3PH bent? Maybe

[PapaJ]

So a couple few days ago, I hooked an off road tow strap to my trailer mover on the 3PH, and connected it to an old truck bed liner about half full of 1/2 millings. Trying to fit between the boat an a building, I got hung up on a ramp. Moved boat, turned hard right, got the rocks where I need 'em. Looked to me that the 3PH was low on the left side like I bent something. That is the side I got caught on while pulling to the right, so made sense. Today, I got my ballast box, put it on, and it looks crooked too. Noticed right side stabilizer was super loose. I was about to correct that, and see if that was my issue, when the rain decided to attack, so no pic yet. Does it make any sense that a loose stabilizer on 1 side could cause a 3PH implement to lean the other direction, or is it more likely I bent something? Hopefully, if something is bent, it's those terrible stabilizer links. I guess I have to take them off to check them if it isn't a super obvious bend. I was trying to turn while pulling the rock, probably a rookie error.

By the time I finish fixing all the stuff I'm gonna break, I'll be good at tractoring, and will have been able to buy an M for cash, I'm sure.

 

[SidecarFlip]

Always pull with the drawbar, what it's for, never the 3 PH or any part of it. You are lucky you didn't crack the rear case or rip off an arm mount (like seems to be popular on the new Masseys (TBYNet thread.). Dude ripped an arm right off, 5 hours on the unit. Additionally, pulling with the 3ph keeps the pull down low and reduces the chance of upsetting the tractor.

 

[PapaJ]

Always pull with the drawbar, what it's for, never the 3 PH or any part of it. You are lucky you didn't crack the rear case or rip off an arm mount (like seems to be popular on the new Masseys (TBYNet thread.). Dude ripped an arm right off, 5 hours on the unit. Additionally, pulling with the 3ph keeps the pull down low and reduces the chance of upsetting the tractor.

Are you saying I should pull only from where the hitch ball would go? I had the strap on a 2 inch ball, but it was on a trailer mover attached to the 3PH, not on the tractor frame. Hoping it's just a bent stabilizer and not any of of that other stuff you said, because that sounds expensive. I don't make my first payment on this thing until August.

 

[tinkerwitheverything]

You do know that you have a adjustable arm on the right side. Loosen the nut on top of the long hexagon looking thing then turn the long one one way will raise the 3 pth arm the other way it will lower it. you can measure the fixed left one pin to pin then adjust the right one using the measurement that you have and set it up that way.
Also if the left or right arm is more to either side it also affects the height of the arms. Try to keep them the same distance from the center. Just move them from side to side and you'll see what I mean.

 

[i7win7]

Looks like you need to unscrew the right hand lift arm turnbuckle. Measure from pin to pin, right side looks shorter.

 

[PapaJ]

You do know that you have a adjustable arm on the right side. Loosen the nut on top of the long hexagon looking thing then turn the long one one way will raise the 3 pth arm the other way it will lower it. you can measure the fixed left one pin to pin then adjust the right one using the measurement that you have and set it up that way.
Also if the left or right arm is more to either side it also affects the height of the arms. Try to keep them the same distance from the center. Just move them from side to side and you'll see what I mean.

I'll check that out. I honestly got this thing and went straight to work. Everything I know about operating a tractor I learned in the last 15 hours of using it. Thanks.

 

[07wingnut]

If looks like your 3ph arms are not leveled. You can level them with the adjuster on the right side, and drop the right side arm till it is level with the left side.
Edit :Looks like you type a lot faster than me i7win7,.

 

[PapaJ]

Well, I walked out there with a tape measure and a wrench. That nut on the right was not even finger tight. Spun it by flicking it. Got it adjusted and tightened, and checked a handful of other nuts, most were loose. I will give this thing a good going over, and finally check the fluids before I use it again. Will be the first time I peek under the hood and pull some dipsticks since I got it. Guess I'll read the owners manual. I read it the first day, but that's as far as anything went.

 

[SidecarFlip]

Don't the tractor have a drawbar that mounts under the inverted U shaped metal below the hitch arms? Never seen a tractor without a drawbar and yours don't have one. Is that common today?

 

[tinkerwitheverything]

no draw bar on the bx . there is a hole in the plate that you can put a ball in or use a pin .

 

[PapaJ]

Don't the tractor have a drawbar that mounts under the inverted U shaped metal below the hitch arms? Never seen a tractor without a drawbar and yours don't have one. Is that common today?

I have not idea about what is standard these days, but on mine, what you see is what I got. No draw bar. I ordered a hitch that will bolt on there so I can put a big D-ring in it if I need to pull anything else. Just happy I didn't break something expensive.

