3720 Telescoping Draw Links

FLBowHunter · Oct 10, 2007

Unfortunately, I didn't order these when I bought the machine last year, but decided to upgrade and called my local JD parts department and was told that the telescoping links were $400 EACH!!!!

I said forget it.

Anyone know where to get set of these for a reasonable price (new or used)?

Bill

RollingsFarms · Oct 10, 2007

i know the telescoping draft links cost alot of $$$ but for me, they are worth every cent!! thats a MUST have with my next tractor, i dont care what the cost is. they make life sooo much easier. you'll get tired of beating, banging, and fighting with hooking up your implements eventually. also you might want to look into an easy change system. i-match and pats easy change are two that come to mind.

ddivinia · Oct 10, 2007

Well, I didn't have then either on my 4720. When my 5525 came in with them - I was sold. I ditched the i-match off my 4720 (in the barn - need to sell it) and I am very happy with the new links.

D.

Z-Michigan · Oct 10, 2007

I definitely would have recommended them as a purchase option, but now that it's done I would consider getting an iMatch instead, since it will be about the same $$$.

RollingsFarms · Oct 10, 2007

ddivinia said:
Well, I didn't have then either on my 4720. When my 5525 came in with them - I was sold. I ditched the i-match off my 4720 (in the barn - need to sell it) and I am very happy with the new links.

D.

having used both telescoping draft links and i-match, which would you say were easier for you to use?

braque1 · Oct 10, 2007

I have had both and would say I-Match is easier by far.

FLBowHunter · Oct 10, 2007

I thought about the iMatch, but would it work on my Bush Hog being a non-JD, non-Frontier implement?

RollingsFarms · Oct 10, 2007

FLBowHunter said:
I thought about the iMatch, but would it work on my Bush Hog being a non-JD, non-Frontier implement?

cant say for sure. i have heard that Pats Easy Change fits just about any implement, and that i-match generally works exclusivley with frontier equipment.

on the draft links, can anyone tell me if they are adjustable in raising and lowering them. what i mean is i know you can retract and detract them to hook up your implement but does it have to be the exact height or do you have to raise/lower the 3pt hitch?

FLBowHunter · Oct 10, 2007

You have to raise and lower the 3pt. hitch, but you always have a little vertical "play" to work with...

I'll never know, though, because I'm not paying $800 for a set of them. That is an absurd price for draft links, especially small ones on a 3720.

BillyP · Oct 10, 2007

RollingsFarms said:
on the draft links, can anyone tell me if they are adjustable in raising and lowering them. what i mean is i know you can retract and detract them to hook up your implement but does it have to be the exact height or do you have to raise/lower the 3pt hitch?

No, they're not adjustable other than in or out but they don't need to be. Just lower your 3pt hitch below where it needs to be and raise it up by hand. I tried the imatch thing and took it back. Didn't have anything it would fit without some fabrication. The cost back then (2002) was $270 for both sides.

Z-Michigan · Oct 10, 2007

On my 5105 the draft links are adjustable not only in/out but also a fairly wide range up/down, roughly 5". Beyond that you can lift the draft arms by hand, but they're quite heavy (note: 5105 has cat 1&2 hitch, arms are probably 3x heavier than what's on a 3720). I usually try to set the draft arms at the same height as the implement draft pins and then use the wiggle room to get the balls attached without lifting the whole arms.

JD seems to be the only manufacturer using a different design of their extendable arms - Kubota, NH, Kioti, MF, etc. all seem to use exact same design. IMHO the JD design is better with a wider range of motion and less chance of accidentally releasing the arm-ends after you have the implement hooked up.

RollingsFarms · Oct 10, 2007

i wonder why they seemed to come standard on the 5005 series but not on any other series? i thought surely they would have added that to the new 5003 series but it doesnt seem they did. at least the new 5003's that i've seen on the lot don't have them.

Z-Michigan · Oct 10, 2007

Actually they aren't standard on the 5105, it was a factory option (cost around $130 MSRP). Maybe dealers are just smart enough to order 5x05 models with them? I would bet most 5x25 models have them too. Above that you get into tractors that will commonly have the Cat 2/3 quick hitches (standard on 8xxx and 9xxx series, I understand) and otherwise will be used with towed type implements (balers, offset disks with wheels, etc.).

GreenMtns · Oct 11, 2007

I ordered them on my 3520 and would not be with out them. BUT I did not pay anywhere near $800 for them. Before JD change their "build your own" web site to improve it and made it almost impossible to use, you could look up the pricing on the web. I think you might want to check with another dealer and get a price from them.

I used to to Pat's and they worked very good but my preference is the extenable draft links. Fast hitch up and no swear words.

BTI · Oct 12, 2007

You may be able to buy a different brands lower links cheaper.

Depends on how long your lower links are and if you want the slack adjusters for each side also.

BTI

FLBowHunter · Oct 12, 2007

I called the salesman that I bought it from and told him the story. He called me back and said he doesn't know why the links are listed at $400 each (and they ARE if you put in the individual part numbers for each link LH and RH), but he said the complete kit (part number LVB25308) really is $232 like the configurator says, and I told him to order it!

Thanks for all the replies, folks.

Bill