check chains?

gav64 · Aug 8, 2004

Gentlemen, I am new to this tractor stuff. What is the purpose of the check chains on the 3pt hitch, my manual mentions them but it is very vague. thanks. glenn.

KiotiJohn · Aug 8, 2004

The check chains keep your hitch arms from moving too far to one side or the other, particulary, they keep the arms from hitting the tires. Once you have an implement hooked up, you center it between the wheels with the chains by tightening them. John

Soundguy · Aug 9, 2004

Ditto what KJ said. If you don't have an implement on, bunji cord the arms together, and that will keep them out of the tires. Also.. after you have an implement on.. make sure the chains are adjusted so the implement cant touch the tires.

The first day i had a box blade on my yanmar 1700, I bent a lift link arm ( the expensive adjustable one ) in about 5 seconds ad the box swund into the tire and then the tire carried it up... proved the 2 cyl diesel was way stronger than the adjustable lift arm... made a neat looking art-deco metal pretzel out of it...

I had to go find a similar one and have a custom end welded on.. cost me about 40 bucks and a lost days work for that 5 second mistake.

Soundguy

Glenn9643 · Aug 9, 2004

I've seen "check-chains" that were designed to set the height of the implement attached, such as a bush-hog. They attach to the tractor near the attachment point of the top link and extend to the lift pin where the lower arms attach to the implement. The length of the chains can be adjusted to allow the implement to fall to a set height when you lower it with the 3ph. After hooking up the implement, raise the 3ph and set the length of the chain to the desired height so that it will lower only to where you want it. These chains are designed to ensure proper implement height if the 3ph "settles" over a period of time while working. The ones I saw were $20 at my dealer and I'm thinking about trying them to cure the leakdown problem with my hydraulic side link.

jmc · Aug 9, 2004

Someone on this board mentioned chains to keep your 3PH from lifting when a trailer tongue gets light. Say you have a mower on a trailer attached to the 3PH. If you would drive the mower off the trailer the tongue would lift the 3PH without some kind of restraint.

Soundguy · Aug 9, 2004

( I've seen "check-chains" that were designed to set the height of the implement )

Over on another board where we talk about old ford N's.. some of which without live hyds, or position control.. we call those limit chains... they work great for mowing, and keeping a constant level.

Soundguy

Soundguy · Aug 9, 2004

( Someone on this board mentioned chains to keep your 3PH from lifting when a trailer tongue gets light )

While I guess you could chain your lift arms down.. might be easier to use a set of stay bars. They hook from the 3pt up to the toplink connection.. and keep the 3pt down.. just gotta be sure to NOT touch that 3pt lift lever.. otherwise you might get some neat pretzilized metal artwork..

Soundguy

Glenn9643 · Aug 9, 2004

I suppose they're called different names in different places. At my dealer they were marked as "check-chains" on the shelf. Whatever they're called we understand what they do...