The Drawbar

Hold on to your seat. This is going to be exciting! A whole video devoted to things you don't know about the draw bar. Actually there's a little tip here that might save your shins, but you'll need to watch the video to see what that is.

The draw bar, (or "drawbar", I'm not sure which one is right) if you've not been around tractors, is that thick piece of steel in the back of the tractor with a hole in it. There are basically two ways to attach an implement to the back of the tractor…three point hitch, which is designed for attachments that can be lifted up, like plows and discs. And pull-type, which have a tongue that attaches with a hitch pin to the hole in the draw bar. Most of the time these implements have wheels on the back of them, so part of their weight is on the wheels and the other part on the draw bar of the tractor. You use a jack, attached to the implement, to lift them up to hitch to the draw bar, then lower them down once it's attached.

The problem for a lot of people is that the draw bar may never get used because many of the implements for smaller compact tractors mount by way of the three point. So, you have this big piece of steel sticking out all the time for you to ram into your legs.

I don't want to give away the video, but there's a way to slide the draw bar out of the way and still keep it attached to the tractor and that's the main subject here. There's also a really important measurement to be aware of when attaching pull-type PTO-powered implements and I discuss that in the video as well.

ONE THING I DON'T MENTION THAT'S IMPORTANT and I'm planning a video about this soon, if you want to drag a heavy weight with your tractor, the draw bar is where you want to attach it. If you attach anything higher up on the tractor and try to pull it, the torque of the wheels spinning could turn the tractor over backwards on top of you. That was a pretty common occurrence on the early tractors with no front end loaders, and a lot less apt to happen on a modern tractor, but it's still possible depending on where the load is attached on the tractor. So, where that draw bar is mounted is the place to attach heavy loads.

[WoodysGamertag]

Before I watched this I was sure that I wouldn't learn anything. However, after watching it I now know that both of those tips were new to me. Nicely done.

[jambo_jackbelly]

My standard for whether an informational video is worth my time or not is simply did it teach me one useful or helpful thing that I didn't know and this video certainly did. Thank you. I subscribed also

[lesthompson]

spot on yrs you are right, spot on for a draw bare .

[saltydog]

Thanks Mike! I am constantly learning from the information in your videos. Thanks again, Doug Baird.

[rs]

The drawbar can be fitted with a hitch ball if you want to tow your utility trailer around your land.

[larrymoore]

I run my Dad's tractor, I guess its mine now but I never took notice to a draw bar. I will have to look, thanks Mike....

[triggeredmonkey]

Clicked on this video out of pure boredom. Seriously how much information am I going to learn talking about a drawbar.
Now I'm glad I clicked on it. Didn't know about the 14 in distance. Just go's to prove you've not learned everything yet even on the most simplest of things.

[nervousordo]

I'm confused. 14" vertical or horizontal? How does the draw bar get in the way of an implement? A demonstration would be good.

[brucelouthan]

My attachment pin is forward, under the tractor (8N). Wish it were as you show. Thanks anyway!!

[Drew]

some tractors don't allow the drawbar to be retracted fully (example Kubota 4240L). The transmission is in the way.

[glennkerner]

How do I install a draw bar to my ford 9n if I dont have the per drilled holes under my pumpkin?

[SteveRobReviews]

Mike I just don't understand why they changed the connection of the drawbar from further front on the tractor to just at the rear axle. I found many older tractors with less hp and forward placed drawbar connection could pull better than the tractors I see and have today. Mike would it be ok with you if I mention your channel in a review ? Thanks Steve.

[cyoungso]

The other holes are to mount a clevis, are they not?

[BUDD]

What is the distance from the tip of the PTO shaft to say the middle of the holes on a CAT 0, CAT 1 & CAT 2 3pt? If the arms holes are the same height as the PTO shaft?

[patrickmulrain]

I use my tractor to pull a trailer with a ball hitch. It is inconvenient to remove the ball or change the draw bar everytime I need the draw bar without a ball. If my draw bar has multiple holes can I put the ball in one hole and leave the las hole open for a pin?

[bigal]

Why do front end of tractors not have a draw bar? Sometimes I need to drive up and pull something but have a long way to turn around and back up a long way to do it. Would be easier to hitch to the front, pull 20 feet and go forward again.

[ronevans]

That I did not know on the bar, I just brought me a Massey Ferguson after yrs. of having John Deere’s not sure I’m going to like it . But laying all of it beside it’s nice know that 14 inches from PTO. Guess after 5 yrs, u can always learn something new.

[daveknowshow]

so the fourteen inches applies to pto driven devices that are towed by the draw bar, not towed by the three point lift arms? is that correct?

[CoconutCount]

Thanks for the great information Mike. Question for you, what is the recommended length for a horizontal draw bar on a cat 1 compact tractor? (not the swing bar) And, does it matter? Thanks a ton for your hard work!

[drbbhiggins]

Mike thanks for another great video. I learn something new every time. Can you suggest a draw bar and draw bar assembly for my Massey Ferguson GC 1705. Perhaps a place to get one at a decent price. Keep the videos coming, my co-workers have gotten used to the videos on Thursday afternoons and they are now looking to see them when you post.