3-Point Hitch Anyone else bend a 3pt. hitch arm?

[Texan4Life]

I'm just curious as I bent one two days ago. I really wish I would have taken a picture of it bent but I didn't think of it until I straighted it back out.

What was I doing you wonder?

Well I was using the rear blade on the box blade to push a tiny little 3 inch stump out of the ground. I figured it was no match for the tractor so when I was about 6 inches to a foot off center of the blade I figured no biggie. Well I backed up nice and slow, the tires dug in, and then I had the bright idea to lift up a little on the hitch as it had a good bite on the stump. And then it turn the arm into a pretzel. Of course I felt like a moron the second this happened and that I should have known better. I Guess I'm to used to our IH Hydro 70.

Good thing was it only bent the straight part of the arm so I put it in our shop press and flattened it back out. But during the flattening it cracked

So now I get our harbor freight arc welder and put my 5 hours of self taught welding skills to use. And considering, it turned out pretty good. The crack was just half of the arm from the hole to the top of the arm

 

[YanmarFever]

I think you are lucky that the tractor didnt flip over backwards.

 

[jpm]

i bent mine on my old 2810 by pulling a tree with my logging winch offside instead of dead centre.heated it up with the torch nice-n-red and it was good

 

[tydp]

I think you are lucky that the tractor didnt flip over backwards.

OMG - The sky is falling!

 

[RedRiver]

I've seen very few bent, most of the time it bends the stabilizer arm and not the actual lift arm. Everyone of these I've seen bent were doing the same thing as you were, pushing something with a box blade in reverse.

 

[SPYDERLK]

I'm just curious as I bent one two days ago. I really wish I would have taken a picture of it bent but I didn't think of it until I straighted it back out.

What was I doing you wonder?

Well I was using the rear blade on the box blade to push a tiny little 3 inch stump out of the ground. I figured it was no match for the tractor so when I was about 6 inches to a foot off center of the blade I figured no biggie. Well I backed up nice and slow, the tires dug in, and then I had the bright idea to lift up a little on the hitch as it had a good bite on the stump. And then it turn the arm into a pretzel. Of course I felt like a moron the second this happened and that I should have known better. I Guess I'm to used to our IH Hydro 70.

Good thing was it only bent the straight part of the arm so I put it in our shop press and flattened it back out. But during the flattening it cracked

So now I get our harbor freight arc welder and put my 5 hours of self taught welding skills to use. And considering, it turned out pretty good. The crack was just half of the arm from the hole to the top of the arm

Thanks for posting with the good pics. I had been hearing about this on the strap iron vs tubular formed arms and worrying about it on my newer tractors. My old JD is square tubular and it has proven aptly suited to the tractor.
The way your arms are shaped with that accentuated bend on the end really concentrates bending stresses on the straight part of the arm. Add the needed pin holes and the issue becomes acute. Maybe there is a way for you to reinforce - otherwise youll be forced to back off. - - A needless imposition to accommodate a design unsuited to the reasonably expected use. - The arms on mine have thicker strapping and are straight with just little crooks on the end. A better situation - but good enuf???

larry​

 

[3RRL]

I bent mine doing the same thing, but wanted to do it since it is a valuable method to use. Probably under used by most guys since this could be the result for any brand tractor.

I welded a heavy flat piece 3/4" x 3" along the length of the bottom of mine to reinforce it so I could use it in that manner. Actually used some old scarifiers that followed the bend in the arm a ways. It's like an upside down "T" now. The connection of the 3pt arm at the tractor is still stronger since the wheels will spin first under full reverse pressure without damage. I haven't bent either since and I can use the boxblade efficiently in both directions now.

 

[BigTy]

popping a tree stump out of the ground isn't typical of box blade work in reverse, either. that work is best left to the FEL, where the force can be absorbed by the loader arms, and the "meat" of the tractor, rather than a small piece of metal. might help to take 2 seconds to turn around and attack that pesky stump from the front, then use your box blade to smooth out what you just tore up.

 

[YanmarFever]

OMG - The sky is falling!

If the machine would of flipped backwards the sky would be falling for him.

tydp if I want your smart a.. opinion I will ask for it, this guy could of been seriously hurt.

 

[Texan4Life]

Thanks for posting with the good pics. I had been hearing about this on the strap iron vs tubular formed arms and worrying about it on my newer tractors. My old JD is square tubular and it has proven aptly suited to the tractor.
The way your arms are shaped with that accentuated bend on the end really concentrates bending stresses on the straight part of the arm. Add the needed pin holes and the issue becomes acute. Maybe there is a way for you to reinforce - otherwise youll be forced to back off. - - A needless imposition to accommodate a design unsuited to the reasonably expected use. - The arms on mine have thicker strapping and are straight with just little crooks on the end. A better situation - but good enuf???

larry​

Yeah if this weld doesn't hold or it bends again, I was thinking of reinforcing with some angle iron. But I don't think it will since I won't be pushing with it anymore.