The Fordson Tractor Pages Forum

hi all being a while since i posted here, slight problem with my link
arms they work ok but when link box is on the box sways a bit to much when steady
bars are in place and are hitting back wheel tyre lugs, what could be cause of this any ideas
sky blue,

I'm afraid that's how Dexta's are, you can use the stabiliser kit E38-WP-9, although I would replace the bars E133-WP-9 with Major style check chains, that's what Davie has.
Sandy

thanks for for that billy i did try reducing the check chains by alink each side
but diddnt help it left it to hard to attach implements and they still hit the back tyres
ill try looking at the adjustable check chains
skyblue

If you have tyre rub with stabiliser bars fitted, (one each side?) something is wrong.
Either lots of wear in the bars or possibly the implement pins are fitted outside their brackets, rather than inwards.

Pics are always good

Been having a think about this - dangerous, I know...
As John said, the rule of thumb on light kit is cat1 pins face inward, cat2 outward.
Sway bars, even one sway bar, should fix it fairly solid. That said are we talking horizontal bars from the lower link to under the axle at the wing mount bolts or ones that go up to the top link/knucklepin?
I haven't got the Dexta here to experiment with so a little memory work going on.
So, back to basics. If you take the box off and set the arms to horizontal, the inboard check chains should stop the arms from touching the tyres even when the wheels are set at the narrowest possible 48" track. I'm assuming at this point that you are dealing with a standard Dexta and not a narrow or vineyard type?
Next I guess is do you know much of it's history? Are the arms and inboard chains original? The original chain should be one piece and not have a link shackle half way along. Some aftermarket arms have extra holes in them. If your drop arms/check pins are mounted to far forward on the lift arm that would allow the arm to sweep wider.

Less likely but I'll mention it anyway, the aftermarket link arms are basically the same as a 35 or early 135. Later 135 link arms were about 2" longer, that could mess with the geometry. Additionally, if the inboard chains were replaced with chains for the longer arms that again would give a wider sweep.

As for the outer sway bars, do you have a roll bar fitted? The Dexta here has an aftermarket roll bar. Fitting one horizontal stabiliser locks the link box almost solid side to side - the only issue is that the rollbar mount gets in the way of lifting very high. A job on the to do list.

Fairly good stuff there, but there's more to it. I wouldn't consider inner stuff to the top link rocker pivot, it's not suitable nor was it used for that purpose (on that note, some Super Dexta's were fitted with dual category linkage, on them the std check chains are replaced by heavy duty versions, with an extra link to enable cat 2 implements to fit, the instruction was to move the shackle to the second link on the arm side when working with cat 1 on those). Narrow models have a modified design which avoids these issues (at least that's what I think, haven't really been able to test that). I would't recommend only one bar, the loads will be excessive, these brackets are not attached by large bolts as Major ones are, only the 2 mudguard bolts, which are 5/8" UNF, not the 3 or 4 5/8" UNC bolts on Major's.
Sandy

i have now tried just the lower arms on their on and chains do stop the arms hitting
the tyres, so ill just discard the stablising bars, i was under impression that i needed the
bars to stop it swaying and it would take pressure off chain pins
the bars go from under tractor at axel to box its 5ft box.
thanking you all for your input

just before i give up on the stabelising bars does anyone know if the fordson dexta or superdexta
had their own size of bars or did they just use mf or ford ones, if so that would explain
all, and the bars should not be used , all the bars are after market ones and are for mf or ford although
they say they will suit our fordson s
thanks all
skyblue
s

I don't know what other tractors use, but Dexta bars are E133-WP-9. As I said before, I prefer using adjustable chains to solid bars but that's just me. If someone is lucky enough to have original bars then we might be able to know if the repro stuff is ok or not.
Sandy

Thanks billy
the number you have given is that from a uk site i cant seem to find it wthout knowing
what makers do them, the distance between bracket pins and link box pins is 780mm
the mf and ford ones are all 810 , ihave tried with one bar now and it seems to work
no rubbing of tyres so ill just go with this
thanks again
skyblue

Glad it's working.
That number is the one Ford had for Dexta's, and there's no reason for them to fit any other tractor as far as I know. Strange size, I would have expected them to be closer to 30 45/64" although I suspect my number isn't accurate as I haven't access to these parts or any manual with anything about them.
Sandy