quick hitch problem on hills

[ymarianne]

And I though quick hitches were simple things. Boy did I learn alot from this thread. They ought to change the name to Sometimes Quick yet Can Be Complicated Hitches.

 

[SPYDERLK]

And I though quick hitches were simple things. Boy did I learn alot from this thread. They ought to change the name to Sometimes Quick yet Can Be Complicated Hitches.

QSCH...?
larry

 

[northernjake]

It does not help everybody with my "description of events" or "how tos", I am more of a show and tell kind of guy.
In the "best of world for Quick Hitches", the first thing you would get is the QH with your tractor, then evry implement thereafter would be QH compatable. For me, I knew that I could (and have) changed up to 4 implements a day, so I was determined to make the necessary changes to make the QH work. I was lucky, only having to invest the $100.00 ish for the adaptor for the RFM, I had some flat iron and angle iron, free labour from my nephew (less a couple of refreshments) to make mods to the other stuff, and all is well, no crowbars, swearing, etc. Things will get sweeter when I get a hydraulic top-link.(I think)

Cheers,
Jake

 

[rambler]

The question I have is, why would the mfgr of the mower design it with non-standard 3pt spacing and location with respect to the drive-line?

With the pics of the before & after conversion, it makes sense now.

In order for the mower to 'float', either the top link or the bottom links must be flexable. If the top link is flexable (a chain in it instead of flat iron) then there is a remote possiblitiy the mower can hit something and flip up vertical & cause a lot of liability issues.

So their solution was to put the lower pins on flat iron that can pivot quite a bit. Works well I'm sure and actually makes hooking up to a regular 3pt very easy.

But all that flex in the bottom pins means it doesn't work with a quick hitch. Those bottom moving pins are not a standard 3pt thing, I hadn't seen that design before.

The $100+ solution is to build a new frame for the mower that keeps the flex link in there, with an outer frame that hooks onto the quick hitch. That puts the $$$$ cost onto the user, rather than re-engineering the thing to work with both 3pt & quick hitch.

This mower could be 'fixed' by putting the lower pins into the solid hole - throw away those little short arms. The top link would need to have the strap irons going to the back cut shorter, and place a few links of chain in the place of the shortened iron. This would allow the flex at the top instead of the bottom, but would not allow the mower to flip up very high if it caught something, and probably should be the real fix from the company?

Actually hooking up such a flex top link with a quick hitch can be difficult tho, as you need the top to be leaning forward, not backwards as it will want to do.

A hyd top link really helps a quick hitch be much easier to use, think someone mentioned those! The cat's meow.

--->Paul

 

[northernjake]

Hi Rambler,
The way you describe is exactly the way that the adaptor kit works. It takes the "flex" or float capabilities out of the out of the bottom links to the top link. The red A frame in pic #3 is connected to the strap irons as you describe going to the rear of the deck. These strap irons are slotted at the rear and slide on a bolt attached to the frame. This gives the "flex" as the red A frame and the black A frame pivot at the top (If the red goes up, the black goes down, etc.)
You are right on the before picture, where the lower links attached to the flat irons acted like two little draw bars to pivot as irregular ground conditions were encountered.
The adaptor kit works great.
I feel like I have completely stolen ymariannes' thread..., sorry.

Jake

 

[ymarianne]

update: got a call out of the blue from my dealer. He ordered the extra part needed for my finish mower and is giving it to me at no cost! So I'm back with a quick hitch after all. Thanks for all your support. I'd like to buy you all a beer...

 

[tugboat-2]

My heartiest CONGRATULATIONS to you Miss Marianne !!!! I'm so happy for you as I know you will find this thing very helpful once its working properly. I used to hook up and change implements the old way for years and never knew different.

But once I got mine working it is fantastic,...especially for things like grader blades and others that you don't have to dismount to attach a PTO. Just reach back and hit the levers locking everything down and away you go.

We were thinking what a jerk your dealer was, but I'm so glad he came around and showed you some good will at last!! GOOD LUCK to you!! I'll have a beer in your honour!

CHEERS!
. . tug

 

[northernjake]

Good for you! Congrats to your dealer for their great help also. All this quick hitch stuff may have new to them as well, I know where I bought the Farm King adaptor kit, he never knew anything like that existed, but he was certainly interested in it. If you need anymore assistance, we will certainly try to help.
Happy "QuickHitchin"

Jake