3pt hitch help

[Eric_Phillips]

I have been swaping out a box blade and york rake and have been having a hard time getting the lower arms on and off. What is the trick to get implements on and off? This is my method. I back up to the implement then get on and off several times to get the left arm lined up to start on the pin. I then have to move the tractor forward or back several more times to get the arm to slip fully on the pin. Mind you there is a lot of beating on it with my foot. Then I go to the right side and adjust the arm up or down then I need to do the forward and back thing again to get the arm on the pin. The ball thing on the end of the arm does move but it does not compensate for the arc the arm has to move in order to slide on the pin. Getting the implement off takes the same things in reverse. Beat on the arm, move the tractor a little and beat some more. Is this normal or am I missing something?

Eric

 

[trlong]

Eric,

Do a search on "Quick Hitch", "I-Match", etc... There are numerous threads on various makes and models. Although many implements will not fit all types of quick hitches without some modification or adjustment, I haven't read any one regretting getting some form of quick hitch. It is amazing how much they can reduce the kicking, banging, and especially the cussing at the 3PH!

Good luck,

Tom

 

[DFW]

Eric, I am new to tractoring and read everything I could on this and other forums and as said, get your self a "quick attach" system. After reading many posts here about the "fun" of attaching implements, I decided I wanted to keep the skin on my knuckles and fingers. I purchased the Pat's system advertised here on TBN. Back up to an implement, raise the 3pt, close the latch attach the top link and I am outta there, fingers intact. I am not sure exactly how the other systems work, but Pat's has made this newbies life much easier. Good luck in whatever choice you make.

David

 

[Soundguy]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( have been having a hard time getting the lower arms on and off. What is the trick to get implements on and off? )</font>

Planning and practice.

Set the implement down in a flat level area.. make sure all pins and connecting points are in good repair.. i.e. not rusty or bent. keep a persuader ( brass/copper maul or pry bar ) on hand... etc.

Soundguy

 

[slowrev]

I am with Sound guy on this one, After some practice It is not so bad, and everything will hook up, unlike some of the quick hitch systems. You might want to put wood blocks under some implements to keep them at an easy hook up level.
I also keep a 6 ft pry bar handy for small adjustments to the implements position for hook up, makes it relatively easy to move them a bit.
A 3 LB hammer is nice for stubborn pins, etc....
Use white lithium grease or the like on the pins and balls.
And of course good gloves to keep the hands somewhat protected and grease free.
Ben

 

[Farwell]

I keep a 6 foot 4x4 handy. Wood is a little less damaging than metal pry bars and the 4x4 is gentle on the shoulders if you really have to put your self in to the prying.
I have a 16 foot by 20 foot level area covered with about 4 inches of crushed concrete where I park most of my attachments. My tractor tires leave a little bit of a foot print every time I hook up an attachment and I try to align the tractor up with the tire marks. This generally puts me in the right area for hook up.
Of course the quick hitches are the easiest way to go if you got the bucks.

 

[Freds]

I take it the tractor you've been using doesn't have any movement to the arms except up and down and side to side?

I adjust the arms so they are about the same height as the pins when backing up. It helps your forward/backward alignment. Then when it looks like I am close, I lower them all the way so I can lift them up to the pins. I also pull the pins on my telescoping stabilizers, or in the case of my old B7500, I loosen the turnbuckles so I don't have to fight pulling the lower links out far enough to slide them onto the pins. This is important if you are not backed up perfectly centered with your implement. It also helps you backing up if you can align your drawbar with a centered PTO shaft, just in case the lower links are not spread out evenly.
I'm not sure if the tractor you have been using has HST, but if it does, you can VERY CAREFULLY tweek the tractor one way or the other by slightly pushing on the peddle. If you have a FEL on the tractor, you can curl the bucket down, rest it on the ground and use the joystick to accomplish the same thing.

It will come, but I think everybody has a bad alignment day once in a while for some unknown reason. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[HomeBrew2]

You mentioned that the ball thing on the end of the arms "moves" ... make sure it moves freely 360° almost to the point of being sloppy. Mine had gobbs of paint on them and, even after removing the paint, the retainer around the ball had to be "worked over" to get the ball completely free.

 

[Joe1]

I assume these implements are outside. If inside, you could set them down on a couple of 4 wheel furniture dollys which will allow it to roll right into place. This would also work if they sit on a plywood sheet outside.

 

[Eric_Phillips]

I have a FarmTrak 270DTC so the arms only go up/down and side/side. What you talk about lowering the arms to the level of the pins then backing up is what I have now been trying. I first thought there was something wrong with the hitch the first time I used it. The arms will not fall on thier own. I need to lower the control lever then get off and push on the arms to get them to go down. I just caught your comment about the stabilizers. If I loosen those that will let the arms move forward and back a little? Maybe that will give me the slight movement I need once the arm is started on the pin. Otherwise it looks like I need to get out the large pry bar and get a big hammer. I am glad to hear that I was not doing anything wrong, it just is that big of a pain to hook up.

All the comments about getting a quick hitch are great but I have been cut off by the accountant, wife. Between buying a new tractor and the tools for a new woodworking shop I have been told to stop spending money. But it has all been for her. The woodworking stuff is to build the upper cabinets for the kitchen and the tractor is for building and maintaining the horse stuff.

Eric