lower link ?

Tony in Mass. · Apr 25, 2013

OK, time for some better news than the 98th anniversary of Gallipoli...
My butterfly plow was all lined up to the formerly diesel MF35 'arsend' now Z134 powered... couldn't get the lower links on the plow (plough) pins... all this time, the 23C never ran well enough to do any work, so I didn't realize the sockets were all seized tight. The thought of cutting them off, buying and welding on new ends sickened me. So I got out the torch, and after just a few minutes of heat, they all loosened up, and I know it is frowned upon, but I put the penetrating oil in them and rolled that around for quite awhile each. Now the question, do you guys wash out the oil with gas? Leave it? I don't want to attract grit, but don't want to fight this battle again.... any ideas?

DavidP, South Wales · Apr 26, 2013

Hi Tony,
ANZAC day is not really remembered very well in the UK but we do owe them one hell of a lot!

It is a never ending question about lubricating the linkage balls. In a soil engaging operation it is better to have them dry especially if the lower links are close to dusty soil (quite rare in the UK) where they can and will pick up grit.

For less gritty jobs or where non-abrasive dust may be present I would be inclined to keep a very light lubrication present. A small squirt from an oil can would be enough to help a little but not provide a build-up of say grease which would hold grit. Likewise for the front lower balls.

I can't find any MF guidance on this so I guess it is down to everyones own choice.

Cheers

DavidP

samn40 · Apr 26, 2013

Sorry to hear that your balls were all seized up, Tony....it is a sign of not being used often enough! Keep on working them hard and they willl shine up and need no further lubrication.
Sam

Tony in Mass. · Apr 26, 2013

Ah. So I see your new hobby is collecting lower links! Very nice! Did you ever consider something a bit??? lighter? ...like model railways? stamps?or bar coasters? You can't use an old china cupboard for displaying these things.. not for long anyway...
oh, btw... about your jokes...yeah, like they told Jerry Seinfeld... don't quit your day job...

Inno · Apr 26, 2013

No wonder I could never find the correct lower link for any of my tractors, there's so many of them and they're all different!!

Roy in UK · Apr 27, 2013

I never had any trouble with my balls thank you as I liked to keep them lightly oiled! BUT our MF 168 had those lower links where the ball ends were retained by a pin, the pins themselves were notorious for getting seized . Taking them out often involved much WD40 and patience for fear of bending them / snapping them off. It was usually easier to leave the cat 2 ball ends in all the time and if I needed to use it on a cat.1 implement, just fit them with the adaptor sleeves.

Don-Wi · Apr 27, 2013

I guess I wouldn't worry about it. If you really want the oil out now, spray them out with carb or brake cleaner.

Donovan from Wisconsin

P.S. sorry to hear about your rusty balls....

FBH44 · Apr 28, 2013

There's no ideal answer, buti t's better to have real oily-dusty balls than rusty balls. i ALWAYS ol 'em up good with used oil, and keep 'em oiled.

lower link ?

Tony in Mass.

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DavidP, South Wales

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samn40

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Tony in Mass.

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Inno

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Roy in UK

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Don-Wi

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FBH44

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