Using Pat's Easy Change

[bobframe]

I just placed an order for a Pat's Easy Change system (including Stabilizer bar) for my Kubota L3010 HST. I use my tractor on my 52 acre hobby farm and most frequently use a 60" Bush Hog rotary cutter and a 60" box blade. The most difficult work involves using the rotary cutter to cut brush around the dam to my pond and this involves some tricky (for me anyway) hillside work (cutting on incline, backing up the incline).

The Pat's Easy Change system appears to be great...since most of my implement changing is done solo.

However, I am a bit concerned about how securely the system will hold the rotary cutter while doing the tricky hillside work.

Anyone have any experience doing this?

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I have owned the Pat's system and if installed properly it should be as secure as with out it. Quick hitches are great for the single person attaching rear implements. They do extend the attach point back a bit so implements with drive shafts may need a longer drive shaft.

 

[bobframe]

I have owned the Pat's system and if installed properly it should be as secure as with out it. Quick hitches are great for the single person attaching rear implements. They do extend the attach point back a bit so implements with drive shafts may need a longer drive shaft.

Thanks for your input. I'll watch for this.

 

[RoyJackson]

You won't have anymore problem using Pat's system with your cutter then if the cutter was directly linked to the lower arms.
As John wrote, the cutter will be about 4" further from the PTO stub shaft. If you have adequate overlap on your cutter's drive shaft, might not be a problem.
If you do need an extender, try this one:
Pto Adapter

I still use it with my chipper.

 

[bobframe]

You won't have anymore problem using Pat's system with your cutter then if the cutter was directly linked to the lower arms.
As John wrote, the cutter will be about 4" further from the PTO stub shaft. If you have adequate overlap on your cutter's drive shaft, might not be a problem.
If you do need an extender, try this one:
Pto Adapter

I still use it with my chipper.

Thanks Roy. The PTO Adapter is ingenious. Can't see why that wouldn't work...and has the advantage of being easy to change if it wasn't needed.

 

[sawduster98]

I never needed to extend any PTO's but I did need to get a longer top link. You'll love Pat's. Great company to deal with.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I never needed to extend any PTO's but I did need to get a longer top link. You'll love Pat's. Great company to deal with.

I now remember, I did have to get a longer top link. Checked at a Green and Yellow dealer since I was driving by and they wanted about $80 for a longer top link. I passed on their offer and up the hwy was a Tractor Supply so I stopped there and felt good paying $20 for one. I also later sold my Pats and got cast steel quick hitches off ebay for under $100 that lets the implement sit on top of the hitch instead of extended back because my tiller drive shaft was to short.

 

[Beltman60]

you'll be impressed how easy your rotary cutter will be to take off and on
just make sure it sits relatively flat
I sit mine on 2 broken 4" posts and it takes me about 2-3 min to put on and even less to take off
used to take both me and the wife 5 min with plenty of words of wisdom between the 2 of us (not good once I would get back into the house)

Like others have said just make sure your PTO shaft has plenty of length (mine did)

 

[RoyJackson]

used to take both me and the wife 5 min with plenty of words of wisdom between the 2 of us (not good once I would get back into the house)

5 minutes with no PEC or QH? That's not bad...used to take me at least 10-20 minutes with a lot of foul language.

 

[ovrszd]

I used Pat's on a L4400 Kubota. Did a lot of box blade work and cutter work on very uneven ground. never had any issues with the Pat's durability. But remember it does change the dynamics as in, implement is farther from rear axle of tractor which makes the weight more noticeable and you feel the "swing" of the cutter more when working on an incline.