Which Sway/Stabilizer Bar Should I Buy?

[Ford3600]

Hi All,

I have a 1976 Ford 3600 that does not have a sway bar on it. I've been able to use it with a rear bucket and box blade without too many problems. When I use it with a bush hog the bush hog travels left and right too much for the drive shaft (shaft casing hits the bush hog). Does anyone have a recommendation for a good, sturdy, easy to use, sway bar?

EBay has a flat bar kit (looks a little weak with the flat bar) here:
FORD TRACTORS 2000 3000 4000 STABILIZER KIT. # SK23-6X | eBay

EBay has an adjustable one, here:
RH Ford Tractor Bar Hole Stabilizer 3910 4000 4500 | eBay

The adjustable one may take drilling a hole in my lift arm to get the front to attach.

Any experience with these, or suggestions for others, will be appreciated. For now, I'm planning on just one bar as it seems like it will be difficult to swap implements with two bars. My tractor does have limiting chains on it so the lift arms can only go so far but it's too far for the bush hog.

Steve

 

[whodat526]

the first kit you have listed is the factory setup for you tractor

 

[Ford3600]

Thanks for the response. Although I'm still wondering if anyone has used these two types of sway bars, and if so, which works best.

Hello?... Maybe everyone else is too busy using their tractors to be online...

 

[jeff9366]

Steven's Tractor has the largest assortment of check chains of any vender I know.

Ford Tractor Parts - Ford 8N Tractor Parts - Tractor Parts

If you want the peruse other alternatives their catalog is a great place to browse in this category.

 

[JoeinTX]

"EBay has a flat bar kit (looks a little weak with the flat bar) here:
FORD TRACTORS 2000 3000 4000 STABILIZER KIT. # SK23-6X | eBay"

This is the set-up I'd go with. The Ford NAA I grew up with had factory sway just like this and, for the 8n I bought myself later, I went down to the local TSC and got the very same thing for it. Wouldn't want to have a tractor without them.

Worry about hooking up implements? My dad has a little Kubota with sway chains and that thing is a bear compared to the little Fords in terms of hooking up implements. I'll take the sway bars any day. I know sway chains are the norm now for modern tractors and I'm not wild about that.

 

[JoeinTX]

"EBay has a flat bar kit (looks a little weak with the flat bar) here:
FORD TRACTORS 2000 3000 4000 STABILIZER KIT. # SK23-6X | eBay"

This is the set-up I'd go with. The Ford NAA I grew up with had factory sway just like this and, for the 8n I bought myself later, I went down to the local TSC and got the very same thing for it. Wouldn't want to have a tractor without them.

Worry about hooking up implements? My dad has a little Kubota with sway chains and that thing is a bear compared to the little Fords in terms of hooking up implements. I'll take the sway bars any day. I know sway chains are the norm now for modern tractors and I'm not wild about that.

 

[Notforhire]

I have the adjustable/ telescoping type that you are looking at. I think they are the best option. If I'm going to hook up an impliment I set them so they hold the arms just a little wider than the pins on the impliment. This way the arms arn't swinging, and I can line up easily. It really pays off if your on a side slope. The adjustment is so much easier than say the turnbuckle style.

Bill

 

[Sackett2]

Agree with Notforhire. I do not know how i would manage without the adjustable one; in fact mine has broken and I have "rebuilt" it but may order the one you show....

 

[Ford3600]

Thanks for all of the responses. I think I'll go with the adjustable sway bar. Sounds like the adjustment makes it much easier to use.

Steve

 

[jinman]

Thanks for all of the responses. I think I'll go with the adjustable sway bar. Sounds like the adjustment makes it much easier to use.

Steve

Steve, how are you gonna attach that adjustable sway bar to your lift arm? The pad and u-bolts attach to the axle, but you need a shackle eye on the arm. You'll have to weld on a drilled angle bracket or something similar. Also, the eBay price is for one stabilizer and bracket. By the time you buy two, you will have spent well over $200 with shipping.

There is an adjustable stabilizer bar that replaces the flat one. Here is one at TSC. TSC also sells the mounting bracket that will bolt up to the bottom of your fender u-bolts on your tractor's axle. The whole range of parts TSC sells is shown here. I'm sure AgriSupply or other places sell similar parts. You may find that a flat bar on one side and an adjustable stabilizer on the other is all you need. One thing for sure is that the implement will need pins long enough to accommodate both the lift arm ball and the additional thickness of the stabilizer bar while still allowing room to drop in a lynch pin.

Here is a photo of a 3600 from TractorHouse.com where you can see the stabilizer brackets installed below the fenders.