3-Point Hitch Bent 2538 hitch arm

[raptor0690]

I bent one of my hitch arms using the box blade today. Does anyone know if there is an upgrade kit available? Just considering my options. Telescoping ones would be nice. Makes me wonder about the quality of the steel, I never bent one on my old Ferguson. Many years of hard use and never a problem like this. Love the 2538, so far this is my only issue.

 

[RNeumann]

I’d be afraid of an “upgrade” as something else may bend or break. I’ve never heard of this so I’m wondering if it had a weak spot or it had man vs immovable object moment.....

 

[RNeumann]

I do believe the arms are somewhat of a generic item. I think they can be had a local tractor store or online. I don’t think it’s a dealer only item. Just verify length and pin dia.

 

[raptor0690]

Nice and slow in low range reverse. Hung up on something, didn't even notice it bent till I got off to re-fuel. Its bent pretty good.

 

[RNeumann]

Yah bummer! I was looking at changing my box angle at one point and researched different length arms. It was awhile ago but something like 22” eye to eye sounds familiar. My local store had them in stock.....back shelf, down low, covered in dust! Also saw them online

 

[raptor0690]

Just got off the phone with bills tractor, they want $301, for one arm. What a RIP off. I'll be looking for other options.

 

[rcrupper]

I made my own out of square tubing, 2 different sizes, one inside of the other and holes to adjust... don't have pics as I sold my 3215 but worked well....

 

[raptor0690]

I thought about straightening it out and reinforcing it a little. I'll prob do that. However I have the local dealer getting me trade in and quote on a new 3550. The 2538 is good so far for most things, but a little light for some of what I'm clearing out. I'd hate to break something more expensive or bend the loader. I like that it's not too heavy for finish mowing on softer ground. I have some thinking to do...

 

[CincyFlyer]

I thought about straightening it out and reinforcing it a little. I'll prob do that. However I have the local dealer getting me trade in and quote on a new 3550. The 2538 is good so far for most things, but a little light for some of what I'm clearing out. I'd hate to break something more expensive or bend the loader. I like that it's not too heavy for finish mowing on softer ground. I have some thinking to do...

Just remember that a 3-point hitch was originally designed for pulling only.

 

[tbzep]

I thought about straightening it out and reinforcing it a little. I'll prob do that. However I have the local dealer getting me trade in and quote on a new 3550. The 2538 is good so far for most things, but a little light for some of what I'm clearing out. I'd hate to break something more expensive or bend the loader. I like that it's not too heavy for finish mowing on softer ground. I have some thinking to do...

The 3550 will get you about 1400 more lbs of beef, but without looking at your 2538, I don't know how much of that beef is in the hitch. It is a category 2 where yours is just category 1.

 

[Oldoak]

I thought about straightening it out and reinforcing it a little. I'll prob do that. However I have the local dealer getting me trade in and quote on a new 3550. The 2538 is good so far for most things, but a little light for some of what I'm clearing out. I'd hate to break something more expensive or bend the loader. I like that it's not too heavy for finish mowing on softer ground. I have some thinking to do...

Yep, when it comes to tractor sizing, there are always compromises to be made.

Also what CincyFlyer stated about 3-pt hitches is the first thing that came to my mind even though I think we all do more than our far share of pushing with various implements attached to them. I know I do more heavy pushing than I should with my back blade. Today's tractors are not over built like the tractors of yesteryear!

 

[raptor0690]

Ya I'm guilty of working them "hard" that's for sure, but that's exactly why I bought them! The older ones were built better, no doubt. I can honestly say I work my 2538 pretty hard ( prob harder than a lot of users) but not as hard as some older tractors I've had (at least so far). Never abuse it and always maintain it. I was surprised the hitch arm bent. I've pushed harder with older tractors many times without this issue. The hitch on the 3550 is still called a "category 1" hitch, but it has cat 1 & 2 hookups. However its definitely heavier duty. Still waiting to hear from the dealer on the 3550, the salesman is pretty good but slow and doesn't seem overly motivated. I like the dealership overall. But they don't seem like they are in a hurry to make another sale. If I was the salesman I would be writing my best deal as fast as possible while the customer is still mad at his old tractor for breaking down.

 

[Oldoak]

If I was the salesman I would be writing my best deal as fast as possible while the customer is still mad at his old tractor for breaking down.

Funny you should mention that.

Just about two weeks ago, I visited a couple of dealerships to order a new Kubota tractor. The one dealership I visited in the morning, the owner said he would have a quote for me later that day. Sure enough, mid afternoon, I received a call from him and said he just sent me an e-mail with his detailed quote. Which turned out was acceptable to me. I placed that order with him that same day and that tractor is now sitting as his dealership waiting for the FEL to arrive. (Timberline Lawn & RV)

Oh, the other dealership I had visited days before going to Timberline, I have yet to hear from them with a quote.

 

[Deere Dude]

A new tractor is so much better than a new arm.

Just in case you want to fix your arm, I bent one on my JD pushing with a dirt scoop. I straightened it out with a log splitter and worked quite well and was very acceptable;

Our old tractors didn't seem to bend arms as easy and I think being non 4WD may be a factor. That seems to be why we bend those easier today.

 

[raptor0690]

Ya I think the 4wd has a lot to do with it. For its size the 2538 is fairly heavy, and in 4 low, it simply won't stop digging and pushing. Got a call from the dealer. He really likes those 3550's his best deal is 36k, for PST, open station. I thought those were coming down to match the 2555 prices. I think I can do better somewhere else if i decide to change tractors.

 

[brenstar]

I had the same exact thing happen to my tractor which is a 2545. The arm bent up like a banana.

I used a torch and heated it up and beat on it until I had it flat again. It took a lot of heating and a lot of beating to get it straight, but you cannot tell now.

Definitely need to be careful with these lighter tractors when pushing with the box.

I was thinking about beefing up the arm when I had it off, but after looking at everything else under there, I decided to leave it. I would much rather bend that arm and have a 1 hour repair than break some of the cast parts that it is attached to.

 

[tbzep]

My 8N is beefed up with a 1/2" thick 2" wide piece of steel welded under the bottom to make an inverted "T". The balls and pins will fail long before those arms will get bent. I've twisted up a few fairly heavy solid stabilizer bars without damaging the lift arms at all. Without walking out and looking at my 3550, something like that might could be welded most of the length up to the extendable ball assembly, but the flimsy adjustable stabilizers are still going to be a weak point.