New to quick hitches

[WranglerX]

What is HF QH?

3-Point Quick Hitch - 27-3/16 In. Clearance

Amazing deals on this 3-Point Quick Hitch 27-3/16In Clearance at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

 

[JWR]

Got any pictures?

Yeah, not very good but I have a few. This first one is with the 4-in-1 bucket opened up. In this mode gravity and plowing held the held the implement bottom in place while the top was a heavy bolt into clevis on top of the bucket (welded there.)

Obviously of this was going to be used much you would find a way to anchor the bottom of the Speeco in the bucket rather than depend on weight/gravity.

Did similar kludge (quickie very short term thing) for a pig pole.

Then this last one illustrates doing the same with the 4-in-1 bucket clamshell closed (which would work with any bucket. Just needs a simple top link bracket welded on the top of the bucket.)

 

[ArmyAviatr]

I went with a Land Pride QH. They don't have the pin issues that other manufacturers have. The problem that I ran into was that all cat 1 implements are not the same. My solution was to make the equipment fit the hitch except for the Land Pride implements which fit their hitches. That with a hydraulic top link the only time I have to get off the tractor is to hook up the PTO.

 

[FERLING]

I am, and have had no experience with them. But my new tractor has it on the FEL, so I’m considering getting one for the 3 point out back.
I only own or borrow cat 1 stuff, so is there a reason I shouldn’t get a cat 1 rated quickie?

Seems most are cat 2, and this require bushing instillation. Tractor is rated to around 3000# lift, but my implements are all under 1300#.

Also, are they truly all they’re cracked up to be? Do they introduce any noticeable up/ down or side to side slop? I know some slop side to side is ok if not good, but it bugs me. LOL

Lastly, seems there is a gulf in pricing, from under $150 to nearly $400. Very crude chunk of steel, so it’s a bit difficult to appreciate the value. Experiences?

Pat's 3-Point Quick Hitch, Category 2, Stabilizer Bar Includ

itcquickattach.com

This is you, if it fits your tractor (see attachment).If it is too large then see category one. Use bushing on equipment to bring it up to category two hitch.

 

[Hermio]

I bought a quick hitch, but it does not fit any of my implements, except for a modified carryall I use to transport firewood rounds. But it is handy to drag logs out of the woods.

 

[Sandroost]

I see mention of the Pat’s having some binding issues. How common is this? Is this a result of improper shimming or inherent in the design?
Otherwise it’s sounding like a great solution to ease hitching up.

 

[oldballs]

Weaver’s tractor parts.

Home - Weaver's Compact Tractor Parts

Not sure what you need? Give us a call: 717-477-9332

www.compactractorparts.com

Thanks Smokey...

Cheers,
Mike

 

[FERLING]

The quick hitch has worked out perfectly for us.

Harbor Freight Quick Hitch ($140):

3-Point Quick Hitch - 27-3/16 In. Clearance

Amazing deals on this 3-Point Quick Hitch 27-3/16In Clearance at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

Replacement top hook for it, YOU NEED THIS. It completely fixes the hookup issue that makes it not work. ($40):

Amazon.com: E-cowlboy Top Hook for Cat 1 Quick Hitch，Fit for Harbor Freight : Automotive

Buy E-cowlboy Top Hook for Cat 1 Quick Hitch，Fit for Harbor Freight: Tow Hooks - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

Quick hitch adapter set with top bushings ($25):

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08XW5PR9D?ref=nb_sb_ss_w_as-reorder-t1_ypp_rep_k1_1_11&amp&crid=3NHE1JSMHNZJF&amp&sprefix=quick+hitch

Those 3 things will set you up and get your first implement adapted. You can even skip the adapter bushing kits if you don't mind the CAT 1 pins rattling around in the quick hitch a bit. Or as others have said use a piece of old plumbing pipe you may have laying around to make them.

The cost for above is entirely equivalent to a Pat's, so it comes down to preference.

If you get a hydraulic top link, the standard length will work with a Quick Hitch. You may need a slightly longer cylinder if you go Pat's.

So far all our implements recently purchased fit the QH without any changes. We don't even need to change the top hook height for any of them. Standardization seems to have happened.

I think I'd put it this way, if you are regularly running one or more implements where it simply can not be used with a quick hitch at all, then get a Pat's. If you are in the process of buying and building your yard of tools now you can just make sure it's quick hitch compatible when you buy it. Frankly, it's nice when everything just hooks up in seconds. It's just as fast as the skid steer quick attach on the front.

Had one like the harbor freight one. Destroyed it by using on an 8 ft box blade, on back of New Holland Workmaster 50 (4x4). Was backing up pushing brush and one corner of box blade found a big rock. Twisted the quick hitch into a semi-preztel. Replaced with Pat's cat. II which fits my tractor. Now if box blade finds a surprise all four tires just spin. Hydraulic middle link compliments this setup, especially when hooking / unhooking a PTO ran piece of equitment.

 

[FERLING]

I see mention of the Pat’s having some binding issues. How common is this? Is this a result of improper shimming or inherent in the design?
Otherwise it’s sounding like a great solution to ease hitching up.

It's all in the installation. You have so many adjustment bolts and shims that it takes a trial installation and then when you have it mounted correctly alternate tightening the bolts to keep hookup slots straight up and down.

 

[California]

I took this picture to show the ends I slipped over a trailer-ball bar so it wouldn't rotate. Sleeves welded to a flat piece then bolted not welded to the trailer bar. Ten years use now and those flat pieces haven't bent, as I had worried about.

More relevant to this thread, I now have the Speeco top hook with offset pin holes (see post 21 above) on an original under $60 HF QH. The slide-in pins in the photo allow a height change for non-standard implements.

And a later addition - a HF magnet bar welded on the QH so clips and pins don't fall in the weeds.

I like having a Quick Hitch. My implements are outdoors, sometimes settled into the earth if not used for a while. Just back up and shove the implement around if needed to align it, lift the QH to hook it, and go. For the mower with a driveshaft to connect, its a little more work but NBD. TSC has a $20 PTO extender if you need more length.

Here's An old post with photos of the Speeco extended hook compared to a standard hook.

Bar magnet - HF's sometimes-free 'Magnetic Tool Holder' - cut down and welded on the HF Qhitch.