Couple of Harbor Freight QH questions

[jimmysisson]

Any reason you couldn't use a hairpin clip in that?
Jim

 

[KennyG]

Any clip will work but the ring is more secure. The reason they use it that most of us adjust once to suit our preference and don't touch it again. I firmed mine up so it has a limited amount of swing right after I got the tractor and haven't changed it since.

 

[Fallon]

Any clip will work but the ring is more secure. The reason they use it that most of us adjust once to suit our preference and don't touch it again. I firmed mine up so it has a limited amount of swing right after I got the tractor and haven't changed it since.

That's how I had my L3200 setup. Probably should have loosened it for subsoiler work, but never did.

 

[California]

An example where the HF qhitch is the foundation for building a custom implement:

I bought an old drag-type spike harrow for $100. Then I built a lift mechanism for tight turns at the end of each orchard row. It's made from scrap materials on hand - a mast and pulley from an exercise machine that a neighbor gave me. It clips onto the qhitch in place of the hook. Here's a post where I described the project.

 

[Catman8]

Good job California, I enjoy designing and building things also, it's the picking up the tool and cleaning up after that I'm not so fond of, need to get me a full time personal assistant

Sounds like everyone has their own personal preference as to how much swing is correct on a three point, as long as I don't bend or break something, thanks for everyone's suggestions very helpful.

 

[JRobyn]

Wow, thanks for the link to the bushing kit. I get sick every time I've bought one at TSC.
However, unless I'm bad wrong (I hope not cause I ordered two of them), the correct version for impliments with 7/8" dia pins is this one http://m.northerntool.com/products/shop~tools~product_200479426_200479426?hotline=false

Thanks for the correction!!

BTW, these adapters are not too hard to remove - they are held on with a roll pin that can be driven out fairly easily with a punch. Handy for when your BIL wants to borrow your grading scraper but he doesn't use a QH.

 

[97r82]

I finally bought a quick hitch from HF. They had them in the store but none of the employees knew what i wanted. Finally pulled up the ad on my phone and one of the guys said we have 6 back there. Didn't have a clue what they were. I also have older implements that need adapting for the hook. My friend modified his hook by removing 1/2" of the material which helped but makes the hook sloppier. I made some adapters out of a piece of 2" square tubing about 4" long then drilled a 3/4" hole to pin it to the top link of the tiller. I cut a piece 2" long and welded it on at 90 degrees for the hook to grab. They actually work better than the fork that HF sells.
I have a over ride clutch i will use to make up the lost length on the driveline.
I went ahead and made one for each piece of equipment. Time well spent. Now i can hook up anything i have except the PHD. As others said i wouldn't worry too much about teh Cat 1 pins. I am going to change a few that are loose to Cat 2 but the rest will work as they are.

 

[Fallon]

The QH spec indicates all QHes should use Cat3 pins. The only difference between Cat 1, 2 & 3 QHes dimension wise is the width. Im sure 2 & 3 are beefier though. All my stuff is Cat 1 & I've got a few I haven't bothered putting the Cat3 bushings on. May get to it at some point.

In my experience all QHes except for JD iMatch & LandPride are the same cheap quality. I've had 2 Harbor Freight, 1 Speeco & one I forget, maybe CountyLine. All were similar quality, one required a little grinding on the hooks that were to small. All of em got a 1-2" extension on the back of the top hook. I've looked at the higher quality ones & still see the need for the top hook extension, so might as well go cheap if I'm going to fix it up off the bat.

2 ran off with my old tractor, one was welded to a SSQA plate to mount my former truck snow plow. 1 was for a friend & my 4th is on my new L4060. May end up with a 5th on a SSQA plate again eventually, but my new plow will be a more compact mount than my previous QH SSQA mount.

My flail mower is ancient, off center (by design) & has articulating lower links, so lots of motion on the lift pins. I have yet to get Cat3 bushings on it & while the pins are noticeably beatup, they aren't any thinner or in danger of wearing out before the rest of the mower.

 

[California]

I was just looking through the HF reviews sorted by 'Most Helpful'.

One post from 5 years ago noted that HF's QH has lower hooks sized for Cat 2 pins, while all the other brands' hooks are larger, Cat 3 size. Check this before ordering adapter sleeves! (My first-generation HF QH, the one that was narrower than what they sell now, has these Cat 2 hooks. I don't know about current production.)

That poster suggested put Cat 2 pins on all your implements, special Cat 2 pins that have Cat 1 mounting threads. This might work for a few people but I wouldn't do it myself.

 

[KennyG]

I would be skeptical of the comment that the HF uses Cat 2 pins. My HF hooks are sized for Cat 3 pins and that's what I have my equipment converted to. The biggest problem with the HF QH is that the forging process they use for the hooks seemingly does not give you a 90 degree edge. On some hitches, the hook opening is slightly askew. This may lead people to think the hook is undersized. On mine the lower hooks were OK but the top hook required a little grinding for a smooth fit.