Quick Hitches Quick Hitches question

[JCB]

Greg,

I thought I was sure, but you've got me doubting myself. Last spring I stopped and talked to friend who was planting the 40 next door. He had a corn planter that was a multiple of 6 ( ie 6 or 12 row) I don't really remember how big, but the guy farms hundreds of acres and has Big equipment. The tractor was a big Deere. Four tires at each corner, so I'm pretty sure it was over 100 up.

The guy had what I thought was an imatch connecting the planter. Unless Deere makes multiple size quick hitches, it was an imatch.

Not sure, but that was my observation. Am I wrong?

 

[digicamnut]

No replies to posts 9 & 10? ... not that I want a q/h on the back, but an eye opener...
thanks for the headsups 9 & 10
jake

Now that you mention it! What gives?

 

[rambler]

Four tires at each corner, so I'm pretty sure it was over 100 up.

The guy had what I thought was an imatch connecting the planter. Unless Deere makes multiple size quick hitches, it was an imatch.

Not sure, but that was my observation. Am I wrong?

Typically 2 tires at each corner, I've seen 3. I doubt it was 4 tires, 16 total....

Imatch is just JD's trademarked name for a quick hitch, nothing special about an Imatch other than no other manufaturer can use the name. The big tractor had a big quickhitch on it.

Quickhitches come in the following sizes:

Cat 1 - about 45 hp
Cat2N - about 100hp
Cat 2 - about 100 hp
Cat 3N - over 120hp
Cat 3 - over 120 hp
Cat 4N - (I think they make this....)
Cat 4 - really big

The 'N' designation means the pins are sized for the cat number, but the distance between the hooks is like the size smaller.

For example I have a 135 hp tractor with a cat 3 hitch, but my cat 3N quickhitch can pick up Cat 2 implements. It fits on a cat 3 tractor, but is spaced for a cat 2 implement.

If you call them imatch instead of quickhitch - whatever. They make all sizes, JD brand or other brands.

I'm sure you saw a cat 3 or 3N quickhitch on that big planter tractor. But you can find smaller units for smaller tractors.

--->Paul

 

[Jim Warrell]

I bought the Speeco Quick-Hitch and bushings for all implements. Had to modify the implements to fit the hitch and get a longer drive shaft for the tiller. Yes, it took time and extra money but now changing implements is a breeze ! Wouldn't be without the hitch.

 

[chadincolo]

Imatch is just JD's trademarked name for a quick hitch, nothing special about an Imatch other than no other manufaturer can use the name. The big tractor had a big quickhitch on it.

Quickhitches come in the following sizes:

Cat 1 - about 45 hp
Cat2N - about 100hp
Cat 2 - about 100 hp
Cat 3N - over 120hp
Cat 3 - over 120 hp
Cat 4N - (I think they make this....)
Cat 4 - really big

The 'N' designation means the pins are sized for the cat number, but the distance between the hooks is like the size smaller.

--->Paul

Yep, and I'll add this:

Cat 0 (no quick hitches made for this size, although we do have a sample...) tractors to 20 hp
Cat 1 tractors to 45 hp
Cat 2 tractors 40 hp to 100 hp
Cat 3 tractors 80 hp to 225 hp
Cat 4 tractors 180 hp to 400 hp

JD does sell quick hitches (trademark name is iMatch) in all categories from Cat 1 up.

If the tractor was running duals on all 4 corners, I'm guessing it was a Cat 4 hitch you saw.

 

[JCB]

Typically 2 tires at each corner,
--->Paul

Yeah! Four was a typo.

Cat 3 quick hitch on the tractor OK.

 

[gerard]

No replies to posts 9 & 10? ... not that I want a q/h on the back, but an eye opener...
thanks for the headsups 9 & 10
jake

ok - here's a reply to 9 and 10!

I never noticed a difference with the landpride qh (other than reducing your lifting capacity by the weight of the qh which was around 50-60lbs) and for the ease of hooking up I'd never go without one. Re the Pats easy change I could see where heavy commercial use could be a problem. The little levers that lift up to lock in the arms are a little light duty and you can bend them if you muscle them too much. Of course if I were doing tractor work for a living and changing implements a lot then I think you'd be crazy NOT to have a system like the delta hitch system. (The one with two triangular shaped pieces that lock into each other. You can totally hook/unhook without ever getting off the tractor. A little pricey as you need a "female" piece for each implement but it doesn't get any easier than that)

 

[Iowa2210]

Just a quick reply to Digicamnut's statement about big brother making the final decision....

ASABE, the American Society of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineers is not a government entity. It is an organization with over 20k members worldwide who are ag professionals, including engineers, technicians, agronomists, chemists, biologists, etc. The ASABE standards are updated each year by the standards committee with the intent of standardizing practices to increase efficiency, compatibility, and cost effectiveness. The quick hitch standard is S278 and is based on the three-point hitch standard S217. It provides exacting standards for universal compatibility.
It was in no way developed to generate addition sales, it was partially designed to do just the opposite. If all the manufacturers would adhere to the standard, you all would spend a lot less time hooking up or modifying implements to fit.

I serve on one of the standards committees, and be reassured, the members are not trying to cost users additional money, they are trying to reduce cost and increase safety and productivity through commonality.

Iowa2210

 

[digicamnut]

Just a quick reply to Digicamnut's statement about big brother making the final decision....

ASABE, the American Society of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineers is not a government entity. It is an organization with over 20k members worldwide who are ag professionals, including engineers, technicians, agronomists, chemists, biologists, etc. The ASABE standards are updated each year by the standards committee with the intent of standardizing practices to increase efficiency, compatibility, and cost effectiveness. The quick hitch standard is S278 and is based on the three-point hitch standard S217. It provides exacting standards for universal compatibility.
It was in no way developed to generate addition sales, it was partially designed to do just the opposite. If all the manufacturers would adhere to the standard, you all would spend a lot less time hooking up or modifying implements to fit.

I serve on one of the standards committees, and be reassured, the members are not trying to cost users additional money, they are trying to reduce cost and increase safety and productivity through commonality.

Iowa2210

Could you please tell me why isn't the standard for Quick Hitches the same for both sides if you know what I mean, then you wouldn't need the bushings. It don't make any sense to me.

 

[chadincolo]

It's for wear issues I believe. Bigger bearing area to spread the weight out, reducing wear on both the quick hitch and the bushing or lift arm. When you get to the big hitches, bushings aren't spec'd for quick hitch use like they are for smaller hitches since the pins are already 1 7/16 and 2 inch diameter. I don't know if that is truely it, or even if it makes sense, but that's what I've always heard.

And actually, there is no longer a spec for Cat I quick hitches, I believe Cat I was dropped in 07, I know it's not in the 08 book...I'm sure partially becuase of so many manufacturers ignored the spec...