More on BX 3 pt mod ?

[SamR]

I had posted the message below yesterday- 2/13/01 in response to the thread TresCrows started. Seems it may be getting overlooked and thought others may benefit from a discussion about the upgrade. To me, knowing what the actual lengths of the new components are for the 3 Pt upgrade vs. the original hitch parts is necessary since (as it says below) two of the 3 "new" parts the dealer came with are the same as I already had...

Hi Guys
The dealer has a service tech here right now fixing my fuel gauge on my BX that always reads 3/4 full (even when it's empty) and was also to bring the recall parts to fix my 3 pt hitch. I had downloaded the images from a prev. poster of this forum and faxed them into the dealer. Strange thing is that if you read the details of the bulletin, the top link was to be shortened by 36mm and the LH lift link was lengthened, as was the RH turnbuckle- the parts he brought to upgrade mine are all the same as I already have with the exception that the turnbuckle is about 1.5" longer. Did they bring the wrong parts or did my BX already come with upgraded parts? Who would know? Seems like we get together on this forum and then go out to educate the dealers in some cases. Any thoughts? The bulletin states that machines that are out of warranty DO NOT QUALIFY so if anybody is concerned about getting the upgrade done before they have to pay for it, time is of the essence.
Cheers
SamR

 

[DaveNH]

SamR

Any chances of posting a few pictures?

Then we might be able to do a stare and compare.

We're all in this together!<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by DaveNH on 02/14/01 06:21 PM (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[SamR]

PICTURES AS REQUESTED #1

Hi DaveNH
Here are pix with some measurements in mm- hope this helps.
SamR

 

[SamR]

PICTURES AS REQUESTED #2

Hi DaveNH
Here are pix with some measurements in mm- hope this helps.
SamR

 

[TresCrows]

Re: PICTURES AS REQUESTED #1

Could you tell me please if the measurements provided are of the "new" parts or of the old or you do not know? Also, I noticed my dealer buthchered the area in the gusset shown on that service bulletin SB00-35, it seems they cut into it with a blow torch. I think Kubota is going to owe me a set of three point arms, I am exceedinly angry about this butchery of a new tractor. What do you guys think?

 

[Roy]

I made some of my own measurements this morning.

Top Link: First, I just happen to have both the old and new top links in my possession (Please don't tell the Kubota Kops that I still have an old one in my possession). Forget the 283 mm measurement, it is identical to both. BUT… the new top link will compress the full length of the threaded shaft. That is, when set at minimum length, no threading is showing on the end with the nut. (Lower link portion in SamR's pictures…. BTW Sam, thanks for taking the time to do the measurement and taking the fantastic quality pictures). The older ones do not allow either end to be fully compressed.

For the one bottom link, my new ones agree with the 152 mm measurement, but…

I measure 273 mm where Sam measured 240 mm. Ok… now I am confused. Was the SB work partially performed on mine? (Unfortunately, unlike the top link, I do not have the 'old' ones on hand).

TresCrows… See my response in "Kubota butchered my BX".

What do other people measure who had the work performed?


<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by roy on 02/15/01 07:08 AM (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[SamR]

Re: PICTURES AS REQUESTED #1

Hi TresCrows
This'll kinda all run together so it'd be best to start from top down, but maybe I should've reiterated what started me on this whole "quest". Here's a piece snipped from my 2/14/01 9:24AM post called "More on BX 3pt Mod ?" while the repair tech (mechanic?) was here to do the mod on my BX

<SNIP>
...Strange thing is that if you read the details of the bulletin, the top link was to be shortened by 36mm and the LH lift link was lengthened, as was the RH turnbuckle- the parts he brought to upgrade mine are all the same as I already have (to compare physical length) with the exception that the turnbuckle is about 1.5" longer

Roy added the following info concerning why I was led to believe that the new top link was the same

<Snip>
Forget the 283 mm measurement, it is identical to both. BUT… the new top link will compress the full length of the threaded shaft. That is, when set at minimum length, no threading is showing on the end with the nut.

 

[Charliebrn]

I have a new BX that, according to my dealer at least, is from the factory with the new specs. If you all like i could do the same as Sam with Specs if you all would like...

 

[Pks]

Yes, please.

 

[Roy]

SamR; I still have a point of confusion on the lengthened LH lift link. If it was to be lengthened, then my 273 mm would seem to be the new one, as opposed a 240 mm length. (Possibly I am using the wrong reference points for taking the measurements. Then again, it could simply be that I was outside at 5AM, using a flashlight, half awake - user error. I will recheck when I get home from the office, in the daylight.)

Charliebrn; Yes, I am interested in your measurements for the LH lift link, from the points shown on the picture.

 

[DaveNH]

Re: PICTURES AS REQUESTED #2

Thanks for the pics. GREAT JOB!

My machine falls outside of the effected serial numbers,
did a visual and it looks ok.
Thanks for the pictures and measurements.

We're all in this together!

 

[DaveNH]

Roy,
I measured mine and although my machine is outside the serial numbers effected, measures the same as yours.

We're all in this together!

