How tight do I adjust my stabilizer arms?

[whiskywizard]

I have a Kioti CK20 with a 60" 3-pt snowblower. How tight should I keep the adjustable stabilizer arms? Are they to be snugged tight?

 

[jpm1]

Well to be honest with you years ago i was told tighten them up tight, no slop, last april i broke the turn buckles anchor point off the axle of my Mahindra. The welder whom i had repair them said i had them to tight! He said you need some give in it. When i talked to my Kioti dealer he said the same thing. When i hook something up on my Kioti its impossible to draw it tight with their system. well thats how were doing it and i havent broke anything since. Good Luck . . .John

 

[TractorTidy]

Agree w/ above comment. Have a little bit of give but not enough where it is "slamming" back and forth.

 

[RoyJackson]

When you tighten the links, have your implement raised off the ground (comfortable working height), pull it as far to one side and tighten that link...then do the same on the other side.
You'll probably have 1-3 inches of sway at the end of your snow blower...no more then that. Then, you're tight enough but not so tight you'll break something. You'll do some adjusting to center the implement.
Lower the 3PH and ensure there's no binding.

I don't have a snow blower, but I used this process for a rotary cutter (expect up to 5" sway at the tail wheel), a finish mower (1"-3") and a wood chipper (1"-3") for the last 10 years.

 

[radman1]

Check the tightness with the machine raised and with the attachment just off the ground. Often it will be tighter at one of these extremes. At the tightest point, just loosen it a bit so there is just a little slack.

 

[whistlepig]

When you tighten the links, have your implement raised off the ground (comfortable working height), pull it as far to one side and tighten that link...then do the same on the other side.
You'll probably have 1-3 inches of sway at the end of your snow blower...no more then that. Then, you're tight enough but not so tight you'll break something. You'll do some adjusting to center the implement.
Lower the 3PH and ensure there's no binding.

I don't have a snow blower, but I used this process for a rotary cutter (expect up to 5" sway at the tail wheel), a finish mower (1"-3") and a wood chipper (1"-3") for the last 10 years.

This sounds about right. If they are tight all the way there is no fudge factor if you bump something. The implement is dead-headed against the stabilizer arms. If you bump something then some thing has to give. Implements are more forgiving than stabilizer bars.

 

[jenkinsph]

Check the tightness with the machine raised and with the attachment just off the ground. Often it will be tighter at one of these extremes. At the tightest point, just loosen it a bit so there is just a little slack.

I agree with Radman, lots of hitches will vary between raised and lowered positions. You should check your tractor to find out if you have this variation. Most of the newer tractors using stabilizer arms aren't affected but it is worth checking out once to be sure.

 

[slowzuki]

Often older tractors or farm tractors have two anchor points for the sways. One point does not change tightness through the travel, the other tightens when lifting. The purpose is for using plows etc that need to swing while in the ground but tightens when lifted so the don't slam around while turning at the headland.

Tighten them while low in this setting and it will pull the implement apart or break the sway stays.

Our Kubota there isn't a "tightening" setting. The MF does have it but I don't bother just incase I forget.

Well to be honest with you years ago i was told tighten them up tight, no slop, last april i broke the turn buckles anchor point off the axle of my Mahindra. The welder whom i had repair them said i had them to tight! He said you need some give in it. When i talked to my Kioti dealer he said the same thing. When i hook something up on my Kioti its impossible to draw it tight with their system. well thats how were doing it and i havent broke anything since. Good Luck . . .John

 

[sweettractors]

A little slack in the sway chains is good. If you hit something with the attachments, sometime, a little implement movement can prevent damage. Don't ever hold a plow in a locked position. Ken Sweet

 

[ModMech]

When 3pt impliments move too much they wear out the pivots prematurely, keep the adjusters tight enough so you *can* move the impliment but not loose enough that it is "free". As others have correctly stated, this may cange some with impliment height, so be sure there is no binding.

Put another way, anything short of binding is good.