sway arms turnbuckly system is bent

[rsmith02184]

hello

a while back i bent the bolts that hook onto the lift arms on the 3-point hitch for my JD 4100. I had them overextended and by using the rear blade, the side-to-side movement caused the bolts to bend, and i may have stripped the threads to the turn buckle.

i tried buying replacement parts at Lowe's. they sell a turnbuckle type mechanism with two eye hooks. i used them but they bent because they are not hard enough.

i called my JD dealer and was told that they sell the entire turnbuckle assembly for about $125 a side so it would be over $200 to buy replacement parts.

any suggestions on how to get out of this more cheaply?

thanks

bob

 

[Dutch445]

Bob,
Can you get away with any of the individua parts?
Or do you really need each sides complete assembly?

Here's a pic of that parts breakdown

/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[gizmo]

I had the same problem. The turn buckles you get from Lowes are not the same as you found out. You can buy the individual pieces if you can salvage any of the original parts. I replaced one end of the turn buckle and a clevis which cost me about $40. I felt your pain. The only other thing I can think of is maybe Tractor Supply Co.

 

[beenthere]

And who was it that said (I know not you) that using the rear blade going backwards doesn't bend parts. Sorry that it happened, but pushing backwards is not how the arms and system were designed, IMO.
You might get a machinist to make some of the parts, but probably custom made would be more than a complete assembly. Trading parts to make up one good one would be great if it works out the right way. Depends on which parts are bent, and which ones have the left-hand threads and the right-hand threads.
Wish you good luck fixing it.

 

[elad]

Would it be possible to heat the bent parts with a acylene
torch and put them back to their original shape? Also if the
threads are just buggered up; maybe you could run a tap
through and clean up the thread. Maybe you would not have to
buy so many parts. Machine shop might have a left hand tap if that is the bad one.

Just trying to make some helpful suggestions.
GOOD LUCK

 

[roermo]

I have a 4110 and had the same trouble but it was becasue I had the rear blade at an angle and there was play in the arms plus a angle (tipped down on the right and up on the left) So much so it pulled the tractor. It was under warranity so I got off easy.
This is one reason I want to step up to a 3520 some day, lookes more beefy.
Now that I have kept the play out I have not had any more trouble.

I got lucky to have it done free, the dealer took care of me.

Good luck.

Roger

 

[AKfish]

Beefy ain't the answer... Lookin' out for a problem before it happens is a better one. I bent my adjustable upright linkage the other day, as well. Backed up in a tight spot and my rear blade is offset -- caught the bank --- and the 970 is pretty similar to the 990. Threads are OK. Pounding on a block of wood after heating a bit. It works but it's not the same. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif Live and learn. AKfish

 

[smokedtires]

So if I understand correctly, most of the time when a sway arm gets bent is when moving in a reverse direction?

What's the correct way for setting up the sway arms?

Thanks.

 

[timb]

If you're willing to do a little 'inventing' to put together a system - check out an industrial supplier like McMaster-Carr. When it comes to odd hardward places like that tend to far outstrip your box store selection.

 

[rsmith02184]

well, i am glad i am not alone in this problem.

i bent my sway arm assembly going forward. the problem was, before using the blade, i didn't take up the slack in the assembly and the bolts were only threaded a few turns into the turnbuckle. so, the pressure from using the blade bent the part of the bolts that was not threaded into the turnbuckle.

i tried to bend it back with no luck (of course, i don't own an acetylyne torch.

i ended up cutting the bolt, hoping it would fit in the turnbuckle. no luck!

at this point, i am leaning toward seeing what parts i can salvage and then contacting my dealer and seeing what i can purchase.

thanks

bob

p.s. i 'll check back and see if anyone else has anything to add.