3-Point Hitch 3 Point Hitch Sway

[dj1701]

Hello everyone,
I just bought a new John Deere 4115 with a FEL and ballist box. I seem to have a problem with the 3 piont hitch always getting loose and swaying back and forth. I try to thighten the the hitch so it will not sway, but after a short while it is loose again, sometimes rubbing on the rear tire. Does anyone else have this problem and can it be corrected?

Thanks
Dave

 

[Mark_in_NH]

Dave,
On my JD 950, I adjust / snug up the chains with the turnbuckles on either side to center my ballast box and then there is a cotter / hitch type pin that goes thru a hole drilled in one of the bolts in each turnbuckle to prevent the turnbuckle from turning due to vibrations etc.
I am only guessing, but I have to assume most all 3 point hitch assemblies are similar.

 

[IRTEXN]

Dave,
I had the same problem on my 4110 with the brush hog swaying. I had to take the turnbuckles off and readjust the starting position of each adjusting link. Originally one end would bottom out before you could get the sway adjusted out. No problems since. Make sure you put the cotter pin back in though. Good luck

 

[cowboydoc]

I agree with Mark. You should have pins that go through the 3 point arms that will allow you to put the 3 point arms at any position.

 

[dj1701]

Thanks Guys,
If my memory serves me, there is a small hole for a cotter pin at the end of the bolts going into the turnbuckle. It's pretty small and the pin would keep them from coming apart but i'm not sure it would keep them from getting loose, unless i'm missing something. This is the second 3 point hitch I have experience with. The first is a smaller class hitch which came with a JD 140 my Father bought new when I was young. The tractor is now gone but the hitch is still in service on a JD 316 that replace the 140. I have never had any problems with that setup.

Dave

 

[DFB]

Dave, here's a pic of the turnbuckle adjuster on my 4100 along with the hairpin cotter pin.

In the Operator's Manual that was provided with my tractor, under the section headed "Adjusting Implement Side to Side Play" its described only as a locking pin. The locking pins that came with the tractor were probably metric. My original's have long been history.

3/32 X 1-5/8 will fit. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

DFB

 

[Mark_in_NH]

Dave,
From the looks of your turnbuckle, it is tightened up as far as it will go. If you are still getting or have slop in your chains you may need to back your turnbuckles off all the way and remove or adjust a link or two in your chains, then retighten your turnbuckles. Then if you drop a pin thru the hole drilled in the bolt, it will prevent the turnbuckle from turning and loosening up.
DFB's picture is almost a spitting image of mine.

 

[Mark_in_NH]

Close up picture of my turnbuckle, you can see the pin is set up just like the one in DFB's pic.

 

[IRTEXN]

Dave,
You have the same turnbuckle that I have on my tractor. Looks like you are missing the cotter pin which will allow the turnbuckle to only turn about 1/4 turn at the most. If your chains are good where they are in your pic, the a pin will keep them in place for you

 

[Marko]

Dave ,

I have a 4110 with R4's. I had to take the turnbuckles off and re-adj the starting points. This had to be done because the machine is setup for the Turf's R1's rom the factory ,which are narrower than the R4's , hence the addition slack on the adjusters. Because the R4's are widers and 1 of the turnbuckles are maxed closed you need to remove and re-adj. to take up the additional slack. After this no problems SWAY NO MORE ....

BTW : The Dealer should have taken care of this before they delivered the machine. Mine did not , so I friendly call to advise them of this fact goes a long way ...

Hope this helps ....

Mark