Reversing 3PH pins

[BamaRob]

Are there any disadvantages to reversing the 3PH pins on a rotary cutter/shredder/brush hog (whatever you want to call it)? I was thinking of doing this to get the lift arms a little farther away from my back tires. This would give me more room to make adjustments to the sway chains.

Thanks,

BR

 

[beenthere]

Shouldn't be any problem at all. Makes good sense to me. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

But I would just do it to the rotary cutter, and not those 'other' ones /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[TN_rebel]

I have the same tractor as you and I found that with my Woods RD7200 and my Box blade, it helped tremendously to reverse the pins.

In fact I think I HAD to reverse the pins for the BB, because I couldn't get the lower arms to spread far enough without hitting the tires.

My pins have been that way for a year now, no problems at all.

 

[BamaRob]

That's good to hear. I'm picking the Kutter up this afternoon and will probably reverse the pins before even hitching it up for the first time.

Thanks,

BR

 

[normde2001]

The only problem with reversing the pins is that you have to disconnect the sway chains to hookup/unhook the implement.

 

[schrand]

If I understand what you are saying, then when you tighten the sway chains, they will be acting against the clip pins, not the implement end of the 3PH pins. Seems like a wear issue at best and a safety issue at worst since the clip pins probably aren' meant to take those kinds of loads.
Sorry if I got the terminology wrong. Hope the idea comes across.

 

[BamaRob]

Um... I don't think we're on the same page. Let's see if I can use a little artwork to get the idea across. Here's the front of my cutter where the 3PH attaches:

I don't think this changes the functionality/effectiveness of the sway chains other than the fact that the sway chains will have to be loosened or removed while hitching/unhitching to the implement (as was pointed out by normde2001).

I'll try to post some actual pictures later.

BR

 

[BamaRob]

Actually, after reviewing your post again and thinking about it some. Reversing the lift pins on then cutter should improve the effectiveness/functionality of the sway chains. With the lift pins on the outside, the sway chains are pulling the lift arms out to the clip pin end of the lift pin. With the lift pins on the inside, the sway chains are pulling the lift arms toward the implement end of the lift pin. Right?

Imagine standing behind the tractor facing it. The sway chain on the right limits implement movement to the left. The sway chain on the left limits implement movement to the right.

BR

 

[bayoublue]

Now that's thinking outside the box. What a great idea! I just bought a 7' finish mower, & I've got the same problem...Thanks

 

[BamaRob]

Thanks for the replay, bayoublue. But, it wasn't my idea. Another one of those ideas I picked up here at TBN. I hitched the cutter up yesterday evening with the pins reversed. I didn't do any cutting with it, just engaged the PTO to make sure the cutter worked and parked the tractor. Seems to work fine with the pins reversed. I'll do some "field checking" tomorrow if it's not raining. I hope it does rain, my foodplots need it!

BR

 

[George2615]

Bob,
I have the same tractor in HST. I reversed the pins as shown in your drawing on my KK back blade for the same reason, The lower bars were too close to the tires. You wont have to disconnect anything to remove the implement, just the usual loosening of the turnbuckles on the lower lift links till you can slide it off the pin.

 

[BamaRob]

Cool. Thanks.

BR

 

[jimmysisson]

With the pins inside, the sway links will still act in compression against the frame of the implement, depending on their adjustment. I'd think you'd want to have the sway links adjusted so they keep the 3pt lower links against the implement frame, if that allows you the range of motion up adn down that you need. With the old chain type sway chains on my Massey 135, they can't act in compression, and the pins-inside setup would put the stress on the clip pins. More modern ones will be fine, I'd say. Jim

 

[Slamfire]

My pond scoop came with the pins pointing inwards. I didn't have to adjust anything. I'm plannin' on doin' the same thing to the implements it is possible on.

 

[djradz]

Only problem I found with the pins in on a scoop, is that the ball/socket area of the lower links, now gets a lot of dirt in them. This is especially bad for those of us with tractors that have the "extendable" lower links for aiding in connecting to implements. Dirt gets in these assemblies and then they jam. I had to take both of mine apart after hauling several loads of gravel with the scoop.

 

[schrand]

Bob,
I'm relatively new to tractors, and with my BX the sway chains are essentially chains (they won't work in compression) that pull the lower links in toward the center of the tractor. So in my case, your setup would mean that the lower links, when tightened up with the sway chains would be contacting the linch pins. Your tractor sounds like it has a different arrangement for the sway chains, in that when they are tightened, they pull the lower links outward. If that's the case, then what you're talking about is the only way to do it if you ask me!

 

[BamaRob]

Yeah, on my Mahindra 2615 4WD, the sway chains are connected to the tractor frame (rear axle housing, actually) between the lower links and the tires. So, when they are tightened, they apply outward pressure on the 3PH lower links, pulling them toward the tires. I get what you are saying now. And, it does seem to make more sense to have the pins turned to the inside (at least with my tractor) so that the sway chains are pulling the ends of the lower links into the implement instead of into the clip pins.

Later,

BR

 

[Pilot]

You might want to put a washer between the linch pin and the ball on the arms to avoid wearing thru the pins. Don't really know if this is a problem, just an idea.