Draw bar gone

   / Draw bar gone #1  

rd_macgregor

Veteran Member
Joined
May 14, 2008
Messages
1,874
Location
Prince Edward Island, Canada
Tractor
Kioti DK45SC, Kubota B2650
I just noticed this past weekend that the draw bar is missing from my DK45. It is always possible that somebody stole it, but it is more likely that it fell out while I was mowing one of the pastures or the woods trails. Are the fat pins that hold the draw bar supposed to have cotters or something to keep them from popping out?
With my luck, I'll find the draw bar with my mower.
BOB
 
   / Draw bar gone #2  
My money would be on it falling out. However, there could have been a sudden influx of drawbar Gnomes, which are known for being attracted to unattended drawbars. I heard they like to move them across the border!:D

I know I have to put loctite, wire or remove all the pins on my stuff to keep them from being pulled out with the stuff I have to cut. I'm always loosing pins!
 
   / Draw bar gone #3  
Last time I mowed was for 12 hours straight. When I went to chain the tractor to the trailer I noticed the drawbar swung to one side. I had lost one of the two fat pins that are supposed to be retained by cotter pins. I decided that since I have NEVER needed to use the drawbar in 1000 hours and since I would like to keep the drawbar someplace safe just in case I someday do decide to tow a wagon, that I would remove the second pin and store the drawbar in the barn.

Oddly, I also lost one of the ROPS pins too, one of two that hold the ROPS upright. How much crap have I left in the field over the years? Too much.
 
   / Draw bar gone #4  
I just noticed this past weekend that the draw bar is missing from my DK45. It is always possible that somebody stole it, but it is more likely that it fell out while I was mowing one of the pastures or the woods trails. Are the fat pins that hold the draw bar supposed to have cotters or something to keep them from popping out?
With my luck, I'll find the draw bar with my mower.
BOB

If you do, I'm sure you'll be on here asking for advice about rebuilding a gearbox.:laughing:

The plausible thing to do is get off your duff and go walk the area you mowed. It's a concept you know...or don't.
 
   / Draw bar gone #5  
I also had trouble with grass trees etc pulling cotter pins out so i took pins out and turned up side down put cotter pin on top have not had a problem since. looks odd but works great.
 
   / Draw bar gone #6  
I also had trouble with grass trees etc pulling cotter pins out so i took pins out and turned up side down put cotter pin on top have not had a problem since. looks odd but works great.

We run BIG cotter keys upside down on logging rigs and for rough bushhogging.


Even then you'll lose one sometimes.
 
   / Draw bar gone
  • Thread Starter
#7  
If you do, I'm sure you'll be on here asking for advice about rebuilding a gearbox.:laughing:

The plausible thing to do is get off your duff and go walk the area you mowed. It's a concept you know...or don't.

I've been walking around (wish I had a UTV!) in the evenings, but there's a lot of field (10+ ac at about 5' per pass) and trail to cover, and the grass is growing back fast! I'd try doing this on my bike, but with our hills I think I'd be in for cardiac care if I tried it!
BOB
 
   / Draw bar gone #8  
I've been walking around (wish I had a UTV!) in the evenings, but there's a lot of field (10+ ac at about 5' per pass) and trail to cover, and the grass is growing back fast! I'd try doing this on my bike, but with our hills I think I'd be in for cardiac care if I tried it!
BOB

Bob

Head down to one of the beautiful beaches on PEI and see if you can spot someone with one of those annoying, beeping metal detectors - offer a (small) reward for finding cash in your 10 acre field and see if the person might also come up with a drawbar, some cotter pins, and any other farm implement parts.

The folks at the beach will thank you for removing that annoying beep-beep-beep-beep from their relaxation area. (Don't ask me how I know!) and you might just get lucky :laughing:

Bob
 
   / Draw bar gone #9  
Last time I mowed was for 12 hours straight. When I went to chain the tractor to the trailer I noticed the drawbar swung to one side. I had lost one of the two fat pins that are supposed to be retained by cotter pins. I decided that since I have NEVER needed to use the drawbar in 1000 hours and since I would like to keep the drawbar someplace safe just in case I someday do decide to tow a wagon, that I would remove the second pin and store the drawbar in the barn.

Lost one of my fat pins off the drawbar as well. Did the same as you, have never used it so put it in a safe place. So I don't forget where it is I made up a large wood box for my 3pt hitch arms and related hardware. That way I won't forget were I safely put it. :D:laughing:
 
   / Draw bar gone
  • Thread Starter
#10  
A number of years ago, one of my wife's horses kept losing expensive aluminum shoes in the pasture, so I bought a metal detector. I quickly found out that old fields are replete with metal of all sorts (old bits of wire, mostly), and the metal detector was almost useless (it beeped almost all the time!).
When I told her about the missing drawbar, my wife immediately suggested I use the metal detector to search for it; what I really need is a bunch of them mounted along a 20' sprayer boom so I don't have to cover every square foot of 12 acres of fields swinging that single unit back and forth the whole way! I'm going to continue with the visual method for a few more days...
If I find it, you can bet I'll either store it somewhere safe (and memorable!) or, at least, securely pin it in place.
BOB
 

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