Freedom Hitch Arrived

thumperjb · Mar 24, 2003

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I am one happy gal! The Freedom hitch arrived last Thursday just 6 days after I placed the order. I had to wait till last evening for the neighbor to help me with it. I found the instructions to be confusing so just used a bit of logic and things fell into place. I am one happy camper.

It works so slick I can't believe I was thinking about selling the tractor. Thanks so much to all who recommended it to me; Bird, SandalWood, MossRoad, Gerard, and Normde2001. I couldn't be more pleased with this purchase.

In fact the only down side to the Freedom Hitch is that now the power take-off shaft to my bush hog is not long enough, it reaches but is not long enough to provide the overlap needed to keep it running straight. I called the local Co-Op and they have some in stock, but they are not cheap. Still all things considered I am pleased and would recommend the Freedom Hitch to anyone who has difficulty changing their implements. Thanks again guys.

Bird · Mar 24, 2003

Glad it works for you.

MossRoad · Mar 25, 2003

A happy person with a happy back /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Congratulations!

normde2001 · Mar 25, 2003

TSC has an adapter that may do what you need a lot cheaper than a new drive shaft.

sandalwood · Mar 25, 2003

Glad to hear that you are enjoying it. One of the drawbacks you will find with Freedom Hitch is that you soon forget what a nuisance hooking up implements used to be - in my case that is just an excuse to go look at more 3 ph implementsjavascript:void(0)
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thumperjb · Mar 25, 2003

Norm, Thanks for the link to that extension. I went to the Co-Op and bought a new drive shaft today (prior to seeing your post) it cost 109.00 I like the idea of an extension, and it's much cheaper. I asked about one at the Farmers Co-Op and they looked at me like I was nuts. Mine was stretched to a point where it was real wobbly, I think I will be happier with the 6-8 inch overlap of the new shaft. I don't know much about tractors and am learning as I go. Thanks again for the information I will file it away under lessons learned.

pokbill · Apr 3, 2003

I purchased the extension piece that Norm provided the link for at TSC last weekend. I would like to use it on my L4610 Kubota. The problem is that it fits fine over the tractor PTO shaft but does not secure on the shaft. The extension piece has drilled holes that look like it would take a 5/16 bolt. The problem is my Kubota PTO shaft does not have a hole drilled thru it to pass a bolt thru. Am I missing something here - do some tractor PTO shafts have a hole for a bolt thru them?
I don't think I would want to try to drill a hole thru the tractor PTO shaft to allow a bolt to secure the extension. Is there some other way to keep this extension from sliding off the tractor PTO shaft? Thanks.
Bill

Anonymous Poster · Apr 3, 2003

Is the hole offset so that the bolt would go through the groove in the tractor shaft?

BillG_in_TX · Apr 3, 2003

Bill,

I was considering the same attachment if I get a quick hitch, so I went by the local TSC at lunch and looked at it and asked. Their tractor expert said most tractor ptos have a hole through them for this purpose. You use a case hardened bolt to attach. He said if I don't have a hole on my Kubota L345, I should just drill one.

I then stopped by the local used tractor dealer, and he is correct. Many, but not all, of the Blue, Green and Orange tractors have holes in the pto shaft for this purpose.

pokbill · Apr 3, 2003

Bill,
Thanks for your reply. I was afraid that was the case. I'm not sure I want to drill a hole - since I can't put it in a drill press I might not get it straight enough. I guess if other tractors come with a hole in the pto shaft there shouldn't be a problem with weakening the shaft. The extension is just what I need since the Freedom Hitch has made pto slide overlap insufficent without it. As the pto shaft is probably hardened maybe this is something I should ask my dealer to do. Anyway thanks for the information.
Bill

MossRoad · Apr 3, 2003

I think I would buy a longer driveshaft before I drilled a hole in my PTO shaft. Just my opinion. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

normde2001 · Apr 3, 2003

I didn't look that closely at it, but I assumed one of the holes would line up with the groove in the pto shaft so you could just drive a roll pin into it. Actually if you decided to drill a hole in the shaft, it could be smaller than 5/16". It only has to keep the extension from falling off, should not be any strain on it to speak of.

BillG_in_TX · Apr 3, 2003

Actually, if you go back and look closely at the TSC link posted previously, you can see that there are two sets of holes, evidently for some flexibility in lining up the holes.

Each set is through the center of the adapter - and consequently the center of the pto shaft. At least half of the pto shafts that I looked at on the used tractor lot had holes in the pto shaft, just for this purpose I presume.

I asked the TSC expert why there wasn't an extension with a spring-loaded pin like on the driveshaft, and he opined that it might not be a good idea to have two of them together like that. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

normde2001 · Apr 4, 2003

There's no logic in that, Bill. An overrunning clutch does the same job and it has a spring loaded pin. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
Of course that would add to the cost, but drilling an offset hole to match the groove and accept a roll pin would not.

EdDekker · Apr 4, 2003

I purchased and returned an extension which required a drilled PTO shaft.

I ended up with an extension which had a locking mechanism built in (a spring loaded notched pin) like the locking mechanism in the PTO Shaft. There is a push button which must be pressed to push the extension on the Tractor PTO shaft and to remove it from the shaft.

I bought it from tractorsmart.com it is made by TISCO part number XB371-16612 it provides a 4 5/16 inch extension. It was about $20 plus shipping from tractorsmart.com.

I can easily use the extension with some implements (the ones with old, short shafts) and remove it without tools for the implements with extended shafts.

normde2001 · Apr 4, 2003

Thanks Ed, that's the one TSC should be selling.

BillG_in_TX · Apr 4, 2003

Yes - Thanks Ed.

I have purchased parts from TractorSmart before. They are fine folks and have really good prices, too. I'll be contacting them for an extension.

pokbill · Apr 4, 2003

Ed, I just ordered the TISCO extension ($26 with shipping) from Tractor Smart. Thanks a lot , this seems like just what I need. Since I have several 3 point implements (Bush Hog, Finish Mower, Snow Blower, Tiller) this is a far cheaper solution that buying longer PTO shafts for all of them. I will return the TSC extension.
Bill

Anonymous Poster · Apr 6, 2003

Why would a tractor manufacturer not put a hole in the pto shaft? That is standard. I have several older pieces of equipment that only have a centered hole for a bolt, no side-clip.

I would complain to the tractor manufacturer, not the extention maker! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

--->Paul

pokbill · Apr 14, 2003

I received the PTO extension from TractorSmart. It has push lock mechanism that holds it on the PTO shaft. Works perfectly. In addition the male end has a drilled shaft so I can fit the extension that I got at Tractor Supply over it and insert a bolt to hold that piece on if I need a longer extension.
Bill