Which Sway/Stabilizer Bar Should I Buy?

[Ford3600]

Hi Jim,

Thanks for all of the input. Here is what I am thinking:

1. I was hoping that one adjustable sway bar could handle what I need since it is a box that should handle compression as well as tension. Do you think that one sway bar will not be strong enough?

2. My right side chain attachment broke off (previous owner) of the lift arm so I ground off the rivet head and drove out the rivet that held it on, replacing it with a bolt. Hopefully that will work as an attaching point on the lift arm. I need to get the sway bar dimensions (minimum and maximum length) to see if it will fit.

3. Like you suggested, I can also weld an attachment point to the lift arm. Or, I can drill the lift arm and use the bolt/pin that comes with the sway bar.

Thanks for the TSC suggestions. I might just go that way to save some money. I agree that if I had to pay $200, plus, for adjustable sway bars I'll probably not go with that method. I use my tractor for general purpose things with my boom pole, rear bucket, box blade, and grader blade. I want to be able to switch between them without it taking too much adjustment time. That's why I was thinking the eBay adjustable sway bar - pull the sway bar pin, fit the arm on, put the sway bar pin back in. I believe that it has a hole that allows some movement as well.

Thanks again for all of the ideas.
Steve

 

[jinman]

Steve, one stabilizer will work, but it's not the best. Normally one stabilizer is under stretch tension while the other is under compression and the work together. When you get all the compression on one, you may find it bending with using something like a disc or even a boxblade when you hit a rock or small stump. Two is best, but one will work except in excessive stress situations.

BTW: My tractor came with the adjustable drop-pin style stabilizers and I love 'em, but my previous two tractors used the flat stabilizers, and I replaced one arm with the adjustable type I posted.

 

[Ford3600]

Thanks for the info Jim. After measuring my lift arms I'm starting to think that these adjustable sway bars are for Cat 2 hitches. I have a Cat 1 hitch. The adjustable sway bar on eBay doesn't give its length. An adjustable sway bar that I posted the eBay link to up top looks the same as this one ( FORD TRACTOR BAR HOLE STABILIZER LH 4500 4000 3910 | eBay ) which says 18" - 23". My lift arm is 18" from pivot to lift point. This probably makes this adjustable sway bar too long as I would want one about 16" to 20" (center around 18").

The TSC adjustable sway bar and bar axle mount may be my best bet unless I can find a pin type specifically for a Cat 1 hitch.