Quick Hitches 3 point quick hitch, $67 to over $270, what's the difference?

[montejw]

Been looking at 3 pt quick hitches and found them from $67 to over $270, what's the difference?

Monte

 

[davemhughes]

I have the $67 one and it works fine so far.

 

[California]

A can of green paint.


Actually there is a difference between an Imatch (JD) and the others, which I think are all identical to one another.

On an Imatch the upper hook is welded solid at a standard height.

On the Harbor Freight QH, and I think all the rest, there are lips that extend back and have holes allowing you to bolt the upper hook at various heights. However these lips extend back closer to the hook's opening, compared to the larger hook-to-chassis distance on an Imatch. So your implement may hit those lips before its cross-pin drops fully into the hook.

This is difficult to describe so I attached a picture to show a loader forks attachment I made for my QH. Note I am using pins to attach the hook, and those pins are beyond the back edge of the hitch chassis, unlike an Imatch which has nothing extending back to cause interference.

Also note I had to modify this Howse box to match standard QH dimensions - the two cross-pins were in the way and had to be removed to get the hook in there. I moved one of them up to standard height to be the lifting pin.

See attached, if this text description makes no sense.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...71849409-pallet-forks-rear-3-pt-p1050890r.jpg

 

[montejw]

A can of green paint.


Actually there is a difference between an Imatch (JD) and the others, which I think are all identical to one another.

On an Imatch the upper hook is welded solid at a standard height.

On the Harbor Freight QH, and I think all the rest, there are lips that extend back and have holes allowing you to bolt the upper hook at various heights. However these lips extend back closer to the hook's opening, compared to the larger hook-to-chassis distance on an Imatch. So your implement may hit those lips before its cross-pin drops fully into the hook.

This is difficult to describe so I attached a picture to to show a loader forks attachment I made for my QH. Note I am using pins to attach the hook, and those pins are beyond the back edge of the hitch chassis, unlike an Imatch which has nothing extending back to cause interference.

Also note I had to modify this Howse box to match standard QH dimensions - the two cross-pins were in the way and had to be removed to get the hook in there. I moved one of them up to standard height to be the lifting pin.

See attached, if this text description makes no sense.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/attachments/70567d1171849409-pallet-forks-rear-3-pt-p1050890r.jpg

You said "standard" a couple times. Are there really standards for the QH dimensions and 3 point hitch?

Monte

 

[schmism]

You said "standard" a couple times. Are there really standards for the QH dimensions and 3 point hitch?

Monte

AFAIK yes there is a standard (ISO/ASTM/whoever) for the dimentions between pins for the various classes of equipment as well as the spaceing and hole sizes for the top link.

 

[California]

You said "standard" a couple times. Are there really standards for the QH dimensions and 3 point hitch?

Yes.

This old post references an article at LSU Ag Center that has a diagram of the standard, and a good picture of the JD Imatch (click on it) for comparison to the generic copies.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/79288-harbor-freight-3-point-quick-18.html#post997082

 

[Iowa2210]

All standards are set by ASABE (American Society of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineers) of which I'm a 10 year memeber, and can be referenced in their standards books (I have the 2001 edition sitting on my desk). Everything has a standard, QH dimensions, drawbar height, etc. If you look at a Deere iMatch hitch is has the ASABE spec # on a sticker in it.

Iowa2210

 

[Hooked_on_HP]

Just because there is a standard, it doesn't mean everyone goes by it. I have 8 TPH attachments and none of them measure the same. Some are close to the same width but the distance to the top link may be 4" different. One of the reasons I like the HF quickhitch is the adjustable hook for the top link.

 

[HayDR]

Just because there is a standard, it doesn't mean everyone goes by it. I have 8 TPH attachments and none of them measure the same. Some are close to the same width but the distance to the top link may be 4" different. One of the reasons I like the HF quickhitch is the adjustable hook for the top link.

Hooked on HP you could not be more correct. IN 1998 John Deere applied for a ASABE standard on the a CAT 1- 3 point measuring from the lower lift pins to the top link to be 15". The three point hitch was designed by Mr. Ferguson in the 1940's and became the standard from the 1960's forward. For over 50 years the acceptable manufacturing standard has been 18-22". ASABE standard had never been established so JD saw a way to make their I-Match an exclusive. JD would have all their short line equipment made to the I-Match standard. As you can see less than 10% of the 3 point implements being manufactured are I-Match compatible. JD was pretty smart because the person purchasing an overpriced I-Match hitch is all but locked into JD or Frontier implements that are I-Match compatible. A JD customer purchasing and I-Match hitch has no idea what JD has boxed them into. JD tried to legitimize their application for a ASABE standard when JD knew their was 50+ years of manufacturing by shortline manufacturers. The ASABE standard should be rescinded because it is a sham by JD. The adjustable hitch mentioned will work on 95% of all applications available where the I-Match system will work on only 5% of the implement applications.

 

[Tractors4u]

I don't think it is a sham, Deere didn't creat the standard did they? If anything it would be great if every manufacturer would fall in line with this standard. That would in turn give Deere some competetion. I don't have a Deere Quick hitch, I just do it the old fashion way. Besides, if you have to adjust the quick for each piece of equipment, it is no longer a quick hitch. I know that many many on here have actually modified their equipment to work with whatever hitch they bought. Modify the impliment once instead of adjusting the quick hitch each time.

Hooked on HP you could not be more correct. IN 1998 John Deere applied for a ASABE standard on the a CAT 1- 3 point measuring from the lower lift pins to the top link to be 15". The three point hitch was designed by Mr. Ferguson in the 1940's and became the standard from the 1960's forward. For over 50 years the acceptable manufacturing standard has been 18-22". ASABE standard had never been established so JD saw a way to make their I-Match an exclusive. JD would have all their short line equipment made to the I-Match standard. As you can see less than 10% of the 3 point implements being manufactured are I-Match compatible. JD was pretty smart because the person purchasing an overpriced I-Match hitch is all but locked into JD or Frontier implements that are I-Match compatible. A JD customer purchasing and I-Match hitch has no idea what JD has boxed them into. JD tried to legitimize their application for a ASABE standard when JD knew their was 50+ years of manufacturing by shortline manufacturers. The ASABE standard should be rescinded because it is a sham by JD. The adjustable hitch mentioned will work on 95% of all applications available where the I-Match system will work on only 5% of the implement applications.