3 point hitch construction - another (simple) question

[zando]

Hi all,
I am new to the forum, and new to the world of tractors and implements. Few months ago purchased my tractor (Kubota 3300) and now it's time to build a middle buster and cultivator. Looked at many pictures for middle busters, and they are all somewhat similar. what I can not figure out - and maybe it's not important at all but still - is why the vertical part that holds the shank of the buster is almost always welded behind the horizontal part that goes between the two points of attachment of the hitch. is it not stronger to have it at the front?
Also - any tips from those of you that have already built something like this will be appreciated and evaluated
Yes, excuse the lack of terminology...

 

[sweettractors]

Hi all,
I am new to the forum, and new to the world of tractors and implements. Few months ago purchased my tractor (Kubota 3300) and now it's time to build a middle buster and cultivator. Looked at many pictures for middle busters, and they are all somewhat similar. what I can not figure out - and maybe it's not important at all but still - is why the vertical part that holds the shank of the buster is almost always welded behind the horizontal part that goes between the two points of attachment of the hitch. is it not stronger to have it at the front?
Also - any tips from those of you that have already built something like this will be appreciated and evaluated
Yes, excuse the lack of terminology... View attachment 355372View attachment 355373View attachment 355374

You get a better brace from the back. Ken Sweet

 

[LD1]

While by only a small amount, having it behind allows it to lift higher also.

Front is likely stronger by a slim margin, but as they are designed now, they would bend before that becomes an issue, no matter weather its front or rear.

 

[BHD]

the way most of them have the flat bar truss there stronger in that configuration than if in front, to be as strong one need a large tube or angle to equal the strength of that flat bar truss,

if you want a little more veritilty fix it so the breaker bar sill move up or down and use a heavy tube for the bottom cross, and get the bottom attachment with a shear bolt construction,

made a corn cultivator with similar shanks but 7 of them on a tool bar, 4x4 heavy steel tube, and would run between the rows of corn with a sweep on the bottom I have some rock hills and was thank full for shear bolts save a lot of bent things,
now on a small tractor you would probably break traction before damage is done,

I bought parts form a company called "Roll a cone",

Shanks

Shank Holders

the picture is more of an idea what one could end up with (for a middle buster ) you would only have one shank,

 

[SPYDERLK]

convenience in getting acceptable set back distance. Least expense. Strong enuf.

 

[jemclimber]

Because as Ken said, you get a better brace. When located behind, it is pulling(tension) rather than pushing(compression), which in theory could twist the vertical shaft easier. If you look at box scrapers the ones that are crinkled are almost always bent from pushing back to hard on something, rather than pulling and snagging something.

 

[muddstopper]

I'm glad you started this thread, I am supposed to build one for a buddy. He has gathered up a bunch of scrap metal for me to use and i will probably start building it tomorrow.

 

[zando]

Sure, I accept these reasons. As long as it's not "because that's how we used to do it for the last 100 years"...
I will be posting some pictures when ready.
thanks to all.

 

[RBA50]

Sure, I accept these reasons. As long as it's not "because that's how we used to do it for the last 100 years"...
I will be posting some pictures when ready.
thanks to all.

Of course, those reasons are why "that's how we used to do it for the last 100 years".

 

[zando]

well then - one more question: what sizes metal would you use to build one? I see different makes use different thicknesses and sizes of plate and angle iron. For my 33Hp tractor and for what I need the middle buster for (ripping virgin pasture land + some willow bushes and roots here and there) - what would be used for "well built" but not to the extend of "overkill"? I have some naturally wet areas that are dense with willow bushes around them that I would like to go through, and the rest is pasture land free of stones but multi-year grass...
??