3 Point hitch questions

   / 3 Point hitch questions #1  

DenisM

Bronze Member
Joined
Oct 8, 2007
Messages
57
Location
Harford County, Maryland
Tractor
Looking for one now.
New to tractors; so I had a question about the name of an item used between the lower arms of the 3-point hitch. It is flat with holes in it; want to put a hitch ball in one of the holes and use one of these to haul around a trailer.


Also considering buying a used hydraulic attachment for the rear hitch. I am concerned about the old hydraulic oil in the cylinders getting into the tractor's system. Is there an easy way to flush the old oil before hooking up to tractor's lines?

Thanks
 
   / 3 Point hitch questions #2  
Your first question deals with a "draw bar" and yes, you can put a ball for a trailer on it.

Don't know about your second.
 
   / 3 Point hitch questions #3  
I never had too much luck with a store bought drawbar. They have a tendency to spin in the arms. At least with a hitch ball. Some of the guys have made some pretty cool mods to keep them from doing that. Do a search on drawbars and you'll see some inovative trailer handlers.

BTW Welcome!
BD
DenisM said:
New to tractors; so I had a question about the name of an item used between the lower arms of the 3-point hitch. It is flat with holes in it; want to put a hitch ball in one of the holes and use one of these to haul around a trailer.


Also considering buying a used hydraulic attachment for the rear hitch. I am concerned about the old hydraulic oil in the cylinders getting into the tractor's system. Is there an easy way to flush the old oil before hooking up to tractor's lines?



Thanks
 
   / 3 Point hitch questions #4  
To flush old hydraulic cylinders, I've just taken the fittings off of them, extended and retracted the cylinder to push out the old fluid. Then submerged them in a tank containing new fluid and cycled them several times to flush them with new, leaving them in the closed (empty) position. Then replaced the fittings and hooked them up, cycled to bleed the air out and check the fluid level.
If you have any concern for damage or leaking seals, I'd just disassemble them completely, and reassemble with new parts and clean fluid.
 
   / 3 Point hitch questions #5  
DenisM said:
. I am concerned about the old hydraulic oil in the cylinders getting into the tractor's system. Is there an easy way to flush the old oil before hooking up to tractor's lines?

Thanks

denis,

give us a bot more info about your setup, tractor model, transmission type and hyd related equipment (ie. Loaders and such) before folks here could chime in. In general engine oil is seperated from combination of transmission and hydraulic oil in a basic standard gear driven trans with some difference in HST (Hydro tranny). The rear engine seal can leak engine oil... at the same time transmission main shaft seal may leak oil... that is the only time this two oils can be mixed in the clutch housing. In a scenario like that oils are mixed but never actually are used for either engine or transmission operation. Usually, there is also a drain plug in the clutch housing... if you open it it should be dry. if you remove the plug and see some oil that'll be tell tale sign of either engine or transmission seal leak or both. Flushing system is basically replacing old oil with new with all the filtration system you have either in the form of inlet screen or cartridge filter (spin in automotive type oil filter) or both.

JC,
 
   / 3 Point hitch questions #6  
Hi Dennis,
You got some good answers already.
Your first question was answered and it is a draw bar where you can add a trailer ball on.
Here is a link to a Cat 1 Drawbar.
Cat 1 Craw Bar
To keep it from rotating in the balls of the lower drag links, use a draw bar lock.
Here is a link to one, but be sure to match it up to work with the lower drag links you have.
Drawbar Lock

I like the method gunmaker suggested to purge the old hyd oil out of old cylinders. It is better than what I do. I only pump out th old oil and install the cylinders. His is a cleaner way. A tiny bit of residual old hydraulic fluid will not harm your system. Purging it like he does is a real good way to do it.
 
   / 3 Point hitch questions
  • Thread Starter
#7  
Thanks for the info; exactly what I needed to know.
 
   / 3 Point hitch questions #8  
DenisM said:
New to tractors; so I had a question about the name of an item used between the lower arms of the 3-point hitch. It is flat with holes in it; want to put a hitch ball in one of the holes and use one of these to haul around a trailer.

As has been noted here, you can put a hitch ball on a drawbar but the drawbar will rotate without a lock or something to secure it to the top link. I have a product advertised on this site which works fine. See:
https://www.imcuniverse.com/store/ezmover.htm
 
 
 
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