How much sway is too much?

   / How much sway is too much? #1  

poldies4

Silver Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2010
Messages
135
Location
SW Michigan
Tractor
B 2320
Just wondering how tight the check chains should be on my ballast box. The manual says to adjust for the sway, but thats it. Should it wiggle a little? Seems like they put some pretty whimpy chains on the BX. My inclination is to crank that sucker down tight, but then I chicken out and leave 1/2 of sway side to side. It makes me a little nervous when I feel it swing. Even the little bit of sway is noticable in the right situation. Don't want to break those chains/turnbuckles.
 
   / How much sway is too much? #2  
Just wondering how tight the check chains should be on my ballast box. The manual says to adjust for the sway, but thats it. Should it wiggle a little? Seems like they put some pretty whimpy chains on the BX. My inclination is to crank that sucker down tight, but then I chicken out and leave 1/2 of sway side to side. It makes me a little nervous when I feel it swing. Even the little bit of sway is noticable in the right situation. Don't want to break those chains/turnbuckles.


I don't have a ballast box, but I imagine you want to crank them down snug so you don't get any suprises while you are operating. Weight moving side to side is not you friend on a tractor. You are right about the chains being wimpy on the BX, so don't bend stuff when you are cranking on them, but get them tight.
 
   / How much sway is too much? #3  
Yes, they are wimpy and don't worry, you will bend or break them. I have a 2000 BX2200 and I've replaced them at least three times. Thankfully, they are not that expensive.
 
   / How much sway is too much? #4  
They should be TIGHT so your attachments do not swing left or right. It is for your safety.Tighten them up, then raise your weight box push from side to side, adjust tension to stop movement, good to go.
DevilDog
 
   / How much sway is too much? #5  
I don't have a ballast box, but always leave some slack in all of my equipment; always have. Since a ballast box does not touch the ground, maybe you won't need slack. I have owned quite a few tractors including one BX2200 for six years and a BX2660 for going on three and have never bent or broken the "chains"; whatever works best for you.
 
   / How much sway is too much? #6  
The check bolts are wimpy. They not designed for the weight for stuff we put on there so be prepared to bend em a little. They WILL break or bend if they are not snug, but not tight. When its tight, it just stresses stuff out. I adjust mine so nothing sways. There is nothing more aggravating then having an implement swaying esp. when you don't want it to.
 
   / How much sway is too much? #7  
Add me to the club that really doesn't like the turnbuckles system of the BX. Some implements go to them, bending the stuffing out of them, like a bee to honey. Poldies4, I'd tighten them reasonable snug.

Still gotta find the time to improve these check "chains".
 

Tractor & Equipment Auctions

JUROP BLOWER (A53843)
JUROP BLOWER (A53843)
2019 Chevrolet Tahoe SUV (A52377)
2019 Chevrolet...
MISC WRENCHES (A53843)
MISC WRENCHES (A53843)
199049 (A51243)
199049 (A51243)
2018 WACKER NEUSON RTSC3 ROLLER (A54607)
2018 WACKER NEUSON...
2019 CATERPILLAR D6T LGP HI-TRACK CRAWLER DOZER (A52705)
2019 CATERPILLAR...
 
Top