Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

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Let us know what you think. I have been stewing over one of those for 2 or 3 years now.

Tons of positive reviews about them. Just need to do the upper hook pin mod.

 

[California]

Before you cuss about HF's top hook too close to the chassis, get the Speeco extended hook to replace it. Here's a post with photos where I compared them.

This photo also shows the slide-in pins that make it simple to adjust the hook height, or even to set the hook upside down if the implement geometry is impossible to hook from below.

 

[lostcreekranch]

Before you cuss about HF's top hook too close to the chassis, get the Speeco extended hook to replace it. Here's a post with photos where I compared them.

This photo also shows the slide-in pins that make it simple to adjust the hook height, or even to set the hook upside down if the implement geometry is impossible to hook from below.

Thanks for sharing that.

 

[Threepoint]

Before you cuss about HF's top hook too close to the chassis, get the Speeco extended hook to replace it. Here's a post with photos where I compared them.[snip]

I didn't realize that Speedco sold an extended top hook as a separate part. I bought a generic version to retrofit each my three HF QHs from Quality Farm Supply not too long ago when they were only about $16. They look identical to Speedco's. QFS had trouble keeping them in stock at that price, and now I see now they've bumped them up to $24.10.
TOP HOOK FOR CAT 1 QUICK HITCH-Quality Farm Supply

I did a quick search, and I see Speedco sells them direct for $20.
Top Hook For Cat 1 Quick Hitch

 

[California]

Thanks for sharing that.

Thanks for the thanks!

 

[tjkubota93]

Just do it! they aren't magic but they are worlds better than doing without.

What about bushings or whatever on the cat 1 implement pins?

 

[lostcreekranch]

I didn't realize that Speedco sold an extended top hook as a separate part. I bought a generic version to retrofit each my three HF QHs from Quality Farm Supply not too long ago when they were only about $16. They look identical to Speedco's. QFS had trouble keeping them in stock at that price, and now I see now they've bumped them up to $24.10.
TOP HOOK FOR CAT 1 QUICK HITCH-Quality Farm Supply

I did a quick search, and I see Speedco sells them direct for $20.
Top Hook For Cat 1 Quick Hitch

QFS shipping is $9.99. Do you know $$ for Speedco shipping. I checked but, couldn’t find out without creating an account.

 

[lostcreekranch]

With all the complaints on the upper hook problems, you have wonder why HF doesn’t just fix this??

 

[California]

What about bushings or whatever on the cat 1 implement pins?

I bought a pair of bushings but never used them as intended. In commercial daily service I suppose this would cause unacceptably fast wear but in my hobby-farm use, mowing, tilling etc for a few hours, I expect all my stuff will outlive me. I don't see any wear on the implement pins so far.

I ended up using the bushings on this trailer-ball towbar, where I needed more precise spacing to make everything snug so that added plate wouldn't bend. The bushings are welded to the little plates, and the welds help fill the slack so the towbar/plate assembly can't rotate. Both ends of each plate are bolted down to the towbar. The bushing/plate assemblies remain removable.

I've been towing a 2600 lb watering trailer for several years and everything's still snug.

Here are a couple more qhitch applications:

Carry rear ballast for using the loader in tight space.

Used the qhitch as the foundation when I built a device to lift my spike harrow using the 3-point. The cable goes over a pulley then down to the tractor, lifting the implement double the amount the 3-point raises.

 

[lostcreekranch]

I bought a pair of bushings but never used them as intended. In commercial daily service I suppose this would cause unacceptably fast wear but in my hobby-farm use, mowing, tilling etc for a few hours, I expect all my stuff will outlive me. I don't see any wear on the implement pins so far.

I ended up using the bushings on this trailer-ball towbar, where I needed more precise spacing to make everything snug so that added plate wouldn't bend. The bushings are welded to the little plates, and the welds help fill the slack so the towbar/plate assembly can't rotate. Both ends of each plate are bolted down to the towbar. The bushing/plate assemblies remain removable.

I've been towing a 2600 lb watering trailer for several years and everything's still snug.

Here are a couple more qhitch applications:

Carry rear ballast for using the loader in tight space.

Used the qhitch as the foundation when I built a device to lift my spike harrow using the 3-point. The cable goes over a pulley then down to the tractor, lifting the implement double the amount the 3-point raises.

On the HF Cat 1 quick hitch, are the lower hooks Cat 2 ...... or Cat 3 like the more expensive quick hitches??

HF used to sell a Cat 2 quick hitch but, I haven’t seen it for some time?