"Reverse clevis hitch"? Anyone ever tried?

[Dadnatron]

I have 2 drag implements which exert quite a bit of force on my drawbar. So much so, that I snapped the previous bar in half. It is 1 1/4" x 2" so that is some feat.

Anyway, neither implement lends itself to adding a clevis hitch without some significant remodeling and I'd like to put money into my farm rather than into equipment. But... I've already wasted $300 on a new drawbar so I don't want to be foolish.

Does anyone know whether there is any way to connect a standard straight drawbar to a standard hitch in a way that will allow it to move around, thereby allaying the stress on the bar, but maintain strength and control of the blade?

I have a 6.5cuyd dirtpan (yellow) and a 12' dragblade (orange). Both have the same type of hitch. I've tried to think of a configuration of a clevis hitch, but they won't attach to both the blade and the tractor without using 2, which I would fear, would significantly decrease my ability to control them. Also, it just doesn't seem strong enough given these are both dirt working implements.

I've thought that rather than have standard welded clevis attachments put each implement, has anyone ever tried to make a 'Universal' Clevis attachment that would attach to the drawbar, have the mobility in all axis, which would then simply attach to the standard implement hitch?

I have a conception of it in my head, but don't want to reinvent the wheel. I'd rather buy it than have it fabricated, if it already exists.

 

[bcp]

Maybe the one in the center row here. This is meant for the implement, but could be mounted on a drawbar.
Pull Scraper Parts.com

Another one:
Rothwell Ag-Products Inc



Try Google image searching for:

tractor drawbar adapter

ag drawbar adapter

and try substituting "converter" for "adapter"


Bruce

 

[CobyRupert]

By "allow it to move around", I assume the problem is that the hitch needs to pivot vertically (horizontal axis) so that the pin through the drawbar doesn't apply a vertical "rotating torque" (for lack of a better word) that snaps the drawbar.

Google: "twisted clevis".
Is it possible to do this with one (twisted) clevis if the twisted loop portion of the clevis fits between the upper and lower portion of the implement tongue and is held there by a draw pin through the tongue, while the other open end of the clevis is connected to the tractor's drawbar by the clevis' draw pin ?

 

[RNeumann]

The easiest way (I can think of) would be to use what is out there and common- a 2" or bigger trailer ball. Bolt the ball to the draw bar and weld the hitch to the implement.

 

[orangeandgreen]

I kept having problems with bent hitch pins in my rotary cutter from crossing ditches. I elongated the top hole in the tongue of the cutter and haven't bent one since.

 

[bcp]

That's the old standard method--sloppy holes.

Bruce

 

[Dadnatron]

Those are similar to what I need, but would require fabrication and welding.

However, I think that might be the direction I need to go. Perhaps measure and draw it out and send it to a fabricator to have it made. I don't have a welder, torch, or steel to do it myself.

I think that something approximating the Rothwell connector which will allow for up/down movement. One side slips over my drawbar and is pinned. The second slips into the hitch and is pinned to the implement. The verticle movement 'joint' would be in between the implements.

Then I could move it between anything that needed something similar.

 

[Dadnatron]

That's the old standard method--sloppy holes.

Bruce

I've never had a 'sloppy hole'. Just tight ones...

 

[oosik]

View attachment 498196

I was able to find a heavy twisted clevis that I have attached, with normal pin, to my drawbar and the tongue of my farm wagon - looks just like your red or yellow ones - then fits nicely into this clevis. Its called a 7/8 x 3 twisted clevis - it is rotated 90 degrees and allows the tongue to slide right on. Found it at the local Farm/garden store.

 

[oldnslo]

Can you adapt a pintle hitch eye to implements? This would potentially reduce a little of the fore and aft slop you get with a clevis hitch but will require some welding or adapting.
Lunette Eyes | Heavy-Duty Towing | Curtmfg.com