Turn buckle - stupid question

[Code54]

Ok, first off I know this is a stupid question but...
How the heck am I supposed to keep the turn buckles from working loose every 5 minutes on my new L3700. The jam nut seems to do about nothing. My old machine had the pin you ran through the turn buckle and that keep it from working its way loose. I am thinking of putting a pin hole through these so I can pin them in place or fork up the cash and put sliding bars on. Any thoughts?
THANKS

 

[montelatici]

Ok, first off I know this is a stupid question but...
How the heck am I supposed to keep the turn buckles from working loose every 5 minutes on my new L3700. The jam nut seems to do about nothing. My old machine had the pin you ran through the turn buckle and that keep it from working its way loose. I am thinking of putting a pin hole through these so I can pin them in place or fork up the cash and put sliding bars on. Any thoughts?
THANKS

Mine stay tight. Maybe you aren't tightening them enough?

 

[k0ua]

I would agree it is a pain, but if you take a wrench to the jam nut and tighten it against the turnbuckle tightly, it will not come loose, at least mine dont. I dont really like having to carry the wrench, but it fits nicely in the toolbox
but I suppose you could drill a hole in the end of one of the bolts, and put in the hairpin like the little B series have, or spring for the telescoping stabilizers. I just cant spring for them right now, so I just tighten the nut!
James K0UA

 

[ShenandoahJoe]

I've always tightened them to about 20 ft-lbs, which keeps them snug. (My wrench is a foot long, so I can estimate things like that.)
Have you tried operating on flatter land?

 

[leonz]

use one drop, I repeat only one drop of Blue Loctite to solve that issue if getting it tight by hand is an issue and no more worries and you can still break it loose to reposition it if needed.

 

[IKE76]

A small sash chain,cut just long enough,with a snap clasp on the end.Find an anchor point for one end and fasten the clasp on the handle of the turnbuckle. Quick and easy.It keeps the turnbuckle from rotating and it's easy to remove when you do want to turn it.

 

[k0ua]

A small sash chain,cut just long enough,with a snap clasp on the end.Find an anchor point for one end and fasten the clasp on the handle of the turnbuckle. Quick and easy.It keeps the turnbuckle from rotating and it's easy to remove when you do want to turn it

Now why didn't I think of that? Thanks:thumbsup:
James K0UA

 

[milkman]

Ok, first off I know this is a stupid question but...
How the heck am I supposed to keep the turn buckles from working loose every 5 minutes on my new L3700. The jam nut seems to do about nothing. My old machine had the pin you ran through the turn buckle and that keep it from working its way loose. I am thinking of putting a pin hole through these so I can pin them in place or fork up the cash and put sliding bars on. Any thoughts?
THANKS

You have your answer, and you won't hate those turnbuckles every time you change implements.

 

[k0ua]

but I suppose you could drill a hole in the end of one of the bolts, and put in the hairpin like the little B series have, or spring for the telescoping stabilizers.

Well, I looked carefully today, and there are already holes in the end of the bolts, for Hairpins. So I ran the nuts back up all the way, and put in some hairpins, this is the way my old b7500 worked, so I guess this can work on the L3400. I am going to give it a try. Lots easier to pull a pin and then turn the turnbuckle, than mess with a wrench and the nut. time will tell
James K0UA

 

[Code54]

I went and checked mine and I don't seem to have the pin holes - wish I did. There must me some little difference between the two. The Jam nut is a pain, I am all about adding sliders or drilling a hole for some hairpins!

 

[k0ua]

sorry, I never saw the holes before, dirt, grease etc must have filled them, but I was doing some work on the suspension seat, (lubed it up) and for some reason I notice one of the nuts was loose! I know I said it never happens to me.. ha ha..but then I saw the hole for the first time. and run into the shop and got some hairpins. At the end of the day both turnbuckles were up against the hairpins, but they did not turn any more than 1/8 turn and the weight was still solid side to side, so I think they are going to work.
James K0UA

 

[k0ua]

12 more hours on the tractor, and pins are working great, keeping turnbuckles from moving, I am no longer in the market for the sliding "check chains" I think this is going to do it for me.
James K0UA

 

[Code54]

Thats great! Checked mine VERY closely this week, no holes?? why I ask - come one couldn't they have drill just two tiny little holes??? Looks like I know what I am going to be doing next weekend!

 

[bigdad]

Put a lock washer between the turnbuckle and the lock nut. That is if you don't have the holes for the pins.

 

[brandoro]

My first tractor had turnbuckles with no pin holes so I just used a small bungee cord and bungeed the turnbuckles to each other. Worked well.
Second tractor had turnbuckles with pin holes. Had one of those "why didn't I think of that" moments. Current tractor has the sliding bars, I like those.