62D front draft arm problem.

[PCABE5]

I had this happen to mine once. My wife was mowing and came walking back saying something happened and when I went down the whole front draft arm was behind the tractor. The pin popped out. I could not figure out why but when I put it back on I bent the arm the pin is mounted to to make it snug and I have not had it happen again. Dealer here said that they had never heard of this either. Lucky for me that the front arms never got caught in the blades.

 

[2Malamutes]

I ended up making a 3/8" thick bushing to put on the side opposite the pin. I suppose it would have been just as easy to bend the arm, but the bushing really tightens everything up without having to bend the arm. With the bushing painted with JD black, the dealer thought it looked like it came that way from the factory.

 

[PCABE5]

If you looked at mine you really cannot tell that there is an angle as it is ever so slight. I do like the bushing idea. Next time I run to the farm store I will have to pick one up or cut one from some I have. If nothing else it is the pease of mind that it will not work its way back out. Looking at mine the pin goes thru the hole about 3/8" but I see where the side to side movement on the swivel mount could work the pin out.

I thought I was the only one that happened too, not that I am glad it happened to you. Also surprised your dealer said the same thing. I could only imagine what would have broken had that arm went into the blades. Scared the heck out of my wife as the deck wedged and stopped the tractor and lucky that nothing bent or broke.

Thanks for the bushing idea.

 

[bz1]

After reading this I looked at my front draft arm and I can see that if the flimsy piece of strap iron that the locking pin mounts on was to get bent toward the center of the tractor the locking pin would engage less and might pop out. I think I'm just going to drill a hole through the end of the pin and use a hitch pin to lock it in place. If you always install the hitch pin there is no way the locking pin can disengage. It would be a disaster to lose those draft arms and have them go under the mower.