3 pt Conversion - measurements needed

[john_bud]

Hello all,
I have been reading the advise you've been providing for a while, now I'm hoping you can help me. I have a tow-behind 30 gallon sprayer that I have been using with my lawn mower. I would like to convert it to a 3 point connection so I can use it with my new Kubota. It's a great unit with its own 3 hp Briggs engine and plenty of power for my needs, however the hoses are all very close to the ground and get damaged often, dumping out all my expensive fertilizer, bug spray or roundup (where I don't want it dumped!). That's why I want to raise it up, so the bottom won't get dragged and rip out the hoses. I am new to tractoring and I don't have the measurements on where to locate the connection points for the arms and the top link.

The unit is about 3 1/2 feet wide and 5 1/5 feet long including the tongue. It's mostly just the 30 gal tank, a small rear platform for the 3 horse Briggs engine and pump and 2 small tires. Total weight dry can't be more than 200 pounds.

Here are my current plans, feel free to chip in with better ideas!
1) Remove the tongue from the sprayer cart
2) fabricate a new "quick connect tongue" so that it could be used in tow behind mode if desired
3) beef up the sides of the cart to allow it to hang from the 3pt lift arms
4) add lift arm pins to the sides ($1.69 each at Farm/Fleet)
5) fabricate the support for the top link connection.
A little bit of welding, grinding, some cussing, a dab of paint, and done. (Yeah, right!)

Anyway, I think I can handle the mechanics of the fabrication, what I don't know is;
What is the "optimum" separation for the bottom 2 lift arm pins?
What is the vertical height from the lift arm pins to the top link pin?
Is the top link connection in the same "front to back" plane as the lift arm pins?
What else do I need to know to keep from messing up?

I don't have a digital camera, but I will try and expose some of the old fashioned film and see if I can scan some photos if anyone is interested. I am currently in the disassembly, measurement and deep thought portion of the project.

Thanks in advance

John Bud

 

[Harv]

John -

Sounds like an interesting project, and one that I am interested in myself.

I've been looking for an economical 3-pt sprayer unit, but haven't found one yet. Alternatively, I was looking for a tag-along unit, like yours, and adapt it to the 3ph.

I may have found what I'm looking for with this unit from Northern Tool. It's a mount-it-yourself kind of package, and there is a boom adapter available for it.

As for measurements, I am (frustratingly) a long ways from my tractor property, so I can't run out with my tape measure and get what you want. But I just happened to have measured the span of the lift pins on my box scraper for another project I'm thinking about. The outside dimensions of the part of the frame that the pins protrude from is 25-1/4 inches (or 25.25" if you prefer decimals).

I'm sort of new at this myself, so I'm not sure how much latitude or variation there is in this dimension, but I suspect you will get more info on this from other folks on this board.

Good luck on your project, and be sure to keep us posted on your progress. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[Estif]

For measurements, do what I seem to be doing all the time - go measure some stuff. Seems like anything I want to build I wind up stopping off somewhere on my way home with a tape measure and a pad. No one has ever objected. In this case, if you don't have any other 3pt implements sitting around, I'd suggest you pay a visit to Tractor Supply or Farm & Fleet or even a dealer of any color who has a lot full of implements, and measure a few pieces. There's enough adjustment range that an inch or two sprinkled around won't cause any grief. Sounds like you're just new to tractors and quite comfortable with fabricating whatever you want.

Steve

 

[cowboydoc]

Harv,
That's the same sprayer that I have for doing small jobs. For bigger ones I have 500 gallon pull behind. When I use that one I don't even bother with the tractor, I just put it on my 4 wheeler. Much more maneuverability and easier to use. I just made a platform for it out of steel and on the bottom it already has tapped bolt holes so I just drilled the platfrom and put the bolts in. Then I made a bracket for it to sit in the bed of my Kawasaki Mule. Now I know that doesn't apply to your case but it would be very easy just to extend the steel frame that I made this one on from the beginning and then just weld some arms on it for the 3 point arms and put a toplink bar on and you would have it. I made it with tublular steel so if you didn't wan to weld it you could drill and bolt it together. I would get you a picture but something was wrong with my digital camera and every picture you took came out dark even though there was plenty of light so I sent it in.
Richard

 

[Jag]

John & Harv... I just saw the spread of the different categories of 3ph on the board the other day.. I will see if I can find it you you.... But one important thing it is best if all your implements are the same... If they differ then you really have to take a lot of time to adjust the sway chains. I use about 4 different implements. The worst is changing to the backhoe. The lift points are set in about 6 inches more that any other implements, always a pain..

 

[Jag]

John & Harv... Bird posted the spec's under "Category Clasifications 11/29/00 11:40pm. sorry I could not get the link to work right.

 

[rlk]

You can purchase an A frame kit from Agri-Supply for about $30. The down side to their A frame is it is very heavy - not lightweight at all. You can then use the A frame to mount to your sprayer. Agri-Supply is also online at agri-supply.com. (Not sure how to make this a link). If you don't have access to an Agri-Supply, the shipping charges would probably be more than the A frame.

 

[Harv]

Richard -

Too bad you don't have any pictures. I would love to see your setup.

Question -- did you get the 9-foot boom attachment? If so, does it give you the ability to choose between spray left side, spray right side or spray all?

I only have a few acres I want to keep sprayed, and I've been doing it so far with my 4-gallon Solo backpack sprayer. Hopefully a 25-gallon unit will do the job for me, and since my tractor is the only motor vehicle on the property besides my family car, we're definitely looking at a 3pt adaptation.

Speaking of the 3pt, here is Bird's post on Category Classifications.

 

[john_bud]

Harv,

Thanks for the link. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif It sounds like 26 inches or so is a good spread. I just need to know how high above the center line of the lift pins the top link is. Unfortunately, I can't take Steve's sage advice and measure one (not easily anyway /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif) as the local Farm/Fleet store has all implements stored and my dealer has all of his put away too. Darn snow here in Wisconsin! Anyway, I can make the mount for the lower pins now and the top link later.

I forget who mentioned the abilty to turn on the boom spray left or right as opposed to both sides, but that was a good idea that I will try and use. Should be just some extra valves....

Thanks for the help so far!

John Bud

 

[DDT]

Harv,
On the equipment I have to average is 26" wide then add bottom pins, 18" center to center for top link. different manafactures will use slightly different measurements, but the top link is adjustable. For light duty hitchs I use a 7/8" soild shaft 33" long. drill holes at each end for quick pins. taper ends alittle drill the holes 1" from the end, support the middle with angle iron 26" long. junk yard will often have 7/8 shaft for 10 cents a LB.