Drawbar question

[wmonroe]

Was reading through the manual for my hay baler and it said to have 14" from the end of the pto to the center of the hitch pin hole on the drawbar. Where my drawbar was currently set was at 12", but when I take it out to the next hole (to be at the 14" mark) the back of the drawbar (towards the front of the tractor) is barely in the back part of the mount. There is another adjustment hole on the drawbar to extend it even further but it doesn't seem like it is in the mount correctly at those points. Does anyone else have their drawbar set at 14" from pto to center of hitch pin hole and use it without issue?

 

[hosspuller]

The whole purpose of the 14 inches is to reduce the acute angle the PTO shaft makes when the tractor turns relative to the baler. Anything less than 14 inches makes the PTO shaft U-joints complain in a sharp turn. If your tractor / baler always traveled in a straight,level line, the U-joints wouldn't be needed.

 

[wmonroe]

I understand the reason for the spacing. I didn't phrase my question very well, my wife tells me I have communication problems. Lol. Anyway are there any 5240 or grand L users out there using there drawbar at 14" from end if pto shaft to center of hitch pin?

 

[Chilly807]

Sounds like you may need a longer drawbar. Mine sticks out quite a ways, but I think it's less than 14".

 

[hosspuller]

My communication is lacking too .... I mean to say if your drawbar is less than the specified 14 inches your minimum turning radius is just larger. So just use the drawbar you have, and make your turns bigger.

or are you concerned the drawbar will be damaged ?

 

[wmonroe]

I'm confident that it will be fine in the 12" spacing. There are two more adjustment holes though to move it to 14" and 16" spacing but at those settings it seems like the secured end (under the tractor) is too short and wouldn't adequately handle much tongue weight or side load. I'm probably completely wrong and just worrying too much, but was curious if anyone else was using their drawbar extended out that far.

 

[square1]

Pics at 14" would help

 

[Chilly807]

I checked mine this morning. At it's longest setting (with inner end properly supported in the draw bar "pocket"), it's just over 14" from the end of pto shaft to the center of the outermost hole in the drawbar. So, mine would work from an L3400. Odd that a larger tractor wouldn't have at least that long a drawbar setup.




If I move the bar any further out, the inner end wouldn't be supported, and it'd be likely to bend the welded pocket with any amount of tongue load. I suspect yours has a similar arrangement.

Sean

 

[wmonroe]

It's out running the hay but I'll snap a picture when we are changing over to the rake. It looks very similar yo what you posted though. When I bring it out to 14" the draw bar seems like it is on the edge of coming out of the rear pocket. I'll get a picture to show it.

 

[Chilly807]

Did you try swapping end for end? The pin holes in mine aren't evenly spaced. I had to grind one end on an angle to keep it from hitting the fwd drive shaft casing, the other end has no problem.

 

[C4Ranch]

Do you have a swing drawbar?

In my 5240 owners manual it recommends only using hole B. hole d if you have swing.

Hole D is on the end. Goes from D, C, B, A.

 

[wmonroe]

Did you try swapping end for end? The pin holes in mine aren't evenly spaced. I had to grind one end on an angle to keep it from hitting the fwd drive shaft casing, the other end has no problem.

Never even thought about swapping it end for end. I'll check that out.

Didn't get to take pictures yet because even though we were supposed to have nice weather yesterday a small storm system came through as we were baling and pretty much ruined the day. Was able to get 70 bales in the barn, 60 are still laying in the field, and there are probably about 100 worth still in rows waiting to be bailed. Oh well, just how it goes.

 

[wmonroe]

Do you have a swing drawbar? In my 5240 owners manual it recommends only using hole B. hole d if you have swing. Hole D is on the end. Goes from D, C, B, A.

No just the standard drawbar, I'll check my manual again though and make sure I'm not missing something obvious.

 

[C4Ranch]

With standard drawbar, manual "recommends" using the 3rd hole from end. The 2 on the end are for the swing option.

 

[wmonroe]

With standard drawbar, manual "recommends" using the 3rd hole from end. The 2 on the end are for the swing option.

I guess that answers my question then as I'm currently using the 3rd hole from the end and that is the one that gives the 12" measurement. I did run the baler yesterday using the 12" drawbar measurement and didn't have any issues with turning radius. Normally I try to make wide sweeping turns anyway to take it easy on the u-joints so it works for me.

 

[C4Ranch]

No experience here mind you but I'm thinking the bailer specs are for a larger tractor with wider stance. That would require more length to clear. You are probably narrower so might not need as much draw bar length.

 

[wmonroe]

That might be the case also, the baler is a late fifties or early sixties vintage.

Is there a code that governs things like distance from the pto to the drawbar hole? I'd have to look at the manual again but it said something to the effect of "ensure the measurement from the pto to the drawbar hole meets the proper XYZ required 14" distance". I forget what acronym it mentioned, all I can think of now is ASME but that's obviously not it.