3-Point Hitch 3pt draft arm broken-3720

[KennedyDiesel]

So I'm headed to the woods some 75 miles from home with my splitter hanging on my Imatch. I stopped at a store (40 miles from home) and when I came out I see across the lot that my splitter is hanging all cock-eyed. Figured maybe a weld failure as I had redone the splitter top link. Maybe a pin fell out, or maybe Imatch did not latch. Got over to the tractor and the draft arm was broken in half right thriugh the lift link hole.

Sunday so I an SOL. I'm 2 miles from my dealer, but their after hors parts only operates during crop season.

Monday I called my dealer and he calls back later to say he had the link off their in stock 3320 and would leave outside his house as we normally do. $250+ for one stupid link!

Went to install the link and it is definitely constructed differently. I installed it and went to set the sway link inside my Imatch. Problem! In order to drop the pin I can no longer keep the hitch centered with this new arm. The bends are different.

So I called the dealer and requested the second arm. He suggests that he check with JD "whole goods" and see if he can find there. No go on just the std links, BUT he can get me a pair of the telescoping lower links for about the price of one std.

So now my question is how are the telescoping links? I pretty much always use my Imatch setup so I sure don't NEED the telescoping links, but is there any reason NOT to use these in lieu of the fixed ones?

 

[JB4310]

Can't you get the stock draft link?, you paid $250 for something that's not right, dealer should take it back IMO

I know it's a tight area to weld but I did have to reinforce mine right at the lift link area, the bottom side is available to reinforce without any clearance issues. I put a 1 inch bar under mine but you could put a 2 inch or bigger to hold yours back together, might not look pretty but would be stronger than original. There's a few other tricks you can do to repair, almost any thought out repair is gonna be stronger than original, obviously original ain't all that great.

How did it break clean? and when you say you were 40 miles from home, do you mean you were going over the road with the splitter in tow? or was the tractor on a trailer?

JB.

 

[KennedyDiesel]

Mine is a 2006 or 2005 as memory serves. Bought first available unit when they were released.

Dealer will exchange or whatever I decide. He actually robbed the arm that I have off of an in stock machine.

There are a couple of dark areas at the edges that tell me it was partly broken for a while now. They appear top be flat glass like breaks then the bulk of it is porous textured break. I'll try to get pics posted.

It was on my trailer when it broke. I have had much heavier implement than my splitter (plus 250# or weights) on teh 3 pt, but of course I generally transport in the down position. The spplitter will not lay on the ground until I build stands/legs for it.

 

[JB4310]

Ok, so the weight of the splitter was hanging/bouncing on the 3 pt when transporting on trailer.

That is alot of stress and at least explains why it broke especially if it had some previous fracture, I'm sure if you had to do it again you'd support it with something, but to late for that now

So can you get the stock one still or is it discontinued, I know they discontinue alot of the accessories after just a few years, but a draft link is a necessity and should be kept available.

JB.

 

[jenkinsph]

If the dealer is willing to make you a good price on the telescopic links then go for it. Should be no issues with the latch part of it. I use the IMatch and have the tele links and on occasion find it to be handy when hooking up non IMatch stuff.

I don't think the arms should have broken with that light of a weight though.

 

[sunnyside360]

........So now my question is how are the telescoping links?

I have telescopic links on 3720 and 4320. They work great and wouldn't want to be w/o them ever again.

 

[slaveToHorses]

I have telescopic links on 3720 and 4320. They work great and wouldn't want to be w/o them ever again.

Ditto with me on both my 3720 and 2355. In fact, I see no need to add an I-match. I can hook up fast enough with out it. All it does is add more weight (and stress) to the 3-pt. But that's just my opinion. Maybe if I used one for a while I would think otherwise.

I would go for the tele arms and see if you don't just skip the match.
By the way, I think the telescopic arms are a little heavier duty. I have both, I'll have to take a look later and compare.

 

[jenkinsph]

Ok, so the weight of the splitter was hanging/bouncing on the 3 pt when transporting on trailer.

That is alot of stress and at least explains why it broke especially if it had some previous fracture, I'm sure if you had to do it again you'd support it with something, but to late for that now

So can you get the stock one still or is it discontinued, I know they discontinue alot of the accessories after just a few years, but a draft link is a necessity and should be kept available.

JB.

I don't think the arms should have broken with a 250 lb load on them, the arm was defective that all. I have driven the tractor without the benefit of the trailer spring suspension with much heavier implements like brush cutters without any failures down some rough roads. A tractor on a trailer would experience much less of a shockload.

 

[KennedyDiesel]

To clarify my splitter is I believe 360#. I added a weight bracket to it to carry maybe 6 or 8 of the 40# suitcase weights.

I have a MX5, and Harley T6 (1000#) and have driven rough roads etc w/o issue.

I'd be curious to see how the telescoping links compare strenght wise. I don't plan to give up my Imatch. It's just too handy.

 

[JB4310]

I don't think the arms should have broken with a 250 lb load on them, the arm was defective that all. I have driven the tractor without the benefit of the trailer spring suspension with much heavier implements like brush cutters without any failures down some rough roads. A tractor on a trailer would experience much less of a shockload.

When you carry your brush hog or other implements, I assume you lower them to the deck? If some thing didn't fully contact the deck you would block it up, how else would you secure it with a chain or strap? You need to be able to cinch it down snug.

