Quick Hitches Quick Hitch- Pat's or HF

   / Quick Hitch- Pat's or HF #1  

dirtymartini

Silver Member
Joined
Jul 20, 2015
Messages
192
Location
Harveys Lake Pa
Tractor
LS R4047 FEL & Backhoe
I have been thinking about a Quick Hitch and have been reading and searching but still can't decide what would be better for me. All of my implements are older so they are not really Quick Hitch compatible.

I will be switching between a landscape rake, box blade and grader blade.

The price on the HF with a 20% coupon is hard to beat but will it need a lot of tweaking with each implement to get it to fit?

The Pat's seems like an easy hook up with no bushings needed but you still have to hook up the top link....

Suggestions?
 
   / Quick Hitch- Pat's or HF #2  
The HF quick hitch requires that all of your implements must fit its exact dimensions. Anything other than the way the hitch is built will not fit. This is a real problem with older implements. Measure the distance between lift pins to check.

Even then, the top attachment point must be exact as well. And there must not be a bar or other interference under the top link pin that might restrict access from under the attachment point.

You choices are:
>modify the implements by cutting / welding so the dimensions are exactly fit to the QH.
>take off the QH for use with non-fitting implements.

With the Pat's, just about anything will fit. Attaching the top link is a pretty minor issue IMO unless there is some physical disability involved.

Using the implements you mention, there is no reason to have to deal with the Pat's being a little bit longer than the OEM lift arms.

I have old implements made with odd dimensions and use Pat's. I tried two of the fixed style (HF) and sold them both within a week. Yes, I'm a slow learner.
 
   / Quick Hitch- Pat's or HF
  • Thread Starter
#3  
The HF quick hitch requires that all of your implements must fit its exact dimensions. Anything other than the way the hitch is built will not fit. This is a real problem with older implements. Measure the distance between lift pins to check.

Even then, the top attachment point must be exact as well. And there must not be a bar or other interference under the top link pin that might restrict access from under the attachment point.

You choices are:
>modify the implements by cutting / welding so the dimensions are exactly fit to the QH.
>take off the QH for use with non-fitting implements.

With the Pat's, just about anything will fit. Attaching the top link is a pretty minor issue IMO unless there is some physical disability involved.

Using the implements you mention, there is no reason to have to deal with the Pat's being a little bit longer than the OEM lift arms.

I have old implements made with odd dimensions and use Pat's. I tried two of the fixed style (HF) and sold them both within a week. Yes, I'm a slow learner.

Thanks for the reply. Pat's is the way I am leaning right now...I did take some measurements and my box blade is a little too wide for the HF fixed style.
 
   / Quick Hitch- Pat's or HF #4  
I got the Pats hitch about 5 years ago and run older implements (4' tiller, 4' box blade, 6' grader blade, 6' bushhog, dirt scoop, bale spear as well as a few others). It works VERY well on all the different 3 point dimensions and will really save your back. They are very well made and show no signs of failure. Yes you do still have to connect the top link. I use an anti sway bar on one of my lower arms (so it stays fixed) and am able to reach back and swing the other lift arm in or out while backing up to get the arms the right width to line up to any of my implements.
 
   / Quick Hitch- Pat's or HF #5  
Pats and a longer Top Link- Best for different types of equipment. Easy to hook and unhook
Adds 4 inches to Lift arms

Seed Gate.jpg

ECS-2T.jpg
 
   / Quick Hitch- Pat's or HF #6  
Pats and a longer Top Link- Best for different types of equipment. Easy to hook and unhook
Adds 4 inches to Lift arms

View attachment 464279


View attachment 464280

I know this will sound petty, but you might consider putting the bent part of the washer on the bottom when the lynch pin is put through the top. That way the bail can fully close. Having it slightly sprung can be asking for trouble.

Having the bent part on the bottom also allows the Pat's to come up and attach easier without hanging up on the edge of the flat washer.

You could also grind a couple of indentations on the bend to allow the bail to fully engage. And I recommend using the heavy duty lynch pins. Just watch out for your fingers!

CountyLine Lynch Pin, 7/16 in., Heavy Duty, S7913TSC - For Life Out Here

My solution was a bit more involved. These washers (below) also allow them to be left on the implement and not hang up when attaching. (A couple of OEM bent washers painted blue are shown.)

Pats_2.JPG Pats_1.JPG
 
   / Quick Hitch- Pat's or HF #7  
I'm in the process of converting my implements for the HF (actually "Country Way" in my case) QH. GWDixon covered it well. You will likely need to modify most of your implements to at least some degree. This is assuming that the lower lift pin width on all of your implements will fit the fixed width of the QH (nominally 27"). A little less wide, like my 25-1/2" box blade is ok. Wider means that there's no practical way to use the implement/QH. Except for maybe cutting apart the implement frame, trimming out a bit and re-welding to yield the necessary 26-27" width. Not worth it IMHO.

And as gw said, you'll need to have 15" vertical spacing between the lower lift pins and the upper pins on everything, OR will have to relocate your QH top hook each time for any implement that can't be made to match the 15" spec.

I am going through the hassle of modifying my implements to fit for the simple reason that it will make connecting and switching implements easier for my wife after I am gone.
 
   / Quick Hitch- Pat's or HF #8  
I'm in the process of converting my impliments to the HF cat 2 hitch. Some of the reasons I went this way is the same as JRobyn's (so the wife can easily hook up). Also I didn't see much difference in using the Pat's system or the OEM. I'd still need to adjust the width of the hitch to hook up to various impliments. Yes there are going to be "some" implements that I won't be able to use the HF system on but for the major items it's not a problem. The main reason that so many impliments don't fit is that alot of us have tractors that are Cat 1 / Cat 2 lift systems and we buy impliments that are both. In my case I have about a 60/40 mix of Cat 2 /Cat 1 impliments. My conversions are making most of the items Cat 2 which will fit the HF quick hitch.

Good luck on which ever way you choose to go.
 
   / Quick Hitch- Pat's or HF #9  
Priefert used to make or sell a Cat 1-2 quick hitch. The bottom hooks adjusted for width with a sliding tube and pin.

You might find one, or modify a fixed-width hitch.

Bruce

PriefertQuickHitch.jpg
 
   / Quick Hitch- Pat's or HF #10  
Cool idea, that's using yer noggin. Me thinks I will try that. I have a Pat's system and various OLD and newer three point implements and there is a slight tendency to hang up once in a while with different adjustments. All in all I am glad I went with the Pat's system after doing conventional hook ups for forty odd years. I have the adjustable back spacer bar also.
 
 
 
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