Quick Hitches 3-point quick hitch

[treesmith]

I have considered the different quick hitches for 3-point hitch, and I've noticed that most folks talk about the ones that mount on the lower lift arms. Does anyone here have any experience with the rack-type quick hitch that you mount on your tractor and it engages all 3 points on the implement? I'm wondering how well they work and if they are compatible with most implements or if there is too much variation in the dimensions to make them feasible. Any feedback on them?

 

[RoyJackson]

If you do a search for "Quick Hitch" or "quickhitch", you'll find quite a few threads or posts.
The lower link type, sold on TBN as Pat's Easy Change are quite versatile and require no modifications to any implements. However, they do add about 4"-5" to the distance between the PTO stub shaft and the implement gearbox (if it's a driven implement). It's possible you'd need a longer driveshaft or PTO stub shaft extender. I did when I installed Pat's on my 790. You may also need a longer top link (I didn't, but I had to extend the top link as long as it would go).

The 3PH Quickhitch is manufactured and sold by both tractor dealers and implement manufacturers. I have a Deere brand, purchased when I bought my 4400 a few months ago. Other then my ballast box (Deere brand), it doesn't fit any of my implements (Befco RFM, Land Pride rotary cutter, Woods chipper). Each of these implements will require modificaton for the quickhitch to work. Once that's done (it's a Fall/Winter project), the implements should hook up as easily as the ballast box does now.

Both require pretty careful backing up to the implement to get the draft link pins as closely aligned to the implement's pins as you can. You'll still probably have to wiggle some implements. You'll still have to manually rig the implement driveshaft to your tractor's PTO.

 

[k0ua]

I use the Carter quick hitch, fits on the lower lift arms, and does not add length, it adds height to the lift arms. None of my implements were the same and the PTO shaft on the rotary cutter is just barely long enough as it is when I changed tractors. They were also cheaper, seems to work well. The JD autohitch looks like the real solution to me But I just don't have the money.
James K0UA

 

[emorris]

I bought a quick hitch from harbor freight recently. It was 63.00 t tax with 20% off sale price of 79.99. I have not installed it yet, but I had to get mine since i am recovering from a motorcycle crash and unable to change impliments the oldfashoned way. I plan to use it for my bush hog, box blade, rear blade, tiller, disc, and bottom buster. All my impliments are different brands so I expect to have to do some mods. for now I will be happy if I can use my boxblade and bushhog with it. I also got the top link adapter, I had to call harbor freight customer service to order. It was about 20.00 after shipping and tax. My tc30 has industerial tires on it and it always been a pain to change impliments due to the wide tires.

 

[kennyd]

If you do a search for "Quick Hitch" or "quickhitch", you'll find quite a few threads or posts.
The lower link type, sold on TBN as Pat's Easy Change are quite versatile and require no modifications to any implements. However, they do add about 4"-5" to the distance between the PTO stub shaft and the implement gearbox (if it's a driven implement). It's possible you'd need a longer driveshaft or PTO stub shaft extender. I did when I installed Pat's on my 790. You may also need a longer top link (I didn't, but I had to extend the top link as long as it would go).

The 3PH Quickhitch is manufactured and sold by both tractor dealers and implement manufacturers. I have a Deere brand, purchased when I bought my 4400 a few months ago. Other then my ballast box (Deere brand), it doesn't fit any of my implements (Befco RFM, Land Pride rotary cutter, Woods chipper). Each of these implements will require modificaton for the quickhitch to work. Once that's done (it's a Fall/Winter project), the implements should hook up as easily as the ballast box does now.

Both require pretty careful backing up to the implement to get the draft link pins as closely aligned to the implement's pins as you can. You'll still probably have to wiggle some implements. You'll still have to manually rig the implement driveshaft to your tractor's PTO.

Also search the term "imatch" which is JD's brand name, but it's usually mentioned in all of the QH threads. You could not pry mine from my cold dead hands!:laughing:

 

[bjr]

I bought the HF QuickHitch a couple of yrs ago. Everyone said how durable they were. Well it took some abuse and then something down it linkage part bent up and quit working. It's setting out in the scrap pile now. If I ever qet a few minutes of spare rebuild time I could probably salvage it. The thing can be tore up, it's not indesrtuctable. bjr

 

[lucky llama]

I bought a 3pt quickhitch and had all of my implements modified to fit it. It is great for implemsnts without need of a pto connection. I found hooking up the drive shaft to the pto very difficult with the quickhitch on. It was in the way and tuff to reach around and through. I have since changed to Pat's system and love it. It is almost as easy with non powered equipment and much easier with pto powered equipment.

