3-Point Hitch Yet another 3 point hitch question

[corey9212]

Hello, I am having this battle with my 3 point hitch when hooking up and am wandering what you guys do to solve this without using a quick hitching method. I back up close to the implement, spread my lifting arms so they can go onto the pins, hop into the tractor and back up carefully and slowly just to have the arms close back up on me. I have also tried it where I back up rest the arms on the pins (obviously the arms are close together cause I can't keep them apart) open the arms to find out that I now have to move the tractor forwards so they line up.
How do you guys hook up your 3 point hitch and keep your arms open so you can line up and hook up?

 

[teg]

I try and get the arms below the pins... you can lift the arms up easily. Then there's pushing and shoving the implement and/or the tractor tire. Once you get one locked on, I use the tilt feature on one of the side arms to get the other pin on... a few cuss words and swears... and you're done

 

[/pine]

check where your turnbuckles attach to the tractor...there should be flat metal tabs that move up and down as the arms are drawn in or out...opening the turnbuckles and (manually) lifting these tabs up should hold the arms out (apart)...another option is a couple of bungy straps...

 

[TripleR]

I notice you have a BX2660, on mine I just reach back with my cane. Any kind of stick should work.

Some users have fabricated spacers from PVC.

The easiest way I have found is to draft one of my sons to do it on the bigger tractors. Three point hitch is one of those instances in which youth and brawn trumps age and wisdom every time.:laughing:

 

[jinman]

I usually start with my 3PH raised all the way up. I back up until the arms are over the toplink A-frame and then lower the arms onto the tops of the hitch pins. I slowly drive forward until one of the arms is in perfect position above a hitch pin, and then set the brake and get off the tractor. I hook up the one arm and the toplink and then drive forward or backward enough to line up the other arm depending on where it is or how straight I am. Some implements can be moved easily into place without moving the tractor. That's the way I did it before having extendable links and TnT. Now, I get things close and use all the nice features to make hooking up easy. Of course, some implements don't have an A-frame, but most do.

 

[sailorman]

I 've cut 3/4 inch pvc pipe to the appropriate length for each of my attachments to spread the arms. I then wedge the pipe between the arms and back up.

 

[teg]

I 've cut 3/4 inch pvc pipe to the appropriate length for each of my attachments to spread the arms. I then wedge the pipe between the arms and back up.

Got Photos of them??? :thumbsup:

 

[sailorman]

Got Photos of them??? :thumbsup:

Nope, but I 'll work on that. Rainin' outside right now. Its simple though. Just a piece of pvc cut at the right length to spread the arms. 1/2 inch would probably work, but 3/4 was what I had layin' around. So cheap to do I can 't even put a price on it. I got one for a carry all and one for a bush hog. Just wrote on them with permanent marker to identify. If ya wanted to go further you could slide smaller o.d. pipe into large with some drilled stop holes marked for individual implements. Extend to correct hole and just insert a nail or somethin' in stop hole.

 

[corey9212]

I notice you have a BX2660, on mine I just reach back with my cane. Any kind of stick should work.

Some users have fabricated spacers from PVC.

The easiest way I have found is to draft one of my sons to do it on the bigger tractors. Three point hitch is one of those instances in which youth and brawn trumps age and wisdom every time.:laughing:

The cane wouldn't work cause I have a cab on it and I don't have anyone to help me with hooking up (so that leaves with age and wisdom to try and figure it out)

 

[TripleR]

Good luck because if I had to rely on age and wisdom, I'd be in trouble.:laughing:

Actually, I grew up doing this and always managed somehow. As mentioned, spacers can be made out of PVC or you can notch a plank, bend some conduit etc. I have learned however that there is no really easy way without quick hitch, but I haven't even bothered to put mine on yet.

 

[corey9212]

I do have a quick hitch but only 3 out of 7 implements fit on it (and it's the 3 used the least) so I'm stuck using just a regular 3 point system and struggle a lot with it.

 

[jenkinsph]

The cane wouldn't work cause I have a cab on it and I don't have anyone to help me with hooking up (so that leaves with age and wisdom to try and figure it out)

What little wisdom I have dictated that I buy the IMatch quick hitch and make sure all the implements were made to fit. Makes me wonder why I didn't do it sooner. Qucik hitch and skid steer loader attachments simply make all the hitching problems way easier to deal with.

 

[corey9212]

I agree with the quick hitch making everything easier to attach but not everything I use is quick hitch compatible (either the top pin doesn't fit or the lift pins won't fit or sometimes both) when the top pin doesn't fit it is because there isn't enough room in between the top bars that the pin sits in on the implement to fit the hook, for the lift arms the problem was the pins were too close to the implement leaving no room for the hitch's bottom hook to attach. I can post pics and if anyone has ideas on how to make them fit I would be more than willing to try.

 

[soulasphil]

The sway links maintain the arms properly separated. I back up to the implement and place one arm so that it will hitch easily to one of the pins. Then the strategy varies according to the type of equipment.
For implements that can easily be moved like a trailer or my tiller, I move the implement for the final centimeters.
For implements with an important vertical development, like my log splitter, I hitch the third point and screw or unscrew the link to align the second arm with the pin.
For very heavy equipment like my bushhog, I lift the implement and lower it with the one connected arm and drive forwards or backwards until the second arm is aligned. I then connect the third point and shaft.
Implements that are extremely unbalanced like my hedge trimmer may require lifting with the FEL and standing on logs or hanging from a tree to get hitched.
In all cases, the height adjustment on the right arm is very helpful.

 

[sawduster98]

I built an adjustable spacer out 1/2" and 3/4" PVC pipe and a couple fittings from Tractor Supply. The ends have lag bolt threads on one end and a pin on the other, probably used for supporting a door I'm guessing. The threads screw right into the 1/2" pvc. One fitting and about 6" of 1/2" pipe got screwed into one end of the 3/4" pipe. I cut both pieces of pipe to give me an adjustable length of 26"-30" and use a small hose clamp to hold the spreader at the right length. Each implement has a line drawn on the pipe to show where to set the clamp. The best $10 investment yet...saves lots of cursing!
The best part was when I got Pat's EZ-change system, each end has a socket that the pins on my spreader drop right into. Next time I'm out to the tractor I'll get pics.

 

[Gordon Gould]

I back up with the lift arms below the pins. I try to line up one of the pins perfect and be close on the other. If the pins are not level I line up on the lowest one. Then get down and lift the draw bar(s) by hand, spreading if necessary, and insert the pin. If the other pin is higher I raise the 3ph until the second pin lines up vertically. Then I use the 5' bar that I keep in the FEL torque tube at all times to jockey the impliment so I can insert the second pin. Then I connect the top link.

 

[jenkinsph]

I agree with the quick hitch making everything easier to attach but not everything I use is quick hitch compatible (either the top pin doesn't fit or the lift pins won't fit or sometimes both) when the top pin doesn't fit it is because there isn't enough room in between the top bars that the pin sits in on the implement to fit the hook, for the lift arms the problem was the pins were too close to the implement leaving no room for the hitch's bottom hook to attach. I can post pics and if anyone has ideas on how to make them fit I would be more than willing to try.

Post the pics of the implements you need to fix and we will make suggestions.
We like giving free advice.