Bent stabilizer. Convert to ball bushing stabilizer?

[nova3930]

Like others I managed to bind up the stabilizer on my Boomer 50/R4047 and bend it.

Digging through the parts list, it appears as if there's 2 different styles of stabilizer. There's a "pin and plate" like what I've got (and it seems like what most people have) and then there's a "pin and ball bushing" style. It seems as if the ball bushing style would be less likely to bind up and bend.

Has anyone converted theirs over from plate to ball bushing? If not I might be the ye olde guinea pig....

 

[RKJeepXJ]

I vote you be the guinea pig.........because I'm going to probably bend one eventually and I want to know if it works!

 

[oldtoyboyd]

Here is a pic of the links on my old Mahindra

I abuse it at deer camp and never have a link problem.
The first time I took my R4047 to camp, I broke a link with my bushhog on the back.
I am thinking of altering mine to accept the Mahindra style links.

 

[nova3930]

Here is a pic of the links on my old Mahindra

I abuse it at deer camp and never have a link problem.
The first time I took my R4047 to camp, I broke a link with my bushhog on the back.
I am thinking of altering mine to accept the Mahindra style links.

See I managed to bend mine just using the flail mower. Not really doing anything I'd consider hard work. It smells of a bad design. Makes me think the ball bushing version is an improved design....

Looking here

Object moved

Well, link isn't working but it's section 37.120.06

Looking at the hardware and available dimensions I'd swear you could just by item #3 and it would work with all the other existing parts.

Incidentally, funny seeing someone from Leesburg. My wife is originally from Carthage and we've both got family in the Leesburg/Pelahatchie. Small world....

 

[oldtoyboyd]

The ball mount might solve some of the problem, but the actually adjustable bars are way under sized.
That is why I am going with the ones on my Mahindra, they are stout.

 

[nova3930]

The ball mount might solve some of the problem, but the actually adjustable bars are way under sized.
That is why I am going with the ones on my Mahindra, they are stout.

Undersized and the fact that it's a piece of flat bar and not a piece of tubing. Flat is not very strong compared to the square tubing on the Mahindra design...

 

[ozley]

This is what's on the 5030 I wonder if they would fit.

 

[GManBart]

I bent a stabilizer, but it was because I bounced a mower off a stump.

Many people wind up bending this style because they leave too much play in them...once that weight starts moving, something is going to give. Ideally, the side load is split somewhat between both stabilizers, but that requires limiting the play they have in them. If they're too loose, the entire load is placed on one side, and the link moves more (out of position) which makes it even more susceptible to bending.

I beat mine pretty good with a 1,400lb counterweight out back, and didn't have any problems....that tells me the design can't be all that bad. In fact, I ordered a replacement set of stabilizers, but took the bent one, cut out the bend, welded it back together, and it lived another 100+ hours before I sold the tractor....kept the stabilizers taught, and never had a problem. I figured the welded one was going to fail, but it never did.

 

[nova3930]

It's possible I had mine too loose but I thought I had them tight. I know a fella that blacksmiths. Has a power hammer, oil bath, etc etc. Before I buy any parts I'm gonna give him a crack at repairing my bent one....

 

[oldtoyboyd]

I keep mine as tight as I can on my implements since I broke the first one.
They are still bent slightly again, but haven't broke again.
Gonna have to make them stronger this winter.

 

[95d1]

I broke both of mine and replaced the inner bar with 1/2" flat bar and drilled new holes in it. The metal they used was cheap. This should last longer but the heim joint is the way to go.

 

[Maxify55]

Broke mine, as well. I forget how my old tan mar was hitched. I'll go next door and check it out. Neighbor bought it. As the trade in is just horrid on Grays.

It won't be long till I break off the new ones.
However, they don't look as chincy as the OEMs.

 

[gphil12873]

I bent mine yesterday the little piece of flat bar where it pins to the tractor. That dont look like a very good design. I was being gentle thinking about bending one while I was discing..bent both of them. They look small for the tractor.

 

[nova3930]

Welp, I went gung ho cutting yesterday and managed to finish breaking my stabilizer. Got 2 of the ball bushing stabilizers on order so we'll see how they work....

 

[RKJeepXJ]

Post pics of them when you get them please.

 

[nova3930]

Parts are in. Hope to get them installed this weekend.

 

[nova3930]

More information at hand now. I can confirm that the ball bushing part will fit the other half of the existing stabilizer. It will not however fit to the tractor. The ID of the bushing is too small to fit the existing pins on the tractor as well as the existing pins being too short.

Have to look at the tractor itself tonight to see but I think you can swap in the pin plate that goes with the ball bushing part. It bolts onto the ROPS in a different manner than the original, but they only list one ROPS so I can't imagine it wouldn't fit.

 

[RKJeepXJ]

If the exploded parts diagram is accurate it looks like the ball mount pin bolts up completely differently. Might have to custom fab something. Weld a u shaped plate on the current mount and use a thru pin to put it in double shear?

 

[nova3930]

If the exploded parts diagram is accurate it looks like the ball mount pin bolts up completely differently. Might have to custom fab something. Weld a u shaped plate on the current mount and use a thru pin to put it in double shear?

Looking at the tractor, the original plate mounts to the back of the axle housing while the ball bushing plate appears to mount to the bottom. From all appearances it might be easier to just fab up a whole new plate compared to anything else.

Even better idea. If I can find a bolt on pin, I could just cut the original pin off, drill it out and put in the new pin to fit. Just use the chop saw and drill press, wouldn't even have to bust out the torch and welder.

 

[Xfaxman]

Keep in mind if you fab a new plate, the pivot hole has to be directly in line with the pivot point of the lift arm.

If it not the stabilizers will bind when the lift arms go up, preventing them from going all the way up.

Note the white arrows added below.