Rear Finish Mower How to narrow a three-point attachment arms

[Too many Kubotas]

Something as simple as a cable could be used to prevent them from spreading again. Wouldn't be my first choice, but it wouldn't require cutting any metal to fit, and no need to weld anything.

 

[scootr]

If it's JD, it only has chain links to keep the arms from swinging in, but they are free to swing out (at least on my 2520). They are shipped with a bungee cord holding the arms in.

And that is why I own a Kubota. The arms slide in and out and side to side with adjustment pins. I can cant the mower off to the left or right and it stays there...no tire rubbing, no bending
Upon further thought in order for one arm to swing out the other arm would have to swing in or bend something... Maybe you are cutting too short dragging the mower housing in the dirt on turns?

 

[hube2]

And that is why I own a Kubota. The arms slide in and out and side to side with adjustment pins. I can cant the mower off to the left or right and it stays there...no tire rubbing, no bending
Upon further thought in order for one arm to swing out the other arm would have to swing in or bend something... Maybe you are cutting too short dragging the mower housing in the dirt on turns?

This is also one of the reasons I swapped out my chain/turnbuckle stabilizers with Kubota telescoping stabilizers. After one winter I noticed the lower hitch points on my snow blower were starting to bend. In my case they were bending in because the stabilizers are on the inside.

If it were me I'd take the arms off, find something solid to lay them on and give them a couple of good wacks with my sledge hammer.

 

[SouthernSky]

I picked up a binder so I will try that on the wings.

The black arms/ears are slightly bent as well and if I can’t straighten them I can get replacements. Like many have said, I’ve already flipped them, inside and outside, even upside down, trying to narrow the spread. The current configuration in the photo is just one of many I tried.

I’m going to work on the wings first and go from there. I’ll let you know.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

Maybe you are cutting too short dragging the mower housing in the dirt on turns?

I have smacked the (too heavy) 6' brush hog sideways into immovable objects lots of time, using the L3800.

But that Rhino 172 is built differently. As in far stronger. Actually, not even the flimsy LandPride RCR1260 has taken offense to the same kind of treatment.

 

[Jstpssng]

I would unbolt them and take them somewhere to get pressed back straight. Machine shop or most mechanics usually will have a press...

I would do somethimg like this, although likely would do it myself. I would then weld angle iron on each mount to prevent it from happening again.

 

[SouthernSky]

Well, I made some progress. Bought a binder at Harbor Freight and was able to pull it together by placing the hooks on the opposing arms.

I then tried it on the black clevis arms/ears/whatever, but it didn't go smooth as it wanted to open the clevis itself. I think I will take those pieces off and over to a local fab shop where they may be able to press them back to position instead of buying replacements at $44 each from Messicks.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions! I do appreciate you.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

Went back and looked at the first photo again.

Is it just me or could those flimsy brackets be bolted on farther back? It does look like that's where they should be, for several reasons.

 

[CliffordK]

There has to be a dozen simple ways to fix this issue. With the parts being bolted on and easily removable the choices are nearly unlimited.

To make those parts not bend as readily in the future could require a little bit of thought. Very little, but still.

I'd probably heat and pound it back straight. However, a shop press likely would also do the trick.

Of course it appears as if the binder is also working. I assume the bars sticking out will bend before the main bracket on the mower deck.

Is the binder bending the brackets on the end of the bars? Hopefully they'll spring back into shape.

By bent you actually mean stretched as the metal is now weak at the point of the bend. You could straighten it but that can only be accomplished by stretching the metal again on the other side. It will bend again.
Changing sides may help but that is likely only a temporary solution.
My suggestion is to go to a shop and get some heavy "U" shaped channel to give it strength in two directions both up and down as well as sideway movement.
If you do not have an ability to do it, any fab shop should be able to help you out.

That is similar to what I was thinking. But once straight, I'd probably weld say 3/8" or 1/2" inch x 1 1/2" or 2" flat bar on the top and bottom of the arms to make essentially C Channel iron. Make sure you do the welding so that it still fits flush on the mower mounts, as well as leaving space for your bolts.

 

[SouthernSky]

I haven’t unbound the ratchet binder yet. I left it on all night to see if there is still has any pullback in the morning.

I thought about welding a brace of some sort but the PTO shaft would be in the way for a straight brace.