adjusting 3pt lift arm turnbuckles etc

jimg · Jun 30, 2003

Just got my TC24D and have some questions/comments about the 3pt hitch setup. The tractor was delivered with the mower attached. I made the assumption (incorrectly I believe) that it was ready to use. Actually I think it was mostly ready.

Anyway...once I started mowing I decided some areas would be best attacked by backing into them. When I tryed this there was some sway to the mower and if not careful the mower would run back and forth being very difficult to control. With some practice I managed to keep the sway to a minimum. Later, after some reflection and observation of the hitch, I concluded that the stabilizer turnbuckles werent tight enough to prevent sway. So...should they be so tight as to prevent all sway? If not how much is acceptable? It seems though sway is an expected component b/c the lift arms/top link all have ball sockets. In fact is some sway neccessary?

Before I could finish mowing I needed to move the snowblower which afforded an opportunity to test my hitching skills. My initial assumption was that the setup for the mower wouldnt work w/ the blower. This turned out not to be the case!! Everything lined up nicely. Is this common? Can a single setup be expected to accomodate most/all implements?

In hooking up the blower I found the lower hitch pins wouldnt fit thru the holes in the ball sockets of the lift arms. Comparison showed them to be ever so slightly over size. I think they're metric as the unit was made in Italy. Is this common for offshore implements to come with metric pins? It turned out not to be a problem since the mower pins fit.
In fact my dealer will drop off a new set of pins.

Finally, I was surprised how easy it was to hook up to the 3pt. In fact it was trivial. Before I got my tractor I was thinking along the lines of quick hitches and aftermarket telescoping arms. Now Im thinking I wont really need them.

jimg

MLB · Jun 30, 2003

Doesn't yours have telescoping arms? My 33D does. Thought it was part of the D package?
I'm with you though, with those and the threaded top link it takes about a minute to hook up. Sure can't see spending 1,000.00 for quick hooks.

Bird · Jun 30, 2003

Jim, I always tightened up the turnbuckles to almost take all the sway out. Of course that means you have to loosen the turnbuckles to spread the lower lift arms enough to get them onto the implement pins, then tighten them up again when you change implements (if your turnbuckles are inside the lift arms and I don't remember whether yours are inside or outside the lift arms). You may want to ask your dealer, or do just a little experimenting, because on some tractors, at least, if the front end of the lift arms and the front end of those sway bars are not on the same plane, raising the implement off the ground with the turnbuckles really tight could put too much strain on the sway bars (turnbuckles). I'm not sure I explained that very well, but maybe you'll understand what I mean. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

tdenny · Jun 30, 2003

Jimg,

It's a good thing you've become accustomed to the sway as you are not likely to be able to get ALL of it out. I would recommend tightening as much as possible though. If you allow too much sway you can end up with your lift arms rubbing on your tires. Don't ask how I know this. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

I have several attachments and some of the older ones I inherited are much smaller so I have to adjust the turnbuckles often. It's a pain but I'm used to it now.

jimg · Jun 30, 2003

Nope, the telescoping arms are only for the deluxe models in the mid/large chassis class.

jimg · Jun 30, 2003

Hi Bird,
OK...thanx for the tightening tips. THe sway arms on my rig are on the outside of the lift arm. Ill mess w/ it a bit then and see how it goes. Im not quite sure I understand what youre saying in the last bit of your reply...but let me look at the hitch and think on it. Thanx again!

jimg · Jun 30, 2003

( It's a good thing you've become accustomed to the sway as you are not likely to be able to get ALL of it out. I would recommend tightening as much as possible though.)
OK, then...I was getting used to the large amt of sway. The tendency was to over compensate which left me weaving about the yard. I quickly realized that only a little steering was needed.

( If you allow too much sway you can end up with your lift arms rubbing on your tires. Don't ask how I know this. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif)
OK...I wont...could you elaborate a bit though /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Bird · Jun 30, 2003

( not quite sure I understand what youre saying in the last bit of your reply )

Jim, on some tractors (not sure about yours), if you have the sway arms as tight as they'll go when the implement is on the ground, raising the implement may make them even tighter; i.e., may break something. In other words, the geometry changes as the implement rises. Maybe someone more familiar with your tractor model can tell you whether that happens with yours or not. Or you can hook everything up with the implement on the ground, leave just a little bit of slack and slowly raise the implement while watching to see whether the sway arms tighten as you do so.

frank_f15 · Jul 1, 2003

what i do is hook up the implement then raise it about a foot off the ground then tighten the turnbuckels so the sway is minimal, i do not take all the sway out, but don't like it moving around.