The way I pictured his splitter is suspended in the air with no support under it, I could be wrong but that's how I have imagined it. He did say he had "no stand or legs"
Whatever it weighs multiply that by it's leverage ratio and the lively load of going down the road and doesn't seem that far a stretch that something COULD give, maybe even without any defects in the material. With that big hole in there, right where the greatest stress is, makes sense to me, that's where it's gonna relieve itself.

Without it suspended in the air unsupported, I don't see how it could of broke?

And he also mentioned having 1000 pound loads on the 3pt, if there were some kind of fracture I think it would of let him know earlier, under normal/rough operating conditions, so I don't know if I agree that it had to be a defective arm.

I don't plan to give up my Imatch. It's just too handy.

I don't blame you, I wouldn't either.

Hey maybe SlaveTo Horses can sell you his, He doesn't need them now, with the telescoping ones

Did you mention, are the stock ones available?

JB.

 

[KennedyDiesel]

My T6 Harley rake is said to push 1,000. I drive the tractor in some nasty stuff and it bounces and shakes all over when I hit stuff too. My trailer is 25' long and torsion axles. It does ride pretty nice.

The splitter was not supported during transport. I normally lower to the deck for transport, but the splitter does not have stands and will not reach the deck.

The OE arms are available, but $250ea. I haven't tried to order a replacement to see how it compares to the 3320 takeoff, but I'd assume the same.

 

[jenkinsph]

KennedyDiesel,


I just checked on the "Build your own" site for a 3720 and came up with a part number of LVB 25308 $288.00 for the telescopic links. This would be two new arms with the telescopic links. When I ordered my new 4520 tractor it came with the standard arms and the telescopic arms were in a separate box. When you order the new telescopic links they are packaged this way as are most of the add ons, so this is not a "trade in of the standard arms and pay the upcharge" deal. For the price of $288 you should recieve a new set of two telescopic arms, sounds to me like the dealer is trying to take advantage of the situation in my opinion.

Still say that the arm should not have broken.

 

[JB4310]

Yeah, I agree, it is kinda odd that it would break with just the splitter on, compared to that heavy Harley rake over rough terrain.

Maybe had to do with the high frequency type live load of being trailered. or even just one bad pot hole.

JB.

 

[sunnyside360]

.........When I ordered my new 4520 tractor it came with the standard arms and the telescopic arms were in a separate box. When you order the new telescopic links they are packaged this way as are most of the add ons, so this is not a "trade in of the standard arms and pay the upcharge" deal.......

Hmmm, the new 3720 and 4320 tractors which I ordered from two different dealers both came with telescopic arms only -- no standard arms with either tractor.

 

[jenkinsph]

sunnyside360,
If you install the add ons you keep the excess parts, if the dealer does it he may opt to keep these to resell.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

sunnyside360,
If you install the add ons you keep the excess parts, if the dealer does it he may opt to keep these to resell.

Thats generally how it works...My dealer offered me the standard "QA Shoes" off my 300cx because I got the Skid Steer QA...I told him to keep em as I saw no instance of ever needing em.
On something like the lift links, I would definetly want the other ones.

Theres a thought...why not buy the telescopic ones and list em for trade on Craigslist or so....I'd imagine some other 3x20 owner would love to have a set of tele links...

 

[KennedyDiesel]

KennedyDiesel,


I just checked on the "Build your own" site for a 3720 and came up with a part number of LVB 25308 $288.00 for the telescopic links. This would be two new arms with the telescopic links. When I ordered my new 4520 tractor it came with the standard arms and the telescopic arms were in a separate box. When you order the new telescopic links they are packaged this way as are most of the add ons, so this is not a "trade in of the standard arms and pay the upcharge" deal. For the price of $288 you should recieve a new set of two telescopic arms, sounds to me like the dealer is trying to take advantage of the situation in my opinion.

Still say that the arm should not have broken.

Not sure how the dealer is takling advantage? He pointed out that the telescoping pair is about same price a s a single std. when I told him I would need the mating arm.

 

[jenkinsph]

Not sure how the dealer is takling advantage? He pointed out that the telescoping pair is about same price a s a single std. when I told him I would need the mating arm.

Because I would think that he has sold several tractors with telescopic links and should have some left over arms available at a more reasonable cost. Just maybe he turned them over to the tractor buyers along with the telescopic arms and doesn't keep the takeoffs.

At any rate the telescopic arms will fix your problems.

 

[sunnyside360]

sunnyside360,
If you install the add ons you keep the excess parts, if the dealer does it he may opt to keep these to resell.

Steve, I don't doubt what you are saying. It seems my dealers did take advantage of me since the tractors come with standard arms, as you stated, and I paid the full amount for the telescopic arms but never saw or was offered the standard arms by either dealer when I picked up the tractors. That is how I see it based on the above info.

 

[KennedyDiesel]

Because I would think that he has sold several tractors with telescopic links and should have some left over arms available at a more reasonable cost. Just maybe he turned them over to the tractor buyers along with the telescopic arms and doesn't keep the takeoffs.

At any rate the telescopic arms will fix your problems.

My dealer was once a smaller store, and is now part of a 6 or 8 stiore company so I don't know how they are now, BUT one thing I do know is that I was given all excess parts when they swapped over my air seat suspension, fork lift attach for the loader etc. this would seem to tell me that they do this for everybody rather than accumulate spare parts.

Can anybody confirm the comparative strength between the telescoping and std arms?