Losing Too Many Parts!

602466 · May 30, 2007

This is my first tractor. I have put on over 60 hours on it. I am able to get the attachments on and off pretty quickly now with all your suggestions. The problem that I am having now is losing parts or keeping it together. My bush hog finisher mower, after using for a couple of hours I would raise to move and the wheel(s) would fall off. Somewhere over the last couple of hours I lost the lynch pin and all of the top spacers! This is the third time this has happened. I check the pins before I start out and they fine. Hills and some bumpy fields and its gone. I don't change the spacers that often so I was thinking about a cotter pin? I have to go to the supply house (they love me by now) this weekend before I can use my tractor so any suggestions will be appreciated!

Thanks,

Wally

Ford850 · May 30, 2007

I think a clevis pin should work. That's what is used on my wheels.

Soundguy · May 30, 2007

The first few times you use implements.. it's good practice to check the bolts / nuts. And them check them periodically as you do maintenance on it.

When i assembled my loast mower.. a 10' 3pt.. I torqued everything down good and tight.. during my first mowing with that mower.. 1 tail wheel nearly came of fthe rear support and the other was loose. I used loctight on the 2nd tightening.

A 3pt pin also became loose about 2 mos after I got it.. A 2nd nut added to the first has made is stay in place for a couple years now.

Lynch pins just fall out.. either they jiggle loose.. or get snatched.

In problem places, a hairpin 'may' work better. but they come out too.

A cotter pin will work. but is a tad more work to R&R

I like to use the small pins that are drilled for cotter pins.. then i use keychain loops on them.. split the loop, spin on, and go.. pin is not coming out.. yet can be removed by hand pretty quickly.

I had to do this to the pins on my lower 3pt arms on my ex NH1920 after weeds continousely pulled the lower lynch pins out..

Soundguy

602466 · May 30, 2007

Ford850/Sound Guy:

Thanks for your help.

Wally

jinman · May 30, 2007

Wally, all lynchpins are NOT created equal. If you buy the cheap ones, they will bend or break and fall out. I have started buying the more expensive and heavy duty ones from Tractor Supply. They are black and stay where I put them. Otherwise, hairpins work pretty well as Soundguy mentioned.

jimg · May 30, 2007

Had this happen once and the entire tire/wheel spindle assy fell off my finish mower (along w/ all the spacers)...which all got sucked underneath the mower. That cost me a new wheel/tire. I did find all of the spacers though! As near as I can tell the pin got pulled by getting snagged on brush...was mowing very close to a fence row w/ trees/brush and what not.

In all my looking I could find only one type of pin and they all seemed to be the same. You really had to watch them b/c they come apart w/ little notice. Keeping a few spares is a good thing and keeping an eye on them is even better...but best is keeping a close eye on whats going on w/ the implement while its being used.

602466 · May 30, 2007

Jim:

Thanks for the help!

Wally

602466 · May 30, 2007

Jimg:

I did not run over the wheel but did lose all the spacers and lynch pin. You know I will find them all, one at a time the next time I cut the grass. Just banging around my mower deck!

Thanks,

Wally

jimg · May 30, 2007

Finding the spacers was the bright side of that episode. My wife found them all by just walking around the general area. In fact by the time I had the mower fixed she'd found them all. The only part we didn't find was the pin.

jimmysisson · May 30, 2007

I'm not sure what the diameter of the pin is, but a bolt with a nylock nut also might work. Downside is you'd need a wrench or two to change mower height, upside is it doesn't fall out.
Jim