3-Point Hitch Too Much Sway In 3pt. Hitch....

[JDGreenGrass]

I was having a heck of a time attaching my weight box...even on wheels. The lower arms were too far apart not allowing enough room to get a pin in.

I made an adjustment to the "linkage" that seemed to work, however, I am noticing a lot of side to side sway in my 3pt. hitch. In fact, off to the left side on occasion, my lower arm was into the tire.

What's going on here.??

 

[Villengineer]

The 770 has turnbuckles on the sway chains. I assume that this is what you loosened to allow at least one on the arms to swing in enough to hook up the box. Now that you have it mounted, lift it up and adjust the turnbuckles on both sides to center the box and keep it from swinging. If you are swinging to the left you have too much length in the right side sway chain.

 

[jsb2b]

Maybe this will help:
http://www.mytractorforum.com/showthread.php?t=106129

 

[JDGreenGrass]

Thanks guys.

I am beginning to think that different attachments need adjustment in this area, correct.??

Is this the procedure.....Attach implement and then tighten the turn-buckles to take up any slack, and also being certain that the attachment stays centered. Correct.??

 

[Slacker]

Most of the time I need to loosen the side turnbuckes, hook up implement, lift, then tighten turnbuckles making sure the draft arms won't hit the tires.
I like a little sway in some of the implements such as a bush hog.

 

[Villengineer]

Thanks guys.

I am beginning to think that different attachments need adjustment in this area, correct.??

Is this the procedure.....Attach implement and then tighten the turn-buckles to take up any slack, and also being certain that the attachment stays centered. Correct.??

Yes, unless all your implements happen to have the exact same dimensions then you will need to make adjustments.

Your procedure is pretty accurate. For narrow implements you may need to loosen both turnbuckles before you can hook them up.

Don't over-tighten the sway chains as the tension changes through the arc of the 3pt. Also, you may on occasion want to hold an attachment off to one side. Most of the time you will want to keep them centered.

 

[JDGreenGrass]

Thanks everyone. I'm all set on this now.

Such an important adjustment that I was totally un-aware of. And very simple, I might add.

All set.

Thanks.

 

[kennyd]

Get a iMatch Quick Hitch and you will never (well, almost never) have to adjust them again.

 

[JB4310]

Yeah I'm really fussy about any slop back there, I make it as tight as possible. I have QH and the pin/hole type adjustment so don't have to touch it once set up.

jb

 

[JDGreenGrass]

Yeah I'm really fussy about any slop back there, I make it as tight as possible. I have QH and the pin/hole type adjustment so don't have to touch it once set up.

jb

Ya, I am quite upset with myself to be so ignorant of such an important, simple adjustment.

I cleared my driveway of snow with the weight box jangling around back there the whole way through. Lucky nothing bent.

Anyone know where I should look for any damage that might have occured.?? Freakin' 600lb. weight box back there rockin' and rollin' to the Beatles for about an hour and a half.!!!!

Here is the core of my screw up.....I am a first time tractor owner and I bought used. The seller was fantastic and very helpful and informative about how to operate and hook up, however, somehow this adjustment was never mentioned.

I'm a newb.

 

[beenthere]

Your Deere can take the punishment. Glad you discovered another "adjustment" to make. And I agree with the iMatch for the 3 ph. Easy to set it and forget it. And picking up the ballast box is a dream compared to aligning it on the "bare" arms.

 

[Reg]

Thanks everyone. I'm all set on this now.

Such an important adjustment that I was totally un-aware of. And very simple, I might add.

All set.

Thanks.

Not quite;
GENERALLY ground engaging implements need a bit of freedom to swing.
Maybe 4 inches on Cat 1, 5 or so on Cat 2.

Know that a plow will move left as soon as you lower it (-:

 

[JB4310]

Anyone know where I should look for any damage that might have occured.?? Freakin' 600lb. weight box back there.........

If you don't see anything obvious, then there's nothing to worry about.

JB.

 

[Gary Fowler]

At worse case, you might have some minor scraping of the tire lugs where the lift arms were hitting. It should not have any damage to anything else. I really dont like the turnbuckle design as it is hard to lock them without double wrenching and at least for me, it is quiet a tight squeeze to get my body in around them. I like the sliding bar with pin type but unfortunately on my tractor I also have the turnbuckle type. Mine have a mind to loosen off during use if the lock nut is not really really tight.

 

[Reg]

At worse case, you might have some minor scraping of the tire lugs where the lift arms were hitting. It should not have any damage to anything else. I really dont like the turnbuckle design as it is hard to lock them without double wrenching and at least for me, it is quiet a tight squeeze to get my body in around them. I like the sliding bar with pin type but unfortunately on my tractor I also have the turnbuckle type. Mine have a mind to loosen off during use if the lock nut is not really really tight.

Agreed, in fact tire lug bumping is the usual symptom that I actually NOTICE (-:
A less than perfect World, but I sometimes think a ratchet mechanism would be well suited.
At other times I can think of all sorts of reasons why it wouldn't, e.g. loading up with mud, freezing, etc.
Stuck shut or stuck open, either one would be a significant pain.
Turnbuckles; they do offer the FINE adjustment and can bring some force to bear, they also remind me to have TWO big crescent wrenches aboard (-:

One of those rules around tractors; Lock nuts don't exist where they are not needed and don't always exist where it would be very desirable for them to exist.

 

[JDGreenGrass]

I looked at the tire and it has no signs of wearing.

I actually like the design of the adjustment. It has cooter pins that lock the adjustment in place...the threads can move about a quarter turn in either direction.

And, I'm a big guy yet I can get to the adjustment with no problems. Takes me about a minute or 2 and I am good go.

 

[foggy1111]

My three point adjustment linkage has given me some problems throughout the past year. Mostly everything is too sloppy to adjust the implements tight.

First: I lost a retaining pin when operating my rotary cutter in heavy brush...it went unnoticed....which allowed a shaft (that holds the lower arm) to slide over and bend slightly. I got it re-installed....but it isn't right.

Second: I bought my tractor used....and the previous owner had replaced a chain link with a "will-fit" link. In short.....it fits but not correctly.

The 3 point linkage adjustment is pretty particular about everything fitting correctly. Once bent or sprung a little....its hard for me to make it work correctly.

I am going to do a rebuild with the right parts......if it ever warms up.

 

[JohnDeereHere]

Are there any good quality adjusters out there similar to the ones on the 55 series?My 655 has the "standard" 3 point hitch and it's going to cost $120 to replace my left side adjuster.(The previous owner shortened the stud.Then cross threaded it.....all the way tight.Sigh.)