L3540 lower linkage Ball

[sniper1312]

Hello everyone

I have just retired and moved to a little place in the countryside that is in need of some work so I have bought an L3540 in need of some TLC.

The tractor has a cat 1 quick release type hitch but the balls that were loose in the toolbox are not the correct ones for the hitch and do not fit (Cat 2 not Cat 1). I need to source another couple of cat 1 balls but when I called my local Kubota dealer he wanted £61 + 20% tax ($114 US) EACH

Can anyone tell me the outside diameter of the correct linkage balls for this hitch so that I can try and source some without having to sell a kidney!

Thanks

 

[A.O.]

Hello everyone

I have just retired and moved to a little place in the countryside that is in need of some work so I have bought an L3540 in need of some TLC.

The tractor has a cat 1 quick release type hitch but the balls that were loose in the toolbox are not the correct ones for the hitch and do not fit (Cat 2 not Cat 1). I need to source another couple of cat 1 balls but when I called my local Kubota dealer he wanted £61 + 20% tax ($114 US) EACH

Can anyone tell me the outside diameter of the correct linkage balls for this hitch so that I can try and source some without having to sell a kidney!

Thanks

I too have a L3540 but I'm not understanding the question or maybe your terminology.. maybe a picture of what you are looking for would help. My tractor has no loose balls so I don't really know what you are looking for.

 

[sniper1312]

Hi A.O and thanks for the reply.

The ball sits in the end of the lower link arm and can be released to aid in hitching up implements. Here is a photo of the socket where the link ball sits.

 

[Stubbyie]

Oddly enough, it sounds like you're speaking a foreign language. Probably not, but I have no idea what "balls" you're describing as relates to a quick hitch.

If it's a Kubota-specific part you're most likely stuck buying from a dealer.

If you were stateside I'd suggest trying a local Tractor Supply or similar "farm"-related chain hardware store or the local Farmer's Co-Op feed store. Does your part of the world have tractor salvage yards readily available? Try emailing US salvage yards if "our" parts interchange with "your" parts and consider shipping. Try eBay or even Amazon too.

Posting some pictures of the assembly might help others on this Forum understand your needs. Consider also looking at Kubota parts books online to obtain part numbers and drawings.

Could it be that the Cat-2 balls in the toolbox (if I'm reading your posting correctly) simply need a sleeve-type reducing bushing? Commonplace locally--just a tubular sleeve that fits inside the Cat-2 ball and reduces the hole size to fit a Cat-1 pin.

Although not common I've seen replacement Cat-1 balls loose in bins for a few bucks each. If you really need standard plain Cat-1 balls as used in a 3-point hitch lift arm I bet you can find them. Look at SpeeCo website in the US.

I'm curious. Please post back your continuing experiences so we may all learn.

 

[sniper1312]

Hi Stubbyie,

As George Bernard Shaw said "two nations divided by a common language".

I too have seen the lower linkage balls available online and at an engineers store I visited yesterday but although the hole in the middle is constant at 7/8 inch the outside diameter varies between 42mm and 50.5mm

It is difficult to measure the inside of the "cup" on the end of the lower hitch with any accuracy so I was hoping someone had a similar hitch and could put a calliper across them for me. I could then have a go at finding more reasonably priced alternatives.

 

[85Hokie]

Hi A.O and thanks for the reply.

The ball sits in the end of the lower link arm and can be released to aid in hitching up implements. Here is a photo of the socket where the link ball sits.

View attachment 16906

Sniper,

Is it a ball or a pin ? Is this what would/should go in there?

Typically on the ends of the 3 point there is a "ball in a socket" that the pin goes through and then a linch pin ring holds it there. In your case the quick hitch will lock in place???

 

[sniper1312]

Hi 85Hokie,

Yes the end of the lower arm in my case should be a ball in a socket. The hitch is of the type whereby pulling up on the ring in the photo you can remove the ball and place it on the pin which is secured to the implement. You can then manoeuvre the arm to cup the ball again which I understand makes it easier to hitch up an implement.

This is not the type of quick hitch where the pin on the implement goes directly into a slot in the hitch itself, the implement pin goes into a ball which then drops into the "socket" in the end of the lower hitch arm.

The problem is that the balls with the hole in for the implement pin to go into are missing. I have seen various different ones for sale but as I said whilst the internal hole is a constant the outside diameter of the ball varies.

 

[D2Cat]

Sniper, you sure there is a ball that goes in the latch?

Look at this:http://www.ebay.com/itm/3-Point-Qui...321?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5d4de00061

It is essentially what you have welded on your tractor.

Your implement has "link pins" on the outer edge and they simply set in the pieces facing up and are latched in. No balls required.

If you have cat.2 quick hitch connections and cat.1 implements you put a bushing on the cat.1 pin to make it larger to then fit cat.2.

You back up to the implement and latch it on.

 

[sniper1312]

Hi D2Cat,

Yes I am sure that a ball goes in there, the inside of the socket is shaped in a concave manner to accept a ball and it is far too wide for just a pin. The closer at the top of the socket (the bit that retracts when you pull up on the ring) does not close fully, just enough to capture a ball placed inside.

 

[D2Cat]

The last picture clarifies what you need. Not very popular in these parts! I would have a difficult time paying $114 for those parts.

You need something like this with the outside casting cut off. Might contact the seller and see if you can buy just the part you need. It may also need some machining to fit you slot.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/WELD-ON-LOW...8&pid=100005&rk=1&rkt=6&sd=121490195727&rt=nc

Gotta get creative, or pay the price.

You could just cut the thing off and weld on the piece in the link.

 

[A.O.]

Odd set up indeed, must be a European thing or something..

 

[A.O.]

Would this work?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/OLIVER-WHIT...722?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19e685630a

 

[A.O.]

Oooo.. I just found this..
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Linkage-bal...618?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item338c85e28a

And if not that seller, Agri parts UK might have the right thing.. maybe

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

On that setup the balls are attached permanently on the implement and you just pick up the arms on the implement to hook it up.

 

[85Hokie]

Hi D2Cat,

Yes I am sure that a ball goes in there, the inside of the socket is shaped in a concave manner to accept a ball and it is far too wide for just a pin. The closer at the top of the socket (the bit that retracts when you pull up on the ring) does not close fully, just enough to capture a ball placed inside.

View attachment 16915

that picture does explain it all !

good luck finding your balls.......

hell - you know what I mean!

 

[sniper1312]

Thanks for the interest,

I eventually ordered a couple of sets of balls and found that the 44.5mm O/D fit best. They work fine attached to my 2m flail mower now that I have adapted the stabilizer chains that came with the tractor but obviously were not for it! I will order another couple of pairs so that I can leave them attached to the implements as and when I get them (PTO driven sprayer, Box blade.......).

Off to carry on taming my own bit of wilderness, thanks again for the help

 

[Treckerzeug]

Hi,

In europe ghese fast coupling devices are fitted to almost all tractors,
Balls are available just at all places where tractors or parts are sold, e.g.
http://www.ebay.de/itm/Kugel-fur-Fa...=LH_DefaultDomain_77&var=&hash=item1e98130941

Prices start at 5€

Or with a kind of guiding plate

http://www.ebay.de/itm/Unterlenkerk...98?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_77&hash=item19eeded28a


The first manufacturer s name was

Walterscheid,

Now cbm is quite popular

Hope this helps

Regards

Robert