L3901 - slight implement offset?

[icehorse]

There are times when I wish I could offset my implements just a few inches off of center. I understand that this is probably fraught with possible problems, but really I'm just talking maybe a 6 inch offset from straight back.

I'm imagining something that attaches to one of the lower link arms and provides a lower link ball just a few inches beyond the normal ball.

Has anyone seen such a thing? Or is there a better way to do this?

 

[MapleLeafFarmer]

yes. easy to do and done all the time. I will get some pic.s for you.

depending on what you want to do and how you want to do it and your budget.

cheap and easy is adding a cat 1 draw bar on lower link arms about $50. add a ball or 2" reciever mount or whatever off set. they have locks available to stop it from rotating, etc...

or for about $80 one of these and add an horizontal offset head from a trailer shop

or if you have big bucks you can go with a hydraulic offset hitch made by someone like Ibex or handy-hitch that lets you swing your implement from your seat way out to the side to mow ditches, pond banks, near fences, etc....

so common and easy to do just pick your budget to match equipment and task.

 

[SDT]

There are times when I wish I could offset my implements just a few inches off of center. I understand that this is probably fraught with possible problems, but really I'm just talking maybe a 6 inch offset from straight back.

I'm imagining something that attaches to one of the lower link arms and provides a lower link ball just a few inches beyond the normal ball.

Has anyone seen such a thing? Or is there a better way to do this?

Minor three point offsets can be accomplished by adjustment of the sway bars.

 

[icehorse]

Minor three point offsets can be accomplished by adjustment of the sway bars.

Right! That brings up a related question. Do you think the lower links should normally have any left-right play in them or should you adjust the sway bars for no play?

 

[icehorse]

yes. easy to do and done all the time. I will get some pic.s for you.

depending on what you want to do and how you want to do it and your budget.

cheap and easy is adding a cat 1 draw bar on lower link arms about $50. add a ball or 2" reciever mount or whatever off set. they have locks available to stop it from rotating, etc...
View attachment 170153 View attachment 170156

or for about $80 one of these and add an horizontal offset head from a trailer shop

View attachment 170154 View attachment 170157


or if you have big bucks you can go with a hydraulic offset hitch made by someone like Ibex or handy-hitch that lets you swing your implement from your seat way out to the side to mow ditches, pond banks, near fences, etc....
View attachment 170155


so common and easy to do just pick your budget to match equipment and task.

Sorry for the miscommunication. Not that kind of ball. On the L3901 lower link arms, and the end is a built in ball swivel that allows you to attach your implements right onto the link arms. So I'm thinking of something that maybe bolts on to the lower link arm that also has one of these ball swivels, just a few inches out.

 

[JasonW]

What implements are you trying to offset?

 

[SDT]

Right! That brings up a related question. Do you think the lower links should normally have any left-right play in them or should you adjust the sway bars for no play?

Depends upon the implement.

Most ground engaging implements require some side to side movement.

Many other implements do not.

 

[airbiscuit]

I have a 5' rough cut mower that I wanted ti have a slight offset with. I took off the right 3pt lift pin, and changed it from an "outie" to an "innie" (Reversed direction to pointing in). It works great

 

[icehorse]

What implements are you trying to offset?

my rotary cutter, so that i can mow over ditches on the side of the road,
my - not yet purchased - tiller so that I can till under electric fence lines.

 

[JasonW]

my rotary cutter, so that i can mow over ditches on the side of the road,
my - not yet purchased - tiller so that I can till under electric fence lines.

Not sure if you can offset a rotary cutter that much to make a difference. Look into an offset flail mower. But you might not have enough machine weight/stability wise.

 

[icehorse]

Not sure if you can offset a rotary cutter that much to make a difference. Look into an offset flail mower. But you might not have enough machine weight/stability wise.

If I can mow 6-8 inches outside the tire I'd be happy. And I was thinking I'd add weight on the opposite side in the FEL.

 

[chim]

I plan to use a blade and maybe something else offset to one side. I'm not worried about doing it via the arms. As long as they don't contact the insides of the tires why worry?

 

[GreensvilleJay]

tiller may be 'side shift'. Mine does, I offset it to the cover the right tire tracks and leave the left in the ground. The left track is now the 'foot path' for the veggie garden plots,so 5' of veggie then 1' path.

 

[Runs With Scissors]

yes. easy to do and done all the time. I will get some pic.s for you.

depending on what you want to do and how you want to do it and your budget.

cheap and easy is adding a cat 1 draw bar on lower link arms about $50. add a ball or 2" reciever mount or whatever off set. they have locks available to stop it from rotating, etc...
View attachment 170153 View attachment 170156

or for about $80 one of these and add an horizontal offset head from a trailer shop

View attachment 170154 View attachment 170157


or if you have big bucks you can go with a hydraulic offset hitch made by someone like Ibex or handy-hitch that lets you swing your implement from your seat way out to the side to mow ditches, pond banks, near fences, etc....
View attachment 170155


so common and easy to do just pick your budget to match equipment and task.

Very interesting…….

This explains a lot………..

When I ordered my tractor, I specifically ordered a “draw bar”. But was thinking of something like this….for a "trailer ball”.

But on delivery day, I was so excited, I totally forgot about it.

Then I saw this “thing" laying there about the same time, but thought it was some sort of “included attachment"

So, I have one of those things hanging in my garage, and I have no idea why they “gave” it too me.

I tried putting a ball on it, but the damn thing just keeps “swiveling around"


So how does it work? I still can’t wrap my head around it…………..

 

[GreensvilleJay]

they (TSC amongst others...) sell 'retainers' or anti-rotating brackets, go on the ends.

 

[airbiscuit]

You could also get Offset 3ptlift arms, and make one an "innie".

 

[Russell King]

Very interesting…….

This explains a lot………..

When I ordered my tractor, I specifically ordered a “draw bar”. But was thinking of something like this….for a "trailer ball”.

View attachment 170346

But on delivery day, I was so excited, I totally forgot about it.

Then I saw this “thing" laying there about the same time, but thought it was some sort of “included attachment"
View attachment 170347


So, I have one of those things hanging in my garage, and I have no idea why they “gave” it too me.

I tried putting a ball on it, but the damn thing just keeps “swiveling around"


So how does it work? I still can’t wrap my head around it…………..

Those were designed (mostly) for pull type implements that usually had a clevis style hitch as shown here. You can see why that design of drawbar worked well for its intended use.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Very interesting…….

This explains a lot………..

When I ordered my tractor, I specifically ordered a “draw bar”. But was thinking of something like this….for a "trailer ball”.

View attachment 170346

But on delivery day, I was so excited, I totally forgot about it.

Then I saw this “thing" laying there about the same time, but thought it was some sort of “included attachment"
View attachment 170347


So, I have one of those things hanging in my garage, and I have no idea why they “gave” it too me.

I tried putting a ball on it, but the damn thing just keeps “swiveling around"


So how does it work? I still can’t wrap my head around it…………..

Add one of these two designs to it and it will become useful!

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

If I can mow 6-8 inches outside the tire I'd be happy. And I was thinking I'd add weight on the opposite side in the FEL.

NO you can not off set the three point arms that much.
You will do damage to the system evening trying to do that.

Get implements that are made to offset.