Stabilizer Chains

carpetfarmer · Oct 20, 2017

Has anyone ever tried using chains or
something similar in place of
stabilizer bars? The idea being: 1)
more flexibility for movement and range
of motion in your implement than solid
or adjustable stabilizer bars, 2) offer
more stabilization and reduce the range
of motion as opposed to using only the
check chains and 3) take all the strain
of a swinging implement off the check
chains by using a heavier chain running
from the lower lift pins back to the
much heavier stabilizer brackets under
the axle.

JMOR · Oct 20, 2017

(quoted from post at 22:32:42 10/20/17) Has anyone ever tried using chains or
something similar in place of
stabilizer bars? The idea being: 1)
more flexibility for movement and range
of motion in your implement than solid
or adjustable stabilizer bars, 2) offer
more stabilization and reduce the range
of motion as opposed to using only the
check chains and 3) take all the strain
of a swinging implement off the check
chains by using a heavier chain running
from the lower lift pins back to the
much heavier stabilizer brackets under
the axle.

hatever suits your fancy. :roll:

Caryc · Oct 20, 2017

(quoted from post at 19:32:42 10/20/17) Has anyone ever tried using chains or
something similar in place of
stabilizer bars? The idea being: 1)
more flexibility for movement and range
of motion in your implement than solid
or adjustable stabilizer bars, 2) offer
more stabilization and reduce the range
of motion as opposed to using only the
check chains and 3) take all the strain
of a swinging implement off the check
chains by using a heavier chain running
from the lower lift pins back to the
much heavier stabilizer brackets under
the axle.

There's a reason people don't do it. It's because it will not work like solid stabilizer bars do.

I suppose you don't believe this so try it yourself and find out why it won't work. Stabilizer bars work whether it's a pushing or pulling motion against them. A chain won't do that.

Try pushing a mower to the side. It will have a pushing action against one bar and a pulling action against the other side.

HFJ · Oct 20, 2017

[b:ff7baaa19e]"1) more flexibility for movement and range
of motion in your implement than solid
or adjustable stabilizer bars"[/b:ff7baaa19e]

i use stabilizer bars to eliminate that movement. i want less flexibility. when i'm mowing, i want to be able to believe that the mower is pretty much directly behind me.

i originally mowed with an a/c WD. implements didn't go wandering off to the side behind it. it was quite a shock when i first mowed with the ford.

Tim PloughNman Daley RIP · Oct 21, 2017

Your question defeats the whole purpose of STABILZER BARS. You do not want more swaying action, you want it rigid and very limited -mowing and back blading are the bet uses with them. What model tractor are you using them on? All 9N and 2N models never had POSITION control and sometimes the use of Limiter Check Chains work well to keep mower in-line and tracking straight as well as keeping the depth set at a certain height. Then there is the ZANE THANG, made and sold by Zane Sherman, which is a device that adds Position Control to any 9N or 2N tractor.

FORD 8N & WOODS FINISH MOWER w/STABILIZER BARS:

Tim *PloughNman* Daley(MI)

carpetfarmer · Oct 21, 2017

I'm thinking these would be used with ground engaging equipment such as a disk for example or other implements you don't normally use your traditional rigid stabilizer bars for.

When disking hard ground and sod my disk always makes its way back into the furrows from the first pass (not enough room to go at different angles) so it would be nice to have some stabilization to keep it from wandering too far but don't want to pretzelize my stabilizer bars.

Another example, I have a need in the near future to disk the side of a small levy ~300' in my yard. With no bars of any kind the disk will fall downhill to the fullest extent of the lift arms and check chains.

Having already ripped out the holes in both check chain brackets in the past and recently breaking the lower clevis on the LH leveling box arm from the disk swinging around on turns I'm not too keen on breaking anything else because of implements slamming from side to side.

carpetfarmer · Oct 21, 2017

This would be for my 2N. We may be crossing connections but by check chains I'm referring to the snall chains running from the boomerang shaped brackets around the PTO out to the lower lift arms; not height limiter chains.

NoNewParts · Oct 21, 2017

(quoted from post at 23:32:42 10/20/17) Has anyone ever tried using chains or
something similar in place of
stabilizer bars? The idea being: 1)
more flexibility for movement and range
of motion in your implement than solid
or adjustable stabilizer bars, 2) offer
more stabilization and reduce the range
of motion as opposed to using only the
check chains and 3) take all the strain
of a swinging implement off the check
chains by using a heavier chain running
from the lower lift pins back to the
much heavier stabilizer brackets under
the axle.

sure, use what ya got. I used some chain pieces and turnbuckles on a 5000 to stop my counterweight from banging side to side. Same with a JD I have (I didn't have the sway bar setup on either and didn't want to spend the money)

Another solution that will give you more sway than swaybars, but limit sway, is to take a pair of standard sway bars, and open up one of the holes into a slot. Just lengthen the slot until you get the 'sway' you want. (do it a little at a time, it doesn't take much of a slot to let the implement move a bunch)

gears · Oct 21, 2017

When I first got my N it only had one bracket for a stabilizer on the left. From what I had read that should've been ok. I put a single bottom plow on and went to try it out (my first time out) turned out they're good under tension but the plow buckled my brand new stabilizer! So I ordered that universal angle iron mount setup and two new arms. It was tough lining up an implement but things stayed very stabile.

