Ford 3600 3 point question

[pepper boy]

I have a 1977 Ford 3600 diesel. I mainly use a grader blade, tiller, broadcaster, and flail mower. My problem seems to mainly be with the flail mower. When I lower it, it is in firm contact with the ground as in there is no floating or following the ground contour. I have had to replace bearings on the roller several times. It seems to me that there is too much and constant down pressure on the implement. Is there something that Im missing or a remedy for this problem?

 

[Bern]

It is impossible for the 3-point to put downpressure of any kind on an implement. You'll need to look elsewhere for your problem, like maybe a top link adjustment.

 

[RufusMons]

Two possibilities:
The draft control lever is in the wrong position.
The top link may not be adjusted properly.

I have learned from experience with a Ford 640 and a Ford flail mower that the mower is sensitive to top link adjustment.

 

[geok]

Could be possible that the 3 point is in a wedge when you lower the mower. Do you use the top link to set the cutting heights on the mower> I use a 7ft flail and sometimes when I go over a hump the mower tends to dig in.

 

[pepper boy]

It is definitely putting down pressure on the flail mower, if the ground is damp, it will dig in. How do I adjust the top link?

 

[geok]

With the tractor and mower on level ground, turn the top link so that it extends out. Most flail mowers cuts best cutting close to the ground. I set mine about 2 1/2 in. Let your 3 point down all the way. Lay a 2 by 4 and a 1 by 4 on top or something that is around 2 to 2 1/2 in thick. Adjust the top link down so that the blades are touching or close to touching the blocks of wood. Then if you can lock the top link in this position. I have measured the distance between the pins of the top link so that I don't have to repeat this every time I hook up to the mower from using something different behind the tractor. Most of the time you just let your lift most all the way down and your top link will maintain your cutting height.

 

[Ultradog MN]

As said by others, your tractor can not apply down pressure to an implement.
That is true no matter what the top link is set at.
I don't know tillers. Do they have wheels or rollers on them that carry part of the weight of the machine?
Adjusting the top link might transfer some weight off of the tines and onto any rollers or wheels and thus cut less deeply.
Also, your tractor has two lift handles.
Have you experimented using the inner one with the tiller?
It gives you draft WITH position control and though I never use it on my tractor I would play with that too in your situation.

 

[Sean in PA]

The 3 point system itself has no down pressure, so any perceived downward force is due to gravity and the arms possibly being lowered down too much. Are you sure that the draft control lever is all of the way down and that you are not lowering the position control handle all of the way down? It came with stops with wing nuts that you could adjust so that it couldn't lower the position handle below a certain point. The stops on many are no longer there but you can make your own using a small clamp.

 

[Ultradog MN]

I must be getting Alzheimer's.
You were talking a flail mower and somehow I got tiller out of it. Still no down pressure on your tractor tho.

 

[Bern]

A good friend once told me that there are 3 things in life that start to fade when you get older. One of them is your memory. I honestly can't recall now what the other two were.

I hope you're not really getting old-timer's disease there Jerry. You're too valuable here on this board!

 

[JMOR]

(quoted from post at 06:31:47 09/16/22) I must be getting Alzheimer's.
You were talking a flail mower and somehow I got tiller out of it. Still no down pressure on your tractor tho.

robably no need to worry if what I have read is true, that is , 'if one realizes that they got something mixed up or they realize that they forgot something, that they do not have Alzheimer's, but if they do those things and have no idea of it, then they do".

 

[Eman85]

Does the PTO shaft have movement or is it too long and binding?

 

[Ultradog MN]

Thanks Bern.
I'm okay.
Maybe just need stronger coffee.

 

[Bern]

Just to be clear Jerry, I was simply funin' with you in my last post. I should have put a smiley face in it after my last sentence. I didn't mean to imply that you're losing your mind!

 

[Ultradog MN]

Thanks.
I knew that.
But the truth is this was the 3rd time I've misread and misanswered a post on YT in the last week. Makes a guy wonder about himself.

 

[Check Break]

(quoted from post at 10:04:38 09/17/22) Thanks.
I knew that.
But the truth is this was the 3rd time I've misread and misanswered a post on YT in the last week. Makes a guy wonder about himself.

Probably your eyes. I get it wrong first pass lots of times. Hey, at least you still remember you read it wrong 3x. Time to read 2x, and speak 1x. You do it every day on the job, but then that would make YT more like work, and less fun.

 

[pepper boy]

Thanks for the help. I will look into the top link adjustment and the draft control next time that Im at the farm.

 

[Check Break]

You can change your top link to a chain that will let her float easier, but I don't think that's your problem. You don't really want the mower to be banging along over the ground. Maybe keep it up a hair so the roller only hits the high spots. A 4" roller spins a lot faster than anything else on your tractor. If the bearings are wearing out, try a different grease. One that wants to adhere to the bearing. Try Schaeffer 219. If the bearings and grease aren't the problem, then maybe it's the roller. Flexing and transmitting too much vibration to the bearings. Something you'll have to experiment with until you figure her out.