iMatch with Frontier Box Blade

[Noodlez914]

Anyone using the John Deere iMatch with a 4ft Frontier Box Blade? Just got my imatch today and nothing is matching! First off the top hook seems like its not pushed out enough and the box blades upper bushing will not drop down into the bottom of the hook which is also not allowing the bottom pushing's to drop into their place. Other thing that has me scratching my head is the free bushings you get with the iMatch are too long or my box blade pins are too short. I am not able to get a pin through the box blade pins when the imatch bushings are slid over. Tired of talking to the dealer and tired of messing with everything for hours on end with this tractor. I attached a pic of the bushings over the pins.

 

[jenkinsph]

I use those bushings with a clevis hitch implement. Most of us order in quick hitch bushings or pick up at a local farm and ranch store that are a different design such as the ones in this picture. Roll pins fasten the adapter over the existing pins using the holes in the pin barrel.

 

[Noodlez914]

I use those bushings with a clevis hitch implement. Most of us order in quick hitch bushings or pick up at a local farm and ranch store that are a different design such as the ones in this picture. Roll pins fasten the adapter over the existing pins using the holes in the pin barrel.

Well I guess I will have to wait and see after I order the bushings like you displayed. If my box blade pins are too short for the existing bushings, How am I so sure that the roll pin will go through the hole of the box blade pin to be able to secure it? Isn't that how it works? The whole of the bushing is supposed to be in line with the hole in the pin to be able to put the roll pin through both ad secure?

 

[bcp]

Three point pins within one category come with different length threads and with or without a shoulder. You just need to get the right size for your implement mount.

Some examples:

Lower Link Pin Category 1 Adjustable 7/8 In. Dia.

Lower Link Pin Category 1 Forged 7/8 In. Dia.

Extra Long Forge Draw Pin Category 1

Bruce

 

[cartod]

Sounds like you also need to adjust your top link in or out.

 

[jenkinsph]

Well I guess I will have to wait and see after I order the bushings like you displayed. If my box blade pins are too short for the existing bushings, How am I so sure that the roll pin will go through the hole of the box blade pin to be able to secure it? Isn't that how it works? The whole of the bushing is supposed to be in line with the hole in the pin to be able to put the roll pin through both ad secure?

There are two holes in the adaptors to accomodate short or long pins, these adaptors were purchased from Tractor Supply. I would remove the existing pins and replace with the longer cat 1 pins with a fixed shoulder and tighten securely. Such as the ones shown in the links by poster bcp Extra Long Forge Draw Pin Category 1


Make sure you get the proper top link bushings to go from cat 1 to cat 3 too. I buy these as one piece when I can find them but most of the time I have to buy the cat 1 to cat 2 bushing which will slip inside of a cat 2 to cat 3 bushing.

 

[Noodlez914]

Three point pins within one category come with different length threads and with or without a shoulder. You just need to get the right size for your implement mount.

Some examples:

Lower Link Pin Category 1 Adjustable 7/8 In. Dia.

Lower Link Pin Category 1 Forged 7/8 In. Dia.

Extra Long Forge Draw Pin Category 1

Bruce

Oh good. Even more money to spend.

 

[Noodlez914]

I have the John deere (frontier) box blade, Which already has the top bushing. Thats why I'm shocked that it has the shorter pins. Also, my imatch seems to have an adjustable hook. All pics I look at on the web shows a different looking imatch then mine. 2 Bolts on the top hook of mine.

 

[jenkinsph]

For Deere and Frontier attachments and other standard quick hitch implements the top hook should be set to 15" vertically above the lower hooks. A standard cat 1 hitch calls for 18" vertical measurement.

The boxblade you purchased has the cat 0/ cat 1 pins so that it can fit either hitch. Since you won't need the cat 0 setup I recommended you change out those pins for the specific cat 1 pins with the shoulders. You will have alot less trouble with the shouldered pins working loose.

 

[RoyJackson]

I have the John deere (frontier) blade, Which already has the top bushing. Thats why I'm shocked that it has the shorter pins. Also, my match seems to have an adjustable hook. All pics I look at on the web shows a different looking match then mine. 2 Bolts on the top hook of mine.

There was a recent thread on an updated Deere QH...sounds like you have one of the newer ones.

As far as your upper hook, I think Cartod has the answer (see post #5).
As far as the lower pin bushings, it appears from your picture the pins may be installed toward the inside of the boxblade...but the pic is a bit too close up to be sure. Did the dealer provide the bushings? The ones that jenkinsph (post #2) are the ones you need...there are two sets of through holes, 90 degrees apart. You drive a roll pin through whichever set lines up best.
I'm not saying your dealer let you down...really don't know. But rigging a QH is not rocket science...installation is pretty much intuitive

 

[jenkinsph]

There was a recent thread on an updated Deere QH...sounds like you have one of the newer ones.

As far as your upper hook, I think Cartod has the answer (see post #5).
As far as the lower pin bushings, it appears from your picture the pins may be installed toward the inside of the boxblade...but the pic is a bit too close up to be sure. Did the dealer provide the bushings? The ones that jenkinsph (post #2) are the ones you need...there are two sets of through holes, 90 degrees apart. You drive a roll pin through whichever set lines up best.
I'm not saying your dealer let you down...really don't know. But rigging a QH is not rocket science...installation is pretty much intuitive

Roy,
If you look at his picture again you will see the double hitchpin the cat 1 side is facing outward and the cat 0 is facing inwards.

 

[Noodlez914]

There was a recent thread on an updated Deere QH...sounds like you have one of the newer ones.

As far as your upper hook, I think Cartod has the answer (see post #5).
As far as the lower pin bushings, it appears from your picture the pins may be installed toward the inside of the boxblade...but the pic is a bit too close up to be sure. Did the dealer provide the bushings? The ones that jenkinsph (post #2) are the ones you need...there are two sets of through holes, 90 degrees apart. You drive a roll pin through whichever set lines up best.
I'm not saying your dealer let you down...really don't know. But rigging a QH is not rocket science...installation is pretty much intuitive

There were 2 bushings that came with it (not like the ones jenkinsph posted) They are nothing but metal barrels. That is one slid over the pin in the picture i posted. The dealer was supposed to supply me with ones like jenkinsph posted but again disappointed me like usual. I will get them from them though. And just a side note...... I am getting them for free, only to make up for some other issues they have disappointed me on. Basically told me they DO NOT come with the purchase of the imatch. Which also makes me a bit irate. I purchased my Ballast box and box blade from them that are supposedly imatch ready. OK, if they are so called imatch ready then why didn't these $30 bushings come with each attachment I purchased from them?

 

[RoyJackson]

There were 2 bushings that came with it (not like the ones jenkinsph posted) They are nothing but metal barrels. That is one slid over the pin in the picture i posted. The dealer was supposed to supply me with ones like jenkinsph posted but again disappointed me like usual. I will get them from them though. And just a side note...... I am getting them for free, only to make up for some other issues they have disappointed me on. Basically told me they DO NOT come with the purchase of the imatch. Which also makes me a bit irate. I purchased my Ballast box and box blade from them that are supposedly imatch ready. OK, if they are so called imatch ready then why didn't these $30 bushings come with each attachment I purchased from them?

I did get the bushing kit as part of the purchase of a used Frontier RFM...
For my other implements, I bought the bushings from Agri-Supply (IIRC) as they were a lot cheaper.

Anyway, sounds like you have problems with your dealer...or, at least, the sales person.

 

[Noodlez914]

I did get the bushing kit as part of the purchase of a used Frontier RFM...
For my other implements, I bought the bushings from Agri-Supply (IIRC) as they were a lot cheaper.

Anyway, sounds like you have problems with your dealer...or, at least, the sales person.

Went with this dealer because they gave the best price out of 5 other dealers. I guess sometimes you get what you pay for. Its little things, but their attention to detail is horrible. While my tractor was in being fixed I asked for them to add the imatch. They knew very well what attachments was going to that imatch. They recently sold me these attachments. All they needed to do was grab a 48" frontier box blade and make sure it matched up with the imatch they sold me as well as making sure the top hook on the match was correct. Nope, just slapped it on and sent it on its way.

 

[RoyJackson]

Went with this dealer because they gave the best price out of 5 other dealers. I guess sometimes you get what you pay for. Its little things, but their attention to detail is horrible. While my tractor was in being fixed I asked for them to add the imatch. They knew very well what attachments was going to that imatch. They recently sold me these attachments. All they needed to do was grab a 48" frontier box blade and make sure it matched up with the imatch they sold me as well as making sure the top hook on the match was correct. Nope, just slapped it on and sent it on its way.

Since you apparently have the newer QH with the adjustable upper hook, have you tried moving the hook? Or lengthening the top link? QHs make life easier, but they don't do it all without some user input/adjustment.

 

[Noodlez914]

Since you apparently have the newer QH with the adjustable upper hook, have you tried moving the hook? Or lengthening the top link? QHs make life easier, but they don't do it all without some user input/adjustment.

All on my agenda this week. First order of business is to go purchase some larger metric wrenches! I have metric and standard but nothing metric that large. So I really can't start messing with adjustments until I get them. I guess I will also need to take a trip to Tractor Supply and get the proper bushings. Just thought this thing was going to show up ready to go.

 

[Noodlez914]

Ok, now any suggestions on how to get the bolts loose on the imatch hook to adjust it? Wow! Don't think I ever dropped that much down force on a bolt before. Not coming loose.

 

[jenkinsph]

Noodlez,
Can you post a picture of the top hook? Most of us haven't seen one yet so don't know what you are dealing with.

 

[Noodlez914]

Noodlez,
Can you post a picture of the top hook? Most of us haven't seen one yet so don't know what you are dealing with.

Photo attached. Also attached is a photo of my now useless 3 point receiver hitch that I ordered before I owned imatch. If you look at the pic, see the hook don't stand a chance of working with it unless I have some chopping tools and a welder.

 

[RoyJackson]

For removing the bolts, a 6-point socket and impact wrench (which was probably used to tighten the nuts) would be best...if you have an impact wrench. If not, you need more leverage...so find a cheater bar about 3-4 feet long that will fit over your wrench (BTW, I strongly suggest you use a breaker bar to do the initial loosening). Once you have the mechanical advantage of the cheater bar, the nuts should break loose fairly easy.
Note I wrote 6 point socket! A 12 point socket slips too easily.

As far as your receiver hitch...you'll need the bushing kit, but that should work fine...mine does (it's on the Deere non-adjustable QH now, in fact) and my receiver isnt even a Deere brand.