My solution to the hookup was to weld tabs to a heavy chain, under tension it keeps things as stabile as two bars but hookup is much easier.

It worked so well I made one for the 3400 too!

R Geiger · Oct 21, 2017

(quoted from post at 06:48:33 10/21/17) When I first got my N it only had one bracket for a stabilizer on the left. From what I had read that should've been ok. I put a single bottom plow on and went to try it out (my first time out) turned out they're good under tension but the plow buckled my brand new stabilizer! So I ordered that universal angle iron mount setup and two new arms. It was tough lining up an implement but things stayed very stabile.

My solution to the hookup was to weld tabs to a heavy chain, under tension it keeps things as stabile as two bars but hookup is much easier.

It worked so well I made one for the 3400 too!

A stabilizer bar or two should NEVER be used with a plow. You will break something.

Caryc · Oct 21, 2017

(quoted from post at 05:48:33 10/21/17) When I first got my N it only had one bracket for a stabilizer on the left. From what I had read that should've been ok. I put a single bottom plow on and went to try it out (my first time out) turned out they're good under tension but the plow buckled my brand new stabilizer! So I ordered that universal angle iron mount setup and two new arms. [color=red:d79af2eda8][b:d79af2eda8]It was tough lining up an implement but things stayed very stabile[/b:d79af2eda8].[/color:d79af2eda8]

My solution to the hookup was to weld tabs to a heavy chain, under tension it keeps things as stabile as two bars but hookup is much easier.

It worked so well I made one for the 3400 too!

It's no trouble hooking up an implement when you use one solid stabilizer bar and one adjustable one. You don't have to worry about pushing the implement to one side to get the other stabilizer bar hooked up. Just hook up the solid bar first than adjust the other bar to fit on the pin. If the implement is a little off center, raise it off the ground and use the adjustable function to center the implement.

Tall T · Oct 21, 2017

(quoted from post at 06:50:42 10/21/17)

A stabilizer bar or two should NEVER be used with a plow. You will break something.[/quote]

Mr. Geiger,

This is the very first time I've heard that I shouldn't have used my stabilizer bars when plowing. I've plowed up only 3 plots so far with my Ford 110 single.

Tell me more!

Thanks,
Terry

R Geiger · Oct 21, 2017

(quoted from post at 13:04:38 10/21/17)

(quoted from post at 06:50:42 10/21/17)

Click to expand...

A stabilizer bar or two should NEVER be used with a plow. You will break something.

Mr. Geiger,

This is the very first time I've heard that I shouldn't have used my stabilizer bars when plowing. I've plowed up only 3 plots so far with my Ford 110 single.

Tell me more!

Thanks,

A plow needs to move around a bit
Terry[/quote]

gears · Oct 21, 2017

My first time with a plow, tried a virgin section of sawgrass drained swamp. 20'x20' didn't like it. Been using my tractors with a slip scoop, pallet forks and a box scraper ever since. From reading and experience I should be using the stabilizer bars for that.....Right?

W_B · Oct 22, 2017

(quoted from post at 02:16:29 10/22/17) My first time with a plow, tried a virgin section of sawgrass drained swamp. 20'x20' didn't like it. Been using my tractors with a slip scoop, pallet forks and a box scraper ever since. From reading and experience I should be using the stabilizer bars for that.....Right?

YES. I won't use implements like these without stabilizer bars. A plow should track properly by itself, if not it is not adjusted right.

Ultradog MN · Oct 22, 2017

I think a bit of flex back there is good.
Without it you turn your tractor+implement into one long, rigid unit. I think the idea that you have to have your tractor and implement locked together like that is a misconception or a myth.
I have never used sway bars on anything. Except I have a very heavy brush mower and broke a check chain on a side hill. So i bought a sway bar setup for the tractor and hated it immediately.
I quit using the sway bars and just went up and down the hill instead of sideways. I have a bunch of 3 point implements and don't use them on anything.
But if you like sway bars you are entitled to use them and love the things if you want.
An adjustable chain type sway setup is a good idea. Gives you some sway control but doesn't make the combo so rigid.

Tim PloughNman Daley RIP · Oct 22, 2017

Again, why? Anymore swaying left to right will only get you into trouble with the lift arms hitting the tires -do you really want that? I'm not understanding your thinking on why you want to do this...want more swaying action, then don't use stabilizer bars, simple, eh? Oh, and never use stabilizer bars with a turning plow...defeats the purpose- plow will track correctly when set up correctly -it has to have the ability to move, not be kept rigid.

TP Daley(MI)

Stabilizer Chains

carpetfarmer

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JMOR

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Caryc

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HFJ

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Tim PloughNman Daley RIP

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carpetfarmer

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carpetfarmer

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NoNewParts

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gears

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R Geiger

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Tall T

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R Geiger

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gears

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W_B

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