dbotos
Silver Member
I really like the adjustability of the turnbuckle-style check chains on my LB1914, but found it hard to get the nut that jams against the center tube good and tight to lock the length adjustment (at least while trying to hold onto that little drawer-pull handle that's welded on there with one hand). Ideally, that center tube would have a nice hex on it so that you could put a regular wrench on it. I considered modding them to be like that, but then you'd have to remove that gold finish from the tube, bore out a big nut, weld that on, and refinish it so it wouldn't rust. Another option was a cross-hole like in a top link, but that would weaken the tube and be an entry point for water and dirt. I opted for the quick and dirty solution and came up with a special wrench that interfaces with the stock configuration.
Since the check chains live in the lateral space between the lift arms and the rear tires, the best access to them is from above or below. I wanted the special wrench to be able to hold the tube with the drawer-pull handle in any of the four principal orientations (pointing up, down, left, or right). While a piece of flat stock stuck down vertically inside the drawer pull handle would work fine if it was facing left or right, it wouldn't work so well in the up or down orientation on account of the lift arm and tire being in the way. For the latter, I needed something in an "L" configuration. Combining the two, I came up with the design in the pictures below. Some scrap approximately 1/2 x 1 x 6" with another 1/2 x 1 x 1" chunk welded on the side of it. If the drawer-pull handle is pointing left or right, you stick the vertical stub in it; if it's pointing up or down, you stick the horizontal stub in it. Seems to work well just testing it in my hands - need to get out and actually try it on the tractor. Will get a hanging hole and some bright orange paint or powdercoat if passes final testing.
Since the check chains live in the lateral space between the lift arms and the rear tires, the best access to them is from above or below. I wanted the special wrench to be able to hold the tube with the drawer-pull handle in any of the four principal orientations (pointing up, down, left, or right). While a piece of flat stock stuck down vertically inside the drawer pull handle would work fine if it was facing left or right, it wouldn't work so well in the up or down orientation on account of the lift arm and tire being in the way. For the latter, I needed something in an "L" configuration. Combining the two, I came up with the design in the pictures below. Some scrap approximately 1/2 x 1 x 6" with another 1/2 x 1 x 1" chunk welded on the side of it. If the drawer-pull handle is pointing left or right, you stick the vertical stub in it; if it's pointing up or down, you stick the horizontal stub in it. Seems to work well just testing it in my hands - need to get out and actually try it on the tractor. Will get a hanging hole and some bright orange paint or powdercoat if passes final testing.
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