Turnbuckle 3PH stabilizers

[Bob_Young]

My B7610 has these. They're inside the lower lift arms and, at the tractor end, are anchored on the same centerline as the lift arms. The way they're attached at the tractor end insures they only carry tension loads, not compression.

I'm probably off base on this but I like 'em...or at least like the way they're used on the B7610. I like the way you can snug them up and take all the side-to-side slop out of the 3PH. Seems to make the whole assembly more rigid and less prone to side shocks...plus you always know exactly where the implement is. Since they share the lift arm centerline at the tractor end, there isn't any binding when you raise or lower the 3PH.

I've got telescoping stabilizers on the L4300 and chains on the Fords. They're OK and quicker to use when changing implements. But you can never totally remove the side-to-side slop with them. When turning on a hillside, a heavy implement will try to wag the dog.

People have been changing out the turnbuckles for the telescoping version in some of the posts I've seen. Almost jumped at that myself, but then asked why do this and give up the rigidity advantage?

Anyone else see rigidity as being a big advantage with a 3PH?
Bob

 

[milkman]

Nope, too hard to hook and unhook, and have to have a wrench, glad you like them though.

 

[herringchoker]

Bob, I'm with you on this one. Yes, it takes a few extra seconds to back them off and then snug them up again when changing implements, but I sure do appreciate having the blower or bushcutter NOT flailing around back there.

 

[lawn_king]

I have owned both, they both have their good & bad. Overall i like the telescoping.

 

[wushaw]

I have not had both but I can operate a wrench without any difficulty so the turnbuckles work just fine for me

 

[themichelob]

Actually, you don't even need a wrench--a screwdriver, rod, prybar--anything to snug 'em up a little after hand tightening most of the way will do. Makes for a good stable connection of implement to tractor.....
Regards, Mike

 

[beersngars]

Agree 100% with Bob Young. I have never had other arrangements, but I do notice a difference when my Woods 60" rotary mower is slapping from side to side versus nice and tight. Also, my L3400 is very narrow in the rear and I don't want the arms dragging on the tires.

 

[Northland]

I'm with Bob too. My B7800 has a quick hitch now so the turnbuckles help keep my 3 pt implements from saying around too much. Not sure if the telescoping ones would be better though.

 

[Dascro]

I've had and used both. On small tractors and big farm tractors. I like the telescoping stabilizers myself. If your changing implements often, you can't beat them.

You can snug telescoping stabilizers up too, a lot easier!

Dave

 

[AMP762]

Change the pins to the inside on implements,instant on and off.

 

[Ed_Indiana]

I like the turnbuckels too. Takes only a few minutes. I only hand tighten mine and I am good to go ! If I were changing equipment two or three times a day I might opt for a quick hitch.

 

[canoetrpr]

I've complained about mine before. Today I took the extra minute and took out the slack when I put on my hay spear.

The spear lower pins are about a couple inches lesser apart than the blower which I too off. I typically keep the turn buckles set so that I have enough slack to get the blower on.

I must say that it was much nicer not having the bale move side to side at all there.

I think from now on I will bite the bullet and take the extra minute to set the width to just right for the implement at hand with no slack. I have a Pats so that takes most of the work out of it. Might as well spend another minute.

I moved the wrench that fits the for the turnbuckles to my tractor toolbox.

 

[bandit67]

You guys need to get the Pat's Easy Change setup. Works great for turnbuckle type setups - you pretty much set the turnbuckles to keep the 3pt attachment from swaying, and leave it, especially if many of your 3pt implements have the same pin widths.

Then you just back up to the implement with the lift arms set below the attachment pins, line it up as you back up with your butt firmly planted in the seat, and once you're lined up right, you lift the 3pt arms and the Pat's hitch locks onto the pins. You get off the tractor to attach the top link, and off you go. Very simple and should run you just under $200 delivered. I took my set off my subcompact when I sold it, and it's going onto my new larger compact, so you can use the same set if you need to upgrade machines down the road.

 

[StrangeRanger]

For you L3400 owners w/ turnbuckles... what size wrench do you use? Figuring that out has been on my to-do list for a very long time, but I keep forgetting/am too lazy. Please enlighten me. Thanks,
j

 

[b_z_genius]

My lock nut is a size 10 inch craftsman cresent wrench I also am to lazy to figure it out.

 

[StrangeRanger]

My lock nut is a size 10 inch craftsman cresent wrench I also am to lazy to figure it out.

A size 10" craftsman cresent wrench? Uhm, isn't the wrench size stamped right on the wrench itself?
j

 

[mjfox6]

For you L3400 owners w/ turnbuckles... what size wrench do you use? Figuring that out has been on my to-do list for a very long time, but I keep forgetting/am too lazy. Please enlighten me. Thanks,
j

I use a 15/16" wrench, it works perfect. Seems to me it should be metric, though.

 

[canoetrpr]

mjfox. I think that I use either a 7/8 or a 15/16 ... forget which. I too expected it to be metric but found that one of the SAE ones fit better so I put it in my tractor toolbox.

 

[Racer71]

If you look closely you will see my wrench hanging from my factory supplied wrench holder.

 

[b_z_genius]

A size 10" craftsman cresent wrench? Uhm, isn't the wrench size stamped right on the wrench itself?
j

I had to go look but it isn't on there, my wrench must be two old and before laser etching days. I would have a newer one if they did make them so well. Or our terminoligy is different, cresent wrench is adjustable and open or box end wrench is fixed with size stamped on it.