Lateral Float

   / Lateral Float #1  

RobS

Super Member
Joined
Jun 26, 2000
Messages
7,183
Location
Goshen, IN
Tractor
None!
Well, the weather finally cooperated and I got some long-awaited tractor time today /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif Smoothed some ruts with my box scraper and used my new landscape rake for the first time. I'm smoothing out a berm we had put along the road by the guy who made the road. He used a dozer and did a really good job, I'm just trying to get it smooth enough to plant grass and eventually cut it. My question is should I be using the lateral float position on my lower arms to allow the rake to follow the ground contour better? I've never used this position and never knew tractors had it until I got this one. I was experiencing some gouging as the rake dug in on uneven ground.

For the unfamiliar, the lift arms have vertically elongated slots where they grab the lower arms. Normally there is a clip in the slot to prevent the float, but the clip can be turned 90 degrees to allow the float. I didn't have a chance to try it myself so I thought I'd ask the wisdom of the board /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

I also did some tree pulling. What a riot. The little 790 pulls sasafras up to 4" without straining. Disappointed though, in the performance of my antique drag. The mechanism to control the spike angle is rusted/broken and it just didn't do much for me. Good thing it was free /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

I can't wait to get back out there /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

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   / Lateral Float #2  
The term "lateral float" used by JD is actually a little misleading. One would think that "lateral" means "side-to-side," but, instead, the slots in the lift links allow the implement to rotate relative to the tractor. I use this "rotational" float all the time. It allows each implement such as a box scraper, blade, or rake to follow the contour of the ground indpendent of the tractor. In addition, leaving the slots in the float position makes it much easier to attach implements to the tractor since the lift arms have some up-and-down freedom. I really haven't found a situation where I wanted absolute rigidity, so I leave the lift arms in the slotted float position all the time.
 
   / Lateral Float
  • Thread Starter
#3  
Thanks Jack, I'll give it a try /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

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   / Lateral Float #4  
BobS, I have a JD 790. Now I know what the clips are far on the lift arms. I do use the small turnbuckles that adjust side to side movement of the lift arms. I am mostly concerned with attachments being prevented from hitting the tires, so I usually keep them adjusted to keep movement to a minimum. Can anybody explain how they should be adjusted? Also any JD 790 owners know of a better turnbuckle arrangement? The ones on my tractor are kind of "dinky" ane hard to adjust.
 
   / Lateral Float
  • Thread Starter
#5  
John, I know exactly what you mean about the "dinky" turnbuckles on the sway chains. So far, all my implements are the same width between the pins so I haven't had to adjust. I just snugged 'em up to prevent tire contact, like you said. It's kind of a "set it and forget it" for me. There is a little bit of "slop" in mine, but I couldn't get it any tighter given the half turns needed to get the pin back in. Pretty cool tractor, that 790 /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

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   / Lateral Float
  • Thread Starter
#6  
Well, the weather gods were with me today as I got another day in the tractor seat. I switched over to the lateral float position on the tph arms and what a difference that made with the rake. Definitely follows the contours better with less gouging on uneven surfaces. My only gripe now is 790 specific (maybe?). To switch back and forth requires removal of a cotter pin. I plan to replace them with hair-pins to ease the transition. I was out at our property without a pair of pliers. You know what they say though, when your only tool is a hammer, all your problems start to look like nails /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

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