Quick Hitches Quick Hitch Fit to Implement?

[RidgeHiker]

Installed my 3 point quick hitch today. It is the type that attaches to the lower lift arms and top link. Question is that the lower pins of the box blade are resting all the way down on the bottom of the lower hooks of the quick hitch. The upper pin of the box blade is well into the upper hook of the quick hitch but not resting against the bottom of the hook. Not concerned about it popping out of upper hook but looks like most of the implement weight is being carried by the lift arms. Is this OK? Could not find answer in searching site.

Thanks for help,
Richard

 

[bcp]

That sounds like it is the way it should be. The top hook is only for front to back positioning, not weight carrying.

Bruce

 

[RidgeHiker]

Was hoping to hear that since seems unreasonable to expect a perfect fit, especially with various implements.

 

[bcp]

Just like on the regular 3pt hitch. All the weight is on the arms. The top link carries no weight.

Bruce

 

[TractorGuy]

You will most likely have to adapt some of your stuff to the hitch. Most of us also bush the lift pins up to cat3 size.

My landscape rake was not quick hitch compatible. It had a single brace going to the top pin and the pin location was higher than my other stuff. I replaced the brace with 2 pieces of angle and shimmed everything so the top hook could connect with the brace through bolt. Most of my other implements took less work to adapt.

 

[RidgeHiker]

Was so sweet to just drive up to the box blade and lift it without the struggle to get everything lined up just right direct to the 3 point. Box blade is just too heavy to want to wrestle it around. And it is relatively light compared to our 3 point snowblower that is about to be delivered.

 

[Wagtail]

You did get 'bushings' for the lower pins for your implements, right?

 

[Otgaugres]

My $.02 about my quick hitch. I agree, the OP’s fit seems correct. I’ve been a quick hitch user for years, mostly with JD/Frontier equip. That all changed this year when I bought a Woods BB720x brush hog, which is advertised as quick hitch compatible. Struggled with that thing for awhile trying to get it to work. Finally modified it as shown in the attached pic. Essentially, there was not enough clearance on the Woods to allow the top hook to engage (in the area of the arrow pointing down). I cured it by slotting the bottom hole in the top hook and rotating the hook away from the frame in the direction of the arrow. For me, cured all my problems. My hitch now works with all my quick hitch implements.

 

[Catman8]

After you buy a quick hitch the best advice is to think ahead about all the implements you might buy and realize in advance that you will need the lower bushings for all those implements, so save yourself some money on shipping and purchase them all at once. After ordering a set each time I purchased an implement I said this is stupid and ordered six sets for future implements.

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200479426_200479426

 

[Otgaugres]

Good call...I've been buying mine at my local TSC. Much better price online.

 

[bcp]

The cheap, simple, plain tubular bushings are all you need. And they come off quickly and easily if needed.

The knob on the end of the expensive bushings does nothing.

Bruce

 

[ovrszd]

Just like on the regular 3pt hitch. All the weight is on the arms. The top link carries no weight.

Bruce

Vertical load, I agree.

Horizontal load, I can't agree.

In the OP's case it sounds like he's far enough down on the top hook to not risk snapping off the end of the hook?? If so, no worries.

 

[ovrszd]

The cheap, simple, plain tubular bushings are all you need. And they come off quickly and easily if needed.

The knob on the end of the expensive bushings does nothing.

Bruce

With the use of a QH I totally agree!!!!

If a Pat's system is used they might become more valuable.

 

[Wagtail]

The cheap, simple, plain tubular bushings are all you need. And they come off quickly and easily if needed.

The knob on the end of the expensive bushings does nothing.

Bruce

Weellll... not quite 'nothing'. It depends on the implement in question.

With one exception, all of my 3PH implements do use the regular 'plain tubular bushings'. However I had to go with a 'knob end' type (yes, very expensive) on my JD ballast box. I think it's because it's sized for both Cat 0/1.

The ballast box was a 'freebie' from the dealership.

 

[RidgeHiker]

Vertical load, I agree.

Horizontal load, I can't agree.

In the OP's case it sounds like he's far enough down on the top hook to not risk snapping off the end of the hook?? If so, no worries.

It is pretty far into the hook so I think it's OK. We'll find out.

 

[RidgeHiker]

You did get 'bushings' for the lower pins for your implements, right?

Glad you asked. The quick attach came with the bushings but I have not put them on yet. Is my assumption correct that the bushings fill out the space more fully at the bottom hooks of the quick hitch??? The lower pins are definitely a lesser diameter than that of the hook space. First time with a quick hitch so I am pretty naive.

While we are on the subject of my ignorance, the quick hitch came with a top hitch adapter. What is that used for?

 

[Wagtail]

Glad you asked. The quick attach came with the bushings but I have not put them on yet. Is my assumption correct that the bushings fill out the space more fully at the bottom hooks of the quick hitch??? The lower pins are definitely a lesser diameter than that of the hook space. First time with a quick hitch so I am pretty naive.

While we are on the subject of my ignorance, the quick hitch came with a top hitch adapter. What is that used for?

By all means, put the bushings on the lower pins for a solid attaching of the implement into the QH. A sprung drop-pin will secure the bushing on each pin. As bcp mentioned (post #11), you can purchase relatively inexpensive 'tubular' bushings from tractor supply shops or your dealership.

We're going to need a picture of your "top hitch adaptor" to know exactly what you're referring to. I have the JD iMatch QH on my tractor and the top hook isn't adjustable (it may be on newer models). I have a type of top hitch adaptor that I use on a few of my implements, though:

 

[RidgeHiker]

This is an internet photo of the type quick hitch adapter that came with the quick hitch.

 

[ovrszd]

The adapter allows you to use the QH on implements that might not have the correct top link height.

As to bushings. A CAT I QH has CAT II sized bottom hooks. A CAT II QH has CAT III sized bottom hooks. Etc., etc. It's my belief that this is done to create a "wear" point. By putting a bushing on your implement CAT I pin and hitching to a CAT I QH you have created a wear point on the bushing rather than the hook of the QH. If you were commercially using a QH on a BB for example, the bushing would wear out rather than the implement pin and/or the QH hook.

 

[Wagtail]

This is an internet photo of the type quick hitch adapter that came with the quick hitch.
View attachment 531738

Ahh... so it's a variant of what I have.

It's used when the top hook of the QH won't fit into the top of the implement because the implement wasn't designed to be used with a QH.

You screw in/reduce the top angle of the 3PH so that the adaptor will fit into the QH hook. It can take a bit of fiddling to get it to sit in there. It's also why (in my example, above) I rigged a 'curb chain' that goes under the hook to ensure that it wouldn't pop out for any reason.