Eldon (WA)

Well-known Member
Which are stronger, straight bars or those with a bend in them? Seems the only ones I have seen that broke are straight. Maybe the bend gives them more of a flex point? Going to pull a big hydro-push manure spreader tomorrow with a straight drawbar, I looped a chain under the drawbar to the 3pt arms as a precaution...
 
All things being equal I would say
straight would be stronger as metal
generally concentrates stresses at
bends. That's being said I have seen
more broken and repaired straight
drawbars over the years, but maybe it's
because the straight ones are easier to
repair with plates so they do get
repaired not tossed, and also straight
drawbars are somewhat more common so
naturally more of them out there means
more to break
 
I've used the same "chain between the lift arms and under the drawbar" trick myself with large
square balers, especially when the drawbar is extended out to the proper dimension for a 1-3/4"
PTO. Carefully raise the arms so the chain just starts to pick up some load and block the lever
from going any farther. You don't want to get carried away since the 3-point hitch on the average
large tractor would probably win that arm wrestling match.
 
I used a chain on the drawbar of the 4440 when I pulled the 35 foot drill. It carried all of the weight on the hitch when it was raised and I worried
about that hitch. I haven't seen proof that either is stronger than the other in my experience.
 
Vertical load on a drawbar is something I never see talked about. This came to my attention when I noticed it listed in Deere moco manuals
and then with other mower conditioners.

As an example, the JD 625 moco has a vertical drawbar load around 1,000 lbs. If I wanted to pull the thing around our barn yard with my JD
5055d, the max vertical drawbar load for that tractor per the manual is 552 lbs!!!! Seems kind of low IMHO especially since it has a Cat II hitch
and drawbar. If I put more than 552 lbs on the drawbar, I don't know if the drawbar would break, the drawbar hitch weldment/assy would break
or the rear end casting would break off under the weight of a drawbar vertical load! LOL!

Here is the blurb from the manual for the 5055d

"Observe Drawbar / Wagon Hitch Load Limitations

IMPORTANT: Certain heavy equipment, such as a loaded single-axle trailer, can place excessive strain on drawbar. Strain is greatly increased
by speed and rough ground.

Static vertical load on drawbar/wagon hitch should not exceed 250 kg (552 lb)."

There is another/almost identical tractor JD made before my 5055d year make and it is the 5205 "Advantage Series".

The 5205 has an identical drawbar and drawbar hitch weldment as my 5055d, yet the 5205's drawbar limit is 1225 lbs max vertical load.

Here is that text from the 5205 manual:

"Observe Drawbar Load Limitations

IMPORTANT: Certain heavy equipment, such as a loaded single-axle trailer, can place excessive strain on drawbar. Strain is greatly increased
by speed and rough ground.

Static vertical load on drawbar should not exceed 556 kg (1225 lb)."

What gives????? Why the difference in vertical drawbar load??????

My thinking is the 3 cylinder 5000 series JD tractors, i.e. 45, 55, 65 engine hp models, (with the exception of the 5205 and 5105) are limited to
552 lbs due to their VERY light front end. A safety CYA on Deere's part.

Makes me wonder what the limit is for my MF 50 or the Ford 3000, etc. Somehow I think these tractors have seen heavy drawbar loads from
single axle trailers with tongue loads exceeding 500ish lbs in years past.

YMMV.....

Bill
 

Nothing will break if you put over 552# on the drawbar. Like the manual said, speed and rough ground greatly increase the loads on the drawbar. They designed the drawbar to survive bouncing over rough ground with 552# on it, and in addition will have a safety margin designed in. Think 1/2 ton truck. And tires, you can greatly overload tires if you are going slow over smooth ground. At some point over design load something will break, but it is likely closer to double the design load (or triple) because impact multiplies loads tremendously.

552# and 556kg look suspiciously similar. I'd guess some young engineer screwed up one of the manuals. Now, which one is wrong??
 

From what I have seen it is not the load or the draw bar it is the combination of load and poor operator judgment. An owner could haul a fully loaded manure tanker for weeks with no problem. But put an operator like my second cousin "Animal" on it and he has to go just a little faster down the road. The tanker can get to "galloping", and pretty soon the draw bar is trying to support twice the weight as standing still.
 
Same with me - only broke a curved one. And I know why it broke... big(ish) load, plus hitting a ridge left by the grader too fast.
 

Got the compost spread with no drawbar problems, but the ground was soft and it worked the tractor good. Recent rains added a lot of weight to it...was supposed to be 100 ton to spread, but I think it was quite a bit heavier. Did it in 5 hours, slow part was the little Kubota loading me...but he did have to pull be out twice as I found some soft spots...
 

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