3pt sway adjustment?

sperry · May 5, 2008

Wondering what is the proper adjustment technique is for left and right sway with a finish mower? Just how tight should the 3pt arms be adjusted after the implement is attached? All imput appreciated.

wushaw · May 5, 2008

Just make sure you don't get any binding in the full up or down 3pt position on your check chains, turnbuckles or whatever is used on your tractor.

A little wiggle is just fine.

zzvyb6 · May 5, 2008

I like a little sideplay in the rigging to have some give if I hit a fence post while in a turn. Don't want to break it off.

You can have too much though. If you back up at all to cut in a tight area, that will be more difficult. You can make it too tight, also. That will bind the linkages. I run my 85" mower offset to the left so that the cutting edge is in line with the rear wheels. This keeps the overlap to a minimum.

skipmarcy · May 6, 2008

I like keeping about 2" (+/-) side to side play in mine, measured at the balls. Is still a long way away from hitting a tire but gives that slack to help keep from bending anything. By the time that 2" gets out to the tailwheel of my 6' rotary cutter it's grown to about a foot of sideplay and that works OK for me when backing into tight areas to cut. With the boxblade it helps too, but of course is only about 3" play at the rear of it. My drawpins on implements last alot longer with the slack - don't bend them as much as when I kept it all tight. Sure helps alot when changing implements too - I haven't had to adjust my side links now in a couple years either.

daTeacha · May 7, 2008

Living on a hillside, I tend to set my implements for minimal side play. That way, the things won't shift and destabilize the tractor if I need to pick them up while on a side hill. I just don't enjoy the sensation of impending rollover.

My tractor has the pin in the hole system for the stabilizers rather than a turnbuckle, so there is usually a little slack in it. About the only thing that sets up tight is the 900 lb chunk of concrete I have hanging on the rear whenever there isn't an implement there.