I Match Hitch

lovesfarmalls · Sep 28, 2005

I have been reading several posts from my fellow compact tractor brethren and I can't believe how many of your salesman are selling you a pig in a poke!!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gifThe I Match hitch is a FANTASTIC piece of equipment making my life so much easier to hook up equipment. However, many of the short line implement manufacturers' product will not fitup to the I match hitch. John Deere is simply following the standards as mandated by the American Society of Ag Engineers and the Society of Automotive Engineers. ANY supplier is free to adhere to this standard and they should be but becuase they can save a nickle, they don't do it and they when we get home with the off breed implements these salesman pawn off on us, we get mad because we have to take the I Match hitch off to hook up these off breeds. If the salesman would have told me I needed to buy a John Deere implement to maintain compatability with the I Match hitch I would not have batted an eye. My advice is this, if you are buying a new tractor, get the I Match hitch and mkae the salesman show you that each implement he is trying to sell you is compatible with the hitch. Time and money well spent and you will be a very happy tractor owner!!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

beenthere · Sep 28, 2005

Welcome to the forum.
I'm happy with my "pig in the poke" and I just render my old non-conforming attachments 'iMatch compatable' with a trip to the welder. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

lovesfarmalls · Sep 28, 2005

I love it......when the American spirit comes to life!!!!!!!!

hobbyfarm · Sep 28, 2005

( Welcome to the forum.)
Ditto,
lovesfarmalls and please don't forget to fill out your profile.

( John Deere is simply following the standards as mandated by the American Society of Ag Engineers and the Society of Automotive Engineers. ANY supplier is free to adhere to this standard and they should...)

You know, one would think that this would be not only common sense (to adhere to established standards), but a good selling point too.

Jomo45 · Sep 29, 2005

I agree the concept of the speed hitch is a real time and back saver! That said, I am not a fan of the I-Match, the top link is not adjustable like the one from Speeco, and some others I have seen. I have the Speeco and the adjustability really helps with some of my existing "oddball" equipment.

stuart · Sep 29, 2005

I stand w/Jomo45 and agree Quick Hitches are GREAT. JD brand has a lot to be desired in its design. I went w/ Speeco.

beenthere · Sep 29, 2005

What we have is usually "what we like" best. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

That's the way it should be.

Ronster · Sep 29, 2005

With the JD iMatch and Speeco Quick Attach , don't you need to buy bushing$ for each implement?

JD3520 · Sep 29, 2005

Don't know about the speeco but you have to have them for the iMatch. I bought bushings at TSC at a cost of about $3.00 per post; or $9.00 per attachment. They have the more expensive $27.00 a pair but that was too much since I leave them on my attachments. All my attachments I adapt to my iMatch if they are not John Deere items.

Question about the Speeco adjustable top hitch. If you have to adjust it for each attachment you hook up to, I don't see the benefit over the Pat's eay change system. I must be missing something.

Ronster · Sep 29, 2005

My 3pt attachments all have very different widths at the lower link pins. Pat's system would probably work best because I would not have to modify anything, only adjust the width of the links.