Thanks pycoed, You are right on all counts! except the reason the bar was bent is that they used the bar to pick the topper up with a JCB and chain! The strap going to the rear has several chain links at the end in order for the back of the topper to lift to allow for terrain fluctuations, but it may get a bit more chain and a bit less strap if we encounter difficulties, the field is not flat!! I understand about the guards, and you can but a new shaft for slightly more than a replacement guard, which is crazy, but they are obviously profiting from the unwary! I have a PTO shaft, and many lengths of plastic pipe, I can knock something up to suit. TBH I wouldn't have bothered, because it has obviously been used without one, but the sticker showing the guy wrapped round the driveshaft made me feel a bit queasy!!! Maybe I can improve on it a bit, who knows, watch this space! My local AG shop, Scrutons of Foxholes beat the internet prices hands down, and it's all sparex, so it should be good, but I will have to make some of the parts because they didn't have stock for a 1955 Fordson! gone are the men in greasy overalls and the tea mugs on the counter, to be replaced by bright new stores and everything in little plastic boxes, and I did buy lynch pins! Cat 2 sparex top link £20 +vat, what can you say! They tried to palm me off with 1/2" by grade 8 bolts for the shear bolts, but when I explained that I would rather shear a bolt than smash the gearbox they looked at me sadly, and realised I was the owner and the user of the machine, and would not be walking in their door to order a new gearbox! I can get the (grade1 or 2) shear bolts off the net. There will be plenty in the field that the blades dont like but I think with a bit of care we will cope!, thanks for posting! I still have a lot to learn about tractering, so all help is much appreciated!
Phil
East Yorkshire