Grinding and welding on a Saturday afternoon!

[Ford960]

As I was needing to fix a method to allow my Bush Hog 305 to float on the 3 pt hitch I read with interest the thread on the chain top link:
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/86158-what.html#post963126

But I decided that I needed a method to adjust the top link so I came up with this:
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e380/Capt-Ron/toplink4.jpg

This was an old top link that I managed to bend and so I cut the bent ball end off and welded a "U" shaped section of 1/4"x1-1/2" strap to the left hand threaded end. I ground the threaded section so that the legs of the strap were parallel. This gives the top link 5" of travel to allow the rear of the mower to float over high and low places.

A quick test over at my buddy's lot proved the merits of the system.

 

[3RRL]

Clever idea making the slot travel on the top link. That is much the same idea as the slot on my Howse rotary cutter...only in reverse. Good idea.
I found that about a 4" slot gives it just enough of travel to adjust for most "up and down" movement required while mowing.

 

[Soundguy]

My howse also has a 4" slot int he toplink connection.. works great.

Soundguy

 

[scott_vt]

Excellent suggestion Ford !