limiting the sway in my 3pt hitch

Farmall 656 · Aug 7, 2017

I would like to limit the sway in my 3pt hitch on my 574. I use a 6ft Bushhog rotary mower on the tractor and it seems to sway back an forth much more than I would expect. I don't go fast nor whip around corners
nor mow on crazy steep land with the mower. The mower sways left to right depending on the level of the land or the occasional gopher mound. What can I do to reduce the amount of sway in the hitch? I
understand there is some sway. I did try one of the adjustable stabilizer bars from Fleet Farm, but bent it beyond repair when a nut from the lower assembly fell off causing the short chain on the hitch to be free.
Looking for your thoughts and ideas of limiting too much sway by adjustments in the hitch or other means. Thank you!!

DeltaRed · Aug 7, 2017

You need to run 2 stabilizer bars. One on each arm,then tighten to remove all the slop.Or make something up using 2 chains.

mattofvinings · Aug 7, 2017

On my 460U there's a heavy welded angle iron frame that came with the tractor, not original. The frame sits inside of the lift arms. The lower lift arms have a small amount of side-clearance to the frame but its not much (guessing around 3/8" each side). Its easy to push the arm wide in order to start the implement pull-pins, but then once the pins are in the sockets, it doesn't move much. I have only used a 2 bottom moldboard plow and a box blade with the setup but it seems to work OK. There is a small amount of side swing but its definitely limited. Not sure if the same concept would work with a row crop/taller tractor but I would think so. Just would depend on attachment points and getting the structure heavy enough.

JimB2 · Aug 7, 2017

Hi, we never had a 574 but had a 674 and 684, same tractor but larger rear wheels and fuel turned up to 62+ HP.
The standard 3pt sway chains on our 674 and 684 had turn buckle adjustments plus the bracket under the rear axle had 3 different holes in it. Most rear hole was lots of sway, middle hole was a little sway and front hole was no sway.

JimB

MARK ROBKE · Aug 7, 2017

jimb2 is correct:they attach under the axles and at the middle of the outside of the lower arms.I would bet someone removed the sway limiters at one time.I have seen this before,and can't fathom why anyone would remove them.You may try to find some at a tractor scrap yard.
I had a 574,and now have a 485.On the 574,I had to free up the turn buckles to limit the sway.On my 485,I can turn them easily by hand.When I bush hog,I sometimes am mowing under/around electric fence and need it not to sway at all.I did remove the springs that pull the arms inward because they made it hard to hook up implements.I just put a bungee between the arms when I use drawbar equipment.Mark

limiting the sway in my 3pt hitch

Farmall 656

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DeltaRed

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mattofvinings

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JimB2

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MARK ROBKE

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