Modern 3ph Questions

footbridgefarm · Aug 14, 2013

Hi All:

I just upgraded from a 70's era gas tractor to a 2010 NH Workmaster 45... big difference.

Two things occurred to me today and if anyone has an answer to these questions I'd sure appreciate it:

1) It appears the NH has a Cat II 3ph. The holes are much larger than my Cat I pins. Aside from the slop is there any issue with using a cat I implement on a cat II hitch or my I asking for a lot of lynch pins breaking and other problems?

2) My old tractor had anti-sway bars that could be adjusted for more or less sway. The sway bars had a slot in them so the lower arms of the 3ph still moved side to side for easy implement hook-ups. The NH has sway bars too but instead of slots they have holes so basically the lower arms don't have any left or right play at all. To hook up an implement I need to pull a few pins so the arms can spread out and then put the pins back after the implement is attached. Is that the right way to do it? In the end the implement is snug as a bug and has no sway left or right at all (except for the cat II balls vs cat I implement as mentioned in #1). It just really complicates implement hook up so I'm wondering if I'm not missing something on the NH that will let the sway bars give me just a few inches of left-right play so that I can quickly attach an implement.

Also... anyone know where I can get a Workmaster 45 manual? The dealer wants a king's ransom.

Thanks!

Eric

Stonehaller · Aug 14, 2013

Welcome to TractorByNet.

You need to get bushings to adapt your Cat I implements to your Cat II hitch. Check at your local tractor dealer or you can order from various online suppliers. For example:

CountyLine® Category 2 to 1 Lift Arm Bushing - Tractor Supply Online Store

You do not want your three point implements to sway.

jeff9366 · Aug 14, 2013

Here are the industry standards for Category 0-1-2-3-4 Three Point Hitches:

TractorData.com - Three-Point Hitch

RaydaKub · Aug 14, 2013

I don't know your tractor or what implements you have, but one thing to be aware of is that your cat 2 tractor may be able to exert more force than your cat 1 implement can handle. Just be careful so you don't tear it apart.

Soundguy · Aug 14, 2013

you can bush up your cat 1 implement pins with small sleeve bushings. keep in mind a machine with a cat 2 hitch may slightly abuse cat 1 sized implements.

footbridgefarm said:
Hi All:

I just upgraded from a 70's era gas tractor to a 2010 NH Workmaster 45... big difference.

Two things occurred to me today and if anyone has an answer to these questions I'd sure appreciate it:

1) It appears the NH has a Cat II 3ph. The holes are much larger than my Cat I pins. Aside from the slop is there any issue with using a cat I implement on a cat II hitch or my I asking for a lot of lynch pins breaking and other problems?

2) My old tractor had anti-sway bars that could be adjusted for more or less sway. The sway bars had a slot in them so the lower arms of the 3ph still moved side to side for easy implement hook-ups. The NH has sway bars too but instead of slots they have holes so basically the lower arms don't have any left or right play at all. To hook up an implement I need to pull a few pins so the arms can spread out and then put the pins back after the implement is attached. Is that the right way to do it? In the end the implement is snug as a bug and has no sway left or right at all (except for the cat II balls vs cat I implement as mentioned in #1). It just really complicates implement hook up so I'm wondering if I'm not missing something on the NH that will let the sway bars give me just a few inches of left-right play so that I can quickly attach an implement.

Also... anyone know where I can get a Workmaster 45 manual? The dealer wants a king's ransom.

Thanks!

Eric

JustBob · Aug 14, 2013

Your lower link arms should be reversible, to convert to cat I you should be able to remove the lower arms and reverse them. The manual for your tractor will have the instructions in it. The Workmaster 45 is listed as cat I/II, so you should only need a couple of bushings to convert it.

West1 · Aug 14, 2013

Our local Tractor Supply store has the Cat 1 to Cat 2 conversion bushings and pins available right off the shelf... Two or Three bucks apiece maybe... It's best to keep things snug but,, not too tight that it binds or blends the support arms... And as others above had indicated just go a little easier with the cat 1 implements... Your new tractor is not at the high end of the Cat 2 HP range.... Things should go good for you.... Enjoy that New Tractor....

West1