3-Point Hitch stabelizer chains

[joncderusha]

I have a deere 650 with a 6ft finish mower. I can't seem to get enough slack out of the stabelizer chains to prevent the mower from swaying excessively from side to side. How do I eliminate this excessive swaying?

 

[Al 2]

Look here: StabilWorks. They look like a great idea and I think they were discussed here or on Orange Tractor Talks.
Al

 

[Baby Grand]

Look here: StabilWorks. They look like a great idea and I think they were discussed here or on Orange Tractor Talks.
Al

Second that. I just got a second set from Mark - haven't had a chance to install them yet, but if they work as well as the first set I will be a very happy camper.

 

[Coyote machine]

That type works well, and is standard issue on Kioti tractors.

 

[GPintheMitten]

Another vote for Marks stuff at Stabilworks.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Stabilworks looks like a great product, but your chains should be able to remove most of the slack from the mower if properly adjusted. Are you saying that you can tighten the turnbuckles on both sides till they no longer have any threads and still get lots of sway. Actually, you should have a bit of slack in the arms to allow the bushhog to move a bit side to side just in case you slam it into a large immovable object.

If you cant adjust it properly, you may not have the right stabilizers on it. If the two ends of the turnbuckle are jammed in the middle but you still have some outside thread, you may need to cut off some of the threaded ends to allow more adjustment.

 

[PILOON]

Making a permanent non adjustable set would not be a big job.
Basically length of square tubing, split ends and suitable pins to lock in place.
Problem lies in that loose chain flops and collapses allowing movement except when in tension.
Withe 2 chains you end up with 2 possibilities and depending on arm length and ratios of attachment locations even double or tripple the movement at the attached mower.
Rigid prevents movement in both directions.

While I don't operate a mower, I do use a snow blower and have the same problem. At start of season I have 0 movement and as time progresses I have as much as 6" accumulated and that can be a disaster if close to a car. In fact I caught a re-bar marker pole and sheered a couple of pins just a few days ago.
Think I might just make me a couple of rigid 'Check Bars' for next season as adjusting the chain turn buckles at -30 deg is just no fun.

 

[GPintheMitten]

I don't like rigid stabilizers. The reason I like the sliders like Stabilworks makes is that it is EASY to lengthen them to allow you to get the lower links on the implement and then it is EASY to tighten them up. You can leave as little or as much sway as you like for the given implement. I like them on the tight side.

The turn buckles were a PITA to adjust. And they would loosen over time as well. To each their own. But for me it was one of the best mods I made for the money.

 

[jgayman]

Look here: StabilWorks. They look like a great idea and I think they were discussed here or on Orange Tractor Talks.
Al

He may not be able to get them for his JD 650. I contacted StabilWorks to inquire about a set for my JD 2720 and they are not available due to the geometry of where the existing stabilizer chains attach.

 

[Baby Grand]

Just installed the Stabilworks on our B2320 and they work great. Much faster hitching up attachments, now. Here's a visual comparison of the turnbuckles that I took off to the Stabilworks. See if you can guess which one is less likely to bend:

One of the advantages of the pinned Stabilworks is that your arms don't collapse together when you remove the attachment like they will with the turnbuckles:

With the Stabilworks they stay put, making backing up & hitching the next attachment much faster: