Quick Hitches Quick hitch

[buck1]

I looked at the Speeco quick hitch as well as read specs on the one offered in the Northern Tools catalog. My problem in both cases is the lower link connectors are at about 26 inches apart whereas my implement pins are separated by 28 inches minimum. Turning the pins inside instead of outside is not an option because the supports that the pins are mounted on is angled and hides the pins. I don't want to cut into this angle because that loses strength. Any other options out there?

 

[beenthere]

Head for the local welding shop and ask them to modify the attachments to fit. That's what I am doing with mine to get the right location of the pins.

 

[MikePA]

Here's a <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.tractorbynet.com/cgi-bin/compact/showthreaded.pl?Cat=&Board=implement&Number=204718&page=&view=&sb=&o=&vc=1#Post204718>link</A> to a post that indicates the Speeco quick hitch does not adhere to Cat 1 specifications. So, short of returning it and buying one that does, the other suggestion is about all you can do.

 

[GlennT]

I've got a Land Pride quick hitch and I agree with BeenThere that the only thing you can do is have a blacksmith do some work on implements that won't fit. My crane and rear scoop required major surgery on the lower pins; my cultivator and box blade needed work on the upper connection. I use a short, heavy piece of chain for the upper linkage on my shredder, finish mower and chipper. This took some time (and expense) to get set up, but it was worth it to me because I no longer have back and shoulder pains after hooking up and using the implements. I still can't back up to an implement and hook up without getting off the tractor, but that's no big deal. You also probably want to consider making dollies for your implements so you can store them more compactly. Most people don't have the space to spread out their implements so they can just back up to each one and hook up. I have wondered how the extendable lower arms on a three-point hitch compare with a speed hitch. These weren't available when I purchased my tractor. Maybe they would be a better choice than a speed hitch.

 

[JRP]

From what I have read on TBN the speeco is close to Cat 1 quick hitch specs, but not quite. Seems like they wanted to use parts made for other implements instead of making the right parts. So far I would bet John Deere I-match quick hitch fits the spec most closely. Probably exactly. The Landpride has an adjustable top hook like the speeco. This is not good. A set up for a quick hitch should not require the hitch or implement to be adjusted. This turns it into a slow hitch.

The best thing we can do to help implement manufacturers understand is don't buy new implements that are not quick hitch compatible (tell the dealer this) and also, buy JD Imatch hitches until the other brands figure it out and make a hitch true to the spec.

Way to go John Deere! Keep up the good work. If someone would please buy my speeco hitch I'll buy what I should have, a JD I-match.

 

[em14]

Glenn,
Last week I decided that a 1800 lbs. mower could not be man handled by myself and it was taking for ever to hook up. My JD 5020 does not have the telescoping lower arms and I decided to check prices ... Went to my dealer and found out the telescoping arm would be $466.00 each .... the Cat ll I-Hitch was $ 425.00 ... I pick it up day after tomorrow ... I think that the telescoping arm is a great way to go but this was a used tractor and didn't have them ... (and may never have them at that price)

 

[kyoders]

What about impliment manufacturer's adherence to the standards? I've never really done any checking, but I've seen enough variation to think that perhaps not all impliments adhere as closely to them as they might. And are the specs complete enough to deal with every possible impliment that could be built? Having a standard is wonderful, but only if everybody plays nice. It's a step forward that JD is doing so with the I-Match, but I doubt that it's the magic bullet that will solve every problem. No matter how exactly it matches the standard, there will be impliments that won't work without modification.

Kevin

 

[jhburke]

As I have stated earlier I have the speedco hitch. I have given up on a low cost quick hitch. I just look at each implement and get as close as I can. I just get out the torch and welder and revamp to fit. I just traded tillers so that I could use the quick hitch on it. I had an older kubota and no way to adapt it to the speedco. None of my implements are a back up and hitch and go without leaving the seat. But they are very much easier to hitch up in the current configuration.

 

[JackIL]

Kevin,

You are right--it takes two to tango. The tractor quick-coupler has to meet standard and the implements have to meet the same quick-coupler standard. In fact the specifications for both are listed in the ASAE official standards.

Implements for the larger sizes of Category II and higher normally do adhere to the standards and thus easily mount on all tractors with a Cat XXX coupler. However, most manufacturers of Cat I implements have not bothered to follow the standards--they just got them approximately in the ball park which allows direct connection to Cat I tractors without a coupler. They got away with this since most Cat I tractor owners don't yet have a quick coupler.

The Deere I-Match coupler does adhere to the standards so it will work with any implement that also (or accidently) follows the standard. You will note that Deere simultaneously provided implements that followed the standard and advertizes them as "I-Match Compatible." Many of the Frontier branded implements sold by Deere and manufactured by Woods also follow the standard even though the counterpart implements sold as Woods brand do not necessarily follow the standard.

So the bottom line is: Just because you have an I-Match or other Quick-Coupler that follows the standard, you are not guaranteed that it will quick couple to any arbitrary 3 point implement you just might come across. It will couple to those implements that follow the Cat I standard for quick-couplers. As of now that includes Frontier and First Choice (Midwest) but very few others.

Jack

 

[Marko]

Folks ,

I do not know if this will help in the situation , however Worksaver makes a quick hitch that is adjustable model QH-101 for CAT 1. Top link only it appears and they do talk about the 3PH spec's and how some attachments do not work etc. I thought I would pass this along in case it helped. I have a Worksaver 3PH Carryall and it is well made.

http://worksaver.com

Mark