Box Blade issue on L3901

[ArtinAz]

I've had my tractor for 6 yrs, now, and use it about twice a year to regrade my road after endured rains.
I've been keeping rd angled on either side & cut sharper angle on edge to help prevent erosion & haven't any isues until now. As I angle my box & lower to rip or even grade, I noticed the box always leans against my tire now with the turnbuckles tightend, as they've always were. Tried to adjust turnbuckles when box was level but this thing still sways toward toward tires whichever angle I'm at.

Is there a proper solution for this? Any vids to show how to properly fix what's happening? Tractor is 6 yrs old & only has 117 hrs on it. Could this be a 3 point hitch issue?

 

[jaxs]

I'm not sure I follow what are saying 100% but here's what I think causes this. First guess is that top link has box tilted more than previously. Second guess is that turnbuckles are adjusted differently than previously. Third guess is that rear wheels have been adjusted inward or outward since last time you graded drive.

Top link and wheel adj are self explanatory , turnbuckles not so much so. Depending of whether blade hits inner or outer tire tread, lengthen one turnbuckle and shorten other so that box shifts farther left/right to clear tire.

 

[ArtinAz]

I'm not sure I follow what are saying 100% but here's what I think causes this. First guess is that top link has box tilted more than previously. Second guess is that turnbuckles are adjusted differently than previously. Third guess is that rear wheels have been adjusted inward or outward since last time you graded drive.

Top link and wheel adj are self explanatory , turnbuckles not so much so. Depending of whether blade hits inner or outer tire tread, lengthen one turnbuckle and shorten other so that box shifts farther left/right to clear tire.

I guess it does appear that I'm rambling, m my apologies. Bottom line is the box blade mobes to whatever side tractor is tilted at. Whenever I lowered it & started moving, the turnbuckles would rub against rear wheel. After I raised impliment it was swaying freely than I remember. I tried to adjust turnbuckes to keep each side taut while level & centered but no luck, they rubbed against inner tire.
The tractor hasn't beed operated since I used it 6 months ago, so I'm not sure how the wheels would have been adjusted.
Is the box blade supposed to wobble to either side while tractor is in operation? It seems to move freely but don't remember it doing this.

 

[JasonW]

Pictures would help. The turn buckles are not supposed to be “tight” should be set to allow the implement to move 1” or so side to side.

Are the turn buckles loosening as you’re working?

 

[jaxs]

This would make sense,therfore easier to figure out if it occurred day one. If you haven't changed nor adjusted anything since last time it was used, I don't know what to say. Maybe tractor adjusted itself or prankster came in and tinkered with it.

 

[ArtinAz]

Pictures would help. The turn buckles are not supposed to be “tight” should be set to allow the implement to move 1” or so side to side.

Are the turn buckles loosening as you’re working?

Yes, they are. I think they're tightened pretty good & as I'm working, it slips to the tire again. I check the turnbuckle on side that's loose & need to retighten again.

 

[Grandad4]

The turnbuckles do two things, based on how you adjust them:
1. By tightening them, they are supposed to keep an implement from flopping from side to side. You can make them so tight the implement will be rigidly held, but it's usually better for there to be a little slack.
2. The turnbuckles also allow you to change the length of the bracing arms for the lower 3 pt links. By shortening one turnbuckle and lengthening the other, you can shift the implement a few inches to one side or the other.

You said you tried to keep each side taut but the box blade would still sway enough to hit a tire when you lowered it ( at least I think thats what you said!) So it sounds like you still have some #1 tightening to do. Can only suggest you adjust the tilt angle, and THEN tighten the turnbuckles with the implement raised.

Apologies if you're already doing all this correctly. In which case some pictures would really help others try to figure out the situation. Snagging a tire is not fun.

 

[JasonW]

Yes, they are. I think they're tightened pretty good & as I'm working, it slips to the tire again. I check the turnbuckle on side that's loose & need to retighten again.

They should have a lock/jam nut to tighten to prevent the turn buckle from moving. Are you not securing the lock nut?