HELP!!! - Box Blade Breaking sway bar links on tractor........

[Fordiesel69]

Please see attached pictures. I am not sure what the technical term is for these things, but they attach to the lower two arms of the 3 pt hitch. When using a box blade, we ended up breaking both of these. We were being gentle, and not backing up. So how do these fail?

Can they be replaced with somthing more durable if it is not operator error?

 

[TripleR]

They are called stabilize bars. That sure beats me, shouldn't be happening. I would hesitate to adding stronger ones as I would prefer these to fail than where they attach to the tractor.

 

[Fordiesel69]

We did back up frequently with a mower deck installed and it seemed to stress these. However other people I know who have had tractors their entire life have never had an issue. I know the newer tractors have cheap hardware sometimes, but are there more robust link avail?

 

[jeff9366]

The stabilizers in the pictures are really beefy.

What horsepower tractor, what box blade/what weight, what circumstances, what part(s) broke?

 

[gwdixon]

A tractor with the HP yours has should not be tearing apart stabilizer bars. However, and since it obviously is, there may be other issues.

If the bars are adjusted so there is little or no slack in the attachment then the bars are going to take the brunt of whatever sudden force is hit - like a stump or large rock. I'd recommend letting them run a bit loose.

If the blade is full and a tight turn is made then the bars will be severely stressed. Might be better to drop the load and pick it up at a different angle rather than put that torque on the bars in a turn.

I couldn't see where the breaks are in the photos but they could just be welded up for another go at it.

Also, a member here, "Hodge", makes stabilizer bars. If you want to replace yours the ones he makes are custom fit to whichever tractor. He may even be able to make a heavy-duty set.

 

[LD1]

Are you trying to turn with the blade down and rippers engaged in the dirt??

 

[Fordiesel69]

Are you trying to turn with the blade down and rippers engaged in the dirt??

Tractor specs in sig. No extra weight, no chains, and no filled tires.

The ones in the pic are warranty replacements, as the dealer said they should not break for what we were doing. The feel kinda cheap. Yes we are turning with a full blade of dirt and the rippers in the up position. The area we are spreading out, really needs to be round, so turning is required. The links were set with some slack when I installed the box blade. The blade is a 60".

 

[LD1]

I dont know if it is right or wrong, But I would have any slack. When turning, the load is allowed to bet a little momentum up. I'd keep them tight.

As to turning, that is no doubt putting a little extra stress on the links, but they should handle it unless you are making turns about as tight as the tractor can turn. All of the weight in the BB, plus the drag, is basically being Slung around the back of the tractor with just the outside link. Thats a lot of force for one link to handle, especially if you are going at a decent rate of speed.

So I guess I dont really have a good answer for you. Maybe you had defective ones and the new ones will be fine???? But without seeing how you are operating it, it could be that you are going too fast in turns, the slack in the links, turning too sharp, or any combination of those. There are some serious forces at work there with a box full of dirt.

 

[GPintheMitten]

No offense, but my gut impression is that you are operating beyond what you should. The machine is also telling you this. Eaze up and take more time and you'll be better off in the long run.

 

[Fordiesel69]

Using low range 1 st gear, moving lots of dirt. Can;t slow down if I wanted to........

I think it is the turning that is causing the problem based on the above replies.