John Deere 3050 - novice question

New Puritan

Member
Location
East Sussex
Hello,
I've just upgraded to a JD3050 (for me it's an upgrade) but it needs a few jobs sorting out on it before I can start using it. Please bear with me - I'm pretty new to farming and know next to nothing about tractors less than 35 years old.
Obviously a photo would really help here, and I'll go and take one to post here when I get a chance, but:
There is no check chain on the right hand side. In the parts catalogues they have check chains which look like check chains always look. However, on the tractor the left hand one is not a chain and has a gaitor type thing on it; whereas the broken right hand one looks more like a gas strut. One end of this has sheared off the bracket. Does this make sense to anyone?
What is that strut called? Why has it got this arrangement rather than the chains the parts book seems to think it ought to have? It's a 1991 model.
This is it from the front (but I'm talking about the back linkage):
IMG_20160923_181258.jpg


Thanks,
NP.
 

NYTP

Member
You are refering to the stabiliser. These are the forerunner to what became standard on the 6000 series. The ones we sell on our website are not the same as the 50 series one. The only place to get the correct one is from JD but is over £190 I think.
 

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David.

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
J11 M40
Idea is that the left one with the gaitor on it sets the machine in required centre position when lower links are raised. When you lower eg a cultivator into work, and side movement is desired, the sprung chain hooked to the cab support pulls the little lever up to unlock the stablizer as arms lower to allow lateral movement. They are nearly all seized up by now but still operate OK as a fixed stablizer for fert spreader/sprayer etc.
The gas strut on the offside lower link arm just stops the arm slapping on the tyre when you drive about with the arms raised. They have all long since snapped off.
If you are really lucky you might have the adjustable spring loaded rod that fits between the two lower link arms, to maintain the correct hook spacing for picking up mounted implements. Otherwise you will need a mate to do this....or a broom handle in the cab to reach down with.
You can certainly buy a turnbuckle check-chain set from likes of vapormatic, that fit in place of gas strut and stablizers and use the same mounting holes.
 
Last edited:

New Puritan

Member
Location
East Sussex
Thanks everyone... I have ordered and now fitted ordinary check chains, which seem to do the job. No doubt I'll have other questions along the way - so thanks in advance for everyone's help.
Cheers,
NP.
 

New Puritan

Member
Location
East Sussex
Okay - two more questions:

1. It's got itself stuck in low ratio. I think it's just the gate jamming. Has this happened to anyone else, and is it easy to remedy?

2. Does anyone have a photo of what the cab step ought to look like? Mine has evidently hit something and is at a very jaunty angle. I want to straighten it out but want to check if any of the bends in it that are currently there ought to be there before I go at it and straighten those out too (!).

Thanks all,
NP.
 

Flat 10

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Fen Edge
Can't help with above but you said elsewhere you may take front linkage off. Don't do that if you have no front weights. You need ballast on the front for subsoiling/ploughing on your heavy ground. What are you going to grow this year?
 

New Puritan

Member
Location
East Sussex
@Flat 10 - good point, but the plan is to buy some front weights to replace it. At least then I can take them on/off as and when required, assuming I have the self discipline.

@dextalad - thanks, that helps me a lot. I asked a friend and he said much the same thing. Your step looks to have the holder at a completely different angle to mine, I've got to try and work out what they did to it to get it facing the way it does now. That'll keep me busy...
 

New Puritan

Member
Location
East Sussex
Another question - I'd like to fit a side passenger seat in the 3050 so my daughter can ride around with me in relative comfort. I've seen 3050s with them fitted, but nobody seems to sell them. Are there generic seats that fit tractors, or JDs, or do people make them or what?

Thanks,
NP.
 
Another question - I'd like to fit a side passenger seat in the 3050 so my daughter can ride around with me in relative comfort. I've seen 3050s with them fitted, but nobody seems to sell them. Are there generic seats that fit tractors, or JDs, or do people make them or what?

Thanks,
NP.
How old is your daughter?
Be aware that under 13's shouldn't be on tractors.
 

dextalad

Member
Location
Cavan, Ireland
And be aware that the top of the lift rod comes up into the cab on full lift. A young passenger can get their right leg nipped between the top of the lift rod and the bottom of the seat pan when going over a bump.
Nice straight looking tractor, and a substantial front linkage to boot. Never felt that their design of axle to tombstone attachment encouraged big weights on the front, but perhaps thats just me....
 
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