Mowing trouble keeping brush hog at right height

[Kenneth S]

I have a 1951 Harry Ferguson TO-20 tractor, with a 5' rotary cutter (brush hog), and other attachements. I have had a very hard time getting my 3 point hitch lift to get to, and stay at, the right height. It is either too low, or it goes all the way to the top, and then, all the way to the bottom. The thumb screw to adjust minimum height doesn't help. I can't just raise the height slightly, or lower it slightly.

I've been told this is a common problem with this design. I've heard you can hook chains to the front of the brush hog to keep it from getting too low, but I've had trouble getting that to work consistently. I've also heard of an after market attachment to help this tractor better manage the height adjustment.

I recently had repairs and maintenance done by a dealer, but they said this wasn't an easy fix, and was always a problem on this model of tractor.

Any advice?

You do have 90wt mineral oil, and not regular hydraulic oil it?

 

[MitchellB]

I welded 2 rings for chain attachment to my rotary cutter near the lift arm pins and hooked the opposite ends to my long top link pin on my 8N tractor with D rings.


these pictures below I got from the internet shows the proper way to do it, but I did not want to buy the chain kit with the pin/chain plates.


A setup like this should work for your Ferguson.

 

[oldpilgrim]

I've had 2 TO30's and both the 3pts intermittently would go up or down without warning. Even with a 1200lb backhoe on the back. i never used the 3pt except to hang the bh on.

I never found a solution and I never wanted to rip apart the rear end.

My son made a metal frame to hold one down and it crushed that when it went up.

Finally I made a heavy duty frame work to support the hoe and disconnected the 3pt list arms from the hydraulic lifter.

It's a real common problem.

 

[MESSMAKER]

4 quick links and 2 sections of 1/4" chain. Safety wire the links and you should be good to go. Probably less than $20.

 

[jeff9366]

4 quick links and 2 sections of 1/4" chain. Safety wire the links and you should be good to go. Probably less than $20.

DO NOT USE QUICK LINKS.

I have used Quick Links. Bouncing of the tractor and Hog soon separates Quick Link components into individual pieces.

Use much stronger Clevis Links only.

See LINK in Post #5.

 

[fishheadbob]

The dealer was right. This is a problem with that and similar tractors. Improvements have happened over the last 64 years.

 

[LD1]

I've had 2 TO30's and both the 3pts intermittently would go up or down without warning. Even with a 1200lb backhoe on the back. i never used the 3pt except to hang the bh on.

I never found a solution and I never wanted to rip apart the rear end.

My son made a metal frame to hold one down and it crushed that when it went up.

Finally I made a heavy duty frame work to support the hoe and disconnected the 3pt list arms from the hydraulic lifter.

It's a real common problem.

The dealer was right. This is a problem with that and similar tractors. Improvements have happened over the last 64 years.

Everyone who is ignoring this is clearly not familiar with old draft control 3PH's without draft override.

HArd to get the spring set right, and even then still isnt as good as position control. But proper adjustment should make it a bit better than the OP describes

 

[Jerry/MT]

I have a 1951 Harry Ferguson TO-20 tractor, with a 5' rotary cutter (brush hog), and other attachements. I have had a very hard time getting my 3 point hitch lift to get to, and stay at, the right height. It is either too low, or it goes all the way to the top, and then, all the way to the bottom. The thumb screw to adjust minimum height doesn't help. I can't just raise the height slightly, or lower it slightly.

I've been told this is a common problem with this design. I've heard you can hook chains to the front of the brush hog to keep it from getting too low, but I've had trouble getting that to work consistently. I've also heard of an after market attachment to help this tractor better manage the height adjustment.

I recently had repairs and maintenance done by a dealer, but they said this wasn't an easy fix, and was always a problem on this model of tractor.

Any advice?

The three point hitch on these older Fergusons was designed for ground engaging implements and does not have position control. You can buy(Zane Thang and the Fergie Positioner) or make ( Ferguson Enthusiasts of North America, FENA website) a position control device that will allow for position control on the TO-20/-30and the Ford 2N/9N. Or you can use check chains as the other poster advised.

 

[rdh333]

How do I go about buying a Zane Thang? I've googled this, but only found more forum posts. What is the website or phone number?

 

[bcp]

Zane Thang:

The Zane Thang

Bruce