B3350 &RC72-30B bending lift arms

[Handlebar]

I have B3350 with a MMM RC72-30B and this is the second set of lift Arms I have bent. The arms 3/8" steel they shouldn't be bending like this. This is my 4th and the first 2 years I didn't have any problem. I haven't hit anything with tractor. So I'd like to know anyone else is having this problem or there that is not adjusted correctly on my tractor. Thanks

 

[SDT]

I have B3350 with a MMM RC72-30B and this is the second set of lift Arms I have bent. The arms 3/8" steel they shouldn't be bending like this. This is my 4th and the first 2 years I didn't have any problem. I haven't hit anything with tractor. So I'd like to know anyone else is having this problem or there that is not adjusted correctly on my tractor. Thanks

No problem with mine.

Curious. Is it the lift arms or the adapters for the MMM that are bending? Hart to believe that the lift arms can be bent before something else gives.

If so, I would expect that the position control linkage is out of adjustment causing the hydraulic system to lift the arms beyond design position.

Any other damage?

SDT

 

[Handlebar]

No problem with mine.

Curious. Is it the lift arms or the adapters for the MMM that are bending? Hart to believe that the lift arms can be bent before something else gives.

If so, I would expect that the position control linkage is out of adjustment causing the hydraulic system to lift the arms beyond design position.

Any other damage?

SDT

Well the parts diagram calls it "lift arm" I would call it a lift tab that rided on the 3pt lift arm. It is the tab that is bending. The orange "L" shape piece on top of the grey 3pt lift arm. The first time it happened I fell in a sink hole and the whole weight of the tractor went down on the MMM. Broke some linkage and bent the arm. This there wasn't any trauma but I noticed the MMM deck wasn't lifting but an inch off the ground discovered both sides were bent. Thanks for any info. Im stumped as to the cause and these little babies are expensive.

 

[re54drider]

"The first time it happened I fell in a sink hole and the whole weight of the tractor went down on the MMM. Broke some linkage and bent the arm."

This is what caused the problem.

 

[SDT]

Well the parts diagram calls it "lift arm" I would call it a lift tab that rided on the 3pt lift arm. It is the tab that is bending. The orange "L" shape piece on top of the grey 3pt lift arm. The first time it happened I fell in a sink hole and the whole weight of the tractor went down on the MMM. Broke some linkage and bent the arm. This there wasn't any trauma but I noticed the MMM deck wasn't lifting but an inch off the ground discovered both sides were bent. Thanks for any info. Im stumped as to the cause and these little babies are expensive. View attachment 48149

Not uncommon to bend those if things are not properly adjusted, which is, again, not uncommon.

Most (No?) dealers take the time to properly set up and adjust the MMMs for similar tractors.

If not proprerly adjusted, things can bend.

I always INSIST that dealers give to me the assembly instructions for EVERYTHING that I buy. Though I ofter get push back, I do not write checks until such is done.

If you have the assembly instructions, follow the assembly and set-up procedures. Almost certainly you will find that things are not as they should be.

If you do not have such instructions, INSIST that your dealer give such to you.

If, as is likely, your dealer pushes back, INSIST that you receive such instructions. Your dealer can do so if he wants to do so but most dealers do not want to be bothered.

I have mine because I would not write a check until I did.

Yes, I went through the assembly and set-up instructions and found some (not all) to be not as they should be.

SDT

 

[whitetiger]

The RC72-30B Operators manual includes assembly and set up instructions in it.

 

[greg86z28]

I haven't hit anything with tractor.

The first time it happened I fell in a sink hole and the whole weight of the tractor went down on the MMM. Broke some linkage and bent the arm.

This sounds like the issue. You broke something or something got pushed out of spec and that’s causing your issues.

