bush hog master control spring

If (a) you can use a suitable length of chain around each axle housing, then round the lower link arm, and joined by a suitable shackle - much less than $225 :)

If (b) you can make up a bit of linkage - and add two lengths of chain to run from the top link (ideally not the yoke, the long pin) to the lift arms at the hog connection - also less than $225. I can email you a nice solution from the Ford N board if you are interested, 'fraid i can't remember who did it, but it was very neat.

Unsiezing the threaded rod on the control spring needs to be done very carefully, and over several weeks using a combination of heat and something similar to WD40 or PB blaster or similar.

To check if the linkage on the spring is working as it should, and for info on adjustments, go to the link below.

A quick and dirty check is to stand on a 9 hole drawbar, and insert a pry bar into the yoke, and lever against the spring - the drawbar should lift after almost imperceptible movement/compression of the spring.

HTH

• Holland Brand

3/8 of an inch should be thick enough - cut with extreme care with a knife, or better yet use a jigsaw, then drill for bolts to fix to the frame.

Did you check for easy/difficult spring rotation as per the link to Holland Brand in the above posting?

Did you try the prybar test on the top link?

Normally, the spring will get 'looser' over time, not tighter - please be careful adjusting anything - it took me months to get mine set up right - simply because I kept making assumptions on what was wrong.

All that did was throw ever larger spanners into the whole set-up.

Follow the checking procedure in the H-B link, and set up according to that.