How much sway is too much?

[poldies4]

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.

 

[coreshot]

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.

 

[carlcroom]

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.

 

[devildog1]

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

 

[TripleR]

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.

 

[radioman]

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.

 

[bp fick]

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".