Simple drawbar lock

[zmansmac]

I have a cat 1 drawbar that mostly stays on my cement counterweight. But with this year's mowing season now I decided it's much easier to use it with a hitch ball to move my trailers around. I didn't want to go the route of using the top link so I bought a 3 pt drawbar lock at TSC (CountyLine Drawbar Lock, Cat 1 - For Life Out Here) that fits over the drawbar and then uses 2 bolts to secure it to one of the arms. Problem is it didn't work on my arms. After much deliberation (using a couple of beers for inspiration) I came up with what I think is a simple, easy to install design. No tools are needed. I started with a piece of 3/8" x 2 1/2" stock, drilled a 7/8" hole for the drawbar end and then bent it at 18 degrees to match the angle of the arms. Next I used 4 small pieces to create a "box" shape to loosely match the cross section of the drawbar. Lastly I welded another small piece to add a little more strength on the bent piece that fits around the arm. Because of the angles it will only work on one side, but can be made for either side, just a mirror image. To install, remove the lynch pin on the drawbar, pull it from the arm, slip this gizmo on the drawbar, insert drawbar back on the arm and reinstall the lynch pin.

 

[600rider]

looks good and should work!

 

[texasranger556]

Nice work! Years ago I worked at an ag dealer and we used a drawbar like that to move trailers around. 2-5/16 on one side, 2 and 1-7/8 on the other. Had to get off the tractor every time to flip the drawbar and snap the coupler or as you know the drawbar turns and trailer falls off. I always wanted to design a latch that you could lock the drawbar in place or flip it over from the seat of the tractor. Would have saved a few hundred trips off the seat in the time I worked there! Thankfully younger knees then too.

 

[boggen]

do you have a "swinging draw bar"? it would attach just below the PTO shaft on bottom side of the rear end.

a swinging draw generally has a hole on end of it. so you can drop a pin through it for say pulling a wagon. or toss a ball into it.

you can also toss a bar on. and then extend it to the "draw bar" that goes between the 3pt hitch lift arms.

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with above said. you going to start selling them gizmos? were is your patent?

 

[zmansmac]

Boggen, never heard of a swing draw bar before you mentioned. So I had to do a little research to find out. If I'm understanding it's operation correctly it appears to only have lateral movement.

I was just looking to make something simple to move my 2 trailers around for mowing grass underneath them without getting off the tractor.
I happen to use pieces of scrap steel I had on hand but like most things I've made for my tractor I tend to over design them in the strength department. I only intend to move the trailers around empty but this lock should be able to handle a loaded one (of mine) as well.

I realized after I made the original posting that a lot of guys may not have the equipment to bend heavy steel stock. But that one piece could be made of 3 individual pieces welded together instead of bending. The hardest part of the project may be to drill the 7/8" hole but there are many ways to do that, especially since it doesn't have to be a tight tolerance.

Ryan, even though I'm retired I don't have the time to make and sell these. And I haven't applied for any kind of patent. I've learned a lot and have been helped at times on this forum and sharing my projects and ideas are just my way, like many others, of giving back.

 

[aczlan]

That looks nice. With a similar drawbar I've used a large straight clevis.
I put the loop of the clevis over the arm and the pin through the first hole in a drawbar and it'll turn a little bit but not much.
Here is one like the one I use:
Amazon.com: Koch 43 Forged Straight Clevis, 3/4-Inch, Black: Home Improvement

Aaron Z

 

[zmansmac]

Aaron, great idea. Even simpler than mine. I might have gone that route had I known/thought of it. But I like working with metal and a retiree's time is cheap.

 

[ArXane]

That looks nice. With a similar drawbar I've used a large straight clevis.
I put the loop of the clevis over the arm and the pin through the first hole in a drawbar and it'll turn a little bit but not much.
Here is one like the one I use:
Amazon.com: Koch 4253 Forged Straight Clevis, 3/4-Inch, Black: Home Improvement

Aaron Z

I cant picture how this works, got a picture?

 

[aczlan]

I cant picture how this works, got a picture?

I will try to take one later, we have that drawbar on the B7500 today.
Edit, here is someone else's take on it:

I use a shorter clevis, so it is too short to swing all the way around like theirs does, so I don't need the lump they added to keep the clevis from flipping around.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/owning-operating/210470-how-do-i-keep-trailer.html#post2408488

Aaron Z

 

[ArXane]

I will try to take one later, we have that drawbar on the B7500 today.
Edit, here is someone else's take on it:

I use a shorter clevis, so it is too short to swing all the way around like theirs does, so I don't need the lump they added to keep the clevis from flipping around.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/owning-operating/210470-how-do-i-keep-trailer.html#post2408488

Aaron Z

Now I get it! Thanks!