Swinging drawbar

[rozett]

Last fall the swinging drawbar fell off my tractor. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif I retraced where I went that day, but to no avail, I could not find it. So I went to my trusty Cub dealer for a replacement. Well, I was floored when they said that it would be $135. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif I am not one to deny any business from making a profit, and I am sure that they're just passing on the cost from Mitsubishi.... but that is robbery!!!

I refuse to pay that much for a 24" piece of steel with three holes in it. I have tried some of the old tractor parts outfits, but the drawbars from the 8n, 9n, IH, Farmall, etc are all just a little too big. So I would like to have one made locally.

My question is.... are these drawbars hardend? or just plain cold-rolled steel? I use mine a lot for pulling small trees and pulling a wagon (new running gear on the way /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif)

Thanks...

 

[tc35dforme]

I know this might sound weird, but any of your friends have a metal detector ?? If not maybe a rental locally for a few bucks ??? Something that big and heavy should be easy to pick-up.

I know, I know, there is probably a ton ( no pun intended /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif ) of misc metal in the old fields, but for $ 135, I'd give it a try...especially if you have a general idea where to look.

Good Luck.

 

[Bird]

Yep, for $135 I'd sure be huntin'. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif I bought one for a B7100 Kubota once for $50 and thought that was ridiculous. Of course, when you get to be my age, everything seems unreasonalby high priced. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[rozett]

Bird, you're not that much older than I am. And I used to live right next door.... in The Colony. But I lived there when it was 3000 people and no wally world... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

//bruce

 

[rozett]

the metal detector is a great suggestion.... but somehow I can't see myself scanning 5 acres... /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[Bird]

I used to live in the farthest north part of Carrollton (just north of Trinity Mills Road) before The Colony existed. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Just take out your best finishing mower and as soon as you hear the bang of the blade snapping...walla /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif there it is!

That would be my luck at least.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Metal detector sounds like a good idea. You already said you walked the area once to find it. It shouldn't be a tedious job finding a hunk of metal that big. Might be able to get some kid to do it for $25. Let them spend 2 or 3 hours looking for it. Easy money for just walking around looking for treasure.

Of course there is another way to find it. Buy or make another drawbar and the very next time your are in the field the old one will just glisten in the sun. Better be wearing your sun glasses /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Good Luck,

Jeff

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Truer words have never been spoken. But, I once fooled the little Imps who move stuff like that to the top of the pile once you buy another.

I built a root grubber rake ( Bucket mounted root rake ) that uses box blade scarifiers for tines. Before I had the thing perfected, a piece of brush pulled out the clip and one of the shanks fell out. My son-in-law and I searched the general area for a while, but no luck. We even raked through it.

So, off I went to Tractor Supply for (1) a new shank, and (2) a better way to clip the retaining pins. I had been at TSC just a couple of days before, and they had 3 shanks in stock. Of course, when I got there, the cupboard was bare - someone had bought all 3, just a few hours before. So, I bought some pin clips that look more like pretzels and headed back.

I couldn't have been more that 100 yards away from the driveway when my son-in-law beeped me (Nextel direct connect is great) to say that he had found the missing shank! It was laying right on top, and he noticed it by a glint from the sun reflecting on the part that had been scrubbed clean from digging through the sand (I'm not kidding you, it was exactly like what you said!). The Imps had pulled it up to the top, of course, just as soon as the Imp who was with me reported I was almost back.

I'm not sure how my personal Imp screwed up and missed the fact that I had not actually purchased a new shank, except that TSC is a fascinating place even for Imps; or maybe they need their own version of Direct Connect to get the story straight; or maybe the Imps back at my place just jumped the gun. But, I got the best of them, this time.

They got even...while I was at TSC, I spotted a powerful magnet on a stick (looks like a mini-metal detector) for $15, and bought it. Not that I expected to have it find the shank, but I'm always dropping pins and bolts and such in the dirt, and, since lost stuff was on my mind, I bought it. When I got back, I put it in a place where I would be sure to know where it is. The Imps moved it, and I haven't seen it since...

 

[SPIKER]

Boy can I agree with you all on that one!

My finish mower will find every nut & bolt that is big enough to snap a blade for sure! same with the rider and push mowers... i used my nice brand new 400 dollar craftsman push mower to locate my womans property pin!!! arg. then my 3 rd use on the NEW rider, I was swipping closer to the tree line, found the 2.5" pipe and chain slip draw bar the old property owner left for me to find...
well anyhow off to look for a problem with my car!?

Mark /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[wisconsinguy]

Hi

I see Speeco http://www.speeco.com/index.html has some drawbar parts, not sure if its what you need or any cheaper.

Phil

 

[rozett]

Looks like the best option is to buy a cat. 1 cross drawbar from TSC and take it to a local machine shop to have the lift pins cut off and 3/16" shaved from each side. That'll be $22 for the bar plus the machining cost. Then I think I will paint it hunter orange. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[BB_TX]

Here is a parts site <font color="blue"> ValueBilt </font> that list swinging drawbars. Doesn't show a picture so you might give them a call. The prices are right.

 

[normde2001]

What is a swinging drawbar anyhow? Anybody got a picture?

 

[Bird]

Norm, the swinging drawbar is the one mounted usually to the bottom of the rear differential and sticking straight out the back for a "trailer hitch". On some but not all tractors, there are pins you can pull and "swing" the drawbar to one side or the other to pull implements off-set behind the tractor. So they're called swinging drawbars even though some don't swing. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[BB_TX]

Norm - Here is <font color="blue"> a diagram </font> of a swinging drawbar.

 

[rozett]

I usually have a grab hook (link) mounted on mine and use it to pull small trees. It's nearly impossible to tip the tractor over because it's attached at the axle (and I have weighted tires).

Now I know why the farmer I worked for as a kid always used cotter pins instead of the clips to hold things to the tractors.

 

[normde2001]

Thanks guys, had not run into one of those before. My Yanmar has a drawbar, but it doesn't swing.

 

[rozett]

Actually, I'll bet it does swing.... it's probably very similar to the one on my Cub. It's (was /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif) a bar about 20 inches long with three holes (storage, operating, storage w/ Mid-mount mower).

According to my operating manual, the operating position is fully extended, allowing the bar to swing side-to-side.

 

[Inspector507]

No..........the drawbar on my Yanmar does not swing. It has 2 adjustments..........all the way in and 3-4 inches out from that.
At least on mine /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif