How much sway is acceptable?

[DennisArrow]

Kubota B7610 3PH implements and how much sway from side to side is "normal" and acceptable is what I am asking about. Implements are anywhere from a box blade, blade, Land Pride mower, or 5' bushhog.........What brings this up is that I just got a set of adjustable sway arms from Mark Hodge and how tight they should adjust. The fabrication techniques, materials, and quality of these is excellent. Basically they are two pieces holes machined in them. One of the "arms" fits inside of the other and then one inserts a pin into the machined holes when one has the implement at the width one wants to have...............

Previously I used a set of the threaded adjustable bars that comes on many tractors. I would tighten these and have pretty much zero back and forth movement of the implement. With these new devices at the best, I get perhaps 2" or a bit more of "play" at the arms. So...... How much "PLAY", sway, or sideways movement is acceptable???????????................ If you have knowledge of adjusting this type, I really would appreciate some advice as to how to get them tighter?????????.................. thanks so much for the HELP........ God bless......Dennis

 

[4570Man]

With the old threaded bars you can tighten them up tight with no sway, but with the pin type I get a couple inches.

 

[HEC]

I would say that is about normal , BUT , usually the holes are off set enough on each arm so if you want to search a little you can get things a little tighter when hooking up an implement . A heavy load on the back during transit can build up some momentum when swinging from side to side so I try and be very careful with that so it doesn't get out of control and cause damage . When the implement is engaged with the ground a little slack can be a good thing I suppose .

 

[George2615]

I've always adjusted my sway bars for minimum sway or maximum tightness without causing binding when lifting or lowering the implement.

 

[Baby Grand]

I like very little sway, say an inch or two, except on the brush hog where I want 4 or 5 inches, minimum, to avoid binding & bending the draft links. I really like those links made by Mark. They made our B Series tractors much more enjoyable to use.

 

[RalphVa]

No sway. Sway can break the turnbuckles. Happened to both of mine.

Don't use the pins. Use tension cords to hold them. I've never used the pins. Started using tension cords after breaking the two.

Ralph

 

[Turbys_1700]

I only have turnbuckles for adjustment. With that said I adjust for no sway. My lawn is very hilly and on side slopes 2-4 inches of sway will kick the sway adjustment rods into the back tire. My 6' RFM is quite heavy.

 

[msmith]

I like very little sway, say an inch or two, except on the brush hog where I want 4 or 5 inches, minimum, to avoid binding & bending the draft links. I really like those links made by Mark. They made our B Series tractors much more enjoyable to use.

This.

Although I like minimal play, a little is always nice. Definitely keeps things from binding. Keep in mind, if you use the turn buckles and tighten them all the way, all of your side load will be on your lynch pins. With the pin type adjustment, you can pin your lift arms so that most of the load is on the implement. I like this better. I've had both, give me the pin type even with a little slop.

 

[ovrszd]

I'm with Mr Smith. I prefer the pin type as well. Mine are both made with a slotted hole in the center female part. When pinned there you automatically have several inches of swing at the rear end of a brush cutter for example.

If using a BB I want no slack. I can drop in one pin, then with the attachment elevated push it back and forth until I find a hole in the 2nd link that removes almost all swing.

I also like my links to be pinned with the 3pt arms together on the implement so my lynch pins are doing nothing to hold the load. If you pin with slop, that's not possible though.

 

[DennisArrow]

Thanks Guys...........I am used to screwing the sway bars down tight; but above someone mentioned that if they are tight that if one hits an obstacle with a sidewise motion SOMETHING is gonna bend as there is no room to move. I guess as long as there is not enough movement to get momentum into the swing then there isn't enough pressure to cause damage.
Today was clearing out a round pin for the mules. Virgin forest floor. LOTS OF ROCK. Using my box blade to push and pull "stuff" to fill in holes, level, and clean up, I put LOTS of pressure on the box...... and therefore the sway bars........A really good test trying to move 3" to 4" tree roots and rocks the size of a basketball.........NO PROBLEMS.........YET.........Again, thanks for the thoughts.......... God bless........Dennis