Drawbar limits

[Steve_Miller]

The drawbar is taking all the weight all of the time. When its breaks it doesn't flip up (or it hasn't yet as it is usually held down with the weight of the trailer) it can't because of where it breaks. I wish I had picture posting and I could show you why it is breaking (at least why I think it is breaking). The way it is set up there is metal fatigue and usually breaks every four to years.

Steve

 

[5030]

Most drawbars are adjustable. On every kubota I have had, there are at least 3 positions. You don't have it in the outermost position?

 

[Steve_Miller]

Do you mean that there are three different holes in the drawbar? If so mine only has one hole.

Steve

 

[5030]

The factory drawbar has more than one position. All my past 5 Kubotas had numerous positions. The 5030 (present) unit has 3 positions. if you are running the drawbar fully extended, you are playing with fire as to breaking the rear case, especially with a heavy load on the end of the drawbar.

Drawbars have to be adjustable anyway. Different implements (pto driven) require different piviot points in relation to their fixed driveline angles. You have to be able to move the drawbar in or out to compensate for that angle.

 

[L3710GV]

Yes I would say you're playing with fire also--from first hand experience. The 1st of the year I was moving some firewood on a trailer connected to my L3710 kubota, the trailer was way overloaded (wood was wet) and I had 3 people helping load the wood, so we decided to ride the passengers 1 on tractor 2 on front of trailer to help unload the wood, I was pulling the trailer super slow (low range apx 3 mph) because of all the weight and passengers, on a smooth surface--suddenly the trailer disconected from the ball on the draw bar and the trailer tongue slid under the tractor closing the distance up inbetween tractor and front of trailer where my wife was sitting--she got impaled on the three point arm that was up to clear trailer tongue. Instant Disaster-life flight was there in five minutes-bar had pushed completly thru her upper leg-luckily missing the main vein and bone-but very huge wound-4 months later shes almost OK---BIG lesson learned ---

 

[KiotiJohn]

So sorry to hear about your wife's injuries. I'm happy for you both that she's recovering. These things happen every day and it's easy to think you're being careful enough. One just never knows what can happen and how quickly. Happy Easter all, John

 

[ljh2]

Steve,
I'd guess that in terms of 'draw' capabilities, the drawbar should support a pulling force greater than the power/traction abilities of the tractor. However, the drawbar on a tractor is NOT designed to support significant tongue weight.

If you wish to pull a trailer that has significant tounge weight, you might want to consider a 3pt receiver hitch. With the 3pt receiver, be careful how high you carry the load since height above the axle will create a dangerous flipping force. You should be sure to adquately ballast the front of the tractor when carrying a load on the 3pt.

 

[Phred]

Steve,

I would just say that one has to be very careful with a dump trailer and a tractor.

I have a much larger tractor and when I fill my dump trailer with gravel or wet dirt its a load.

I my case the draw bar weighs about 50 lbs and is more than 2" thick so I don't think I will break it. The trailer would likely break first.
The big worry, IMHO is the trailer pushing you and the tractor down a hill.

Fred

 

[Soundguy]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( my case the draw bar weighs about 50 lbs and is more than 2" thick so I don't think I will break it. The trailer would likely break first.
)</font>

I would be more worried about what the drawbar bolts to, and IT breaking.. rather than the drawbar breaking.

On my NH 1920.. the drawbar is about 1.25 inch steel.. cold rolled... From looking at its mount to the cast iron diffy.. I would guess the diffy isn't 1.25" thick in that area.. in other words.. the drawbar is NOT the weak link here..

On the old 50's era ford tractors with under diffy mounts too.. it is not uncommon to see the bottom 4" of the diffy welded or brazed back on after something has snatched the drawbar mount and bottom of the diffy right off the tractor...

Soundguy

 

[5030]

Soundguy:

That was discussed in a not to long ago thread. Kubota mounts theirs to the "diffy" case too. I imagine that the "diffy" could get very "iffy" in a "jiffy". cast iron doesn't have the elongation characteristics that rolled steel has. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif