3-Point Hitch 3-Point Width Adjustment?

[Kwehme09]

I run a Kioti 2610 with a 54" rear mount blower (Kioti, but made by Woods). The ears where the 3-point arms attach to the blower have begun to flare outward as if the arms are forcing themselves too wide against them. I am aware of the turnbuckles that control the swing of the attachment. These do pull outward if turned to tight, and I keep this in mind when I adjust; loose enough to allow a little swing, but tight enough to keep the arms off the rear wheels and chains. I don't think any sort of tensioner between the arms is an option because it would obstruct the PTO. I could weld some strength into the ears of the blower, but I am surprised the modifications would be necessary.

Am I missing something?

 

[CobyRupert]

I run a Kioti 2610 with a 54" rear mount blower (Kioti, but made by Woods). The ears where the 3-point arms attach to the blower have begun to flare outward as if the arms are forcing themselves too wide against them. I am aware of the turnbuckles that control the swing of the attachment. These do pull outward if turned to tight, and I keep this in mind when I adjust; loose enough to allow a little swing, but tight enough to keep the arms off the rear wheels and chains. I don't think any sort of tensioner between the arms is an option because it would obstruct the PTO. I could weld some strength into the ears of the blower, but I am surprised the modifications would be necessary.

Am I missing something?

You seem to have turnbuckles adjusted right.
Do you have a "little swing" over the full height range of 3PTH, or does it tighten up when fully raised?
Do you have a quick-connect hitch or Pat's Easy Change on 3PTH? What I've learned from using a Pat's system is that as an attachment is raised and lowered on 3PTH the angle of the lift arms to the attachment pins changes (thus the ball in the lift arm is important). Pat's system (and maybe quick hitches?) don't account for this change or have any type of ball, and can induce a lot of stress that would want to "re-angle" the pins, or twist what they're mounted too.

Actually it seems like the pins have twisted to where they need to be...and if it didn't break....

 

[Reb954]

A picture or three may help us understand a bit better.

My tractor doesn't have turnbuckles, instead it has tubes that are pinned to control how far out the arms can move. I don't know if that would help you or not.

I also have bushings to reduce the side to side movement between the 3 point arms and the snowblower attachment point.


I suspect you will need to beef up your snowblower attachment ears.

 

[ptsg]

You seem to have turnbuckles adjusted right.
Do you have a "little swing" over the full height range of 3PTH, or does it tighten up when fully raised?
Do you have a quick-connect hitch or Pat's Easy Change on 3PTH? What I've learned from using a Pat's system is that as an attachment is raised and lowered on 3PTH the angle of the lift arms to the attachment pins changes (thus the ball in the lift arm is important). Pat's system (and maybe quick hitches?) don't account for this change or have any type of ball, and can induce a lot of stress that would want to "re-angle" the pins, or twist what they're mounted too.

Actually it seems like the pins have twisted to where they need to be...and if it didn't break....

That's why we use these in Europe:



These together with telescopic side links, makes for a really nice and fast setup.

 

[jeff9366]

I run a Kioti 2610 with a 54" rear mount blower (Kioti, but made by Woods). I am surprised the modifications would be necessary.

I would call Woods. Woods may have gotten a shipment of off-spec steel.

 

[WranglerX]

Sound like poor design of blower, by not having enough material to keep lower arms stabilized at proper width... How about a a bit of chain and turnbuckle between lower arms to stabilize width...

Dale

 

[CobyRupert]

Hopefully there's a simple fix or adjustment....
....but if "something" has to bend somewhere, and you reinforce it so it can't.....
...then something else has to bend, snap or jam.

 

[mpsmith60]

That's why we use these in Europe:

View attachment 630053

These together with telescopic side links, makes for a really nice and fast setup.

Well that's cool! It's like a Pat's Easy Change system only welded on the lift arm and with the added benefit of a ball. Nice!

 

[Kwehme09]

Pictures are not of my tractor but show the blower and 3-pt hitch. To me, it seems the ears are poorly designed and weak, but Woods sells a lot of blowers so I can't imagine I'm the only one who has seen this.
Chain and turnbuckles between the arms would interfere with PTO.

 

[Reb954]

The quick fix would be to use the appropriate size bolt and nut in place of the pin. That will hold the outer flange relative to the inner flange.

But I agree, the flanges should have been made heavy enough to take the pressure. Notify the manufacturer, see what they have to say.

 

[Kwehme09]

The quick fix would be to use the appropriate size bolt and nut in place of the pin. That will hold the outer flange relative to the inner flange.

