Mowing Cotter pin fell out on Bush Hog while mowing

[MossflowerWoods]

I had a few lynch pins fall our or get hooked and pull out. I got some with a stringer spring action and when I go into heavier brush I put a tie strap or a zip tie on it as further precaution. I don't know what would happen if one side of a box blade or a 1500# weight would fall off but I think it would mess up some other stuff real fast.

Deere Dude,

I have some very heavy brush AND "bouncy" terrain. Given the terrain and my noob status (jerky controls etc.) I believe what happened is a combo of a branch caught the hairpin, and I was bouncing the cutter and the pressure got slacked and POOF it was gone.

All this cost me was some scratches on the mounting bracket for my BB72x cutter. Thank God I was trying to pay attention.

I feel exactly the same way about the "what if" something really heavy or similar got loose.

So, can you give me an idea WHERE to put the tie strap (do you mean a plastic zip-tie, or a nylon tie-down strap) to double secure the pin?

Thanks in advance. I am learning SO MUCH!
David

 

[CompactTractorFan]

really.. hairpins

Hairpin Cotter .0915 Width 3/8-7/16 in - 1833406 | Tractor Supply Company

I call them "hitch pins"...Ever stop to think why there are multiple names for such a simple product???

 

[RSKY]

MossflowerWoods you are lucky.

I have told the story here before but a few years ago my mother was mowing with a 4600 Ford and a six foot Ford Bushhog. The lower right hand pin came loose, two nuts and a lock washer holding it on were lost, the pin stayed attached to the tractor but came loose from the mower. As she turned the mower caught on the left tire. This tractor has large 16.9 x 30" tires on it and when she got it stopped the mower was sideways ON TOP of the left tire with the other side on the ground. The tail wheel was pointing straight to the left of the tractor. Left side lift arm bent at 90 degree angle. The blades cut thru the tire three times before stopping but never touched the rim. I could sit in the seat and stretch my arm out slightly to the rear and touch the mower blades. What was suprising was that the p.t.o. shaft was still attached.

We chained the mower to my truck and pulled it off. She called the tire people and they came out and replaced the tire. Took nephew and brother-in-law several tries to straighten everything else out.

When we are mowing or what ever we are doing we now check the 3-pt connections every time we get off the tractor.

Mom is 86 now and still driving the same tractor with the same mower. The pin on the left side broke this year and I am positive it is a result of the accident years ago. Anyway she swears she didn't hit anything hard enough to break the 7/8" pin.

RSKY

 

[MossflowerWoods]

MossflowerWoods you are lucky.

I have told the story here before but a few years ago my mother was mowing with a 4600 Ford and a six foot Ford Bushhog. The lower right hand pin came loose, two nuts and a lock washer holding it on were lost, the pin stayed attached to the tractor but came loose from the mower. As she turned the mower caught on the left tire. This tractor has large 16.9 x 30" tires on it and when she got it stopped the mower was sideways ON TOP of the left tire with the other side on the ground. The tail wheel was pointing straight to the left of the tractor. Left side lift arm bent at 90 degree angle. The blades cut thru the tire three times before stopping but never toucher the rim. I could sit in the seat and stretch my arm out slightly to the rear and touch the mower blades. What was suprising was that the p.t.o. shaft was still attached.

We chained the mower to my truck and pulled it off. She called the tire people and they came out and replaced the tire. Took nephew and brother-in-law several tries to straighten everything else out.

When we are mowing or what ever we are doing we now check the 3-pt connections every time we get off the tractor.

Mom is 86 now and still driving the same tractor with the same mower. The pin on the left side broke this year and I am positive it is a result of the accident years ago. Anyway she swears she didn't hit anything hard enough to break the 7/8" pin.

RSKY

RSKY,

OUCH!!!

I knew it could have been so much worse.

I feel like I was blessed to have it be such a minor incident. Just enough to wake me up to the possible mishaps. Luckily I was backing under a fruit tree and I saw the mower shimmy side to side and I looked and saw the pin itself was flopping and loose only in 1 of 2 holes and I just shut everything down.

I will be MUCH more aware now.

Thanks for sharing the story. Good on your Mom that she is still active and mowing! Maybe tractoring is good for us!

Be well,
David