Draw bar gone

rd_macgregor · Jul 18, 2011

I just noticed this past weekend that the draw bar is missing from my DK45. It is always possible that somebody stole it, but it is more likely that it fell out while I was mowing one of the pastures or the woods trails. Are the fat pins that hold the draw bar supposed to have cotters or something to keep them from popping out?
With my luck, I'll find the draw bar with my mower.
BOB

acme97 · Jul 18, 2011

My money would be on it falling out. However, there could have been a sudden influx of drawbar Gnomes, which are known for being attracted to unattended drawbars. I heard they like to move them across the border!

I know I have to put loctite, wire or remove all the pins on my stuff to keep them from being pulled out with the stuff I have to cut. I'm always loosing pins!

Highbeam · Jul 20, 2011

Last time I mowed was for 12 hours straight. When I went to chain the tractor to the trailer I noticed the drawbar swung to one side. I had lost one of the two fat pins that are supposed to be retained by cotter pins. I decided that since I have NEVER needed to use the drawbar in 1000 hours and since I would like to keep the drawbar someplace safe just in case I someday do decide to tow a wagon, that I would remove the second pin and store the drawbar in the barn.

Oddly, I also lost one of the ROPS pins too, one of two that hold the ROPS upright. How much crap have I left in the field over the years? Too much.

5030 · Jul 20, 2011

rd_macgregor said:
I just noticed this past weekend that the draw bar is missing from my DK45. It is always possible that somebody stole it, but it is more likely that it fell out while I was mowing one of the pastures or the woods trails. Are the fat pins that hold the draw bar supposed to have cotters or something to keep them from popping out?
With my luck, I'll find the draw bar with my mower.
BOB

If you do, I'm sure you'll be on here asking for advice about rebuilding a gearbox.:laughing:

The plausible thing to do is get off your duff and go walk the area you mowed. It's a concept you know...or don't.

duckhunter27 · Jul 20, 2011

I also had trouble with grass trees etc pulling cotter pins out so i took pins out and turned up side down put cotter pin on top have not had a problem since. looks odd but works great.

IronHog · Jul 20, 2011

duckhunter27 said:
I also had trouble with grass trees etc pulling cotter pins out so i took pins out and turned up side down put cotter pin on top have not had a problem since. looks odd but works great.

We run BIG cotter keys upside down on logging rigs and for rough bushhogging.

Even then you'll lose one sometimes.

rd_macgregor · Jul 21, 2011

5030 said:
If you do, I'm sure you'll be on here asking for advice about rebuilding a gearbox.:laughing:

The plausible thing to do is get off your duff and go walk the area you mowed. It's a concept you know...or don't.

I've been walking around (wish I had a UTV!) in the evenings, but there's a lot of field (10+ ac at about 5' per pass) and trail to cover, and the grass is growing back fast! I'd try doing this on my bike, but with our hills I think I'd be in for cardiac care if I tried it!
BOB

dourobob · Jul 21, 2011

rd_macgregor said:
I've been walking around (wish I had a UTV!) in the evenings, but there's a lot of field (10+ ac at about 5' per pass) and trail to cover, and the grass is growing back fast! I'd try doing this on my bike, but with our hills I think I'd be in for cardiac care if I tried it!
BOB

Bob

Head down to one of the beautiful beaches on PEI and see if you can spot someone with one of those annoying, beeping metal detectors - offer a (small) reward for finding cash in your 10 acre field and see if the person might also come up with a drawbar, some cotter pins, and any other farm implement parts.

The folks at the beach will thank you for removing that annoying beep-beep-beep-beep from their relaxation area. (Don't ask me how I know!) and you might just get lucky :laughing:

Bob

Mousefield · Jul 21, 2011

Highbeam said:
Last time I mowed was for 12 hours straight. When I went to chain the tractor to the trailer I noticed the drawbar swung to one side. I had lost one of the two fat pins that are supposed to be retained by cotter pins. I decided that since I have NEVER needed to use the drawbar in 1000 hours and since I would like to keep the drawbar someplace safe just in case I someday do decide to tow a wagon, that I would remove the second pin and store the drawbar in the barn.

Lost one of my fat pins off the drawbar as well. Did the same as you, have never used it so put it in a safe place. So I don't forget where it is I made up a large wood box for my 3pt hitch arms and related hardware. That way I won't forget were I safely put it.

:laughing:

rd_macgregor · Jul 22, 2011

A number of years ago, one of my wife's horses kept losing expensive aluminum shoes in the pasture, so I bought a metal detector. I quickly found out that old fields are replete with metal of all sorts (old bits of wire, mostly), and the metal detector was almost useless (it beeped almost all the time!).
When I told her about the missing drawbar, my wife immediately suggested I use the metal detector to search for it; what I really need is a bunch of them mounted along a 20' sprayer boom so I don't have to cover every square foot of 12 acres of fields swinging that single unit back and forth the whole way! I'm going to continue with the visual method for a few more days...
If I find it, you can bet I'll either store it somewhere safe (and memorable!) or, at least, securely pin it in place.
BOB

johnrex62 · Jul 22, 2011

Just a thought, I watched an episode of Meteor Men where they used a magnetic array to find meteorites. Maybe you could drag a piece of plate with some strong magnets attached as you drive over the field. You might at least hear the clank as the drawbar is attracted even if the magnets might not be able to hold it.

greasemonkeyok · Jul 22, 2011

The magnetic array sounds good. Anyone know how those are built?

acme97 · Jul 22, 2011

Magnetic Sweepers : Forklift Magnet : Shieldscompany.com

Check these guys out.

Also at Northern Tools
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_25122_25122

johnrex62 · Jul 22, 2011

HF sells some retrieval magnets that are pretty cheap. A few of them stuck on a piece of iron or steel plate will create a distributed magnetic field along the plate. Drag that and it will attract any ferrous metal it comes near. The more magnets or the stronger the magnets, the stronger the field.

The Meteor Men used rare earth magnets in their drags, but they would be much more costly than the HF pieces.

Lloyd_E · Jul 25, 2011

If the grass isn't too tall...

Tooth bar:

I'd buy a 12' 2x4 or 2x6 and a bunch of 6" or 8" spikes and nail through every 6 to 8 inches and mount on lip of loader bucket and drive around with the lip about 4-6' off the ground...

rd_macgregor · Jul 26, 2011

Hmmmm. Those are great ideas and nifty suggestions, but I think a new draw bar might be cheaper than the magnet strip! I wonder if my 12' chain harrow would turn it up?
BOB

Lloyd_E · Jul 26, 2011

Didn't know you had a harrow. I would definitely try that.

Lloyd

Highbeam · Jul 27, 2011

It's not the cost of the part you lost, it's the cost of the parts you may need if you hit the lost part with a mower.

I have found that the mower deck and gearbox is extremely duarble and will likely knock that drawbar around plenty without any kind of complaints other than some racket.

Still, in a perfect storm there is some risk of damage and also a safety concern if that thing were to be launched out the back. No different than a rock really.