Drawbar limits

[Steve_Miller]

I was wondering what the drawbar weight restrictions would be on any given tractor as I have never seen this listed for any tractor. I mean the fixed drawbar that slides in and out of the pocket that you can put a trailer ball on. I have broken mine off twice now, I know your probably wondering how but its just from towing my trailer overloaded on the hitch and then driving over rough terrain besides, also I have a drag I use for leveling my driveway that I put on roughly 500 to 800lbs of weigh to dig in and level potholes. I only do this when the driveway is wet as it is much easier to grade.

Just Curious
Steve

 

[AndyMA]

Steve

Just what actually did you break? The drawbar, the "pocket" as you call it, the bolts, or the tractor casing. On my Ford 2120, adn NH TN, they are so massive I'd hate to see the load it took to break them. The attaching bolts I think would be the weakest point.

Andy

 

[frank_f15]

SEEMS to me the tractor should refuse to pull a load big enough to BREAK a drawbar. not sure i understad just what broke.

 

[Steve_Miller]

I don't have picture posting capabilities so I'll try to explain. The pocket is bolted underneath to the rear end housing and it is also attached to the rod that the holds the three point hitch on. It keeps breaking just between where it bolts on and where the rod goes through. The one piece remains attached to the rear end housing and the drawbar then dangles while still attached to the rod. The last time it broke I took it into our machine shop at work and fixed it while it was still on the tractor. I got it lined up so that when the bolt holes were lined up and there was no tension on the rod holes. Hope you can picture this.

Steve

 

[5030]

We'd all probably get a better prospective if you told us what kind of tractor it is. Every manufacturer mounts their drawbars differently. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[Steve_Miller]

Its a Kubota B7200DT, its in my profile along with evrything I own or have made.

Thanks Steve

 

[Soundguy]

If I were breaking drawbars alot by pulling an overloaded wagon.. I think i would devise a 3pt receiver hitch setup... Either that.. or make sure I have a spare rear end laying around for when it finally tears the bottom of the case out... /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Soundguy

 

[AndyMA]

Soundguy

I couldn't agree with you more. If I ever ripped the drawbar off either the 2120 or the TN, I expect about the last 2 sections of the rear end and case would go with it. I think the load being pulled "over rough terrain" is just way too much. A bigger tractor is in order. Be careful that when the wagon separates, the tongue doesn't take you out from the rear.

Andy

 

[5030]

Oh. Kubota. Well then, you need to make some changes. Andy and Soundguy are right. Eventually, you will break the rear case. Drawbar capacities are based on what they call the "Iowa Standard". That is what the manufacturers base the breaking strength on. Kubota lists the drawbar capacities in the Owners manual, but you can get a more accurate figure from a dealer or by calling one of the Kubota regional offices like the one in Columbus, Ohio.

By the rod, I presume you mean the sway control links.

 

[RonL]

Steve

Is there any articulation in the connection or is the drawbar taking the entire weight of the trailer when you go over uneven ground?

RonL

 

[Steve_Miller]

The drawbar is taking all the weight all of the time. When its breaks it doesn't flip up (or it hasn't yet as it is usually held down with the weight of the trailer) it can't because of where it breaks. I wish I had picture posting and I could show you why it is breaking (at least why I think it is breaking). The way it is set up there is metal fatigue and usually breaks every four to years.

Steve

 

[5030]

Most drawbars are adjustable. On every kubota I have had, there are at least 3 positions. You don't have it in the outermost position?

 

[Steve_Miller]

Do you mean that there are three different holes in the drawbar? If so mine only has one hole.

Steve

 

[5030]

The factory drawbar has more than one position. All my past 5 Kubotas had numerous positions. The 5030 (present) unit has 3 positions. if you are running the drawbar fully extended, you are playing with fire as to breaking the rear case, especially with a heavy load on the end of the drawbar.

Drawbars have to be adjustable anyway. Different implements (pto driven) require different piviot points in relation to their fixed driveline angles. You have to be able to move the drawbar in or out to compensate for that angle.

 

[L3710GV]

Yes I would say you're playing with fire also--from first hand experience. The 1st of the year I was moving some firewood on a trailer connected to my L3710 kubota, the trailer was way overloaded (wood was wet) and I had 3 people helping load the wood, so we decided to ride the passengers 1 on tractor 2 on front of trailer to help unload the wood, I was pulling the trailer super slow (low range apx 3 mph) because of all the weight and passengers, on a smooth surface--suddenly the trailer disconected from the ball on the draw bar and the trailer tongue slid under the tractor closing the distance up inbetween tractor and front of trailer where my wife was sitting--she got impaled on the three point arm that was up to clear trailer tongue. Instant Disaster-life flight was there in five minutes-bar had pushed completly thru her upper leg-luckily missing the main vein and bone-but very huge wound-4 months later shes almost OK---BIG lesson learned ---

 

[KiotiJohn]

So sorry to hear about your wife's injuries. I'm happy for you both that she's recovering. These things happen every day and it's easy to think you're being careful enough. One just never knows what can happen and how quickly. Happy Easter all, John

 

[ljh2]

Steve,
I'd guess that in terms of 'draw' capabilities, the drawbar should support a pulling force greater than the power/traction abilities of the tractor. However, the drawbar on a tractor is NOT designed to support significant tongue weight.

If you wish to pull a trailer that has significant tounge weight, you might want to consider a 3pt receiver hitch. With the 3pt receiver, be careful how high you carry the load since height above the axle will create a dangerous flipping force. You should be sure to adquately ballast the front of the tractor when carrying a load on the 3pt.

 

[Phred]

Steve,

I would just say that one has to be very careful with a dump trailer and a tractor.

I have a much larger tractor and when I fill my dump trailer with gravel or wet dirt its a load.

I my case the draw bar weighs about 50 lbs and is more than 2" thick so I don't think I will break it. The trailer would likely break first.
The big worry, IMHO is the trailer pushing you and the tractor down a hill.

Fred

 

[Soundguy]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( my case the draw bar weighs about 50 lbs and is more than 2" thick so I don't think I will break it. The trailer would likely break first.
)</font>

I would be more worried about what the drawbar bolts to, and IT breaking.. rather than the drawbar breaking.

On my NH 1920.. the drawbar is about 1.25 inch steel.. cold rolled... From looking at its mount to the cast iron diffy.. I would guess the diffy isn't 1.25" thick in that area.. in other words.. the drawbar is NOT the weak link here..

On the old 50's era ford tractors with under diffy mounts too.. it is not uncommon to see the bottom 4" of the diffy welded or brazed back on after something has snatched the drawbar mount and bottom of the diffy right off the tractor...

Soundguy

 

[5030]

Soundguy:

That was discussed in a not to long ago thread. Kubota mounts theirs to the "diffy" case too. I imagine that the "diffy" could get very "iffy" in a "jiffy". cast iron doesn't have the elongation characteristics that rolled steel has. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif