Is it just me...

[son of man]

Or is it a JOB attaching 3pt implements?

I recently purchased a used tractor with bush hog. One day I made the mistake of disconnecting the top link and lift arms and it took FOREVER to reattach. Had I not unhooked it myself, I would not have believed it fit. :laughing: The bad part about it is that I didn't even move the tractor. I just disconnected and tried to reattach.

Granted, this was my first time I ever doing so. I assume it gets easier with practice? But I can't really say I'm looking forward to it... I had plans of buying all kinds of used implements on craigslist. But now I'm having second thoughts. :confused2: Thank God a bush hog is all I really need! The seller told me he has a few different tractors. He said instead of changing implements, he just changes tractors! I think I found the reason why.

 

[Buggs67]

Use Quick connects. Search for Pat's on this site I don't have any experience with brush hogs but quick connects on the lift arms would make the job easier.

BTW my tractor doesn't have adjustable lift arms which would make the process easier.

 

[Navasot]

Your tractor should have some type of adjustment on at least one of the lift arms. make sure you hook up the stationary one first then you can adjust the other one to meet it. Also if your uneven and don't have telescopic arms you can hook up one side then pull the tractor forward or back to push or pull the other link to were you need. Don't be intimidated to buy more equipment once you get the hang of it and know the tricks its quite simple

 

[HEC]

With some practice it will be much easier .I use a long crow bar to move a piece of equipment a little at times as that helps also .

 

[aginn]

I am getting a quick connect for a lower arm for next summer. Since I saw a friend connect a brush hog using one, I have pledged to get one. Now that I have a backhoe, that is my next priority. It makes it a snap.

 

[W5FL]

It is all relative. The earlier tractors did not have a 3 point at all and all implements had to be pulled. The early mowers were sickle type with the mower wheels driving the reciprocating sickle bar.

I used a 6 ft bar to move implements a little for the 3 point. When I bought my current tractor 14 years ago, I made sure it had adjustable links on the 3 point lift arms!

 

[Fallon]

When I picked up my L3200 & Land Pride 5' rotary cutter I watched the dealer struggle for 10 min or so to get it lined up & fully hitched up. I didn't take it off until the Quick Hitch I ordered showed up.

With the Quick hitch & now Top & Tilt cylinders I can hitch up most of my implements without getting off the tractor no matter how crooked they are sitting. Granted I still need to get off & hook up the PTO, hydraulics, or flexy top link on the rotary cutter, but its WAY easier.

If you get one of the cheap Harbor Freight, Northern Tool or any other Quick Hitches under $200, you will need to mod them. Have to extend top hook backwards 1-2" by welding on a piece & drilling new mounting holes. Not to hard & I'd do it again rather than buy a $400 Land Pride or John Deere iMatch Quick Hitch.

 

[tractorshopper]

I had helped a friend hook stuff up before on his tractor whenever we'd be working on something together. Was a real pain even with two of us working on it. I learned about Pat's here on TBN and when I bought my tractor, I bought the Pat's with it. Since it extends the lower arms a little, I bought a longer top link shortly after getting the tractor. I can tell you changing my implements is easy as advertised. Well worth the money. The hardest part about any hook up now is hooking up the drive shafts to the PTO making sure the splines match up. Really not a problem.

 

[TerryR]

My tractor is about the same size as yours and I have a variety of 3-point implements. I never had that much difficulty hooking them up. I loosened the sway bars on the lower links if necessary, and used the screw adjustment on top link to nudge the implement forward or back a bit if needed to get the balls on the lower arms to the fit on the pins.

But when I got to age 70 I decided to make it a bit easier, so built dollies for most of them so I can move them around by hand. Now it's even easier. Also makes it easier to fit too many toys in too small a space. The Bush Hog rotary cutter is the one I've never seen a need to do anything for - I just back up to it and hook it up.

Terry

 

[aeblank]

Quick hitch of some sort (jiffy hitch or deltahook would be awesome). I have the Harbor Freight one. I haven't had the need to modify it, though I need to modify my back blade by drilling a lower hole for the top link hook. It's an old land pride.