3-Point Hitch 3pt hitch side sway damaging tires

[jpat34721]

When I have my box scrapper attached, unless I'm on really level ground, the box moves to the low side and causes damage to the rear tires (R4s) from the side support bar coming into contact with the tread nubs. Is this normal or do I have something out of adjustment/broken?

Thanks.

 

[Reg]

At first take, my answer is YES.
There shouldn't be very much "side sway", I think 4 inches is about the max you want on large'ish tractors -depending what you have on there.

So, I suggest you check the check chains on both sides and see if you can reduce the slop.
I don't know your particular tractor, but what I am calling "check chains" are often implemented as turn-buckles, sometimes as sliding telescopic bars that you drop pins into.
If turn-buckles be sure to snug up the lock nut after adjustment.
Some lock nuts have small levers ("ears" ?) on them, so you just tap those to loosen, then tap them the other way to secure them.

 

[JD5210]

Have you adjusted the sway chains to prevent this from happening? Note do not make the sways chains, so short that when you raise the implement the chains do not allow it to go up all the way as this will damage the 3pt.

A picture of the implement on the tractor would also be helpful.

 

[amaxwell]

There should be a link or chain to adjust the sway on the outside of each arm. :thumbsup:

 

[beppington]

When I have my box scrapper attached, unless I'm on really level ground, the box moves to the low side and causes damage to the rear tires (R4s) from the side support bar coming into contact with the tread nubs. Is this normal or do I have something out of adjustment/broken?

I don't know your specific tractor's 3PH, but that should definitely not happen!

 

[grsthegreat]

it should not move AT ALL. Most tractors have either two turnbuckles or two sliding attachments to limit the sway. have you tightened these turnbuckles?

When i install 3 point items, i adjust the play to as near zero as i can get.

 

[jpat34721]

Thanks for the replies. I think the turn buckles are all the way down. I'll check tonight. Now that I know it shouldn't happen I'll spend more time trying to figure out why it's happening.

 

[beppington]

it should not move AT ALL. Most tractors have either two turnbuckles or two sliding attachments to limit the sway. have you tightened these turnbuckles?

When i install 3 point items, i adjust the play to as near zero as i can get.

I don't know about that. I think there's supposed to be a little play, so the 3PH parts don't get bound up, & bend or wear out faster. But I guess if that's the way you've been doing & no problems, then go for it!

Rather than turnbuckles, mine has a pin on each 3PH lift arm, & a series of holes to drop the pin in once the implement is set where I want it. There is no such hole, or combination of holes, that would provide super-tight, no-movement.

 

[grsthegreat]

I don't know about that. I think there's supposed to be a little play, so the 3PH parts don't get bound up, & bend or wear out faster. But I guess if that's the way you've been doing & no problems, then go for it!

Rather than turnbuckles, mine has a pin on each 3PH lift arm, & a series of holes to drop the pin in once the implement is set where I want it. There is no such hole, or combination of holes, that would provide super-tight, no-movement.

guess it depends on what your using. i broke the welds on my sprayer due to too much sway with all that weight (50 gal sprayer). was told by JD to lose all the sway to prevent damage in future. I take out nearly all sway with rotary mower and rototiller, have for 14 years, haven't broken anything since

 

[slowzuki]

Depends on the tractor. My MF and Kubota you can lock them pretty solid or let them sway depending which pins you use. The old Case and International we had just had limit chains and could sway all over.

 

[TripleR]

Agreed, it shouldn't be happening. I like a little slack in my 3-point, but whatever works for you.

 

[Reg]

Thanks for the replies. I think the turn buckles are all the way down. I'll check tonight. Now that I know it shouldn't happen I'll spend more time trying to figure out why it's happening.

It isn't clear to me what you mean by "all the way down".
???

You SHOULD be able to;
a) lift the implement off the ground with the 3 pt hitch, so that it is free to move side to side.
b) tighten the turnbuckle on the side that the implement is farthest from, i.e. pull it across towards center.
c) check by hand to see if there is still side play, my preference is "an inch or so" when raised, knowing that some implements will take that slack up as they engage into the ground.
d) check for center.
e) check for binding as you lower the 3 pt.

If all that checks be SURE to tighten the turnbuckle lock nuts so that it doesn't shift when you start to use it.

If you still get tire interference you MIGHT need to adjust your tire spacing.
I don't know exactly how to do this on your particular tractor, e.g. some small tractorlettes do not have rims that are separable from the wheel centers, so swapping rear wheels side to side while keeping their direction the same is the only way to adjust rear wheel spacing.
You finish up with the valve stems on the inside, basically you move the offset from "in" to "out".

EDIT;
Just thinking about this again, PERHAPS "all the way down" means you can't tighten them farther because the lock nuts need to be backed away ?
OK, maybe I'm trying to read too much into your wording (-:
Point is, you sometimes need to back those lock nuts off, like WAY OFF, so you can tighten the turnbuckles enough to take out the side to side slack.
Clearer, or muddier ? (-:
END EDIT

 

[JDGreenGrass]

This happened to me when I first got my tractor.

Your sway bars (that's what I call them) need to be tightened up some, leaving just an inch or 2 for sway.

There is a sway bar on each side of your 3pt hitch. Loosen them when putting an attachment on, then, adjust them to minmize the sway of the attachment.

 

[638]

Add a set of "PAT'S" quick change to your TPH arms. That will move the box blade back about 3".

 

[Marveltone]

They must be building them with real short lift arms these days. It's literally impossible to get the box blade anywhere near the rear tires on my 26 yr-old Ford. The arms can rub if I spread them enough, but not the implement.

Joe