Bushing cat 1 implements up to cat 2 to use with a Pats

[canoetrpr]

Just got my new Pats CAT2 slide in hooks on my M7040. I've got to go get some bushings for my CAT 1 implements (which is basically all of them).

Something I didn't think of is: The bushings for CAT 2 to 1 that I can seem to find on the internet all seem to be some standard length (1 3/8" or 1 3/4"). I won't be able to prevent such a bushing moving round once it is put over the lower lift arm pins on an implement will I?

Trying to figure out how I will be able to get the Pat's hooks over these things if they are going to move around.

I guess even if it does not move around, they are going to be much smaller than the lower lift arm pins on the implements. One of the nice thing about the Pats is that I find the lower lift arms do not have to be exactly the right width and it allows a little bit of play to get the implement hooked up.

Any thoughts?

 

[gwdixon]

You will enjoy the Pat's I'm sure.

The Pat' should have come with a few large bent washers. You will need lynch pins to hold the washer and bushings on the Cat 1 lower pins.

The ones that work on the Cat 1 implements work fine on the Cat 2 implements. You probably already have several.

The length of the Cat 1>Cat2 bushing should be a bit less than the distance from the implement's lower pin's shoulder to the near edge of the hole. It has to be a bit shorter to allow for the Pat's bent washer. You can by longer ones and grind them shorter or until there is a perfect fit of the bushing>bent washer>lynch pin on the lower lift pin.

Don't forget that the top link will need a bushing as well. It is a different size than the bushings for the lower lift pins. Sometimes these are too long to fit some Cat 1 implements if the attachment point is especially narrow. But grinding or cutting them down works fine.

I have two sets of lower bushings (4 total) and two for the top link. Just to guard against loss.

The Pat's is attached from the bottom - the tractor's arm w/Pat's is placed lower than the implements lift pin, then the Pat's is lifted by the tractor's hydraulics and it snaps (audibly) onto the implement's lift pin. It should not matter if there is a little play in the bushing or if it is a bit short.

 

[gwdixon]

Got your PM.

AH! Now it is more clear what you are asking about. The type of hitch you mention is a "clevis hitch".

Indeed, the bushings are short in the longer clevis space. You have three choices.
1) Just use the bushing as is. It will rattle around between the ends of the clevis hitch but it is really OK.
2) Use two bushings to fill the gap. Cut or grind down one of them to fit exactly in the space.
3) Use a spacer. I used a large nut with a large washer welded on one end. The washer is not necessary if welding is not your thing. It also kept the implement from rattling around on the tractor's lower arm.

 

[canoetrpr]

Thanks gwdixon. I will go the two bushing route for these. Seems simple enough. I've got a grinder and might have to break out the old bandsaw.

Now to find some bushings locally. I'd be surprised if my local Princess Auto - our equivalent of Harbor Freight I guess - does not have them.

 

[gwdixon]

Thanks gwdixon. I will go the two bushing route for these. Seems simple enough. I've got a grinder and might have to break out the old bandsaw.

Now to find some bushings locally. I'd be surprised if my local Princess Auto - our equivalent of Harbor Freight I guess - does not have them.

Just about any tractor dealer will have the bushings. I got mine at a John Deere dealership. Your Kubota dealer should be able to come up with some.

If anyone else has the same issue - I forgot to mention that when using a nut as a spacer make sure that the Cat 1 pin just fits through the nut so the Cat 1>Cat 2 bushing won't slip into the nut. Grade 8 nuts are expensive but wear better.

My ultimate solution was to get Cat 2>Cat 3 bushings, cut the Cat 1 clevis holes large enough to fit the Cat 3 bushings with a plasma cutter, run a Cat 2 pin through the bushings (to keep everything lined up), weld the bushings to the clevis hitch frame and then cut them down to fairly flush.

The same thing is done to the top link with the bushing that fits it.

It essentially converts the Cat 1 implement to a Cat 2. Using two bushings on a Cat 1 pin is MUCH simpler and gets pretty much the same results. I just like to do the fooling around.