But I agree, the flanges should have been made heavy enough to take the pressure. Notify the manufacturer, see what they have to say.

I've considered this, and bolts/nuts wouldn't be too annoying given that I usually keep the snowblower on all winter unless I start doing tree work. However, wouldn't be bolt/threads get destroyed by the movement of the blower?

 

[Kwehme09]

Update: So I called Woods and they said to loosen the turnbuckles to make them push against each other and force the arms inward... I think this makes sense, but I am going to need to go home and try it.

 

[mbu]

Well that's cool! It's like a Pat's Easy Change system only welded on the lift arm and with the added benefit of a ball. Nice!

mpsmith60,

I have these on all my tractors and NO WAY are they like Pat's Easy Change system! These are made for any tractor horsepower; are heavy duty, and will handle any piece of equipment one can throw at it. Pat's are built for light duty use and equipment.

 

[Kwehme09]

Update: So I called Woods and they said to loosen the turnbuckles to make them push against each other and force the arms inward... I think this makes sense, but I am going to need to go home and try it.

This was a stupid idea and didn't come close to working.

 

[CobyRupert]

I guess the question is: What is actually bending the blowers "ears" outward? Does it bind in all positions?

Is it because of the angle of the lift arm ends when they are at the width of the blower? Is it a Class 0 blower being mounted on a Class 1 three point hitch tractor?
Here's a link to dimensions of each Class type:
TractorData.com - Three-Point Hitch

Edit: Woods says their SB54S is Class 1 hitch...and Kioti says CK2610 is Class 1 3PTH too.....hmmm....

 

[ptsg]

You might need to get a set of telescopic stabilizers to solve your issue and actually making your life easier when swapping implements.

 

[LouNY]

View attachment 630060View attachment 630061

Pictures are not of my tractor but show the blower and 3-pt hitch. To me, it seems the ears are poorly designed and weak, but Woods sells a lot of blowers so I can't imagine I'm the only one who has seen this.
Chain and turnbuckles between the arms would interfere with PTO.

When you say you are bending the ears out,
how are you attaching the blower to your tractor,
are you using a pin that goes thru both mounting holes with your lift arm sandwiched in between?
or have you mounted pins on to slid your lift arms over?
Using full length pins I would be surprised at the outer ears bending.
As has been mentioned using long bolts to go thru both mounting holes would work,
use bolts long enough that all the threads are outside of the yoke area with a couple of flat washers to allow the nuts to be tightened.

 

[Reb954]

This was a stupid idea and didn't come close to working.

To me the idea made sense, apply the force against the inner flange where the most strength is. What did you do to try out the theory?

If the turnbuckles are adjusted so the lift arms just touch the inner flange on the blower that will keep the side pressure off the outer blower flanges. It can't help but make a difference but it will apply a lot of pressure against the turnbuckles trying to push the arms out. Are the turnbuckles bent or bowing under the pressure?

I think we need some pictures of your setup to be able to help. There has to be something else here we aren't seeing.

 

[Reb954]

View attachment 630060View attachment 630061

Pictures are not of my tractor but show the blower and 3-pt hitch. To me, it seems the ears are poorly designed and weak, but Woods sells a lot of blowers so I can't imagine I'm the only one who has seen this.
Chain and turnbuckles between the arms would interfere with PTO.

I just looked at your pictures again, there appears to be chain links at the ends of the turnbuckles. With the chain links you won't be able to hold the arms in so bolts are about the only option that I can see short of replacing the turnbuckles for something that is more solid. Set the bolts up like Lou described and you should be fine. Use lock nuts or double nut the bolts, I would tend to double nut so I don't have to fight a lock nut over a long thread.

 

[Kwehme09]

To me the idea made sense, apply the force against the inner flange where the most strength is. What did you do to try out the theory?

If the turnbuckles are adjusted so the lift arms just touch the inner flange on the blower that will keep the side pressure off the outer blower flanges. It can't help but make a difference but it will apply a lot of pressure against the turnbuckles trying to push the arms out. Are the turnbuckles bent or bowing under the pressure?

I think we need some pictures of your setup to be able to help. There has to be something else here we aren't seeing.

Not a great picture, but its something. CAT 1 to Cat 1, don't notice it binding anywhere. MIGHT be able to put tension between the two arms and not interfere with the PTO, but that makes me a little nervous. I'm considering bolts, but that seems like a PIA, and I still feel like I'm missing something. I SHOULDN'T be needing to mod. this setup, but its becoming clear I might need to.