Rotary Cutter Broke turnbuckle first time using bush hog

[howie70]

Used my Kodiak bush hog for the first time today. It is only a 40" so my BX2370 should handle it. Many on here have told me they use 48" cutters with no issues. I don't know if I set it up wrong or what. I have used a bush hog on my old 9N and Massey many times in the past, but obviously the Kubota has a little different set up. Anyway, the turnbuckle on the left side broke where it is welded on the nut. I was on some uneven ground so I don't know if I got it in a bind or perhaps it was a bad weld. I am sure this won't be covered under warranty. Any ideas on what might have caused this?

 

[murphy1244]

Maybe too tight.

 

[DT86]

Maybe too tight.

It very well could have been but it looks like a poor weld too.

I think the dealer will fix it, anyone with a welder could have you back and running in just a minute.

 

[k0ua]

Well, please don't take this the wrong say, and I sure don't mean to be hateful, but I am sure not impressed with those turnbuckles. They seem very weak to me. Just a couple of tack welds on a nut? Not a whole lot of metal holding them together. I know it is a small tractor, but I would have though the turnbuckle would have been a little more robust. If I could not find some turnbuckles made a little stronger, I would weld them back together, and put some more weld metal up and over the whole nut and over the U ends to try to get a little more strength built into that joint. If you don't weld yourself, take it to a shop and see if some "good ole boy" can't make it a little better. Again I don't mean to say anything bad or knock your equipment, but that is what I think.

James K0UA

 

[howie70]

Well I have been on here doing some searching. Seems this isn't all that unusual for the BX. Many have switched to telescoping arms. I may look into doing the same.
Murph - don't think it was to tight. Could have been to loose as there was still a lot of play in it.
k0ua - no offense taken here! As soon as I looked at them I thought they were a little "whimpy". I mean that tack weld is helping stabilize a 400 pound piece of equipment. I have never tried my hand at welding, but we have a guy in our shop at work that is pretty darn good with a welder.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

I have those on my BX25 and hate them. I have been looking for some forged steel turnbuckles but no luck yet. As an interim I took two Cat 0 top links, knocked out the balls and am using those. I think running those a little loose compounds the stress as it bangs around. I run just snug, no play. I went through a dozen of the clevises on the ends. Loose turnbuckles caused then to bend and several times shear the pin. Drilled out the holes to use 7/16 pins and the larger clevises and have had no problems since on that end. Still planning on how I can do this hookup with out using wrenches. At my age groveling around on my knees is not my cup of tea. If I get a good solution I will share it.

Ron

 

[howie70]

Seabee....I think I am going to try this: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/12639-bx-2200-lift-arm-adjusters.html

 

[corey9212]

My turnbuckles were quite solid, I never had an issue with them and always tightened them right up with no play at all. They lasted all 4 years that I owned the tractor, they were a pain to get into and adjust and I learned to always keep a 19mm wrench in the tractor for just that reason. Now that I upgraded tractors and got a taste of telescoping stabilizers I would never go back to turnbuckle. Like mentioned earlier lots of people have upgraded theirs and there is a couple that posted with great detail on how to do it easily. But worse case scenario get Kubota to replace them if there is warranty and if you do upgrade you will still have the turnbuckles as a back up.

 

[Scooby074]

Hmm.. I have those on my BX. And I abuse the heck out of them! Ive actually bent the pins in the shackles into a C. Ive since replaced them with a proper shackle.http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...hoddy-shackles-bx-turnbuckle.html#post3306309 That said.. I have not had a weld failure. I suspect that your weld where the nut meets the shackle was defective. Reweld and you will be good to go.

I also agree with the others who say that this system SUCKS!! Its a pretty poor design. I believe somebody mentioned to me in a thread that you can substitute a HD 9" turnbuckle in the factory setup's place, but I cant find the link now.

 

[Baby Grand]

Looks like a feeble weld. Bad day at the factory after a good weekend?
You may want to look into Stabilworks.
They transformed hitching an implement to our B5100 from a real hassle to a very simple procedure.
Mark is a TBN member and a pleasure to do business with.

 

[Tomtint]

Exact same thing happened to me with my BX 22. I had it rewelded and never had another problem. Chitty design.

 

[TripleR]

Agree with DT86 that is a poor weld, those on our BX's never failed after years of hard use, but also agree wit James K0ua that it is a poor design and have replaced ours with those made by hodge at Stabilworks.

 

[k0ua]

Agree with DT86 that is a poor weld, those on our BX's never failed after years of hard use, but also agree wit James K0ua that it is a poor design and have replaced ours with those made by hodge at Stabilworks.

that looks much stronger, and undoubtedly is much easier to work with.

 

[TripleR]

that looks much stronger, and undoubtedly is much easier to work with.

We really like them and put them on our BX2200 and BX2660, darned turnbuckles were nothing but an aggravation.

 

[LD1]

Yea the turnbuckles arent the best thing on the market, but they do work. Never had issues with mine on my 3400, but they are a tad different and on the outside.

It does indeed look like a bad weld. And a combination of the un-even ground, possibly they were too loose and let the BH swing pretty hard one direction, or possibly when turning, the BH could have dug into the ground??

It really dont matter how it happened though, if the tractor is under warranty, your dealer should definataly replace for free unless you choose the aftermarket route...

 

[howie70]

I have sent Hodge an e-mail. His daughter replied that he is on a mission trip until Saturday. I like the looks of his set up, but my concern is price. Looks like I can order the parts from Kubota to do it for about $85. I saw in a thread somewhere that his set up runs about $130 with shipping? I could be wrong though. I am holding off ordering from Kubota until I hear back from Hodge since I have heard nothing but good things about him.

 

[howie70]

I will see what my dealer says regarding warranty replacement. I have only had the tractor 2 months. I did have one other issue. The right front tire had a slow leak. I took it off and took it to them. I figured I had ran over something, but they found nothing. No holes, no nothing. They put a tube in it and told me they didn’t know if warranty would cover it. Said they would submit it and call me if it was rejected. If they call me to pay that we are going to have a nice discussion. So I have my doubts on them replacing this turnbuckle with no hassle. We will see this evening.

 

[TripleR]

I will see what my dealer says regarding warranty replacement. I have only had the tractor 2 months. I did have one other issue. The right front tire had a slow leak. I took it off and took it to them. I figured I had ran over something, but they found nothing. No holes, no nothing. They put a tube in it and told me they didn’t know if warranty would cover it. Said they would submit it and call me if it was rejected. If they call me to pay that we are going to have a nice discussion. So I have my doubts on them replacing this turnbuckle with no hassle. We will see this evening.

I wouldn't think much of a dealer who didn't cover that. My dealer calls in advance of warranty expiration to make sure all issues are resolved.

I had a leak in my BX2660 front tire and they replaced it twice until I got a tire/wheel combo that held air, I did not want a tube.

Good luck, hope it all works out.

 

[oosik]

Wow! That turnbuckle arrangement is part of the three point hitch sway control? I would have thought the loop ends with the tack welded nut would have been a cast metal fixture. Small tractor or not that looks pretty weak to me. I think this needs a more substantial fixture.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Clearly a bad spot weld based on the rust showing from my view.