Thanks to all - and HF Quick Hitch tweak

[Threepoint]

My local (very good) fab shop cut a piece of oversized bar stock, welded it on, milled it down flush with the sides of the existing hook, and re-drilled for about $60. Beautiful work!

Sounds like a very fair price for that custom work. Would easily be $100+ around here for setup, time and materials.

I've just done a google image search for quick hitches. It looks like the Cat 1 QHs from Speeco, Woods and Landpride all have adjustable top hooks that protrude farther from the QH bracket. Maybe another TBN member with one could post the hole spacing (on centers), and the distance from the vertical centerline of the holes to the inside wall of the "J" of the hook. If any one of them would work with the HF/Northern Hydraulics QH's, I'll check on ordering as a separate part.

 

[Threepoint]

If you weld the top hook, cut off the row of holes first.

Bruce

Couldn't you just fill in the original holes while welding on the extension? But there are just two. Would it really add much strength, either way?

 

[Fallon]

Couldn't you just fill in the original holes while welding on the extension? But there are just two. Would it really add much strength, either way?

My hooks have all had a 2" extension or so welded to the back & a new set of holes. Never bothered filling the old holes. The pins or bolts are a MUCH weaker link than that hook, even if you drilled several more holes in it.

 

[bcp]

I wasn't thinking of strength, but clearance. With the hook in the same place, but the strip of holes removed, the hook will fit narrow implement tops better and easier. Almost like hooks with a welded on extension.

Bruce

 

[JRobyn]

My QH came from Agri-Supply and was advertised as a "Speeco" but was actually a "Country Line" or somesuch, made in China, I expect IDENTICAL in every way to the HF one. Agri-Supply did offer to give me my money back when I complained. All I had to do was pay return freight ($$$$$!!!!). Here's my modified hook after painting.

 

[TractorGuy]

I too have an Agri Supply QH but all the mods I made were to my equipment so it hooks up. My mistake was the first piece I made it connect to was not a Cat 1 standard so now none of my stuff is Cat 1 standard.

Matters not because I back up and hook and unhook most without leaving the seat.

 

[CanDo]

Lots of good little tidbits in the various posts... I thought briefly about just welding the hook on as well, but I decided against it because of the various dimensions on all my old stuff that I've picked up over the years. In fact, that's why took the great idea of adding to the hook that I first read about in this forum and made a slight modification by extending the length of the addition. If you look at 94Bullitt's hook (as well as others who have done the same thing) it shows a piece welded on with two holes added corresponding to the original holes in the hook. What I did was to make the extension just a bit longer and then with three holes. This allows the hook to be dropped two more notches. You can see in the picture attached to my original post that it is one lower which was necessary to properly fit the attachment.
Here's a picture that I found of the hook that I took prior to it being painted.