Failed Stabilizer bars

[Sublifer]

One of the things missing out of the other thread was what model tractor you lost your stabilizer bars on and rather than tack it onto the end of that I thought I'd start a new thread.

My R4047 has had 4 stabilizer bar failures.

Two on the right snapped in half, the internal bar that is. At one of those points it must have damaged the left. It took some time to notice, but the part that slips over the pin was bent into a curve instead of flat. This actually may have been the first problem or happened with the first broken right one. I think the extra slop it induced may have led to the other failures. The 4th and final one was another right bar, the internal bar got bent upwards to nearly 45 degrees after pushing backwards with my boxblade.

I had been told that none of the pulling or pushing force is supposed to transfer to these bars but in order to get anything like that the setup would be so loose and floppy that they wouldn't serve the purpose of keeping implements out of tires. I think the extra pivot joints added to these might be part of the problem as well.

 

[Short Game]

I think the extra pivot joints added to these might be part of the problem as well.

Those certainly make getting them tight a challenge. I try to pull them as straight as possible before putting in the pins, while pulling the arm to me. I get them pretty tight. I've bent one once, early on, and I try to be as careful of banging the implement into stuff as at all possible. All I know is, straining and struggling to get them tight is a real test of my bad fifth lumbar. Doing that operation could easily end my work day for me.

All that said, would I prefer turnbuckles? No. Just as much of a pain in the lower back, messing with wrenches and locking nuts and turning the tubes. I change implements a lot. I would just feel better if the links were a little beefier. Like I said on the old thread, when these break, I'll build the new and improved version to replace them.

 

[Sublifer]

Short Game, what model tractor was that of yours?

 

[Short Game]

Short Game, what model tractor was that of yours?

2010 R4010.

 

[Taylortractornut]

Dads I 3040 has the same problems Even had a new set of the internal sliders made. Dealer says its from back blading with the box. Dad never had this trouble with any other tractor he owned before. I may buy a set of stabilizers from Kubota THey are tough dad had a 3130 with the big boxed stabilisers and no problems. I may make some sliders from some T1 in the mill a in a few days.

These have even bent with the finish mower attached.

 

[Willl]

after pushing backwards with my boxblade.

3pt setups are designed to pull, not push.

 

[hodge]

I make stabilizers for small kubota's, since Kubota doesn't. I found a real difference in performance of cold versus hot rolled steel- the inside rods could be hot, which doesn't have as much tensile strength.
Also, I think that within the system of the 3 pt hitch, if something is going to give, that bar is probably the simplest and cheapest to replace.
Are you bending them when you are backblading, and the blade rides up real high? I had a customer bend a set that I made, doing that with a bushhog- he admitted to it. It could be that there is a design limit that is being pushed.

 

[jlukem]

I too would prefer chains and turnbuckles versus the adjustable bars.

On my Mahindra I've broken both with the landscape rake due to the pushing and bending of the inner bar. Mine are now rewelded and I take care to make sure they are pulled on, not pushed on by keeping them tightly pinned.

-Luke

 

[Taylortractornut]

This was very light rear pushing, Ive owned several tractors and never hurt them back blading. We dont bulldoze with them just things like distributing the last of a little windrow. THe majority of the damage was from angling our landscape rake. The factory stabilizers a really soft I bent one by hand in a vice .

 

[Willl]

Are they being bent by compression ?

I mean they can only be under compression or tension ? correct ?

 

[Short Game]

Are they being bent by compression ?

I mean they can only be under compression or tension ? correct ?

They would break under tension, or bend under compression. The compression and tension result from lateral movement of the connected implement and the 3PH arms. Lateral motion, in order to be forceful enough to do damage, would most likely be either from swinging weight, or a deflecting force from an encountered object or load.

One stabilizer will be under tension when the other is in compression. The one under tension should limit the lateral travel enough to prevent the one in compression from exceeding the side play of its wrist-like end clevises. Bending would suggest that stabilizer bars are set too loose, allowing too much travel in the direction of compression.

If pushing straight backwards with the box blade, and if the stabilizers are set up tight with the blade well centered, I would think one could push a pretty major load, as the forces should be almost all applied as compression to the arms. I have used my box blade this way and pushed max loads of dirt. When I have broken or bent stabilizers, it's been from being set up too loose, or from a deflection of the implement by hitting a stump or something immovable. The one in tension breaks and allows the one in compression to be bent. If one is bent, while the other hasn't broken, I'd call it evidence of being set up too loose.

 

[Sublifer]

I broke mine all in different scenarios. First while discing, it was a rough patch and first time through it. Snagged roots or clay... Should not have broken. Second one was while box blading. Yes I hit a stump but hitting one stump or even 20 for that matter shouldn't break a stabilizer bar. It is a 47hp tractor...it is meant to do work and take some force and abuse. It is not a $10 toy... The third was from back blading and got bent instead of broken like the first two. Yes it probably was set way too loose. My tractor dealer was insisting that I had them set too tight and was why I was breaking them so I had it set more loose than I thought was right. If you look in your manual it says that it should be set with between 20 and 40 mm. That is not very much slack.
No, 3ph is not primarily for backwards pressure but it is part of their usage scenario. Bush hogs are meant to be backed into tighter spaces and box blades are meant for back blading or they wouldn't waste money on the back side blade.

 

[Short Game]

So, were you a lifer on a sub?

 

[rocknrod]

So, were you a lifer on a sub?

I asked the same question in the past.

 

[Short Game]

So Rod, did you wear the fish?

 

[Sublifer]

Nope, wasn't on a sub. Marine Corps actually. Name came from subway and lifesavers as I was trying to find a unique online handle the second time I was going into chatrooms.

 

[Gary Fowler]

This must be just a CUT problem. I have hit trees hard enough with implement on the 3PH to bend the frame on my rake and not damaged the stabilizers. Also used box blade to push as much as the tractor could and no damage. I guess if I were going fast enough and swung the implement into a stump or something in a turn, something would give but those type of things have to be expected to do some sort of damage to either the tractor or equipment. Is it possible to replace the ones on the CUT's with something from the utility size or even heavy utility? Might take some modification but should be easily doable since they are telescoping, shortening them would be no problem and end attachment could just mean putting in a bushing and or drilling out a larger hole in the lift arm to accept larger bolt.

 

[Sublifer]

I'm pretty sure the problem is limited to my size and a few smaller ones. The metal in the stabilizer bar inner piece is pot metal and the holes they drill out for the adjustments leave less than a quarter inch of the cheap material on the sides of the holes. Good steel or bigger bars would do the trick. Word is they are working on a solution as I am far from the only one with the problem. Another guy from my same dealer has broken several stabilizers as well.

 

[joemd11]

I noticed on my R3039 that one of the stabilizers is bent in where it attaches to the axle. Don't know when or where that happened. I don't know if I'm adjusting mine tight enough. Seems no matter what I do the implement (mostly the 700lb flail mower) has too much slop in it. I have the pin and bar type stabilizer.

 

[Sublifer]

I noticed on my R3039 that one of the stabilizers is bent in where it attaches to the axle. Don't know when or where that happened. I don't know if I'm adjusting mine tight enough. Seems no matter what I do the implement (mostly the 700lb flail mower) has too much slop in it. I have the pin and bar type stabilizer.

That is where it starts Joe. That point of attachment has too much play and is the first thing to start going. That piece bending starts introducing extra slop in the whole thing. Make sure you check those stabilizers every so often.