Pat's Easy Change and toplink

[Riptide23]

Just got my Pat's Easy Change system today, and immediately installed it on the BX23. Went on pretty well; got it trued up fairly straight...

Then I went to hook up to the box blade... and found out that the factory toplink is too short to connect now, since the EZ Change system extends your lower arm connection point by a good two inches further aft. Oh well, another trip to the dealer for a longer link.

What IS nice is not having to have the implements on perfectly level ground to hook up in seconds. Man, how cool is THAT??

 

[Flatheadyoungin]

I threw mine on rather quickly and didn't get them lined up properly......I need to take time to line them up better and I think they'll be great....

Great to hear it......

 

[638]

When you get your hydraulic top link installed you will really enjoy your "Pats EZ Change". You do want to install a hydraulic top link don't you??

ron

 

[Riptide23]

When you get your hydraulic top link installed you will really enjoy your "Pats EZ Change". You do want to install a hydraulic top link don't you??

ron

Ain't that a bit overkill on a BX? Not that I'm above killin' flies with a sledgehammer

Flat, as far as adjusting them, I didn't use the broomstick method spelled out in the directions. Instead, I left them loose, piccked up the box blade, and then adjusted them using the box blade pins as the alignment tool. Seemed to work OK...

One thing to note (and since I've not seen it mentioned, I guess it's not a problem): Standard 3PH arms have the heim-type ball joints in them for a reason, as the geometry changes between the arms as you raise loads up and down. But the EZ Change ends are made to rigidly attach to the arm ends. And while they may be parallel and plumb with the 3PH all the way down, ready to pick up the attachment, they start to cant inward as the hitch is raised. The heim joints just roll in their sockets to compensate, but I'm wondering if the load pins on the attahcment will bind or bend in the EZ Change socket...

Time will tell. If I see that happening, I think I will radius the outer edges of the EZ Change socket/cradle, to allow for some misalignment.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I purchased Pat's a few years ago and their added length required a longer top link. I was driving by a Green dealer and stopped in to get a price for longer top link. Wow! Went up the road 2 miles to TSC and bought one for a fourth of the price and have used it for a few years with no problem. Also bought another set of quick attaches off ebay for half of Pat's price. My brother in law, a machinist, says layered steel is strong than a block of cast steel for those who care, if you compare products.

 

[Marcussen]

I purchased Pat's a few years ago and their added length required a longer top link. I was driving by a Green dealer and stopped in to get a price for longer top link. Wow! Went up the road 2 miles to TSC and bought one for a fourth of the price and have used it for a few years with no problem. Also bought another set of quick attaches off ebay for half of Pat's price. My brother in law, a machinist, says layered steel is strong than a block of cast steel for those who care, if you compare products.

I had to get a longer top link with the PAT's easy changer, don't go to the dealer if they have a longer link it will cost you. I got my longer link directly from PAT's since I could not find a longer one around here. Very nice people to deal with.

 

[638]

Riptide,

Believe me, a hydralic top link on a BX23 is not overkill if you do very much work with a box blade. I love mine. No getting off of the tractor to adjust the top link for different types of soil, etc.

ron

 

[Inspector507]

I have the Pat's system and a hydraulic top link on a New Holland TC18. Not overkill at all, just pain easing pleasure.

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

where did you get the hydro top link and what controls it on the tractor?

 

[638]

Surplus Center for the control valve (p/n 9-4501), fittings & hoses. Carter & Carter Machinery for the cylinder (Cat. 1 - 16x22.5in with valve). Mounted the valve on the ROPs and use the backhoe hydralic quick connect lines to feed the valve.

ron

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

Thanks Ron, I may have to research this.. I need to determine my HYDRO hook-up on this new tractor. No backhoe...

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

As far as I am concerned, you cannot beat Pat's system for our smaller tractors. Not so sure about the bigger machine's but I have no complaints on how much time, sweat, skin and bad words it has spared me. And, their customer service is top notch. Tom

 

[Inspector507]

where did you get the hydro top link and what controls it on the tractor?

If you were replying to me, I got mine from the guy who designed the ones Carter & Carter sell now. Very sweet. I nstalled the rear remotes with the factory kit for my TC18. That was when they were $255 instead of $500-600.