Quick Hitches Need a quality quick hitch

[McCulley Heights]

I've used the Agri-Supply QH with a ~800 lb. Caroni flail mower and a Frontier 73" snow blower (also close to 800 lbs.). So far, no problems. Both implements are transported in the raised position which, I assume, would be most stressful on the QH.
The new John Deere QH does, IIRC, have an adjustable upper hook. If mine (which was several years old) had an adjustable hook, I'd have kept it.

Roy,

When you used the Agri Supply QH with the Caroni flail, did you use the top hitch adapter bracket, or need to modify the top hitch hook to make it work?
Also, if you used the adapter, were you able to use the slotted top hole in the flail, or did the slotted hole give it too much play when the adapter is used? or does the adapter in the non-slotted top hole allow it to "roll" with the terrain?

Thanks.

 

[GirlWhoWantsTractor]

The Harbor Freight quick-hitch is on clearance right now for $99. Is this the right one?

3-Point Quick Hitch for Tractors - 27-3/16" Clearance

The Northern Tool
https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200660668_200660668

Agri-Supply
Quick Hitch-3-Point Quick Hitch


All three seem very similar in price/function. Any important differences you see?

 

[goeduck]

The Harbor Freight quick-hitch is on clearance right now for $99. Is this the right one?

3-Point Quick Hitch for Tractors - 27-3/16" Clearance

The Northern Tool
https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200660668_200660668

Agri-Supply
Quick Hitch-3-Point Quick Hitch

and Harbor Freight

All three seem very similar in price/function. Any important differences you see?

The upper hitch vertical adjustment seems to be the most limited on the Northern Tool unit. This would be important when using it on older or non standard implements. I can not tell on any of these lower end units about quality of the linkage or metals used. The Agri Supply unit looks the best on first blush to me. Or maybe they are all the same, given the quality of pictures it is hard to tell.

 

[CincyFlyer]

For those still mulling over quick hitch, here is supposedly industry standard... Some manufacturers have not found it yet... If you buy QH and it does not fit you implement, modify implement, it will always fit your rig then.... Do it once, cry once, life gets better after that....

View attachment 555533

Dale

Affirm on that. Make your implements fit your hitch, and then do it again 'cuz you welded something in the wrong place. That's my method! But when it's done, you can swap out your counterweight or box blade or sub-soiler or stump grinder in just a few minutes.

 

[Fallon]

The upper hitch vertical adjustment seems to be the most limited on the Northern Tool unit. This would be important when using it on older or non standard implements. I can not tell on any of these lower end units about quality of the linkage or metals used. The Agri Supply unit looks the best on first blush to me. Or maybe they are all the same, given the quality of pictures it is hard to tell.

I've had 2 or all 3 of those... no significant differences, other than possibly the number of holes for the top hook. All of the 5 cheap QHs I've had needed a longer top hook. As fast as I know all QHes are still in use & functional. 1 was welded to a SSQA plate to mount a plow, it & another ran off with the old L3200. 1 went to a friend. 1 is on my L4060. Another was recently purchased used from another TBN member (who doesnt like QHes as he found out) & is sitting around spare waiting on a use (likely getting welded to a SSQA plate again).

I modified my 3pt PHD to work on a QH (only works with a hydraulic toplink). If you didnt extend the toplink before lowering the 3pt, you crushed the PTO shaft. Did that a few times & kept straightening the shaft out enough for low speed PHD work. A few other impliments caught the plastic PTO shaft cover on the QH, but not that bad.

 

[RoyJackson]

Roy,

When you used the Agri Supply QH with the Caroni flail, did you use the top hitch adapter bracket, or need to modify the top hitch hook to make it work?
Also, if you used the adapter, were you able to use the slotted top hole in the flail, or did the slotted hole give it too much play when the adapter is used? or does the adapter in the non-slotted top hole allow it to "roll" with the terrain?

Thanks.

I use the adapter bracket and slot since I did not want to use the float built into the 3PH lift arms.

There is a way to adjust the travel of the rockshaft (other then use the lever stop)...can't recall the details since I've never done it and don't recall where I read it. Using the stop works fine (did it last mowing season).
Using the top hook on the Agri-Supply QH instead of the adapter bracket would make things worse.
Nothing drastic...the leading end of the skid shoes just ride an inch or so off the ground...but just thought I'd give folks a heads up.