 

[Henro]

Don't the tractor have a drawbar that mounts under the inverted U shaped metal below the hitch arms? Never seen a tractor without a drawbar and yours don't have one. Is that common today?

looks like a subcompact BX. My BX does not have a draw bar, just a hole where a clevis or similar can be used for pulling. Draw bar would be much better.

 

[SidecarFlip]

Think I'd be fabbing one up then... Best place to pull anything is down low and centered.

 

[UpNorthMI]

Well, I walked out there with a tape measure and a wrench. That nut on the right was not even finger tight. Spun it by flicking it. Got it adjusted and tightened, and checked a handful of other nuts, most were loose. I will give this thing a good going over, and finally check the fluids before I use it again. Will be the first time I peek under the hood and pull some dipsticks since I got it. Guess I'll read the owners manual. I read it the first day, but that's as far as anything went.

Papaj - it’s good to hear that it was just the right hand height adjustment on your 3pt hitch lift arm. As recommended a hitch plate and large d ring is a good solution for dragging things, the tow hitch frame on the 3pt hitch is a good solution for moving or pulling a trailer subject to the capability of your tractor and lift arms. It’s amazing how you get experience in such a short time with a tractor. Good luck with all your upcoming tasks.

 

[SidecarFlip]

looks like a subcompact BX. My BX does not have a draw bar, just a hole where a clevis or similar can be used for pulling. Draw bar would be much better.

TSC has drawbars on the shelf. You could get one and fab up the receiver and bolt it on/

 

[armylifer]

You would benefit greatly by getting a quick hitch. They are about $100.00 with a 20% off coupon at Harbor Freight. It will save you a lot of labor and re-adjusting the 3 point arms. You could also get a drawbar with a 2" receiver and use it to tow trailers and even some 2" receiver implements and attachments. You can even use it it add weight for ballast when using the FEL. Here is a picture.

 

[jimr63]

Always pull with the drawbar, what it's for, never the 3 PH or any part of it. You are lucky you didn't crack the rear case or rip off an arm mount (like seems to be popular on the new Masseys (TBYNet thread.). Dude ripped an arm right off, 5 hours on the unit. Additionally, pulling with the 3ph keeps the pull down low and reduces the chance of upsetting the tractor.

x2! Lot of guys get killed by pulling from places other than the draw bar. The draw bar is located below the rear axles so it'll pull the front end down when pulling. The 3 pont hitch is usually higher than the axles and with enough traction and horsepower you can flip a tractor on it's back.

 

[PapaJ]

x2! Lot of guys get killed by pulling from places other than the draw bar. The draw bar is located below the rear axles so it'll pull the front end down when pulling. The 3 pont hitch is usually higher than the axles and with enough traction and horsepower you can flip a tractor on it's back.

My tractor does not have a draw bar. Just a plate to mount a hitch ball. I ordered a hitch assembly so i can use a D-ring on a 2 inch hitch for any future pulling.

 

[SidecarFlip]

You would benefit greatly by getting a quick hitch. They are about $100.00 with a 20% off coupon at Harbor Freight. It will save you a lot of labor and re-adjusting the 3 point arms. You could also get a drawbar with a 2" receiver and use it to tow trailers and even some 2" receiver implements and attachments. You can even use it it add weight for ballast when using the FEL. Here is a picture.

View attachment 45085

Problem with that again, is you are pulling above the centerline of the rear axle )as stated in the above post. Think I'd be buying a drawbar or buying a steel bar from a supplier and fabbing a mount to fit where the hole is for a hitch ball. Not that difficult to do and much safer for you and the much less stressful for the rear transmission case as well.

Mine both have drawbars, substantial ones. I never pull with anything but and never with the FEL bucket either, even though I have the HD excavation buckets. No hooks on either of mine, never will be. If I was to add hooks, they would be on the SSQA frame itself, not the bucket and welded on, not bolted.

 

[PapaJ]

You would benefit greatly by getting a quick hitch. They are about $100.00 with a 20% off coupon at Harbor Freight. It will save you a lot of labor and re-adjusting the 3 point arms. You could also get a drawbar with a 2" receiver and use it to tow trailers and even some 2" receiver implements and attachments. You can even use it it add weight for ballast when using the FEL. Here is a picture.

View attachment 45085

I had a 3 point mounted trailer mover on the tractor, and that is what I hooked to, and my issue happened. I will not pull with the 3PH anymore unless it's to move an empty trailer or pull the boat out of it's parking spot in the grass into the driveway. I think it does better if what I am moving has wheels, and is not a super heavy truck bed liner half full of millings.