3ph quick hitch rundown (cat 1)

[MattEffinCameron]

Chris,

Here is the quick hitch I used with my BX. Price is higher than what I paid, which was well under $100 (on ebay IIRC). Similar to Pat's but it doesn't move the mount points back further which was important to me since I already had my chipper PTO shaft cut down to the right size. These move the lower mounts up a few inches. These, plus Mark Hodges telescoping stabilizers make hook up a breeze. Mark's stabilizers can be set at about any spread to match varying implement widths. Set the stabilizers to the correct width, back up and raise the 3PH to hook the implement lower pins, then connect the top link. Good luck whatever you decide.

ORIGINAL EZ-HITCH FOR A 3" ARM

thanks! I have seen those around

 

[MattEffinCameron]

If you have the option to store your 3-pt implements on dollies, that greatly simplifies the procedure, and it will make storage a lot more efficient. I rarely spend more than 30 seconds putting an implement on now.

Are you using a QH or are you saying having implements on dollies (which isnt really an option for me) makes it so easy you dont need a QH?

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I've bought 3 different quick hitches. Started with Pat's and then bought a cast iron set off Ebay (from Ky or In) for under $100 then bought another cast iron set off Ebay that set up or down on the arms which is my preferred set. Sold the Pat's. Only problem with them was with tiller, shaft was to short and one set was a bit wobbly which kept a retaining clip to keep braking on the tiller.

 

[The Suburban Farmer]

If you have the option to store your 3-pt implements on dollies, that greatly simplifies the procedure, and it will make storage a lot more efficient. I rarely spend more than 30 seconds putting an implement on now.

+100 to this.

It's a night and day difference if you can fab up a dolly and support bracket that holds your implement at the correct angle... just back up, lift, flip the quick-hitch levers, and go. I've done that for a couple of my implements and plan to make dollies for the rest this spring. I found that my box blade and my landscape rake need slightly different storage angles to line-up perfectly, so making the dollies with the correct angles on the support was important. Probably wouldn't be such a big deal if I had a hydraulic top link, but I don't. I made the angles to fit my quick hitch when the top link is in the "halfway" position, which seems to work well for me. By making all of them fit the same standard geometry, I can switch implements without ever having to touch the top link until I need to adjust the implement in the field.

 

[s219]

Are you using a QH or are you saying having implements on dollies (which isnt really an option for me) makes it so easy you dont need a QH?

With or without a QH, it makes a huge difference. I used to store my stuff on pallets on the ground outside , and there was never horizontal or vertical alignment between the tractor 3-pt hitch and the implement pins. It meant a lot of jockeying, fiddling, adjusting, etc. With the implements on dollies on a flat concrete floor, I can wheel them into place behind the tractor, tweak the 3-pt controls to get close in range, and bingo. It helps that both the tractor and implement are level, and that the dolly allows the implement to move around on the floor however is needed to align with the 3-pt hitch.

I'd go so far as to say this is an order of magnitude more helpful than whether or not you have a QH. And it can help in both cases. I don't have a QH myself (too many varying requirements from my implements).

 

[aeblank]

I have a HF QH and am a huge fan. I have had to make no modifications (I think the recent ones are better than ones from years past, honestly).
For the price, try it. If it fails in the future, get a "good" one. It was a $75 experiment to prove you wanted one and proves (or not) that you needed a "good" one.

While Pats (or the other cheaper alternatives) are better than nothing and required in certain situations, the frame-type are the fastest/best if you are set up for it.

 

[CDN Farm Boy]

With or without a QH, it makes a huge difference. I used to store my stuff on pallets on the ground outside , and there was never horizontal or vertical alignment between the tractor 3-pt hitch and the implement pins. It meant a lot of jockeying, fiddling, adjusting, etc. With the implements on dollies on a flat concrete floor, I can wheel them into place behind the tractor, tweak the 3-pt controls to get close in range, and bingo. It helps that both the tractor and implement are level, and that the dolly allows the implement to move around on the floor however is needed to align with the 3-pt hitch.

Dollies only help IF you have the concrete floor or very well packed gravel and big wheels. I have neither. Compounding my problem is the subframe for the backhoe. The arms simply don't spread far enough to clear both ends of the pins before hitting the subframe.

Even without a perfectly level surface, you need to be reasonably close just to unhook, so the way I see it, if you can manage to unhook, you should be able to rehook. Just back under with the QH and lift. Even if only one pin hits at a time, it should pick the other 2 as you lift. At least that's what I've been telling myself....

 

[dusty3030]

Dollies only help IF you have the concrete floor or very well packed gravel and big wheels. I have neither. Compounding my problem is the subframe for the backhoe. The arms simply don't spread far enough to clear both ends of the pins before hitting the subframe.

Even without a perfectly level surface, you need to be reasonably close just to unhook, so the way I see it, if you can manage to unhook, you should be able to rehook. Just back under with the QH and lift. Even if only one pin hits at a time, it should pick the other 2 as you lift. At least that's what I've been telling myself....

Thats exactly how you do it. Even use the QH to push back on the implement sometimes so that it rides up on the QH and levels out as you lift.
I would be lost without mine because my time on the tractor is limited and valuable.

 

[bcp]

I've found the problem with an uneven ground pick-up with a QH is that when the lower pins are over the hooks, then the top hook hits the side of the top pin mounting frame. Or if the top hook is centered, the lower implement frame rests on the top of the QH lower hooks. Either way I have to get off and shorten the top link or shove the implement sideways to hook up. But it is still better than no QH.

Bruce

 

[jb1390]

So I got a B series...and while I didnt expect to be a real heavy user of the 3ph...I may very well get a rear mounted snowblower before next winter..and in the meantime I have a kubota ballast box which I use for loader work, and just picked up a carry-all.

This weekend I hooked up the MMM for the first time, took off the FEL for the first time...and took off the ballast box for the first time. I later had to move the ballast box out of the way so I had to hook it up again...and then I had to move the carryall I picked up out of the way so I had to take the BB off and put the CA on and then take the CA off when I was done with it.

HOOLY CRAP....working with the 3PH is - as advertised - a pain in the ***. I need a quick hitch or im never going to use the carry-all...ever...and never going to want to use the ballast box.

So some options are...
500 dollar land pride QH15....(looks awesome but...500 bucks?)
100 dollar Harbor Freight QH (minus 25% this sunday),
Any number of quick hitches from woods/cabelas or speeco or whomever that look the same as LP and HF but are priced anywhere in between the two....
~200 for pat's quick hitch extensions with the separator bar

Any other options I am missing?

I have also seen a couple threads where the bulk of the "hooks" on the lower arms on some quick hitches and the angle the quick hitch bracket is at when lowered to pick up the attachment, mean that it has trouble hooking onto the pins on the attachment. (For example, 4short's ballast box) 83709923b5556c5cb8bcb9055dada615_zps82d3066c.jpg Photo by 4shorts | Photobucket

I dont think I will have that particular issue with my BB as I have the newer one:
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...18118-ballast-box-b8160-quick-hitch-image-jpg

But I am generally wondering if people have any good or bad experiences with any of the quick hitches listed above and getting them to attach to your implements?

Also any negative experiences with the harbor freight one? I mean at 100 bucks im not sure what its lacking?

Is pat's every bit as good as the other more bulky type?

I think that the HF unit will hold up fine for your uses.

Pats system requires you to hook up the toplink separately, which may or may not matter to you. I prefer having it all connected, and never having to touch my hydraulic top link.