3pt Sway?

Dobber30052 · Aug 9, 2002

TD, I'm going to take your "Box Blade Sway" question a little further - does the sway distance make a difference as to the implement? Since I'm asking, if there should be a difference in implements how about for a tiller, a rfm, and soon to be box blade, and likely an aerator. I'm sure others would be interested in brush hogs, scrape blades, etc.

Thanks folx!

Dob

tdenny · Aug 12, 2002

Dobber30052,

The only implement that this has happened to me on is the box blade. In fact, I was out mowing with my new RFM (First Choice) and it didn't happen either. Mower is terrific.

What I've decided, after adjusting the check chains almost as far as they can go, is that the box blade hookups for the lower arms provide quite a bit of room for movement and I think this is really the problem. So I think I will try and get some spacers and put them in the place where the slack currently exists. /w3tcompact/icons/clever.gif

normde2001 · Aug 12, 2002

Every implement is probably going to be different depending on the spacing of the lower lift arm pins. I read where 26" is standard for cat 1 hitches but some are more and some less. I had to use a spacer on my box scraper pins, and reverse the pins on my pond scoop to point inward in order to adjust out the sway. Rotary cutter worked fine as it was.

karmakanic · Aug 12, 2002

You don't want any more play in the sway chains then necessary for raising & lowering of the 3pt. Each implement will be a little different, and the amount of play in each implement will change over time as wear occurs. Any excessive play allows high stresses to occur as the weight of the implement is slammed from side to side. That's what beaks pivot pins and cracks mounting bosses. I make it a point to check each implement after hookup by raising the implement and physically moving it from side to side, adjusting the turnbuckles if it appears too loose. I do have to be careful not to adjust them too tight, or they will bind up when the implement is lowered.

Dave Perry

Dobber30052 · Aug 12, 2002

Thanks guys, as usual, /w3tcompact/icons/clever.gif, do what it kinda makes sense. I have likely had way too much play, especially with the tiller, probably 6-8 inches. My thinking was to leave it a little loose for the any buried nasties, so it would jump - I have hit some pretty big stuff, and the racket and bouncing gives me time to raise it. But, I will try a bit tighter, but not too much, Dave!

tdenny · Aug 13, 2002

Dobber30052,

I could be wrong here since I haven't actually used my tiller yet but don't they normally leave more room for side to side adjustment on tillers in order to provide that "offset"? Don't know but am curious./w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif

tdenny · Aug 13, 2002

normde2001,

What do you use for a spacer? I know I need something for this purpose as well.

normde2001 · Aug 13, 2002

Just a plain old 1" hose clamp works great. Was looking for a pice of pipe or something to cut a 1/2" piece from and came upon the hose clamp by accident.

Dobber30052 · Aug 13, 2002

TD,
Sounds reasonable to me, and leaving it "loose" did work as intended - My garden only had 1 HUGE rock in it (still need to figure out how to get it out, right now, I know right where it is and just float over it), but, my neighbor across the street asked me to till a patch for him. Good grief, I as soon try to till the road! Inches of dry GA red clay and several basketball sized and larger rocks were found. I have to assume that with no broken tines so far, (knock on wood) that the theory holds. Maybe I would have detected the rocks and been able to lift away, but, becasue the tiller had some room to move side to side, I think helped. Now, let me say, total, I've probably only tilled a whole acre (my 100X100 garden a couple of times, and a couple of patches for neighbors) so, I ain't no authority, but, I am workin on it!

However, I can see where you could break or bend pins and such as Dave mentioned above... so I think I'll do as my father (rip) might have said: Humor it a little in both directions - tighten down a little more, but not as much as for other implements.

BTW, I turned that pile of clay into baby powder, and it sat about 4 inches above the rest of the yard, man, I (and they!!) love that thing! I'm headed down to deer camp this weekend to put in some late season plantings, can't wait! The only thing is I haven't hooked into the FC Box blade yet, so we'll have to drive through the ruts until it comes in!

Dob