Bent 3pt attachment

[SpotsyMatt]

I've bent slightly one of the two lower attachment bars on my finish mower attachment. I can still get it to connect to the 3pt arm but it would be easier if it were straigtened out. The pin is not bent, just the bar that the pin is attached to.

Would a MAPP torch heat this up enough to straighten it out? If not, how might you do it?

I've attached a picture.

 

[Just Bill]

Hello
I don't think you will get it near hot enoudh with a Mapp gas torch.
You are going to need to use a cutting torch to get it hot enough, fast enough to straighten it .

 

[jimmysisson]

Pending a look at it, I'd say hold a 8# hammer head behind what you don't want to move, and hit the part you need to move with a 3# hammer. No heat, more paint stays on, quicker, cheaper, just as lasting.
Jim

 

[SpotsyMatt]

Hi Jim,

Thanks for the response. I added a picture to my post.

 

[SpotsyMatt]

Hi Bill,

That's what someone told me today.

I've got an Oxy Acetylene torch that was my late father-in-laws but I've never used it. I'm always a bit tentative about trying things unless I've been instructed how to use them. I'll have to find someone who knows the in's and out's of using the torch to show me how.

Before I saw your response about the MAPP gas, I tried it... an exercise in futility.

 

[wimpy525]

You will want a rose bud tip to heat it evenly, a cutting tip will work but the heat is to concentrated.

 

[rbargeron]

.......Would a MAPP torch heat this up enough to straighten it out? If not, how might you do it?......

I've bent mine too. It is just mild steel so it can be cold flattened in a shop press. Take the part to anybody with a press (truck or equipment repair shop) - should take about 3 minutes unless it's twisted too - then it might be 5

 

[beenthere]

Agree with the press. Doesn't look too bad for pressing it back straight or near straight.

Now, how to avoid it happening again?

 

[SpotsyMatt]

Agree with the press. Doesn't look too bad for pressing it back straight or near straight.

Now, how to avoid it happening again?

Yeah, it bent when I was backing up the tractor with the mower deck down and I ran into a rut and jammed the deck into the hard ground. Not my finest hour. So many opportunities in life to learn a lesson...

 

[massey driver]

If you have a hydralic bottle jack and a heavy piece of equipment,a bigger tractor??for example use the bottle jack and the heavy equipment?? as a home made sort of press and straighten it yourself.Have done stuff like this on quite a few different occasions.Lay the bent piece on a couple pieces of blocks of wood and use the jack to lift up on the heavy equip.and it will act as a press straightening out the bend give it a try it works good Larry:thumbsup:

 

[beenthere]

Good idea Larry.

And under the drawbar of the tractor might be a good place to start. Stick that lift pin up through the drawbar pin hole, and the bottle jack underneath pushing on the bend.

 

[SpotsyMatt]

Well, I used a bottle jack and attempted to straighten it out but all it did was lift my NH tractor up and didn't straighten it out much. On the plus side, I now have a new bottle jack and I never complain about getting a new tool or implement.:thumbsup:

I ended up using my oxy acetyene torch to heat the metal up. I put it in my vice and then heated it up pretty good, took my vice grips and held the metal on my vice's anvil and hit it with my 3# hammer. Had to heat it up twice but I got it pretty straight - not perfect but darn close.

I cleaned it up and put a coat of paint on it and will put it back on the mower deck tomorrow.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions - I really appreciate you!:thumbsup:

Matt

 

[beenthere]

Good job there. Glad you gotRdun.