Implement Hook-up 101

[Podunkadunk]

Alright, I need help. As stated previously, I am new to the "tractor owning realm". The last time I drove a tractor (before buying this one) was when I was 15/16 years old helping a farmer down the dirt road from my house. Most of the time, he had implements we'd be using that day already hooked up when I got there. I'll be the first to admit, if it weren't for the owner manual and a few things on TBN, I wouldn't know squat about my tractor. (I'm still reading it).

My question is: What's the easiest and quickest way to hook up my implements? I can hook up the boom, no problem...'cause I can man-handle it. The boxblade and the bushhog is a beeeeyotch.

Is there a certain procedure to follow? Should I have someone with me every time to operate the tractor (moving forward or back to align)? There's got to be a trick to it! One side before the other, top first, then bottom, vice versa, etc...

What's the ticket, short of buying those fancy attachments that I see advertised everywhere (quick hookups)?

Signed,
Podunkadunk in Cluelessville.

 

[AlanB]

Dolly's or those pats, "fancy attachments" or a quick hitch.

For my money, I just wished I had bought the pats sooner.

we use a PHD a lot though.

 

[Podunkadunk]

Dolly's or those pats, "fancy attachments" or a quick hitch.

For my money, I just wished I had bought the pats sooner.

we use a PHD a lot though.

About 90% of what you said may as well be in "Greek"!

What's a Dolly?
What's a pat?
What's a PHD, unless you have a Doctor on call who helps you hook up your bottom plow????

 

[cmhyland]

Podunk....

Do you own a rubber mallet? That is the first place to start...

Dollies work great but you have to have a solid surface to roll them on.

Landscape rakes and rotary cutters are a little big for dollies.

Does your machine have adjustable lower links? They help in hookups.

Make sure when you take things like the rake off you block them up to make reconnecting easier.

Try to always make your connections on a level surface.

Hope that helps.... I love my rubber mallet...

Regards,
Chris

 

[Podunkadunk]

Ok, that kind of "Dolly". I thought it may be some farming piece I haven't heard of.

I have the adjustable linkages for "faster" (oxymoron) hook-ups. I haven't tried the rubber mallot trick, but I know the heel of my boot has got some usage.

I sprayed the mount pins and balls with liquid wrench for some lube...helped some, but still have to get someone to help me hook stuff up. Wifey is getting good at operating the tractor Wait, I want her to think "tractor is evil", don't go near..., men only. I better figure out how to do it myself.

I'll try the mallot trick next hook up. I don't feel so badly now that I know other people have the same hard time I do.

 

[jeffinsgf]

You know what a Johnson Bar is? One is very valuable for your issue. If you don't know what it is, think of about a 7 foot long tapered oak plank with a steel shelf at the bottom and two heavy cast iron wheels. It's sort of like a two wheeled dolly where the back got extended to twice its normal length, the angle between the back the the bottom got opened up to about 130 degrees and the width is squished down to about 5 inches.

Warehouses and truckers used to use them to nudge big crates into position. Now they just bash them with a forklift. That big lever lets you carefully tweak the angle and position of one corner of an implement. Downside is, the implement has to be on a hard surface -- a Johnson bar is not very effective on dirt.

Having been in your position about 2 years ago, I can assure you that it does get easier. Each time there's just a little less cussing.

One really great idea I read here on TBN is to set your rotary cutter down with the stump jumper on top of an old tire. That would give it some lateral play. I haven't tried this yet, but I am going to next time I use my MX-5.

 

[wushaw]

Practice, practice, practice. It will take a little time but it does get easier, you will be one with your tractor soon.

 

[Chuckatuck]

Sometimes the boot heel; but, most of the time it's my steel toe (even with 'adjustable' links). Did use a rubber mallet and 'breaker bar' to get my pto shaft locked on the tractor pto. The little tool box on my DX33 came in handy!

I am no pro, but have found the "level" ground to be a key component of success. The curse words and busted knuckles are another way to cope with the exercise!!

 

[dsgsr]

Podunkadunk, What do you have for a tractor? The only thing I see in your profile is a lawn mower, usually the implements for a lawn mower one can man handle enough too connect. If you have a larger machine with a real 3pt ( 3 point hitch) Practice backing up to the attachment/implement so the center of the tractor is lined up with the center of the attachment. If you are on uneven ground connect the lower draft arm/pin first, lift 3pt lever until attachment is level connect other draft arm and then the top third point. If the attachment is cockeyed to the machine, connect the closest draft arm/pin, move the tractor forward or aft to line up the other draft arm/pin.
If you have extendable links this will all be much easier, you will still have to read your manual about the sway links that determine how far apart your draft arms are from each other. Thats a good starting point, there is much more to learn. One thing at a time

David

 

[Farmwithjunk]

I grew up around tractors. Dad had me running them by 10 or 11. Hooked and unhooked many an implement then. It wasn't long after I was on my own that I owned tractors. Most of the time there's been at least 3 or 4 around. 35 years of small time farming with lots of 3 point equipment. Still playing around with them. Just a guess, but I might have hooked/unhooked 3 point implements over 15,000 times. It gets easier with practice. Hope it doesn't take you 15,000 times to get the hang of it.

Best advice I have to offer is spot equipment where it's easy to back up to it just as you pulled away when you unhook. You'll get better with practice at spotting the tractor in the right spot before you unload from the operators seat. Some implements ARE a bear to hook up. I've owned a Woods box blade for 3 years and haven't hardly scratched the paint yet. I DETEST hooking that thing to a tractor. It is the one thing that has made me think about a quick hitch.

On a lot of the "older" implements, say those from the '60's, the implement owners manual usually has the manufacturers suggested method of hooking up. It's astounding how much you can learn from the people who design and build this stuff!