Bent stabilizer. Convert to ball bushing stabilizer?

[nova3930]

The more I look at that ball end version, it doesn't seem like you're really adding much strength in all this. The rectangular stock that bent and broke the first time looks to be the same piece, just welded to a ball end joint this time. I think if I was going to go to all this fabrication effort I'd retrofit a beefier complete adjustable link in place. Like from another tractor altogether.

It is the same piece. Fits perfectly in the remaining piece of the old stabilizer. My thought is that it appears the different locations of the rotation axes of the old design can result in a bind up that puts stress on the bar. The ball bushing should prevent the bind up and thus the stress on and breakage of the bar....

 

[95d1]

I think you're right about the binding too. I think if you can take out the "play" you shouldn't have much of an issue. I have had the same problem and used square stock and drilled new holes. Something else will give first now.

 

[gphil12873]

I bent the piece of flat bar where it goes over the pin at the tractor. What I was thinking about doing is straighten out the flat bar with the hole back out and see if I can thread the pin and put a bolt and washer on it. Not sure how much room I would have on the short pin or would the pin hole cause it to be to weak to be threaded. Also I was going to make some little pie shaped pieces and weld on the top and bottom of the piece of flat bar for some added strength.

 

[Xfaxman]

I bent the piece of flat bar where it goes over the pin at the tractor. What I was thinking about doing is straighten out the flat bar with the hole back out and see if I can thread the pin and put a bolt and washer on it. Not sure how much room I would have on the short pin or would the pin hole cause it to be to weak to be threaded. Also I was going to make some little pie shaped pieces and weld on the top and bottom of the piece of flat bar for some added strength.

Pictures?

 

[nova3930]

Holidays plus a sick kid have slowed me down. Hope to get the retrofit done Saturday....

 

[nova3930]

Finally got around to doing the retrofit. About 45 minutes start to finish for the job. Cut off the existing pins with the chop saw, trip through the drill press for both, the assembly. Used grade 8 3/4-10 bolts I got from McMaster with matching nuts and washers with a coating that's rated for salt spray. Torqued down with a little blue thread locker and it should be good to go. Got to take the box blade to the driveway so I should have test results soon.




Ultimately it's probably a more solid connection than the old way with the clevis pins along with being less prone to binding...

 

[oldtoyboyd]

I hope it turns out good
I have got to do something to mine

 

[Xfaxman]

:thumbsup: Looks good, a little blurry, but good.

In fact I guarantee that it will not bend or break! (until it does) :laughing:

 

[nova3930]

Lol yeah my camera hand isn't very steady.

If this retrofit breaks then I'm fabbing up stabilizers from scratch out of something beefy. Probably square tubing on a ball bushing is the direction I'd go next.

 

[triptester]

Bent stabilizers are common on compact tractors due to the narrow wheel base. The shallow angle between the lift arms and the stabilizers links reduces the effectiveness of the links making them difficult to properly adjust. Consider that stabilizers were originally short lengths of chain. Chains are made for pulling motion. The stabilizer bars are no different than a chain they are only intended for a pulling motion, compression will bend them every time.

When properly adjusted there should be no side to side motion of the 3-point.