2305 tlb, 3 pt hitch help

[Rustyrat]

I recently bought a used 2305 TLB with 45 hours. I also bought a used 48" rotary cutter. Previous owner never had the backhoe off. I took it off last night, 2 minutes, what a breeze. Then the fun ended. I had to take off the rear tire to get the bar that holds the 3pt hitch arms installed. This is going to be a pain the the a**. The manual was of little help. There has got to be something that I am missing.
Can someone help?

 

[Dutch445]

I think you can leave that rod installed when
you put the backhoe on next time. then it
will be there. (put the pins in it and leave the
sway control anchors on the pin)

 

[buckshot721]

Putting the 3-point back on the first couple of times is a pita. But after you do it few times it gets easier. I do not leave the bar in when the bh is on, just easier for me. Change out those cheepy cotter pins with spring clips on the 3 point, makes it a little faster. Don't forget to block up your bh when you take it off, because it will drop down. Unless you have the longer hoses it will be a pain to hook back up. I'm down to 5 min putting the 3-point back on, just remember to get the collars for the arms on the correct way. The first time I put one side on the wrong way. The first time it took over an hour with no instructions. I'm trying to think up a way to fab up a bar or some thing so you don't have to pull the tire. Also if your going to run it a lot with out the mower deck get a skid plate for it, it will save your hydro fan.

 

[C-Range]

Rusty,

I never had this issue with my 2305. I just slid the rod from one side to the other when attaching each draft arm. If I remember right, the rod would have to basically be touching the opposite side tire to get each draft arm on, but that was it. I recall there were also a couple of collars that went between the draft arm bushing and the linch pins on the rod as well.

You might try a quick forum search for other reports and resolutions to this as well.

Congrats on your great new machine!

 

[Rustyrat]

Thanks Ensoll,
I have been chatting with Richard at Bro-Tek in New Brunswick. I have bought 2 mechanical thumbs from him. He sells a 2" hub that goes on the rear. Moves each wheel out 2". I am going to measure tonight to see if that will help. He asked me to send some pictures, he is pretty clever, maybe he will come up with a plan.
Thanks again.

 

[C-Range]

Rusty,

Yes, Richard is a very nice chap. I've also chatted with him. He's a big fisherman, I believe, fly fishing if I recall. If you talk to him again, feel free to mention this thread of mine:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...ting/208003-first-ever-brotek-thumb-46-a.html

where I adapted my 260 Brotek thumb to my new 46 hoe. I've been meaning to relay it to him but haven't had the chance...

Regarding your backhoe, here is a photo of what the tractor should look like with a) a backhoe subframe installed, and b) the 3pt hitch arms removed. As you can see, the mounting rod stays in place at all times. With the spacers and the linch pins on the rod, it can't move side-to-side enough to touch the tires. And as for the turnbuckles/draft arm tensioners, just unscrew the turnbuckle and leave the stub on the machine as shown in the photo when removing your draft arms. In fact, those turnbuckles are the worst part about removing/installing the hitch arms (not that bad). If you are really neurotic, you could spin a couple of nuts onto them to protect the threads or get some vinyl caps but they are a harder steel than the tractor frame so they shouldn't be bothered. Mine never had any trouble in three years of dangling around.

Hope this helps.

 

[North Country]

Putting the 3-point back on the first couple of times is a pita. But after you do it few times it gets easier. I do not leave the bar in when the bh is on, just easier for me.

You take off the tire *every time*???

 

[buckshot721]

The bar is about a foot and a half long, that sits between the wheels. No other way to completely remove it.

 

[North Country]

The bar is about a foot and a half long, that sits between the wheels. No other way to completely remove it.

But why remove it? I guess that's my real question. I have a 2305 and sometimes the BH is on & off 4-5 times in a week. I'm definitely not taking a tire off each time...

 

[buckshot721]

Thats the way the dealer pulled it, when my bh came in. Just kept doing it that way.

 

[North Country]

Well, if you have the rod spacers mounted correctly, you can leave it in place. Makes changing from backhoe to 3ph a fairly routine task.

http://www.mytractorforum.com/showthread.php?t=200168