Pin fell out of 3pt arm deluxe extension

[RobertN]

Had an odd one happen this weekend. I was mowing in an area where I had to back a couple times to manuever. I was watching the mower to make sure I didn't bump anything. I noticed the mower move oddly.

Turns out, the pin that goes thru the lever for the extending 3pt arms on my TC40D, had come out. This was on the left side. So my extending arm was just sliding in and out. The pin is 5/8", and the one end has both a washer and a cotter pin.

I was able to get another pin that works from True Value.

Scary to think what would have happened if the arm had slid all the way out. It would have twisted the mower sideways with the PTO running at 540. I'm sure that would have really made a bad situation...

 

[RobertN]

Pictures...

The new pin went on the right. I took the one out of the right to take to the hardware store with me.

Hercules was trying to help

 

[mdelmarcelle]

Yikes! Good thing you keeping an eye on it as you backed up. Don't want to imagine what might happen to the PTO shaft if it turns too far.

 

[jinman]

I've never heard of that Robert, but you can bet that the next time I use my tractor I will give the pins a good lookover. When I first read your post, I thought you were talking about the rollpin pivot for the release lever, but of course the pin in the slot is the most likely to come loose and be lost.

 

[RobertN]

With the way the washer sits and the cotter key is there, I just don't see how it would come loose. I wouldn't expect a cotter key to fall apart.