Is this side link bent on purpose?

[opalko]

Kubota L3301. I was getting ready to till the garden spot this afternoon, noticed this when hooking up the tiller:

Thought I screwed something up royally, then came inside to check the interweb for a replacement to see how much cash I'd be out of and found this:


Adjustable Side Link

which looks pretty darn similar Is mine supposed to be bent or did I skrew it up?

Dukester

 

[whis]

its made that way

 

[bcp]

I think the thread should be straight, with the yoke welded on at an angle. Might be the photo, but the threaded portion looks bent. Will it screw in all the way?

Bruce

 

[CobyRupert]

Do you need to screw it in all the way? If not, no problem.
But why thread it and bend it?

 

[LD1]

I think the thread should be straight, with the yoke welded on at an angle. Might be the photo, but the threaded portion looks bent. Will it screw in all the way?

Bruce

X2

Threads should be straight. They look bent. Try to thread it in.

 

[opalko]

Yes I managed to bend it somehow...I'll see if I can get someone to straighten or ante up for a new one. Thanks

 

[LD1]

No need to straighten unless you have that much adjustment. And it is very hard to straighten threads and get it to thread freely again.

And if you need adjustment, while more of a PITA, you can always pop the top off the pin and thread in/out just the top.

 

[opalko]

Thanks - on my 8N someone tack welded the thing so there is no adjustment. What did I likely do that caused it to bend like this? Did I have it too tight? I don't even recall adjusting it after getting the tractor.

 

[LD1]

Hard to tell which direction it is bent. But usually the cause is from pushing something in reverse, or side load that exceeded the swing allowed by the upper ball (and cause anti sway chains or turnbuckles were not tight to prevent that).

Have you used a rear blade or box blade and did some heavy pushing in reverse?

 

[opalko]

Don't have a box blade but I did have a heavy disc set on there recently. I'll pay more attention now!