3 Point Attachment Switching not enjoying.

[jinmared]

I put all my 3 point attachments on home made wheeled dollies that are easy to move around and make handling of the attachment easy. But of course I have a cement floor in my
tractor shed and my heaviest tool is about 500 pounds max.

 

[Soundguy]

that's what my antiques are.. dollies! makes em easier to move the implements around!

 

[jeff9366]

The heaviest implement I attach to my Kubota B3300SU is a Wallenstein BX42s PTO chipper @ 420 pounds.

I rest the BX42s on a 36" X 24" caster dolly from Northern Tool. I mention the supplier only because it is difficult to find commercially produced dollies wider than 18".

Chipper is reasonably easy to shift around on the dolly but before I made a simple spreader bar for the 3-Pt lift arms I regularly fouled one or both of the lift arms in the metal frame of the chipper, lengthening the attachment process; shortening my temper.

I recently made a gravity-assisted lift arm spreader, inspired by a TBN post by "tractchores" titled: "Wallenstein BX42 Dolly Build". A simple idea but a big help in keeping the lift arms out of the way while maintaining a wide spread so they go one the pins easily, most of the time.

My lift arm spreader is made from an old piece of lumber and two 8" MENDING PLATES from Ace Hardware.

I intend to build a larger caster dolly soon. I purchased four, 4" heavy-duty. bolt-on casters, used, on eBay for a really cheap price. Two of the casters swivel and two are fixed, the usual fashion on dollies. I am going to shop further and buy two more swivel casters for this new dolly, so all four casters will swivel for maximum maneuverability. Space in the garage is getting tight!

I hope this helps someone else.
Thank you "tractchores".

 

[JohninCT]

Well that was a huge waist of time and money. I sure am glad I only paid $20 for it at the auction. I tried it on 4 different 3pt hitch units yeaterday and it didn't fit anyone of them. I know some modifications should be anticipated but give me a break. Two of the units are within 10 years old so I figured I would try to modify them first. They are a 5' brushhog and tiller from tractor supply and they are exactly the same as what is sitting on the lot right now, so I figured that moving this and that re-arranging some braces that made no difference where they were before everything should be new. Not so it was close but not close enough to fit without major repairs.
I really wanted this to work, from the looks it's a really great idea back up in line lift up get off and latch the arms and go. I was also going to get a hydraulic top link so I could adjust from the seat as needed to fit the application. I did find out that it was one of the units from harbor freight because of the name on it darn I can't remember it now though. Has anyone else had this problem is it common or was it just the brand? I think it is a great idea that is if it would work!

Measure the distance between the lower hooks on your harbor fright quick hitch. They were previously selling ones with a 26 inch spacing. There are MANY threads on here about frustrations with those hitches. The ones they sell now are spaced 27 1/2 inches. If you have one of these and can't get it to fit any attachments you are just really unlucky. If you have the one that is 26 inches you got a lemon(probably why it sold so cheap). But you only spent 20 bucks. In that case chuck it and get a Pats hitch ( or a Carter's like the one you saw on eBay). Please let us know the verdict.

 

[Guesseral]

Well that means that I am just unlucky, because it was 27 1/2". Yea the hooks on the top and bottom just didn't fit anywhere, I had measured all of my equipment previously and knew that they needed to be at least 27" wide inside measurement and I always carry a tape measure in the truck so I did that measurement before I bought it. I have been thinking about getting one of these for a long time and I just hadn't pulled the trigger yet when I saw the one at the auction. I really thought it was goint to work with all the research I had done, but the things that didn't fit were things that I would never have (and didn't) think of. Oh well you win some and you loose some.

 

[jenkinsph]

Well that means that I am just unlucky, because it was 27 1/2". Yea the hooks on the top and bottom just didn't fit anywhere, I had measured all of my equipment previously and knew that they needed to be at least 27" wide inside measurement and I always carry a tape measure in the truck so I did that measurement before I bought it. I have been thinking about getting one of these for a long time and I just hadn't pulled the trigger yet when I saw the one at the auction. I really thought it was goint to work with all the research I had done, but the things that didn't fit were things that I would never have (and didn't) think of. Oh well you win some and you loose some.

If you would show some pictures of the your implements that won't fit I am sure that some of us could help with this. I have found that most implements will fit with a minor change. Only a few are difficult to modify from what I have found.

I spent a day or less a couple of years ago to modify all of my attachments to IMatch. It has saved me countless hours of frustration since, really is worthwhile to do.

 

[Soundguy]

Well that means that I am just unlucky, because it was 27 1/2". Yea the hooks on the top and bottom just didn't fit anywhere, I had measured all of my equipment previously and knew that they needed to be at least 27" wide inside measurement and I always carry a tape measure in the truck so I did that measurement before I bought it. I have been thinking about getting one of these for a long time and I just hadn't pulled the trigger yet when I saw the one at the auction. I really thought it was goint to work with all the research I had done, but the things that didn't fit were things that I would never have (and didn't) think of. Oh well you win some and you loose some.

gotta torch?

 

[Guesseral]

Yea got a tourch, welder, saw, steel all the good stuff but this is a done deal I am not spending any more time on it. When I get around to it I will be getting the PATs and then a longer hyd top link.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I saw on a post recently where someone just bought a set of telescoping lift arms for $200 for his Kubota. That sounds like the most sensible thing to do rather than all the after market stuff that isnt much better than what you have. If they have them on the next size larger Cat 1 stuff, no reason it wouldnt work on the smaller stuff. I would do some measuring at my local dealer and see if I couldnt make a swap to telescoping lift arms and end of problem both on and off becomes easy then.

 

[JohninCT]

Well that means that I am just unlucky, because it was 27 1/2". Yea the hooks on the top and bottom just didn't fit anywhere, I had measured all of my equipment previously and knew that they needed to be at least 27" wide inside measurement and I always carry a tape measure in the truck so I did that measurement before I bought it. I have been thinking about getting one of these for a long time and I just hadn't pulled the trigger yet when I saw the one at the auction. I really thought it was goint to work with all the research I had done, but the things that didn't fit were things that I would never have (and didn't) think of. Oh well you win some and you loose some.

So if I'm understanding you right the bottom hook spacing is OK (hooks connect to attachment pins?) but your connection of the top hook when the bottom two are attached is the problem? If that is the case, then I would agree with others that you just need to get the U shaped adaptor bracket from HF that replaces the top hook. You will have to get off to connect it but its not that big a deal. I got one and it made the HF hitch useable since the bottom arm attachment is what one usually struggles with.