Towing with a Ball and Drawbar

[sherpa]

jhbusa
Go back and read the first post that Soundguy wrote. Its mainly talking about the 8Ns. The 3pt drawbar spins without a stay. You are OK with the newer stuff. Also go back and look at the attachment from Jinman.
Sherpa

 

[jinman]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Jinman, being master of the obvious and having been raised on an 8N, one does never have the PTO engaged (also operates the lift) when one has the drawbar with stays in place. The stays will keep it from dropping. BobG in VA )</font>

Bob, I'm sorry, but I don't think I understand what you are saying. The PTO on the 8N and the 3PH only have one thing in common. Neither will operate with the clutch pedal depressed. Other than that, if the clutch pedal is released, the 3PH can be raised with the PTO disengaged. I'm just not sure what your point is. Can you clarify your post a little for me? I'm confused... /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

I'm attaching instructions for the lift arm stays from the Ford 8N Operator's Manual. Notice it shows the 3PH lift control chained down during the time the stays are in place. That goes along with what I said about not using the lift when the rigid stays are installed.

Some old Fords had a retrofitted fixed drawbar installed just below the PTO, like modern tractors have. I believe most did not have this feature as you can also see from the attached photo.

EDIT: After re-reading my 8N manual, I realize exactly what you are saying, Bob. I was incorrect in my description of the 3PH operation with the PTO disengaged. That's the way my Jubilee (with live hydraulics) operates, but on the 8N, you must engage the PTO for the 3PH to operate. That's why they made the last statement in the caution on the attachment.

 

[keeney]

jhbusa,

Looking at some of the photos that are posted, I think the issue is that the 8n doesn't have a fixed drawbar mount.

As far as using the fixed drawbar, yes, it doesn't stick out as far behind the tractor as the 3-point, so if you jack-knife too far, the trailer tongue can rub on a rear tire. On my little JD 4100, the longest drawbar position allows the trailer tongue to be almost 90 degrees from the tractor - plenty to work with for most situations.

- Rick

 

[jhbusa]

The picture was worth 1000 words. I see now.

 

[OkieG]

As with most of those responding to your question, I believe you would be best off stabilizing the drawbar. If you incorporate the top link into your hauler and use a piece of chain as a lift limiter, you can have all the best features for a trailer hauler:

1. The drawbar can't spin.
2. You can lower and lift the 3PH, and
3. Use the chain to keep the 3PH from lifting higher than you want.

One end of the limiter chain hooks to the 3PH (up by the top link in the picture below) and the other to the pendulum drawbar, in my case. I don't know if the 8N has such a drawbar, but there may be something else sturdy you could hook to. Hooking one end of the chain on the hauler near the top link and the other end on the tractor down somewhere near the level of the rear axle gives the chain a good angle to work as a lift limiter.

The EZmover advetised on TBN would work for your purposes. I believe the device is basically a steel arm that attaches your drawbar and to the toplink.

OkieG

 

[sherpa]

OkieG
I like that set up pretty good. I may just make me one.
sherpa

 

[keeney]

Why not just save all the toruble of hooking up the ez-mover, drawbar, and chain, and instead just put the ball on the "pendulum" drawbar?

OK, so you have to lift the trailer on to connect it...

- Rick

 

[Soundguy]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I don't know enough about the 8n, but I would assume it can be equipped with a fixed drawbar.
)</font>

8n and newer ( naa, hundred series, etc ) have an under diffy mounted bracket for a drawbar.. it is optional equipment. 9n and 2n did not have it. Generally the drawbar and bracket costs more than the 3pt drawbar locks, etc.. so most people opt for the 3pt arangement with locks and stabilizers.

Soundguy

 

[Soundguy]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( After re-reading my 8N manual, I realize exactly what you are saying, Bob. I was incorrect in my description of the 3PH operation with the PTO disengaged. )</font>

Here's another tidbit on the infamous scotch yoke belly pump on the 9n/2n/8n tractors. The pto shaft passes thru the pump and drives it. Thats why the clutch cuts it out. However.. the pto shaft will turn with the rear wheels.. if the clutch is in, and the hytrol lever is up.. and the tractor is rolling.. the pump will pump. Also.. an easy way to check an N's hyds with the engine not running is to shift the tractor to N, engage the pto, and then set the hytrol lever all the way up, then grab the pto shaft and spin it with your hand. if the hyds are good, the lift arms will come up as you spin the pto shaft...

That's an easy way to check the hyds on a ford N tractor you see by the sid eof the road for sale.....

Soundguy

 

[RalphVa]

I just bought a drawbar to fit between the draft arms and am getting some 1/4" bars bent to bolt to the ends of the drawbar and go up and connect to the top link. This will keep it from rotating. Will post some pics in my thread on the 2" soil ripper. Doing it for that, plus to have it as a drawbar for multiple draws.

Put a runaway chain on that trailer. I had a ball break off. Wouldn't be fun with a loaded trailer if it got loose.

Ralph