BX2350 MMM & 3 Pt. Hitch

[DEERFIELD]

This one has me stumped...

What is the reason the 3 Point Hitch raises and lowers when I lower the 60" MMM?

Dealer claims this is normal-but unless I'm missing something the reason and operational advantage elude me.

Is this necessary-and if not-is there a suggestion to isolate the MMM raising and lowering from the 3 Pt. Hitch?

 

[Zick]

There is a lock for the 3pt hitch so that it does not lower. It's on the speed control knob for the 3pt hitch that is located next to the height knob for the MMM. If you turn the knob all the way one way (can't remember which way) it will lock the 3pt.

Also, you can reverse it and lock your MMM with the height knob set to the lock position and then you can raise/lower the 3pt without affecting the MMM.

Unless you have something on your 3pt, I never lock mine when I'm using the MMM. I just let it do it's thing.

 

[CHDinCT]

Deerfield,

The basic reason they work together is that they're both on the same hydraulic circuit. To put them on separate circuits, or add some type of diverter valve so you could operate them independently would add cost to the BX. Very few tractors in this class allow independent operation of the MMM and 3PH (I think Deere offers a diverter valve kit for the 2305).

You can operate the 3PH without the MMM lowering or raising by raising the MMM all the way up and dialing the heigh adjustment knob to "TOP" - that locks it there. As far as I understand, if you turn the 3PH lock out knob to close as Zick suggests, you'll also lock out movement of the MMM.

If I'm wrong on this, or anything else, one of the tractor elders here will surely rectify it

 

[Firefighter Kubota]

The linkage that raise and lower the mower rest on the arms of the 3 pt hitch. Look at the pivot points of the 3 point and there should be 2 tabs from the mower linkage that rest on top of the 3 point lift bars.

unless they did something radically different with the 2330 from other tractors

 

[Killer_B]

The 3PH actually does the lifting of your mower deck via some mechanical linkage.

KB

 

[BXpanded]

If you want to hold the MMM up while lowering the 3 pt, dial the cutting level knob to "TOP". As CHDin CT mentioned earlier that stops the MMM from going down.

If you want the 3 pt to stay up, you can disconnect the lift links from the top lift arms and attach to those 2 strange brackets with holes in them that are located on the back of your tractor. (That's actually what they are for. They really aren't lifting rings.)

 

[CHDinCT]

If you want the 3 pt to stay up, you can disconnect the lift links from the top lift arms and attach to those 2 strange brackets with holes in them that are located on the back of your tractor. (That's actually what they are for. They really aren't lifting rings.)

Forgot that one - if you absolutely, positively have to keep the 3PH from moving while mowing, that's the ticket

 

[nh DRAGON]

Other members even chain the tph up while they mow.

 

[LBrown59]

Forgot that one - if you absolutely, positively have to keep the 3PH from moving while mowing, that's the ticket

I tried that with my bx1500 .
Didn't care for it as it did not seem to keep the arms up all that much higher then in their lowest position

 

[DEERFIELD]

Thanks to all for the replies. I remain stumped for the following reason.

I've decided to take the plunge on a Trac-Vac 662 system to collect grass clippings and leaves.

Discussions/conversations with Trac-Vac dealer indicate I should "lock out the 3 point hitch on the mower." Doing so, IMO, would reduce the effectiveness of the MMM in conjunction with the Trac-Vac and eliminate any possibility of adjusting the cutting height for maximum effective debris collection.

Review of the several threads on TBN where the Trac-Vac is mentioned (including several photographs) do not include mention of whether it is necessary to raise or lower the Trac-Vac via the 3 pt. hitch or if the Trac-Vac remains in a permanentlly fixed position while retaining the ability to raise and lower the MMM.

Any info/thoughts would be appreciated.