Pats system quick change

Army grunt · Mar 14, 2011

I pined up to my box blade today. Frist time with the new "Pats" system, It was like cheating it was so easy.

Life is good
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k299/falcon6667/IMG_5175.jpg
Army Grunt

davygp38 · Mar 14, 2011

Army grunt said:
I pined up to my box blade today. Frist time with the new "Pats" system, It was like cheating it was so easy.Life is good
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k299/falcon6667/IMG_5175.jpg
Army Grunt

I am thinking about the easy change, but I keep hearing that it still is not 100% universal. I would pull the trigger on 90% universal though. Have you tried it on anything else?

Army grunt · Mar 14, 2011

Not hooked to anything except the box, but cant see any reason it wont be fine. It took a little time to get set straight, but well worth it. What i did was put them on backed under the box, then snugged the bolts an then one, by one took out an put lock tight on.After working as grunt in nam I have back problems so this system is a real life saver.
Army Grunt

texasjohn · Mar 14, 2011

I've used Pats system for several years now. It fits everything I have, about 5 different attachments. The type I have extends the swing arms a couple of inches. Thus, the top link will need to accommodate the same extension to achieve the same attachment position. This can be a good reason to get a hydraulic top link ... which your back will thank you for...makes it doubly easy and quick to hook up attachments.

To be clear, the two devices are each independently extremely worthwhile additions to a tractor. Together, they make hooking up implements no sweat, literally:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

RoyJackson · Mar 14, 2011

davygp38 said:
I am thinking about the easy change, but I keep hearing that it still is not 100% universal. I would pull the trigger on 90% universal though. Have you tried it on anything else?

It's not like you swap the PEC between tractors. If it fits (depends on how long the "straight" section is on the ends of your lower links), I doubt you'd ever take it off.

Villengineer · Mar 14, 2011

I recently bought PEC and have found an issue with my attachments on my JD 770. because of the shape of the lower 3 point arms I can't hook up to all various width attachments. Since PEC carries the angle of the arm back and doesn't pivot I can't set my arms at a single position and pick up both my widest and narrowest attachments. Unfortunately that's the two attachments I hook up the most. I will say that when you can use it sure is nice, but there's no way I'm going to be taking the PEC on and off to hook up an implement. For me, if I can't use it on 100% of my attachments it's not an option. I need to figure out what it will cost me to alter my outliers vs just selling my PEC.

RoyJackson · Mar 14, 2011

Villengineer said:
I recently bought PEC and have found an issue with my attachments on my JD 770. because of the shape of the lower 3 point arms I can't hook up to all various width attachments. Since PEC carries the angle of the arm back and doesn't pivot I can't set my arms at a single position and pick up both my widest and narrowest attachments. Unfortunately that's the two attachments I hook up the most. I will say that when you can use it sure is nice, but there's no way I'm going to be taking the PEC on and off to hook up an implement. For me, if I can't use it on 100% of my attachments it's not an option. I need to figure out what it will cost me to alter my outliers vs just selling my PEC.

You'd have the same problem with a quick hitch, BTW.
Since I didn't buy the spreader bar, I always just lined up the best I could, engaged the implement pins, then installed the washers/lynch pins. Since I had to get off the tractor to hook up the PTO drive shaft, it wasn't much extra work. Heck of a lot easier then juggling an implement to hook up the lower links (without the PEC).
I suggest you modify one of those implements...if you want to use PEC or a QH. I don't know what implements you're having problems with. My tractor with the PEC was a 790...virtually the same as your 770.

And, like my signature line says: TANSTAAFL.

johnk · Mar 14, 2011

I have used PEC for about 4 years now and never had a problem hooking up to any equipment. I'd never be without them. Saves a lot of sweat and time to just back up, lift, hook up top link and go.Nice product.

texasjohn · Mar 14, 2011

villengineer, isn't changing the width of your lower lift arms as simple as pulling a pin on each arm, repositioning the arm and reinserting the pin? That's all I have to do with my Kubotsa on the rare occasion that I need to change their width. Absolutely no pressure/strain required. Seems to me you would have to make some adjustment between your implements, even without the PEC, so I don't see this as a problem generated because of the PEC system.

