3-Point Hitch New to me Ford 2000 and 3PT Link Confusion

[Soundguy]

something looks odd about those lower drag links... are the balls cat 2 ends?

 

[schiker]

I may have spoke too soon. I did not remember my level arm being at that much of an angle. Here are some pics of mine. You may have a mismatched leveler that is binding. See what you think.

 

[schiker]

The tape shows the from about the center point of the ball end +/- a bit the overall length and the pivot point of lower arm on mine a '72.

Do both leveling arms bind? That might be the issue a different model leveling arm?????

 

[Xfaxman]

Hi All,

Long time lurker who has finally taken the plunge and bought a 1970 Ford 2000. Diesel 4 speed, Highways version, with a Safety Cab and auto hitch. No idea on the hours, but it appears to have done 3000 miles in the last 44 years. Ex Royal Navy, first road registered in 2003, so I think that is when it left the Navy.
-----------------------------------------------
What's causing the problem:
1) The lift arms are have too much depth (replaced with different ones at some point?)
or
2) The leveling rods yokes need a deeper slot on the back side.

Does anyone have any thoughts? I am a tractor novice so I maybe I am being totally daft.

All the best,

Ed

I think the lift arms are from a different tractor. They look big enough that you could grind a notch for clearance.

 

[trmechapt]

That looks like a European tractor. Seems like they were the only ones that used a auto hitch. It is possible that the arms are from something else. If You could find a tractor like that with the correct arms you could figure it out. I only have a 4000 to look at right now. If I see one I will check back.

 

[Jerry/MT]

Hi Soundguy,

Bog standard Agri tyres on the back as far as I can tell. Went and got some pics today so you at least have a fighting chance of understanding what I'm trying to describe

Quick picture of when I went to buy it.
View attachment 389458




The pic shows the lower arms on as per the manual, hydraulics at there lowest and no matter how I adjust the levelling unit, lift the lower arm by hand, the top of the arm interferes with the back of the yoke. With the hydraulics at their lowest it just does not fit.

View attachment 389459

Here I have raised the hydraulics enough to get a temporary bolt through for demo purposes and then lowered until there is no clearance between top of arm and yoke. This is effectively as low as it can go, about 13" off the ground. When bothers me here is that it is not the hydraulics taking the weight, but the jambing up of the lift arm and yoke.



View attachment 389460

Looking at it closely today if I ground out the back slot on the yoke by another 10mm that would probably be enough, but it that the right thing to do?

Cheers,
Ed

In the third picture, it appears to me your lift link on the right side should have a more vertical orientation. It is either too short or the lift arm is not correct.

 

[Soundguy]

they look incorrect to me. draglinks maybee too.

 

[Smallholder]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for all the replies, I'll try to answer your questions in order.

Soundguy - yes class 1 balls on the end.

Schiker - thanks the pics help a lot. My upper lift arm (auto hitch type) is the same length as yours. The lower lift arms are 32" long give or take a bit, again the same as yours. Big difference is the depth of the yoke on the bottom of the levelling arms. The depth is about 3" compare to 6" in your picture.

Jerry,Xfaxman, yep, I think its a combination of both, wrong lower lift arm and wrong levelling unit.

So my plan for now is, turn the lower link around, bringing the levelling arm mount point closer the rear axle. This was how it was when a bought it. No binding in this position, but the stabaliser chain connection points will be on the outside. Buy a set of stabaliser bars and forget about using chains.

Sound like a good plan?

Ed

 

[Xfaxman]

Hi Guys,
---------------------------------
So my plan for now is, turn the lower link around, bringing the levelling arm mount point closer the rear axle. This was how it was when a bought it. No binding in this position, but the stabaliser chain connection points will be on the outside. --------------------------

Sound like a good plan?

Ed

Yep, but try swapping sides also. That would put the chain links on the inside.