HELP!!! - Box Blade Breaking sway bar links on tractor........

[Fordiesel69]

Please see attached pictures. I am not sure what the technical term is for these things, but they attach to the lower two arms of the 3 pt hitch. When using a box blade, we ended up breaking both of these. We were being gentle, and not backing up. So how do these fail?

Can they be replaced with somthing more durable if it is not operator error?

 

[TripleR]

They are called stabilize bars. That sure beats me, shouldn't be happening. I would hesitate to adding stronger ones as I would prefer these to fail than where they attach to the tractor.

 

[Fordiesel69]

We did back up frequently with a mower deck installed and it seemed to stress these. However other people I know who have had tractors their entire life have never had an issue. I know the newer tractors have cheap hardware sometimes, but are there more robust link avail?

 

[jeff9366]

The stabilizers in the pictures are really beefy.

What horsepower tractor, what box blade/what weight, what circumstances, what part(s) broke?

 

[gwdixon]

A tractor with the HP yours has should not be tearing apart stabilizer bars. However, and since it obviously is, there may be other issues.

If the bars are adjusted so there is little or no slack in the attachment then the bars are going to take the brunt of whatever sudden force is hit - like a stump or large rock. I'd recommend letting them run a bit loose.

If the blade is full and a tight turn is made then the bars will be severely stressed. Might be better to drop the load and pick it up at a different angle rather than put that torque on the bars in a turn.

I couldn't see where the breaks are in the photos but they could just be welded up for another go at it.

Also, a member here, "Hodge", makes stabilizer bars. If you want to replace yours the ones he makes are custom fit to whichever tractor. He may even be able to make a heavy-duty set.

 

[LD1]

Are you trying to turn with the blade down and rippers engaged in the dirt??

 

[Fordiesel69]

Are you trying to turn with the blade down and rippers engaged in the dirt??

Tractor specs in sig. No extra weight, no chains, and no filled tires.

The ones in the pic are warranty replacements, as the dealer said they should not break for what we were doing. The feel kinda cheap. Yes we are turning with a full blade of dirt and the rippers in the up position. The area we are spreading out, really needs to be round, so turning is required. The links were set with some slack when I installed the box blade. The blade is a 60".

 

[LD1]

I dont know if it is right or wrong, But I would have any slack. When turning, the load is allowed to bet a little momentum up. I'd keep them tight.

As to turning, that is no doubt putting a little extra stress on the links, but they should handle it unless you are making turns about as tight as the tractor can turn. All of the weight in the BB, plus the drag, is basically being Slung around the back of the tractor with just the outside link. Thats a lot of force for one link to handle, especially if you are going at a decent rate of speed.

So I guess I dont really have a good answer for you. Maybe you had defective ones and the new ones will be fine???? But without seeing how you are operating it, it could be that you are going too fast in turns, the slack in the links, turning too sharp, or any combination of those. There are some serious forces at work there with a box full of dirt.

 

[GPintheMitten]

No offense, but my gut impression is that you are operating beyond what you should. The machine is also telling you this. Eaze up and take more time and you'll be better off in the long run.

 

[Fordiesel69]

Using low range 1 st gear, moving lots of dirt. Can;t slow down if I wanted to........

I think it is the turning that is causing the problem based on the above replies.

 

[darmstrong2319]

I agree with your dealer they should not have broke. Turning would not cause it unless you hit a stump or something or solid. Hope it was just a bad set,good luck

 

[Ford850]

I wouldn't turn with anything engaged in the ground while tied to the 3PH. Well, I know you have to sometimes but I do it with very slight turns only and very rarely. That's a lot of stress on the whole 3PH assembly (tractor and implement).

 

[GPintheMitten]

Using low range 1 st gear, moving lots of dirt. Can;t slow down if I wanted to........

I think it is the turning that is causing the problem based on the above replies.

I understand. Not trying to offend, just trying to help you out. I think less dirt, and longer turning radius. Something you are doing is beyond the design and things are going to break/bend. But it's just an opinion.

 

[Ken45101]

How big of a box blade?

Every system has a weak point and a sacrificial failure point. I would rather the stabilizers fail than to rip the 3pt arms off of the tractor ;-)

I agree, too sharp of turning with too much load back there. Also, it appears to be failing on compression. 3pt hitches are much stronger on pulling (stressed) than on compression. Set up your stabilizer links so that on a turn, the outside stabilizer limits the swing rather than the inside one. Use the slots instead of the fixed holes to allow a little movement.

 

[LD1]

He said it was a 60" BB

 

[Ken45101]

He said it was a 60" BB

But light duty, or a heavy duty 1500# one?

 

[LD1]

Good question

 

[jeff9366]

I asked box blade questions in Post #4, minimal reply effort.

 

[jejeosborne]

Stabilizers are designed to operate under tension not compression. I adjust mine with no slop to minimize the heavy weight swinging around on hillsides. With the implement raised, I push it over and even pull on the stabilizer bar to even get the slop caused from the bars. Repeat on the other side. When you push on your implement, verify that the stabilizer that stops the motion is the tension one. I have a 30 HP tractor with loaded tires and many times a full loader of dirt doing figure 8's and hitting stumps and never bent one. Something is wrong with you setup. If moving forward, it should be next to impossible to damage these when traveling less than 10 MPH.

 

[Spirckle]

Those are 3 point hitch stabilizer arms. They break often for me too. I read that it may be because the type of pin being used at the point that it attaches to the tractor. I am still trying to find an online source for these so I don't have to keep making the 30 mile trip to the dealer.