3-Point Hitch BX swing arm substitutes?

[ayelvington]

I have a 60" backblade, and I'm thinking that when I'm plowing (going forward) the force pulling on the left is creating a counter-force pushing on the right. (I plow english-style because of the way our drive is shaped...) Given that most of the work is being done by the left side of the blade, that would put substantial compressive force on the right side.

I always presumed it was from pushing with the back blade, but it's always the right arm that craps out.

It could happen...

 

[CHDinCT]

If your gusseted arms don't work out for you, you could buy a few sets of these per year and probably not come close to the cost of new Kubota supplied lift arms.

https://www.surpluscenter.com/item.asp?item=1-3127&catname=misc

 

[ayelvington]

If your gusseted arms don't work out for you, you could buy a few sets of these per year and probably not come close to the cost of new Kubota supplied lift arms.

https://www.surpluscenter.com/item.asp?item=1-3127&catname=misc

LOVE IT! Certainly worth taking a chance on them! I'm ordering a set now to trial while the weather is warm. I'd much rather deal with them than mess with trying to re-bend the old arms.

 

[dodge man]

I just find it hard to believe you are bending the 3 point arms. I have bent a turnbuckle when I backed into a tree with my blade on but the 3 point arms seem pretty sturdy. You must be using them pretty hard if you are bending them. Like someone else said, they are meant for pulling, not pushing.

 

[CHDinCT]

LOVE IT! Certainly worth taking a chance on them! I'm ordering a set now to trial while the weather is warm. I'd much rather deal with them than mess with trying to re-bend the old arms.

For the price, it's worth trying them. On the other hand, I'd be surprised if they're as heavy duty as the OEM ones, but who knows. Let us know what you think of them when you get 'em.

 

[ayelvington]

Everbody out there: Yes, I work my BX hard. Yes, I have on occassion pushed with the 3-pt. NO, I do not feel that I abuse it. I have a working orchard with a quarter mile of gravel driveway. I have used equipment for a very long time and do not feel that I am asking for more from the arms than I should.

That said, I use full-sized CAT-1 attachments, and they may be applying more force laterally and longitudinally than the BX 3-pt can tolerate.

Every tractor is a compromise (too small, to big, to tall, to short, etc) and the Achille's heel of the BX series would appear to be the 3-pt. Such is life. I borrow a JD 1070 for larger jobs, but I have a heck of a time fitting it down the narrow rows of my orcard (14' centers). I can't borrow it for winter plowing since he uses it for his own drive...

Not to sound defensive, but please stop implying that I'm abusing the hitch. It's a wimpy hitch.

 

[ayelvington]

For the price, it's worth trying them. On the other hand, I'd be surprised if they're as heavy duty as the OEM ones, but who knows. Let us know what you think of them when you get 'em.

Will do amigo! I'm jazzed at the possibility of getting a set delivered for less than the price of a single Kubota arm after driving over an hour round trip.

 

[bp fick]

If your gusseted arms don't work out for you, you could buy a few sets of these per year and probably not come close to the cost of new Kubota supplied lift arms.

https://www.surpluscenter.com/item.asp?item=1-3127&catname=misc

Geeeez Chris, that makes me want to order a set to hang on my wall!!! Just in case. Awesome. Shipping is more than the cost of the arms, but still. I doubt they are any weaker than the stock ones, frankly. Equal money they are as good or better.

 

[ayelvington]

Well, my neighbor's 17 year old son did a great job welding in the gussets for me, and I'm betting they work for a long time. I succumbed to local knowledge and painted them a traditional color to strengthen them and improve their lifting capability!

I'll install them after I take them to the deal with the bent arms to share with the regional service manager.

 

[SPYDERLK]

Gussets there would interfere with spreading the arms to full width on a BX1500. I guess yours is different in that area.
larry

 

[dodge man]

I'm not trying to be hard on you, I'm just not sure why you are bending them. I've used mine pretty hard, and it seems like you should lose traction before they bend. Are you tighting the turnbuckles so you don't get a lot of sway with the implement? Just guessing here.

 

[ayelvington]

If I'm using the quick-hitch they are tightened to minimize sway, but not so tight that they add compression pressure to the hitch.

If I'm directly connecting an attachment, I tighten them to center the implement as well as pull the arms in snug against the head of the hitch pins.

Of course, the moment the arm bends the turnbuckle is trashed along with it...

I'm taking the old arms into my dealer to petition that the factory add gussets inside the front bend to give it a fighting chance.

no harm asking dodge_man!

 

[Just2quickz28]

Won't those gussets interfere with width on the BX 24. I know when hooking up some of my full size Cat1 equipment I have to widen the arms out till they are almost touching the frame.

Also I noticed if I don't really snug the turnbuckles through use they become looser and allow for more sway.

 

[ayelvington]

We'll see, but we were pretty careful when we measured to avoid any strike zones.

I'll know for sure by this evening.

It won't be the end of the world if they do nudge since I use the quick hitch for everything other than the post hole digger and backblade. The PHD is no problem, and I can flip the pins on the back blade to make them easier to deal with.

I'll let you all know how it works out.

 

[ayelvington]

The Surplus Center lower arms arrived today and here are photos of them. The geometry of the arms is a tad different, and that could cause strikes against the frame. On the other hand, you'll notice that they are significantly thicker!

I'm hoping to find time soon to put them on and try them with my back-blade since the pins are wider than my quick-hitch will accept.

 

[bp fick]

On another thread, awhile back, someone posted this mod.

 

[ayelvington]

Nice mod. The BX-24 has bottom hangers for the backhoe that are an obstacle. I'm going to have to take some close shots to compare the gusseted arms and the after-market ones...