why do draw bar hitches have side-side play?

[Soundguy]

mace and egon nialed it. it can 'swing' and should be pinned in place to allow for offset towing.

soundguy

 

[Egon]

The advent of the mounted implement over the last 30 years has decreased use of the drawbar and need for adjustment, but, by no means completely.

Use of the swinging draw bar will almost have gone out of fashion for larger equipment. The fixed drawbar is in for those using large tractors and implements.

 

[dmay]

I'm guessing from the replies that BIG tractors must have a large range of side-side motion for their drawbar and that you must be able to pin it, set at different angles. Guessing again this might be a left offset-center-right offset positions.

Totally not the case on my JD2320. The drawbar has a side-side ~1/8" of play. Makes no sense to me what this play serves. :confused2:

 

[beenthere]

dmay
You don't have a swinging drawbar. Just a drawbar that has a little play, and will shorten or lengthen.

The "play" is just it being loose enough, so when you adjust the length, it will slide and not be tight.

There really IMO is no more "play" than a trailer hitch that has an insert receiver. And yes, it can rattle a bit.

 

[Soundguy]

ditto that. less than 1/8" of play and if it gets a lil rust or imperceptable bow.. or a couple extra coats of paint over the years and it will be hard to adjust.. etc.

soundguy

 

[rockinmywaypa]

The reason it adjusts lengthwise is so that you can operate a pto powered implement with the nuckles set so that they don't tighten up and vibrate. The hinge point at the drawpin should be halfway between the jointed nuckles on the pto for best operation.

 

[Marveltone]

Another benefit for a swinging draw bar is PTO shaft clearance. My snow thrower sits low enough that the shaft outer sleeve rubs on the draw bar. If I swing it to either side, I have plenty of clearance.

Joe

 

[SixHoeBob]

The draw bars are designed for a loose fit, so that they can be adjusted or removed easily. Anytime there is a possibility of the PTO shaft coming close to contacting the draw bar, I remove the draw bar. I would rather remove the draw bar, than buy a new PTO shaft.

 

[RoyJackson]

Soundguy nailed it. These aren't precision pieces of machinery and there is no good reason for a machined fit. That would just make it harder to use with no gains in functionality.

 

[tessiers]

Towing with any drawbar not pinned is a recipie for disaster, the last thing you want is an implement with a 2' head start on the tractor. Thing will get broke and people will get hurt. The drawbar needs to be pinned left right or in the middle. The offset is siply to align implements with wheels. Baler should be offset right for baleing and left for road travel for example. They are mostly obsolete with the newer implements, most have swinging hitches nowadays.