QuickHitch on BX

[Monte]

I asked one of the reliable dealers from this forum for a quote on a QuickHitch for my BX-1800. To his credit, he told me he would love to sell me one, but would not recommend it due to some very convincing reasons.

Before I abandon this line of inquiry, I thought I'd ask this group about anyone who has any experience with a QuickHitch (or similar) on a BX.

I just don't appreciate the quality time I spend with my BX changing from rear mower to tiller to scraper blade and back again.



Monte

 

[Charliebrn]

What were his reasons? I'm curious...I have a tiller, a box blade and a rear blade, and I too can find better things to do than ruin my back wrestling those things around by myself...

Funny how everybody likes it when I help out around their place, but aren't there to help put on some of this stuff...

 

[GlueGuy]

The only reason I could think of is that the 3PH on the BX is too low, but what difference would that make since most QH's come in under the receiver?

The GlueGuy

 

[BXmark]

I know what you mean trying to line up an implement with the hitch. What I did was build dollys that my implements sit on. I can now roll my 48" tiller up to the back of the tractor, shuffle it around until everything lines up, and I'm set. When I'm done with my FEL or implements, I set them down on the dolly, unhook it, and the best part is I can roll it out of the way even into a space I could never maneuver the tractor. Each dolly consists of a couple of 2x6s and 4 heavy duty castors. A lot less expensive and you have the added benefit of being able to roll implements around in the garage or barn. Even my wife can move around the FEL in the garage.

 

[Monte]

I hope he's not offended by my quoting his email:

"The low profile design of the
tractor serves to keep the implements from raising high enough off the ground
to obtain satisfactory under-clearance at the implement."

I think I understand this. Since the tractor is a compromise, in many ways (and one I am happy with so far), I'm wondering if anyone has tried this with a BX -- and if it was an acceptable limitation compared with the difficulty in changing implements -- or if it is just too true to be worth the expense...

Monte

 

[Charliebrn]

The quick hitches that I have seen wouldn't adversely affect the clearance of the implement, but could even add to the clearace. The feedom hitch for example has a m-f arrangement that the implement side actually rides on top of the tractor side. Another QH I saw at a JD dealership was a single piece that had "hooks" for the pins on the implement, and wouldn't have change the height of the thing at all. (this is the one that interests me the most...anybody used one? prices?

 

[RAllen]

Monte
I use a Freedom Hitch on my 2910 and love it. I suggest you call the folks at Freedom Hitch directly. They are very nice and I am sure they might be able to give a better idea if their product will work with a BX series Tractor.

Website is:http: //www.freedomhitch.com/index2.html

There is a toll free number listed on the site.

Rick

 

[Charliebrn]

The downside to the freedom is that you have to buy an additional female adapter for every implement. That adds up when you have 3 implements, maybe a fourth in mind...at $100 each if i remember right... correct me if I'm wrong, tho.

 

[RAllen]

As to having to buy a part for every attachment- yes it is the only downside I have run across. I did look at another set up with hooks and a square top. It appeared to me, you must be on very level ground when attaching or detaching [binding]and I could tell at least one of my implements would not fit- Landpride Rotary Cutter with flexible top link. ie. I would not be confident the hooks alone would be a secure attachment as the flexible top link would allow the cutter to become unattached.

You can change the implement side hitch part quickly once you have done it a time or two. So you could use one on 2-3 rarely used implements.

I also do not see how using a light-weight "tippy" implement such as a posthole digger would work well with any type of quick hitch.

Rick

 

[tcarter1]

I tried a Quick Hitch on my BX. The problem was with the lower 3pt arms. They were too short to make for an easy hook-up.

 

[patrickg]

Yeah, And they will send you out a free 6 minute video that shows off the ease of working the hitch. So easy even a young lady does it on camera. Note: I refer to their obvious message and an not making a chauvinistic statement. I fully recognize there are women that are better at just about every truck and tractor task than I.

 

[patrickg]

Website is:http: //www.freedomhitch.com/index2.html

There is a toll free number listed on the site.

Rick

Take out the space between the colon and the // and it will work. Some of us are lazy and use copy and paste rather than typing stuff in. Just got error message till I fixed it.

 

[caddison]

Charlie,

Even at $100.00 ea. that would seem cheap compared to a trip to the doctor for a back injury plus the pain and aggravation. I have been switching between the tiller and mower quite often and am thinking very hard about a Freedom hitch or Delta Hook and then pull one off in the winter for the rear blade.

 

[GlennT]

Using a quick hitch moves implements several inches further back from the tractor and makes the front end even lighter than it already is. Even though I have 200 lbs. of suitcase weights on the front of my JD 670, the front end is really light when I hook on my Valby chipper or use the scoop or the crane. A few inches of leverage really does seem to make a difference. This probably isn't what the dealer was talking about, but it is a factor to consider on a small, relatively light tractor.

 

[RAllen]

PatrickG
I did paste the URL from my browser, sorry it did not work. Yep, they have a video but they also have salesmen on line that seem to be know their business. I bet they know, or should, if their product will work on a BX- small three-point hitch. He was looking for another opinion.

Rick

 

[ddl]

The problem this people are having is learning to back up to a piece of equipment to hook it up. Will not the freedom hitch make it even harder to back up to the correct location? I can not imagine having problems hooking up a 3 point hitch, you just have to unsrcew the turnbuckles on the arms and you have at least a thre to four inch swing. Once connected you raise the impletment and align the equipment with the tractor. How can usiong the fredomm hitch help. What these people need is practise. Or maybe a bigger tractor that allows them to connect real equipment up.

Dan l

 

[Charliebrn]

I've used the Freedom on my Pa's L2900. You back upto the implement, ou have an inch or two of leeway, you raise the 3pt with the adapter on it, underneath the implement side, and it automatically aligns the implement, and locks it in place. Unless you need a PTO driveshaft, that's it, you're done...takes 20 seconds if you know what you are doing. To drop the implement, lower it to take the weight off, pull a handle (from your seat) lower it a little more and drive away. no pushing, yanking, driving in pins or unlocking and turning turnbuckles. Takes a 10 minute job that could hurt your back or something else into a 30 second painfree operation.

 

[RAllen]

Under the best conditions, hooking and unhooking a three point hitch is fairly easy. Freedom and other quick type hitches have much more leeway when it comes to uneven ground. Additionally, there is much less chance of pinching your hand or fingers.

My personal decision point to buy the Freedom Hitch System was right after I took 50 minutes to hook up an implement and lost the last of daylight. I had hooked the same implement in less than 5 minutes on many occasions previously. Perhaps I could have used more practice. But I have not had to risk mashed fingers, strained back and I have saved alot of time. For me, it was a good decision.

Rick

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Yes it is a matter of tractor size, as mentioned before, the BX is a CAt 1 but just barely. It's a tradeoff. With my bigger Ford or Kubota the freedom hitch wouldn't be much of an issue, I too can hook up pretty quick, with the BX it's more of a chore. I have the box scraper in a shed under a chain hoist, just too much grief trying to move that around.

I have seen the quick type hitches on the bigger tractors, they seem just about an instant swap, some of the big JD's come with them from the git go.

del