Villengineer · Mar 14, 2011

Roy, You are correct in that I would have a problem with any quick hitch. The PEC actually gives you more flexibility as fas as width goes than most. It simply just won't work with my implements unless I modify them. I'm just not sure it's worth it to me to make those changes.

texasjohn, This isn't a sway link issue. I would have to change the horizontal spread of the tractor-ends of the lower lift arms. On the JD770 and probably similar models like 670, 790, etc.. the tractor end on the lower link arms are on two long pins which also have the sway links on them and a bunch of spacers to set their positions. Adjusting that is not a quick process. Why have a QC system if all you are doing changing the parts you have to wrestle and actaully increase the time necessary to hook up a frequently used implement? Anyway, without the PEC I don't have an issue because the spherical ends have more than enough articulation to take the lift pins with the lower lift arms pulled together. The PEC doesn't articulate at all, so the hooks end up at an angle that won't accept the lift pins.

RoyJackson · Mar 14, 2011

Villengineer said:
The PEC doesn't articulate at all, so the hooks end up at an angle that won't accept the lift pins.

I see your point. As mentioned, I never had that problem although I could see an implement using a clevis (rather then just pins sticking out) being a problem. Some larger RFMs (Befco and Land Pride are two I know of) use a clevis arrangement for the lower link hook up. Unless the PEC was perpendicular to the clevis, it might not fit.

My Befco RFM (84" unit) has those clevis type lower hookups. I don't have my 790 or the PEC any more. When I bought the 4400, I bought a QH...which doesn't fit the mower either (or any other implement except the Deere ballast box and the Land Pride rotary cutter (which uses pins as it's a 60" unit)
At this point, I haven't used the QH or purchased a new PEC. Either will require modifying the mower and chipper (not sure about the rear blade). The mower would require swapping some brackets and making two spacers...not sure what the chipper would require (but I would need a new PTO drive shaft for sure).

Villengineer, how about a couple pictures of the problematic implements? Maybe we can figure something out.

RoyJackson · Mar 14, 2011

teg said:
Maybe your widest implement can reverse the pins to be on the inside??

You're assuming they're pins...might not be.

nspec · Mar 14, 2011

I always just lined up the best I could, engaged the implement pins, then installed the washers/lynch pins.

I like that. I have trouble fitting my PECS between the washer and the implement. The washers seem to rest with a little angle, thus narrowing the opening that the hitch fits in. A lot of times the PECS hits the washer and won't engage the implement pins. Anybody else encounter this? I've used electrical tape and wrapped the washers so they sit tight against the lynch pins and that helped. Seems like this would solve my problem.

Villengineer · Mar 15, 2011

Roy, I know what I'd have to do to make it work. I just have to decided if it's worth the time and $ to alter them. You are correct in that one of my attachments, RFM, has clevis style lift points that require the PEC to be almost perfectly straight to fit. While it doesn't play nice, the real problem child is my tiller. It's a Yanmar and the spread of the lower lift links is very narrow relative to all my other attachments. I've already altered it once to correct the top link geometry, I'm just not sure it's worth it to alter it again.

nspec, yes I've encountered the same issue with the washers unless I use the cross bar to keep the arms at nearly perfect spread. The problem is that I've found that I can't leave the cross bar attached to PEC. The adjustment knob vibrates loose and I don't want to lose it. It also tends to bind if the PEC ends aren't perfectly parallel. Anyway, back to the washers, I've been thinking about designing an alternative based on some parts from one of my products here at work. No way it would be as cost effective as the bent washers though.

gwdixon · Mar 15, 2011

nspec said:
I like that. I have trouble fitting my PECS between the washer and the implement. The washers seem to rest with a little angle, thus narrowing the opening that the hitch fits in. A lot of times the PECS hits the washer and won't engage the implement pins. Anybody else encounter this? I've used electrical tape and wrapped the washers so they sit tight against the lynch pins and that helped. Seems like this would solve my problem.

Oh, yeah - it's a pain.

I bought some correct sized Grade 8 washers and some small washers in bulk. Then a small bend was put in the small washers and they are welded on so the lynch pin catches both sides of the large washer.

The same thing was done to the original Pat's washers but only one extra washer was necessary.

When the hole in the lift pin is located in the vertical the lynch pin will hold the large washer tightly and avoid the Pat's.

Another trick is to mount the stock Pat's washers "upside down" - that is with the bent part on the bottom of the lift pin. That holds the bottom tightly and the curve tends to guide the Pat's onto the lift pin.

Photo when the sun comes up.

nspec · Mar 15, 2011

Yeah, that was my first fix - mounting the washers upside down.

Also, for all you guys buying extra washers, you can make them for a heck of a lot less than $5 for a set. As much as I like my PECS system, that's a bit excessive. Drill a hole in a big washer for the lynch pin, put it in a vise, heat it cherry red, and knock the top 1/3 right over.