Tree Stump--1, Draft Link--0

CVHoss · Oct 27, 2001

While working on my little land clearing project, I decided to use the box blade to push out the stump of a little 3" diameter tree. Tree stump came out, but the draft link doesn't look quite the same.

Hoss

Bird · Oct 27, 2001

Wow! I've pushed with my box blade until the tractor couldn't go anymore (spin the wheels) and never did anything like that. What did you do, get a running start at it?/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Bird

DarinRay · Oct 27, 2001

Wow, 3" tree,,,4400JD. and that happen. are you sure it wasn't a 3' diameter tree? /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif I'd take that sucka back the link that is unless it was a 3' tree.

Darin

ronjhall · Oct 27, 2001

CVHoss
What do you have your tires loaded with? /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif I need that kind of traction. /w3tcompact/icons/cool.gif

CVHoss · Oct 27, 2001

Bird:
It was one of those nasty locust trees with lateral roots all over the place. I had actually managed to push the tree over and cut it off using the front bucket, but every time I tried to lift the stump out with the edge of the bucket, it would just lift the rear of the tractor off the ground. That's with the LP2566 box blade on the back. Decided I might me able to get better traction trying to push with the back side of the BB. I think the thing I did wrong was I hit the stump with the right rear corner of the BB. I wanted to get it on the blade at what I thought would be it's strongest point of the blade. Never occurred to me that the draft link would bend. Didn't do a thing to the BB, just the draft link. The stump actually seemed to come out fairly easy. Didn't have to repeatedly ram it or anything. Just backed up to it and mashed the hydro pedal.

Darin:
Nope, 3". If I give it the benefit of the doubt, it might make 3 1/2", but no more. I'm really wondering if the metal in the link may be bad. Like I said above, didn't put a dent on the box blade and I sure would have thought the link would be stronger than the metal in the BB.

Ron:
On my tractor, it's not the tires that are loaded, it's the seat. 6'6", 325+lbs. of Hoss!

Hoss

Bird · Oct 27, 2001

Aah, now I understand why, Hoss. That would put a lot of leverage force on that lower link, although I still would not have expected it to bend. I don't guess I've tried that technique without getting the stump in the center of the box blade, and after seeing yours, I think I'll keep on using just the center of my box blade./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Bird

DarinRay · Oct 27, 2001

Hoss I would show the dealer that link and tell him or her what you were doing and they should replace it depending on how old the unit is and if it's under warranty. If not at least you had fun doing what we do best and that's playing oops I mean working. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif It's better than bending your back, arms, & legs thats for sure. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Darin

CVHoss · Oct 28, 2001

We'll see if it bends again. I took it off tonight, heated it with a rosebud and pounded the heck out of it with a 4# sledge. Got it pretty much back to what it's supposed to look like and painted back up. I'll put it back on tomorrow after the paint dries and see if I can tear it up again.

Hoss

JJT · Oct 28, 2001

I second the suggestion of returning these to your JD dealer. Only 35 hours on the tractor and your 3pt been "rebuilt". I've pushed dozens of 4000 - 6000 # boulders, (yes, 2 - 3 yard stones) with mine, (L3710, 72" bushhog box scraper), and have only lost a little paint.