about it. thanks

 

[RickB]

I have a Ford 8n that has flat metal bars (sway bars?) that parallel both of the 3pt lift arms. When no implement is attached to the tractor these flat sway bars drop ALL the way down, making them dig into the ground if you try to back the tractor up.

I'm thinking of maybe just using a large lynch pin to "tie" the sway bars & lift arms together when not in use, but I'm curious to hear what any other options may be.

Are these sway bars supposed to be somehow permanently attached to the lift arms whereby they won't drop down all the way to the ground when not being used?

Fasten them to the draft links as you are thinking, or bend down and take them off. There should be only a lynch pin holding them on their anchor pins.

 

[JoeinTX]

BeenThere is thinking of something else.

What the poster is referencing are the "dead" sway-bars mounted immediately outside of the active lift arms of the 3-pt. They are there for one purpose......to limit implement slop and sway. Nothing else.

As for the OP's original question, there's no permanent attachment for them to the active 3-pt arms. I run a couple different little Fords and I have several sets of various homemade hard wire couplings that I slip them into when not in use or for backing up to attach an implement. Imagine something loosely resembling a safety pin made of various grades of fencing or girding wire. When I don't need them I tuck them away in the tractor tool box and they don't get in the way.

They're what they look like. Think "quick, simple, and easy" and conger up something to keep them in place when you don't want them contacting the ground.

 

[TripleR]

We always just reached under the axle and took ours off, we didn't use ours on all of our implements.