 

[Roy]

Thanks for checking, Dave. I now feel comfortable that I have the correct parts (since your own unit's SN is out of range, it must reflect how the factory is shipping the post-SB BX units).

 

[SamR]

Hi Roy
So it'd seem that your 273mm taken at the place where I measure 240mm says that the dealer had the wrong part for my LH lift link (since the one he brought was the same)- he took the new top link along back since it looked the same- I tried cranking the end of the top link in as far as it would go and it stops with about 36mm of threads showing (new one was supposed to be 36mm shorter)- so it may have been a good replacement he brought or it could've been the same. I asked the guy specifically if there was any way the threaded part would retract further on one or the other making it effectively "shorter" and he said not. Now that I know yours can be threaded in the whole way, I realize he was in error. I wish they'd spell this stuff out in more detail so the dealers had more to work with. They did tell me that nobody else complained about the 3 pt. on a BX but me...

 

[Roy]

SamR; Once, I thought that the only reason I could not retract the old top link all the way was because of paint on the threads. So, I placed the unit in a bench vise, and tried to fully compress. Not only did I try this on one, but two links. (Another story on how I came about to have two of them, which explains why I still have one spare old-style link after the SB work was performed). It was then that I realized there was a stopping-point built into the old-style link cylinders. First time that I adjusted the top link after the SB work, I was surprised how easily the one end fully contracted (the other end still cannot be fully retracted).

It looks that your dealer did replace your old top and LH links with old-style equipment rather than new.

As for others not complaining to the dealer, it shows that they are probably not following this discussion group. I too just lived with it. I was able to get my blade attached, but it took a lot of effort. Having never owned a 3-pt hitch before, I just assumed it was customary. Then our cyber-community discussions made me realize: Hey, it doesn't have to be that way. I really owe a lot of time-saving to this group.

 

[TresCrows]

Help, can someone please supply a center to center length on both the old style and new style top links please. That would be more helpfu than how many threrads or exposed etc. it seems mine will fully retract on the top ball but stilll has some threads on the bottom end with the nut. It seems my L/H lift link is 273mm and the turnbucle on the r/h is a 52mm barrel length not including the nut. I am trying to determine which if any of the parts are the new parts, do I have some combination of new and old etc. I wonder if cutting some of the threaded section off the lower ball end on the top link would allow it to accomplish the same thing, is this what they have done on the "new" link? HELP!!

 

[TresCrows]

Re: PICTURES AS REQUESTED #1

OK, I just went out and removed the two wintess screw in the turnbarrel and screwd the balls ends out so I could see how long they are, one is about 36MM shorter than the other. It is impossible to screw both ends in all the way cuz they run into one another. Can anyone confirm that their top link retracts fully on both ends? that the threaded shanks are the same length or differing lengths as on mine? I can thread either end in all the way but not both ends at the same time, can anyone thread both ends all the way in at the SAME time. Thanks in advace.

 

[Roy]

Re: PICTURES AS REQUESTED #1

When the OLD top link is threaded to it's shortest length, the entire unit's end-to-end length is 17-3/4 inches.

Since my new link is in currently on the tractor attaching my rear blade, and I have to get ready for work soon /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif, I don't have the immediate time to take a measurement on it. Maybe someone could fully retract the new top link and report a reading.

TresCrows; What is interesting: On the old style link, I cannot remove the threaded ends totally to compare shaft lengths (or at least it would take more force than I was willing to apply and risk destroying the unit). Since I couldn't remove them to see within the barrel, I assumed that there was a stop mechanism. Never hit me that maybe the two ends were colliding within the barrel. Sure enough, if I expand the non-nut end on the old link, I can fully retract the opposite end. Thanks for questioning and testing the conclusion. (That is the correct scientific process, which will bring us, hopefully, to the correct answer).

So, you are correct. My no-threads indicator is totally useless. It was just that I had happened to turn-in one particular end in first. It also tells me that if I can remove one of the shafts from the old link, and cut 36mm from the thread, I can convert my old spare into a new-style link.

 

[Charliebrn]

Ok, as Sam measured his left lift link, mine is 273mm, my right turnbuckle is 153 mm, and my top link, fully compressed, Pin-to-pin centerline is 373mm. My BX2200 is new, well after the affected sn's of the SB...

 

[TresCrows]

Thanks Sam and other BX tractor nuts. It seems my BX now has the new parts if Sam is correct. My L/H lift link is 273mm and my R/H turnbuckle is 153 mm and my top link will actuall compress down to approx 360 mm which is the distance indicated on the service bulletin. When fully compressed one or the other end will not full retract, I assume then that is normal. Now, even after my eyeballs are adjusting to the cutting on my link gussets they do not looks so bad after all. A little additional dressing on my part and paint and they will be fine. If you noticed my bio I am an A&P mechanic. My work is held to a very high standard and sometimes I forget that does not apply to everyone, perhaps I was being to critical, oh well, I would have preferred they had asked me at least. Aside from that I think a lot of my dealer and would buy from them again in a heart beat and their mechanic is a friendly sort too, just in the future he and plasma/blow torches, whatever, will not be allowed near my tractor together at the same time. Now if we can just get the rest of you guys happy we will be cookin with propane. JR