 

[Peej]

I have a speeco and after this weekend (101 + and aggrivated ) I'm just about ready to take it off.
I agree with the PTO hookup issue. I need to spend about a week modifying
"making things fit" with all my implements. If I didn't have the top hook adapter I barely could use it. But it works Great on my solid stand seeder, just back up and lift. Wish the others worked that well. Have had issues with clevis type lower arms hooking into the bottom pickups, really tight on my Bush Hog tiller. But not giving up yet.

 

[TC33DA]

I looked at the JD imatch this weekend. My dealer said $300. WOW. LOVE MY GREEN.

 

[curly]

So, those iMatch quick hitches will work on other brands?

 

[Xfaxman]

So, those iMatch quick hitches will work on other brands?

Other brands of what?

 

[curly]

I thought the iMatch was strictly a John Deere product. Does it work on any brand tractor (within reason I guess). Would it require buying all JD implements?

From what I can tell it's simply a quick hitch that will work on any tractor and accept any implements. Just making sure though.

 

[RoyJackson]

I thought the iMatch was strictly a John Deere product. Does it work on any brand tractor (within reason I guess). Would it require buying all JD implements?

From what I can tell it's simply a quick hitch that will work on any tractor and accept any implements. Just making sure though.

Deere's Quick Hitch is just a standard Category I or II and will work with most implements that are built to category I or II requirements (there's a specification, but I can't recall the number...it's an ANSI spec, I think).
My QH is a Deere and I use it with Woods implements. The only implement that doesn't fit is my chipper (Woods 5000) which is a rather old design (and actually built by Crary Bearcat).
A quick hitch does make life easier...especially with a rotary cutter.

 

[kennyd]

Deere's Quick Hitch is just a standard Category I or II and will work with most implements that are built to category I or II requirements (there's a specification, but I can't recall the number...it's an ANSI spec, I think).

ASAE Category 1 Standard S278.6 for quick-attach hitches

But just a clarification, it's CAT1 only.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

At my age the QH is the best implement I have. Makes all the others work easier for me. I tired of groveling around in the dirt hooking up implements. QH no tools and most work from the seat. All my QH ready implements worked fine. Older stuff did not follow the ANSI standard so mods are required. Easy if you are a welder and have the equipment. Do a search of the TBN threads and you will see my experience making a HF QH work and save a bundle in several. Tired of telling the story now.

Ron

 

[curly]

At my age the QH is the best implement I have. Makes all the others work easier for me. I tired of groveling around in the dirt hooking up implements. QH no tools and most work from the seat. All my QH ready implements worked fine. Older stuff did not follow the ANSI standard so mods are required. Easy if you are a welder and have the equipment. Do a search of the TBN threads and you will see my experience making a HF QH work and save a bundle in several. Tired of telling the story now.

Ron

I searched for all threads started by you (found 23) and didn't see anything that looked like it might be the thread you are talking about. Did someone else start the thread?

 

[Tractor Seabee]

Sorry to mislead; I just posted on threads by others. There are some minor mods needed to the HF ones. If you are not a welder it will probably not work for you. From all the experiences posted on this subject it is clear the HF ones do not work right out of the box. First step is the lift arm connection point at the bottom is drilled at 3/4" rather than the 7/8" required. That is a reamer job.

Ron

 

[Xfaxman]

Use the Google Custom Search at the top, It only searches TBN.

 

[curly]

Well nevermind. I had the Deltahook system on my DK55, and it looks like I'm gonna get to keep it for my CK35. It was expensive when I first bought it, but it definately does the trick for me. Hassle free changing out 3-point implements.

 

[KennyG]

Sorry to mislead; I just posted on threads by others. There are some minor mods needed to the HF ones. If you are not a welder it will probably not work for you. From all the experiences posted on this subject it is clear the HF ones do not work right out of the box. First step is the lift arm connection point at the bottom is drilled at 3/4" rather than the 7/8" required. That is a reamer job.

Ron

Odd. My Harbor Freight QH was 7/8. Fit right on with no modifications. The only issue with the manufacturing I found was the top hook was forged with a slight angle so implements with the top hook pin converted to Cat III (1-1/4") are a little tight. I ground it out a little to make that work.