 

[Carleola]

I have B3350 with a MMM RC72-30B and this is the second set of lift Arms I have bent. The arms 3/8" steel they shouldn't be bending like this. This is my 4th and the first 2 years I didn't have any problem. I haven't hit anything with tractor. So I'd like to know anyone else is having this problem or there that is not adjusted correctly on my tractor. Thanks

Hi Handlebar - I wanted to know, if you found the cause of your problem? I just purchased a new LX3310 with a mid-mount mower (MMM) and within 3-months I noticed that in lifting and lowering the MMM it has resulted in the LHS mower lift arm (K5772-61160) bending! It may have slightly bent the RHS mower lift arm, as well. This also causes any implement attached to the 3-point hitch to lean heavily to one side. BTW all the tie-rods and linkages appear undamaged, and I was not involved in any mishap. The issue creeped up incrementally over time.

I did notice that the stopper plates (K5771-72100) at the rear of the MMM have not been installed by the dealer. Might this be the cause?

I do beleive that SDL is correct in surmising that the MMM was not correctly installed. However, I have not been able to determine what to do to fix the problem. I have emailed the dealer to see if they have come across this issue before. Or if they have any service bulletins addressed this issue.

 

[RCW]

Hi Handlebar - I wanted to know, if you found the cause of your problem? I just purchased a new LX3310 with a mid-mount mower (MMM) and within 3-months I noticed that in lifting and lowering the MMM it has resulted in the LHS mower lift arm (K5772-61160) bending! It may have slightly bent the RHS mower lift arm, as well. This also causes any implement attached to the 3-point hitch to lean heavily to one side. BTW all the tie-rods and linkages appear undamaged, and I was not involved in any mishap. The issue creeped up incrementally over time.

I did notice that the stopper plates (K5771-72100) at the rear of the MMM have not been installed by the dealer. Might this be the cause?

I do beleive that SDL is correct in surmising that the MMM was not correctly installed. However, I have not been able to determine what to do to fix the problem. I have emailed the dealer to see if they have come across this issue before. Or if they have any service bulletins addressed this issue. View attachment 105212 View attachment 105213 View attachment 105214

I hope he replies, but Handlebar was here for just a couple days 3 years ago. If you check his avatar it shows his data.

 

[whitetiger]

This also causes any implement attached to the 3-point hitch to lean heavily to one side.

The RH horizontal leveling link is unscrewed leaving the RH arm lower than the LH arm. This puts most of the deck lift pressure on the LH bracket which can bend it.

 

[Carleola]

The RH horizontal leveling link is unscrewed leaving the RH arm lower than the LH arm. This puts most of the deck lift pressure on the LH bracket which can bend it.

The RH horizontal leveling link is unscrewed leaving the RH arm lower than the LH arm. This puts most of the deck lift pressure on the LH bracket which can bend it.

Hi WhiteTiger - thanks for your insight! This may be the problem...I'll test it. I will have to replace the MMM lift arm or forge it back into spec. I try keep all my attached implements level at all times, so I wonder why I messed up.

 

[SDT]

Hi Handlebar - I wanted to know, if you found the cause of your problem? I just purchased a new LX3310 with a mid-mount mower (MMM) and within 3-months I noticed that in lifting and lowering the MMM it has resulted in the LHS mower lift arm (K5772-61160) bending! It may have slightly bent the RHS mower lift arm, as well. This also causes any implement attached to the 3-point hitch to lean heavily to one side. BTW all the tie-rods and linkages appear undamaged, and I was not involved in any mishap. The issue creeped up incrementally over time.

I did notice that the stopper plates (K5771-72100) at the rear of the MMM have not been installed by the dealer. Might this be the cause?

I do beleive that SDL is correct in surmising that the MMM was not correctly installed. However, I have not been able to determine what to do to fix the problem. I have emailed the dealer to see if they have come across this issue before. Or if they have any service bulletins addressed this issue. View attachment 105212 View attachment 105213 View attachment 105214

As previously mentioned, set-up and adjustment procedures for the MMM are included in the mower (not tractor) Operator's manual. Failure to properly perform these procedures can result in bent lifting adapters.

Of course, you will need to level the tractor lift arms before performing the mower adjustments.