As far as lifting the mower for transport...I rarely lift any implement I've had to full up travel. No need to and raising it to full lift height raises the center of gravity (not desirable with any tractor). Not that I've never done this.. Now, the only time I do it is after cutting down a PTO drive shaft to ensure I have adequate overlap at full extension

 

[TractorGuy]

The Harbor Freight quick-hitch is on clearance right now for $99. Is this the right one?

3-Point Quick Hitch for Tractors - 27-3/16" Clearance

The Northern Tool
https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200660668_200660668

Agri-Supply
Quick Hitch-3-Point Quick Hitch


All three seem very similar in price/function. Any important differences you see?

The Agri Supply QH comes with the top hook that sticks out a little further. They also carry a mower adapter for $12.99.

Not sure if this is the shaft extender I bought but it says it extends the shaft 4-3/8" which is just right for adding a quick hitch. They don't show a picture of it. The one I bought is quick release like an air coupler that you pull back on a collar, push the splines on, and let the collar go to secure it on the PTO spline of the tractor.

I bought my finish mower after the fact and do not use the extender with it but my brush cutter already had the shaft cut a little short. I can also use the AS adapter on my finish mower top connection while on my brush cutter I use a short piece of chain and just stick one pin through one of the hook bolt holes.

 

[RoyJackson]

The Agri Supply QH comes with the top hook that sticks out a little further. They also carry a mower adapter for $12.99.

Not sure if this is the shaft extender I bought but it says it extends the shaft 4-3/8" which is just right for adding a quick hitch. They don't show a picture of it. The one I bought is quick release like an air coupler that you pull back on a collar, push the splines on, and let the collar go to secure it on the PTO spline of the tractor. I bought my finish mower after the fact and do not use the extender with it but my brush cutter already had the shaft cut a little short.

I can also use the AS adapter on my finish mower top connection while on my brush cutter I use a short piece of chain and just stick one pin through one of the hook bolt holes.

I have one of the Agri-Supply extenders (they refer to it as an "adapter"). I used mine for one implement...a Woods 5000 Chipper/Shredder. I'm OK with using an extender for stationary use (chipper, log splitter, generator) and limited hours. I'd be leery about using one for a mower or cutter. To me, this would put more stress on the tractor's stub shaft an bearings. Although I still have the extender, I no longer use it since selling the chipper.

 

[McCulley Heights]

I use the adapter bracket and slot since I did not want to use the float built into the 3PH lift arms.

There is a way to adjust the travel of the rockshaft (other then use the lever stop)...can't recall the details since I've never done it and don't recall where I read it. Using the stop works fine (did it last mowing season).
Using the top hook on the Agri-Supply QH instead of the adapter bracket would make things worse.
Nothing drastic...the leading end of the skid shoes just ride an inch or so off the ground...but just thought I'd give folks a heads up.

As far as lifting the mower for transport...I rarely lift any implement I've had to full up travel. No need to and raising it to full lift height raises the center of gravity (not desirable with any tractor). Not that I've never done this.. Now, the only time I do it is after cutting down a PTO drive shaft to ensure I have adequate overlap at full extension

Thanks for the info Roy!

 

[Manshoon]

I bought a Harbor Freight quick hitch for my first tractor and never used the Top Hook that came with the hitch for any of the 3 point implements I had. which were 60" Tiller, 60" Field Mower, 60" Back blade. I used the Adapter that sells only through the Harbor Freight Website customer service "part" # 29309 " 3 point quick hitch adapter " cost: $15.99.

I modified the Linch pins a little with adapters to enlarge the spacing between the implements and the QH, but never had a problem hooking up or releasing anything with the adapter for the Harbor Freight QH. Everything I sold off with my first tractor unfortunately is needed again. So I ordered another QH and adapter from Harbor freight this morning for the new package I am getting. After tax, shipping both pieces delivered $127. with a 20% off coupon code off the web, brought the QH from $99. to $79.00

Looking at the 4th picture of the AGI Supply QH you can see that the Box Blade implement is way to high with out some modifications or adapter. Makes you wonder why they even used the picture ? Quick Hitch-3-Point Quick Hitch