Failed Stabilizer bars

[Short Game]

Are they being bent by compression ?

I mean they can only be under compression or tension ? correct ?

They would break under tension, or bend under compression. The compression and tension result from lateral movement of the connected implement and the 3PH arms. Lateral motion, in order to be forceful enough to do damage, would most likely be either from swinging weight, or a deflecting force from an encountered object or load.

One stabilizer will be under tension when the other is in compression. The one under tension should limit the lateral travel enough to prevent the one in compression from exceeding the side play of its wrist-like end clevises. Bending would suggest that stabilizer bars are set too loose, allowing too much travel in the direction of compression.

If pushing straight backwards with the box blade, and if the stabilizers are set up tight with the blade well centered, I would think one could push a pretty major load, as the forces should be almost all applied as compression to the arms. I have used my box blade this way and pushed max loads of dirt. When I have broken or bent stabilizers, it's been from being set up too loose, or from a deflection of the implement by hitting a stump or something immovable. The one in tension breaks and allows the one in compression to be bent. If one is bent, while the other hasn't broken, I'd call it evidence of being set up too loose.

 

[Sublifer]

I broke mine all in different scenarios. First while discing, it was a rough patch and first time through it. Snagged roots or clay... Should not have broken. Second one was while box blading. Yes I hit a stump but hitting one stump or even 20 for that matter shouldn't break a stabilizer bar. It is a 47hp tractor...it is meant to do work and take some force and abuse. It is not a $10 toy... The third was from back blading and got bent instead of broken like the first two. Yes it probably was set way too loose. My tractor dealer was insisting that I had them set too tight and was why I was breaking them so I had it set more loose than I thought was right. If you look in your manual it says that it should be set with between 20 and 40 mm. That is not very much slack.
No, 3ph is not primarily for backwards pressure but it is part of their usage scenario. Bush hogs are meant to be backed into tighter spaces and box blades are meant for back blading or they wouldn't waste money on the back side blade.

 

[Short Game]

So, were you a lifer on a sub?

 

[rocknrod]

So, were you a lifer on a sub?

I asked the same question in the past.

 

[Short Game]

So Rod, did you wear the fish?

 

[Sublifer]

Nope, wasn't on a sub. Marine Corps actually. Name came from subway and lifesavers as I was trying to find a unique online handle the second time I was going into chatrooms.

 

[Gary Fowler]

This must be just a CUT problem. I have hit trees hard enough with implement on the 3PH to bend the frame on my rake and not damaged the stabilizers. Also used box blade to push as much as the tractor could and no damage. I guess if I were going fast enough and swung the implement into a stump or something in a turn, something would give but those type of things have to be expected to do some sort of damage to either the tractor or equipment. Is it possible to replace the ones on the CUT's with something from the utility size or even heavy utility? Might take some modification but should be easily doable since they are telescoping, shortening them would be no problem and end attachment could just mean putting in a bushing and or drilling out a larger hole in the lift arm to accept larger bolt.

 

[Sublifer]

I'm pretty sure the problem is limited to my size and a few smaller ones. The metal in the stabilizer bar inner piece is pot metal and the holes they drill out for the adjustments leave less than a quarter inch of the cheap material on the sides of the holes. Good steel or bigger bars would do the trick. Word is they are working on a solution as I am far from the only one with the problem. Another guy from my same dealer has broken several stabilizers as well.

 

[joemd11]

I noticed on my R3039 that one of the stabilizers is bent in where it attaches to the axle. Don't know when or where that happened. I don't know if I'm adjusting mine tight enough. Seems no matter what I do the implement (mostly the 700lb flail mower) has too much slop in it. I have the pin and bar type stabilizer.

 

[Sublifer]

I noticed on my R3039 that one of the stabilizers is bent in where it attaches to the axle. Don't know when or where that happened. I don't know if I'm adjusting mine tight enough. Seems no matter what I do the implement (mostly the 700lb flail mower) has too much slop in it. I have the pin and bar type stabilizer.

That is where it starts Joe. That point of attachment has too much play and is the first thing to start going. That piece bending starts introducing extra slop in the whole thing. Make sure you check those stabilizers every so often.