3-point hitch hitting back tires: PLEASE HELP!

[jedjoe]

I'm no engineer, but I guess my only concern about welding the links would be if they serve some purpose in relieving or absorbing shear forces. By welding them, might the shear strain be so great as to bend or snap something? Just a thought! Someone with alot of experience in customizing might know that better than me.

 

[Boeing]

I was looking at two tractors yesterday, a larger Kabota and a mid size JD. Both had similar stabilizer assemblies and BOTH had chain link floppy attachments.... Sooo, now I'm thinking that the prob might be my 30 year old Bush Hog. The main frame arms that go up to the upper three pt. attachment are way loose down at the "hog" attachment. In fact, the right side has a 3" bolt with 2" LOOSE. The left side has about 1" loose as you can see in the photo...I tried to tighten them when I bought the rig but they are so rusted they would not budge. Rather than BREAK them I left them alone. Both hog vert arms flop all over the place and the arms pinch in at the top (see photo)where the upper 3PT attach's. I'm thinking that there should be a sleeve and about 3" up top for the attachment rather then a pinch and NO space at all up top.... I need to look at other hogs to see if anything new is available or at least how mine is SUPPOSED to be set up. I've GOT to address it, the unit swings and sways and angles left and right too badly to do much. Note: since this photo was taken I have replaced the drive shaft, the blades and widened the wheel width.

 

[Boeing]

I don't know WHY that photo will not open....sorry

 

[k0ua]

The photo opens ok here, yes there should be no movement of the hog upright arms, and they should not come to a pinch point.
James K0UA

 

[jimmysisson]

Agreed, that frame should be tight, though it looks like it was designed (?) to pivot at the bottom bolts. You should have a bolt and sleeve to hold the top of the arms apart. Looks like the right arm is bent?
It looks like you could reverse (and tighten) the nuts on the lower pins to bring the arms in, though you may not need that if you've widened the tires.
Jim

 

[Piperflyer]

Turn the male studs 180 degrees on the brush hog mount and then mount your 3 pt hitch to the inside of the black bracket

 

[djradz]

I was looking at two tractors yesterday, a larger Kabota and a mid size JD. Both had similar stabilizer assemblies and BOTH had chain link floppy attachments.... Sooo, now I'm thinking that the prob might be my 30 year old Bush Hog. The main frame arms that go up to the upper three pt. attachment are way loose down at the "hog" attachment. In fact, the right side has a 3" bolt with 2" LOOSE. The left side has about 1" loose as you can see in the photo...I tried to tighten them when I bought the rig but they are so rusted they would not budge. Rather than BREAK them I left them alone. Both hog vert arms flop all over the place and the arms pinch in at the top (see photo)where the upper 3PT attach's. I'm thinking that there should be a sleeve and about 3" up top for the attachment rather then a pinch and NO space at all up top.... I need to look at other hogs to see if anything new is available or at least how mine is SUPPOSED to be set up. I've GOT to address it, the unit swings and sways and angles left and right too badly to do much. Note: since this photo was taken I have replaced the drive shaft, the blades and widened the wheel width.

Yes, things are not quite right at the top and that needs to be corrected - doing so may help with the side to side sway or overall floppiness. However, the main problem as you note is the construction of the axle connection. It doesn't seem the greatest, but its flexibility probably is somewhat necessary to help in getting the lower arms out enough to hook up the attachment. I'm going to go out on a limb here, but I'm guessing it could be that it is sized for category 0 attacments, which have a closer-in spread standard. Don't quote me, but I think the standard is something like 20" or 22" for cat 0 and 26" or so for cat 1.

I did notice that you haven't even taken up all the slack by pushing the lower arms as far on to the pins as they will go before pinning the stabilizer, but that will only help a tiny amount anyway.

by the way, those lower pins on your hog could be turned inward, and that would give you lots of space, automatically tighten up the anti-sway bars and maybe make it easier to make an attachment.

 

[TO_Bud]

A few suggestions on gaining clearance and stability.

Good luck
Bud

 

[jinman]

I made an illustration below of what djradz and piperflyer suggested. Changing your pins to the inside like the illustration will solve your problem. You can't do this on all implements, but your cutter's A-frame makes this very easy to do.

 

[Boeing]

Thanks guys for all the good suggestions. I'll add "washer-bushings" to the stab arm shackles, Cut off those rusted bolts on the hog frame arms and get some stainless bolts and secure those hog arms.....or at least make them much tighter. Get sleeves to stop that upper attachment "pinch" AND turn the lower arm pins inward. That ought to greatly reduce my swaying hog.
Thanks again. You guys are great.....:thumbsup: