3pt hitch stabilizer

[PatrickS2222]

The first set you showed will work just fine & do EXACTLY what you want.
Cheap,easy, & efficient.
(Works on my 9N ford & MF50 for all implements.)

Yes, that setup does work well on a lot of makes and models, including our 135. But Shaeff has the same problem with his 35 that I have with my 40 - they both have a loader which mounts to the rear axle at exactly the same place as those brackets - under the mudguard mounts. That's why is is necessary to use the second setup, with the mountings shown in the 3rd pic fitted in place of the "temporary" bolts, spacers and self-locking nuts.
I'm all ears to another way to avoid this problem. :drink:

 

[shaeff]

Ok, it's pouring rain here so I ran out real fast to snap a few poor quality pics. It looks like I have brackets on the bottom of my loader frame and there are circular wear patterns where the pins to mount stabilizers once lived.

Yesterday's tractors doesn't sell the heavy duty bars separately, standard duty are about $16/ea and the pins to mount them are about $3/ea so that's $38. The heavy duty set is $63, and comes with brackets I probably won't need/use.

Thoughts? Should I just get the heavy duty ones anyway (that's what I'm leaning towards)

Pics- if you look at the second pic and enlarge it, you'll see a large hole, then to the left in the pic (forward on the machine) you'll see the rusty brownish color surrounding the hole where I believe the pins would attach for the stabilzers. Looks as easy as bolt the pins in, and install the stabilizers.

 

[LD48750]

Ok, it's pouring rain here so I ran out real fast to snap a few poor quality pics. It looks like I have brackets on the bottom of my loader frame and there are circular wear patterns where the pins to mount stabilizers once lived.

Yesterday's tractors doesn't sell the heavy duty bars separately, standard duty are about $16/ea and the pins to mount them are about $3/ea so that's $38. The heavy duty set is $63, and comes with brackets I probably won't need/use.

Thoughts? Should I just get the heavy duty ones anyway (that's what I'm leaning towards)

Pics- if you look at the second pic and enlarge it, you'll see a large hole, then to the left in the pic (forward on the machine) you'll see the rusty brownish color surrounding the hole where I believe the pins would attach for the stabilzers. Looks as easy as bolt the pins in, and install the stabilizers.

Standard duty bars will do what you want them to do.

Buy the pins & bars & go to work.

 

[PatrickS2222]

Standard duty bars will do what you want them to do.

Buy the pins & bars & go to work.

Yes, I think I can just see the hole in the 2nd pic, just in the background where the lift arm goes behind the axle housing and rear casing. In that area your loader frame looks quite different to mine. That makes your job a lot easier - just fitting forward mount pins and bars. :thumbsup:

Whichever bars you choose all depends on what they will have to contend with - standard bars will be sufficient unless you work frequently in rough or uneven ground, whilst carrying very heavy implements. Given that they are available separately, I'd tend to agree with LD's statement above. Should one break - which I'd say, even though they're non-genuine parts, is unlikely - place a small wager on their quality and go with that.

Remember, it is essential the length matches the lift arm length - measure the centre-to-centre length and ensure they match, or they just will not fit. Sounds like you might need an umbrella

 

[shaeff]

Standard duty bars will do what you want them to do. Buy the pins & bars & go to work.

Good enough! Saving a buck is always a good thing!

Yes, I think I can just see the hole in the 2nd pic, just in the background where the lift arm goes behind the axle housing and rear casing. In that area your loader frame looks quite different to mine. That makes your job a lot easier - just fitting forward mount pins and bars. :thumbsup: Whichever bars you choose all depends on what they will have to contend with - standard bars will be sufficient unless you work frequently in rough or uneven ground, whilst carrying very heavy implements. Given that they are available separately, I'd tend to agree with LD's statement above. Should one break - which I'd say, even though they're non-genuine parts, is unlikely - place a small wager on their quality and go with that. Remember, it is essential the length matches the lift arm length - measure the centre-to-centre length and ensure they match, or they just will not fit. Sounds like you might need an umbrella

My property is uneven, but not so much that it worries me. It's not very rough, and I don't drive quickly with heavy implements so I agree with you both that the standard duty bars should be sufficient.

I ran out and measured, they're about 33.5" center to center, the individual bars are 33.125" center to center, but one side is oblong so I should be good. I've ordered them along with some pins so hopefully by next weekend they'll show up and I can install them.

I'll update with pics once they show up and give my opinion after handling them.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions!

 

[PatrickS2222]

Sounds good to me mate! Let us know how it turns out.

 

[LD48750]

Standard bars work for me on 2 different tractors.
Both have worked the 6' finish mowers, York rakes, back blades, 5' bush hog, boom pole, chipper, & pulled trailers.
(and whatever else I needed them to do)
Have I bent a couple? Yes, when the lynch pin came out & I backed up.
A little heat and a big hammer & back to work.

Most things can be worked with just one bar if need be.

 

[shaeff]

Excellent, I'm hoping they show up this week so I can test them out. I have no problem firing up the torch to straighten them if need be, I enjoy work like that. Besides, I like the ring of the anvil.

I have yet to lose a lynch pin, been clearing some heavy brush too. The type of stuff I back drag with the cutting edge of the bucket, spread in the field, then mulch up. 20yrs of vines make for lots of fun! I've got my lynch pins wired with stainless bailing wire so I don't lose one, at least during this heavy clearing stage. I'm nearly done, may have to borrow my father's rotary brush cutter as my flail isn't quite up to the task of shredding this dense of debris, or maybe it's just my machine. If I hit a pile of that it brings my poor 35 to it's knees, I have to clutch in to stop it from dying completely. I'm likely asking WAY too much of both machines, it's a rotary cutter job for sure. (or a flail with hammer knives)

Next week I leave for our late honeymoon to Hawaii, so I'll be offline for awhile. We got married in September 2015 so it's about time we took off from work and spent some time alone! (hoping my parts show up before then! )

 

[PatrickS2222]

LD - Yes, that's about the only time they should bend. They otherwise should be of sufficient quality spring steel to not bend under normal use, although I would always use both, I'd never use only one.

I've lost several lynch pins - strangely always from the loader bucket mounting pins. I've since tied these with wire as well.

Shaeff - Slowly and steadily ... they're meant to work, and they work well. Does it have a 2-stage clutch? If so, it's a distinct advantage in heavy PTO-driven work. Otherwise you have to rely on your judgement, or be ready to lift when the engine begins to labour. Also, glad to see you back-drag your bucket - I found out the hard way that you can't do that going forward. One tilt cylinder rod broke off the clevis attaching it to the bucket. They had both been welded sometime in the past - I suspect rather poorly - so I just re-welded it properly, with no subsequent problems.

Anyway, enjoy your honeymoon and a well-earned break in sunny Hawaii :thumbsup: Return relaxed and refreshed!

 

[shaeff]

LD - Yes, that's about the only time they should bend. They otherwise should be of sufficient quality spring steel to not bend under normal use, although I would always use both, I'd never use only one.

I've lost several lynch pins - strangely always from the loader bucket mounting pins. I've since tied these with wire as well.

Shaeff - Slowly and steadily ... they're meant to work, and they work well. Does it have a 2-stage clutch? If so, it's a distinct advantage in heavy PTO-driven work. Otherwise you have to rely on your judgement, or be ready to lift when the engine begins to labour. Also, glad to see you back-drag your bucket - I found out the hard way that you can't do that going forward. One tilt cylinder rod broke off the clevis attaching it to the bucket. They had both been welded sometime in the past - I suspect rather poorly - so I just re-welded it properly, with no subsequent problems.

Anyway, enjoy your honeymoon and a well-earned break in sunny Hawaii :thumbsup: Return relaxed and refreshed!

I've seen my father lose lynch pins while doing heavy clearing, so I wanted to avoid that altogether. My machine does have a 2 stage clutch, so far I've been rolling into the mess of vines that I laid out in the field and doing exactly as you say, just a bit at a time. I just think with a brush hog/slasher/rotary it'll go much more quickly because the weight of the blades and centrifugal force will help propel the cutter through the heavy debris. The flail doesn't have that kind of force behind it.

I think if I tried dragging the bucket forward, I'd just lose traction. My tires are well worn and in need of chains (which I have, just no time to cut to size)

Usually when I'm clearing this type of heavy overgrowth, I'll power in with the bucket about 3" off the ground to make sure I don't contact a stump I can't see with the front mounted hydraulic pump. As I start to break traction, I'll lift the bucket all the way up which usually tears a lot of the vines apart. Then back up just a touch, flip the bucket straight down and drive forward so the cutting edge of the bucket is past all the growth I tore out, and bring the bucket down to ground level just until my front wheels become unloaded a bit. Then back out, bringing all that debris with me. I'll post some pics of that sometime soon, too. I've been very busy trying to get lots done before winter.

Thanks for the kind wishes, we both need a break for sure!