noob 3 pt hitch questions

[allthumbs23]

Hello,
I hooked up a 220# steel I beam that a friend made up for a rear ballast to my 3 point hitch to prepare for snow removal with the front loader. Mower deck is removed. 2 questions:

1) do I need to lower the 3 pt hitch when not using the tractor to "take the weight off"?

2) The mower rear links will not go up tight under the tractor unless I raise the 3 pt hitch all the way up. It seems weird to raise the rear hitch all the way up, but if I leave it lowered to a level position off the ground that looks reasonable to me, the mower rear links come down a bit as well as they both run from the same system. They don't seem low enough to be a problem, but they do sway around a little underneath. Normal condition?

Thanks for any help!

 

[dougtrr2]

Best practice is to lower implements when not in use. Partially from a safety point of view and partly from a reduce the strain on the hydraulics. If you have kids or grandkids around it is definitely a good practice. Yes, they are told to not play with the tractor etc, but if they hit a lever and the 220 pound weight goes down it could leave a mark.

Check the mower height adjustment. On by BX24 there is a "Top" setting that locks the links or mower in the top most position. Then the three point can operate independently of the mower.

Doug in SW IA

 

[Grandad4]

Realistically, 220 lbs is not a lot of weight on the 3 pt hitch. The tractor really wouldn't notice one way or the other. However, it's always good practice for safety reasons to lower both the loader and any implements to the ground when the tractor is not in use. Especially so if there might be kids, pets, wives, guests, etc., in and out of where it's parked, such as your garage!

Those links do go up and down as you say, and they have some lateral play needed to hook up the mower deck, but I can't say that I've ever noticed them "swaying around" on my 2230 while it's moving. Your powers of observation may exceed mine, but unless the links are so loose they are banging into things when the deck is off, I'd figure it's nothing to worry about.

 

[allthumbs23]

"Check the mower height adjustment. On by BX24 there is a "Top" setting that locks the links or mower in the top most position. Then the three point can operate independently of the mower."

Doug in SW IA[/QUOTE]

Thanks