Quick Hitches Speeco Cat 1 Quick Hitch
- Thread starter curly
- Start date
bjr
Veteran Member
Harbor Freight has the same one at about half the price. about $80. I just got one. I'm having to adjust the implements top pin connections to make them fit the Quick Hitch. Sometimes the implement top hole needs to be drilled in a dfferent location and sometimes I have add spacers to make the top hole spacing wider. Different implements different connection problems. To me modifying the implement is the best solution so I don't have to readjust the quickhitch each implement change. I have a JD plow that's not QH compatiable, though. Everything else will convert over okay. bjr
jdbower
Platinum Member
If you're looking at a quick hitch and think you'll be getting a variety of implements I'd check out Pat's EZ Hitch (stickied at the top of this forum). You have to attach the toplink yourself but it's nearly impossible to find an implement it won't work with. Whenever I get around to getting a welder I may modify my non-iMatch stuff but most of my equipment is newer Frontier stuff that works fine with JD's solution. Until then Pat has been a lifesaver!
OP
curly
Platinum Member
Yeah, I went ahead and ordered the Pat's quick hitch and they drop shipped it to the place where my tractor is. It'll be on when the tractor arrives. After reading 11-12 pages of great reviews it was hard to say no to that.
They had never heard of Pat's...but after installing mine, they may just change suppliers.
AT least that's what the reviews seem to say.
They had never heard of Pat's...but after installing mine, they may just change suppliers.
AT least that's what the reviews seem to say.
srjones
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Mar 6, 2006
- Messages
- 542
- Location
- Columbia County, Oregon, USA
- Tractor
- Mahindra 2015HST & Mitsubish R1500
curly said:
Umm...free labor?
There's nothing to installing it. In fact, I don't think you'd "install" it, but rather just attach it to the 3PH. About the quick hitch, I bought a Speeco for $200 and a year later bought a HF for $70. There certainaly are things that make the Speeco worth more (quality, materials, workmanship) but I'm still not sure if it's worth the $130 extra.
JRP
Platinum Member
dirtrod said:
I feel exactly the same way.
The Harbor Freight model is not exactly the same as a Speeco.
OP
curly
Platinum Member
Seems to be a few out there that are very good at what they were made to do. Sounds like Speeco and Pat's are definately 2 of them.
If that 12 page discussion wouold have been about Speeco instead of Pat's, I'm sure I would have bgt that.
Well, here's your chance Speeco fans, talk it up. Let's hear all the pros and cons of the Speeco quick hitch.
And BTW SRJones, why'd you have to but a HF after you had a Speeco?
If that 12 page discussion wouold have been about Speeco instead of Pat's, I'm sure I would have bgt that.
Well, here's your chance Speeco fans, talk it up. Let's hear all the pros and cons of the Speeco quick hitch.
And BTW SRJones, why'd you have to but a HF after you had a Speeco?
RollTideRam
Veteran Member
Does the speeco come with bushings similar to the I-match? I have seen I-match pictures, and I like how the bushings are made. I looked at speeco at TSC, but did not see any bushings. JC
jdbower
Platinum Member
The Speeco, et al, don't require you get off the tractor for non-PTO items, they connect at both sidelinks and the toplink. However, this also has downsides. The sidelinks must be the right spacing, the most common issue with the cheaper "standard" hitches like these is that the sidelinks don't fit and need to be modified. The truly standard hitches like iMatch also have a fixed position for the toplink and is actually defined by a standards body, but very few implements actually use this standard. The Speeco/HF versions have an adjustable toplink position that you can use to compensate, but even still if you can't get the hook under the toplink (as in my chipper) you're still out of luck without a special adapter.
Pat's is nice system in that the sidelink widths are adjustable but they snap onto the implement using spring-loaded hooks like the fixed width solutions. The benefit is more compatability but the downsides are you need to get off the tractor to install the toplink (luckily this is the easy part) and you may need a longer toplink to keep things in line (on my small 2520 this hasn't been an issue, but these are easy to swap out and it's an excuse to get a hydraulic toplink).
The downside of both systems is that the PTO shaft needs to be longer. Again, my shafts have been long enough (no snickering!) but I also have new implements that probably are designed for these things plus a smaller tractor.
In short, iMatch is great but limited in compatability, Speeco/HF give an adjustable toplink position, Pat's gives variable width but you need to use the standard toplink. The ideal solution is iMatch (or the new version that includes an in-seat PTO hookup, drool!) and have all your implements modified, but that can be expensive. Pat's is the most flexible (but you may want a longer toplink and definitely order the spreader bar). The Speeco/HF can be like an iMatch assuming your toplink spacings are all the same. Since most of my implements are PTO-powered I have to get off the seat anyway and with my new hydraulic toplink that extra step should be a snap!
Pat's is nice system in that the sidelink widths are adjustable but they snap onto the implement using spring-loaded hooks like the fixed width solutions. The benefit is more compatability but the downsides are you need to get off the tractor to install the toplink (luckily this is the easy part) and you may need a longer toplink to keep things in line (on my small 2520 this hasn't been an issue, but these are easy to swap out and it's an excuse to get a hydraulic toplink).
The downside of both systems is that the PTO shaft needs to be longer. Again, my shafts have been long enough (no snickering!) but I also have new implements that probably are designed for these things plus a smaller tractor.
In short, iMatch is great but limited in compatability, Speeco/HF give an adjustable toplink position, Pat's gives variable width but you need to use the standard toplink. The ideal solution is iMatch (or the new version that includes an in-seat PTO hookup, drool!) and have all your implements modified, but that can be expensive. Pat's is the most flexible (but you may want a longer toplink and definitely order the spreader bar). The Speeco/HF can be like an iMatch assuming your toplink spacings are all the same. Since most of my implements are PTO-powered I have to get off the seat anyway and with my new hydraulic toplink that extra step should be a snap!