Mowing Cotter pin fell out on Bush Hog while mowing

[MossflowerWoods]

One of the lower three point hitch attachments I discovered the cotter pin had fallen out as I was backing under a fruit tree. I quickly shut everything down.

I got down, and managed to get the pin back in (with out the cotter pin) and I raised the bush hog and parked the tractor.

Does this happen often? Is there anything I can do to prevent it?

Clearly, I'm not going to use it again until I buy some spare cotter pins.

Any advice is appreciated.
Thanks,
David

 

[redsox1]

You can use a piece of wire to "lock" the pin in place so that it can't fall out. They also sell aftermarket pins w/ strong springs to keep them from opening on their own.

 

[rekees4300]

I use this type and have never lost any.

 

[SSdoxie]

Use over-center spring lynch pins instead of cotter pins through the 3 pt pins. Occasionally they will pop off too but much less frequently. Another way is use 5/16" bolts with self locking nuts, will never fall off but then you have to mess with wrenches changing attachments.

 

[MossflowerWoods]

I use this type and have never lost any.

I'm going to go get some.

Thanks!
David

 

[Soundguy]

i've also used pins with a cotter pin hole in the end, then use a keychain ring thru the hole. easy to remove.. but almost never fall out.

 

[k0ua]

David as someone said, some of the lynch pins have much stronger spring action than others, try them in the store, you want the ones that will take a chunk out of your hide if it snaps back on your finger. Just open and close them deliberately without fumbling so as not to lose any fingers But they will do much better. the good news is I guess you caught it in time, and did not "tweak" you 3pt arm by yanking with just one arm sideways. I have lost a couple over the years. and learned to get good ones, and check them once in a while.

James K0UA

 

[TripleR]

I use this type and have never lost any.

We use those lynch pins and have never had one come out even in some really rough brush.

 

[hosspuller]

I bought a bag of lynch pins like the one pictured. About half of them had a weak spring action toward close. I found if I took the spring loop off and using a vise, bent the offset in the opposite direction, the new closing force was like a mouse trap. I stopped losing them after the modification. :thumbsup:

 

[johnrex62]

My equipment came with the loop style spring clips everyone is showing. I lost three the first day using the mower. I figured that was just the cost of mowing high brush and went out and bought a big box of them at HF. Strangely, I have not lost a single one since then.

I guess the spring tension was the deciding factor, but I did not think about them being different at the time.