3-Point Hitch New to me Ford 2000 and 3PT Link Confusion

[Smallholder]

Hi All,

Long time lurker who has finally taken the plunge and bought a 1970 Ford 2000. Diesel 4 speed, Highways version, with a Safety Cab and auto hitch. No idea on the hours, but it appears to have done 3000 miles in the last 44 years. Ex Royal Navy, first road registered in 2003, so I think that is when it left the Navy.

Slowly working my around it and sorting the odd problem. Starting at the 3pt hitch I wanted to sort out the lack of check chains and looking at the parts manual it appears the lower link arms are rotated, in the sense that the riveted on eyes are on the the outside of the arms and the leveling rods are attached closer the axle end of the lift arms than the check chain eyes.

I swap then around so that they match the configuration in the parts manual, check chain eyes on the inside, lift/leveling rods connected in the hole that is closer the implement end of the arm. Looks right, but the arms now do not go as low as there is a lack of clearance between the top of the lift arm and the top of teh slot in the bottom of the leveling rods.

Hope that makes sense and I have used the correct terms. Yep I know a picture would speak a thousand words

So my thoughts are:
1) Looks like the lift arms were put on back to front to avoid the problem in the first place.

2) Having the leveling arms located closer the axle end is also reducing the lifting leverage.

3) The lower limit of the arms is now set by the binding up of the arms and the leveling rods, rather than the lower limit of the hydraulic cylinder. (Which can't be good?)

4) I have no adjustment left in the leveling mechanism, with the position lever at its lowest, thy rods have to just about at their shortest to avoid the interference ( with the implement end of the arms about 10" off the ground.

What's causing the problem:
1) The lift arms are have too much depth (replaced with different ones at some point?)
or
2) The leveling rods yokes need a deeper slot on the back side.

Does anyone have any thoughts? I am a tractor novice so I maybe I am being totally daft.

All the best,

Ed

 

[Soundguy]

what rear tires? if this has different than ag setup rims and tires.. the 3pt lift arms low position will be different.

pics WILL help...

 

[Smallholder]

Hi Soundguy,

Bog standard Agri tyres on the back as far as I can tell. Went and got some pics today so you at least have a fighting chance of understanding what I'm trying to describe

Quick picture of when I went to buy it.





The pic shows the lower arms on as per the manual, hydraulics at there lowest and no matter how I adjust the levelling unit, lift the lower arm by hand, the top of the arm interferes with the back of the yoke. With the hydraulics at their lowest it just does not fit.



Here I have raised the hydraulics enough to get a temporary bolt through for demo purposes and then lowered until there is no clearance between top of arm and yoke. This is effectively as low as it can go, about 13" off the ground. When bothers me here is that it is not the hydraulics taking the weight, but the jambing up of the lift arm and yoke.





Looking at it closely today if I ground out the back slot on the yoke by another 10mm that would probably be enough, but it that the right thing to do?

Cheers,
Ed

 

[Soundguy]

you didn't post any pics of the upper lift arms.. and those will tell a tale.

 

[Smallholder]

Soundguy,

Sorry, Won't be home till Friday now to take some more pics. I'll get some posted up then. Anything else specific you need to see that will help.
Cheers, Ed

 

[Soundguy]

just really need to see them upper lift arms and lifting links

 

[Smallholder]

Here's a couple of picks with the lift arms at their lowest, with the lower lift arms attached. With the lower lift arms disconnected and hence no impingement with the leveling unit the upper lift arm will go down a further 0.5 inches.

 

[Soundguy]

how about instead of a super close up.. how about something that shows the entire lifting link, lower draglink, etc.

sorry to keep asking.. but had to get scale with some pics. ( i'm trying to compair it to my 4600.. etc. )

 

[Smallholder]

Hi Soundguy,
Thanks for looking. Not home till the weekend. The only pic I have on my phone is this:



I'll take some more this weekend. Don't worry, I'm happy to keep taking photos until you're bored of asking.

I appreciate your help.
Ed

 

[schiker]

Your drawbar mechanism is some option I haven't seen. When down your leveling adjustments are at a greater angle than mine. Like the lower arms are too long (or the rotating lift yoke arms are short due to drawbar mechanism). Something does look off like a mismatch. I wonder if your model requires special lower arms (the lower link arms that attach to implement) due to the drawbar mechanism.

The check chains are not really adequate implement sway control. There are additional sway limiting bars I don't see. I will try and get a picture of my '72 2000.