3-Point Hitch cat. 1??

[chupacabra]

Nice!! Mitch, don't those weights bend that front piece on your tractor? Mine is bent and I just assume it was from weights.

 

[NHmitch]

Nice!! Mitch, don't those weights bend that front piece on your tractor? Mine is bent and I just assume it was from weights.

Thanks!! No, not at all, the front piece is actually very strong, and they originally came with weights, so I wonder if someone hit something with yours, or had it overloaded at one point, or used it to tow? That front It does bolt off, and there is someone selling a parted out G174 on eBay right now, and they may sell you that front piece for very cheap if you need to replace it. The weights only add about 190+/- lbs to the front, and then I also have the front tires filled. They have been filled since the dealer sold the tractor, so I am not concerned about issues with it. Between the two, it has helped immensely. I have actually seen quite a few with the suitcase weights installed, and I have seen several variations, and one with a small FEL attached to that bracket. see below:
The one with the rock is a bit scary

 

[NHmitch]

Sorry, I forgot to ask, did you ever get your lift arm ball joint fixed?

 

[chupacabra]

I lost the thread about the seat springs. But anyway, they were on there when I got it and they look like large valve springs to me. And, it looks like they were jb welded in place.

See attached pictures.


Also, I have not taken my alternator off yet. Battery seems to hold it fine. I have no lights now, or anything else, (except the oil pressure light) Is there any
type of battery drain after it starts?

Tires!!!!!!!!!!!! The only turf tires I can find are about 375 apiece! the 8 x 16 ag tires are about 140 apiece. BKT's.

I am slowing fixing things on the tractor, but down here in Texas it gets to hot for me after about noon and up until around 7 or so.

 

[NHmitch]

I lost the thread about the seat springs. But anyway, they were on there when I got it and they look like large valve springs to me. And, it looks like they were jb welded in place.

See attached pictures.


Also, I have not taken my alternator off yet. Battery seems to hold it fine. I have no lights now, or anything else, (except the oil pressure light) Is there any
type of battery drain after it starts?

Tires!!!!!!!!!!!! The only turf tires I can find are about 375 apiece! the 8 x 16 ag tires are about 140 apiece. BKT's.

I am slowing fixing things on the tractor, but down here in Texas it gets to hot for me after about noon and up until around 7 or so.

Thanks for the photos! I need to make a setup like that, and if I can find some matching springs, and I will. I have thought about cutting some automotive springs, however I have to look into that. I have also thought about using the kind that go unger a bicycle seat, but I have been worried that they will not work as well.

It is ridiculous how expensive tires are! I'd offer you the ones I took off, but they are original to the tractor, and 30 years old, and dry rotted. I wonder if you would be able to find truck tires that would be a matching size. I will have to see what I can find online that are reasonable for you. I think that it is just the rear tires that you need since you have the 2wd model, right? I would contact your local tire store, and see if they can match them to a truck tires size. Then you could even see if they have used tires in good condition, and you could probably outfit the tractor for $100, or so. I have seen track tires on these rims, but I had a hard time finding the truck conversion size. I am sure that they make a size that will fit. I'll keep looking, and see what I can find.

 

[chupacabra]

Mitch, let me know if you can find a conversion for the tires.

The valve springs will never wear out and they are just the right bounce. 200 pounds of driver.

 

[Ilikeurtractor]

Got the sway chains on the inside of the lower arms now. Much more rigid, stable connection. Like I said earlier though, you have to loosen the turnbuckles each time you change implements to get the lower arms to spread apart far enough to get the implement off. I did order a quick change setup like I linked to earlier to avoid that. It actually isn't too bad undoing the turnbuckles though and I would still rather do that than deal with the instability of sway chains on the outside of the lower arms.

For those that would like to do the mod, you'll need two "bushings" that are 1-1/4" O.D. x 11/16" I.D. and about 1" long. Mine were 1-3/8" long which gave more weld to hold, but cut me a bit short on getting a full nut's width on the 5/8" eye-bolt threads. It will have to do for now though.

 

[chupacabra]

Whats to keep the lower arms from sliding over? Also, what did you weld to the bushings? Hard to see. And what did you weld for the mid arm part?

I don't think I am that good of a welder to try that mod, and to pay a welder would cost more than a surgical procedure with my doctor!

(this is for Ilikeurtractor)


For those that would like to do the mod, you'll need two "bushings" that are 1-1/4" O.D. x 11/16" I.D. and about 1" long. Mine were 1-3/8" long which gave more weld to hold, but cut me a bit short on getting a full nut's width on the 5/8" eye-bolt threads. It will have to do for now though.
Attached Thumbnails

 

[Ilikeurtractor]

I have to make some spacers and put on both ends of the connecting shaft (and one in the middle of the shaft too) and I didn't get the material yet (schedule 10, 3/4" nominal pipe which isn't common, but should fit nicely on the 7/8" (22 mm) bar), but after the sway chains are tightened, there's really no place for the arms to go.

The bushings I described weld to the lower lift arms where the eye-bolts attach.

 

[Ilikeurtractor]

I don't think I am that good of a welder to try that mod, and to pay a welder would cost more than a surgical procedure with my doctor!

Welding just takes some practice and I make sure most of what I do is flat, no fancy overhead or vertical stuff. Also, the type of rod a person uses makes a big difference. I've only stick welded (SMAW) and have never done wire-feed or TIG but I've heard they are great. I've probably only ran a few dozen rods in my life and can get by with simple stuff. I wouldn't be intimidated by it. I use a 110V inverter welder I picked up from Wal*Mart.