gwdixon
Elite Member
I do have the extendable arms on the MX5100 but have not used them much (only have them on the MX and have not had that long) and tend to forget about them. But they are handy and I should get in the habit of using them. Replacement ends is an interesting option. Thanks for the photo; it is clear what they have done. But it also makes me wonder if they could have the top feature (quick hitch) and still have the horizontal slot for extension. But the extendable arm has a spring mechanism so maybe there is something in the engineering? I assume there is a reason, as having both quick hitch and extendable would be the ultimate.
And what are the yellow washers? Looks like maybe you had a bunch of custom ones made (or made them yourself) with two tabs for the lynch pin to keep it straight and in place. I've already used the hitch enough to know that I've had to reposition the washers a few times to keep them out of the way of the arms coming up from below.
The photo in post #629 (top) is the Pat's that was sold. Then new weld-on Pat's were purchased and welded on the OEM extendable arms (bottom) after the ball was cut off with a plasma cutter. That makes a Pat's with extendable arms. As you stated, it is the ultimate solution.
The price of the replacement extendable arms is prohibitive ($206 each, $412 total!!!) to just buy them to cut up. Pat's probably doesn't want to make a jig for cutting those "L"s that enable the extendable arms. They would have to make several dies for the different size and manufacturers of tractors that they serve.
Have you installed the regular Pat's on the MX5100? I thought that the extendable arm locking lever would be in the way and prevent the install.
The yellow washers are just hardware store washers that fit CAT 2 pins and a couple of small bent washers welded on. The reason they are yellow is because the CAT 1 washers were painted blue and are grade 8 washers. Red is CAT 1 but regular washers. Also, the stock Pat's bent washer can be modified with a washer to keep it in place and keep them out of the way (also blue).
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