3PH Pin Width

[Maine_Polack]

I have a Cat II tractor. I just picked up a rake that is a Cat I. I can certainly hook up and use it fine. However it produced a question in my vaccum chamber.

What is the significance (if any), of the width between the pins that fit into the lift arms. Other than the obvious - larger machine, wider distance between the arms etc. -

This rake is pretty narrow between pins compared to other gadgets I own. The design of it would make it easy to fab. a new, and wider cross piece with the pins on the ends. Is it worth it? Does the added width add strength, stability, or ?? to the hookup?

Al

 

[JimR]

The Cat 2 hookup is bigger because the implements used on a Cat 2 tractor can be much larger than a Cat 1 setup. Larger implements means larger width. I wouldn't worry about converting your present implement unless you have to keep adjusting your side links for the smaller attachment. If that is a pain to do, then I would make it fit your Cat 2 setup so that no adjustments are neccessary to use it.

 

[oliver28472]

It's obvious to me that you just need to get an additional tractor!

 

[Maine_Polack]

"oliver28472It's obvious to me that you just need to get an additional tractor!"

Now you are a wise man. You must be fhysic. Why, I was saying to my wife just yesterday tha......................

 

[ovrszd]

I have a Cat II tractor. I just picked up a rake that is a Cat I. I can certainly hook up and use it fine. However it produced a question in my vaccum chamber.

What is the significance (if any), of the width between the pins that fit into the lift arms. Other than the obvious - larger machine, wider distance between the arms etc. -

This rake is pretty narrow between pins compared to other gadgets I own. The design of it would make it easy to fab. a new, and wider cross piece with the pins on the ends. Is it worth it? Does the added width add strength, stability, or ?? to the hookup?

Al

The width difference is because of the width difference where the arms fasten to the tractor. Puts the arms in a "comfortable" position to pull from with the links close to vertical. When you hook up your CAT II tractor to your narrow CAT I implement, they are not pulling comfortably. Not something that you are going to do damage with because your small CAT I implement probably won't stand the strength of your tractor anyway. If it IS an implement that will place a large load on your tractor, then you should rebuild to match the tractor width.

 

[ovrszd]

I have a Cat II tractor. I just picked up a rake that is a Cat I. I can certainly hook up and use it fine. However it produced a question in my vaccum chamber.

What is the significance (if any), of the width between the pins that fit into the lift arms. Other than the obvious - larger machine, wider distance between the arms etc. -

This rake is pretty narrow between pins compared to other gadgets I own. The design of it would make it easy to fab. a new, and wider cross piece with the pins on the ends. Is it worth it? Does the added width add strength, stability, or ?? to the hookup?

Al

Dang it, I meant to attach this chart with my other reply. Check out this handy chart if you decide to convert to CAT II.

 

[Maine_Polack]

The width difference is because of the width difference where the arms fasten to the tractor. Puts the arms in a "comfortable" position to pull from with the links close to vertical. When you hook up your CAT II tractor to your narrow CAT I implement, they are not pulling comfortably. Not something that you are going to do damage with because your small CAT I implement probably won't stand the strength of your tractor anyway. If it IS an implement that will place a large load on your tractor, then you should rebuild to match the tractor width.

Makes sense. Pull straight, instead of from an angle.
The rake is 7', and all 1/2" steel. I am going to add some reinrforcement, and just wanted to figure out if if it was worth it to make the pins wider, and tie it all together.

Thanks

 

[3RRL]

It would be worth it for me just so I don't have to adjust the stabilizer bars everytime to switch from narrow to wide. My stabilizers have a hitch pin w/lynch pin ...connecting bars that slide within each other. It is a small pain to adjust because it's easy to drop and lose the pins or washers.

 

[ovrszd]

It would be worth it for me just so I don't have to adjust the stabilizer bars everytime to switch from narrow to wide. My stabilizers have a hitch pin w/lynch pin ...connecting bars that slide within each other. It is a small pain to adjust because it's easy to drop and lose the pins or washers.

Good point 3RRL, I forgot about that!!! That is definitely a reason to convert the implement to a standard that fits everything else you hook up to.

 

[3RRL]

Yeah Ovrszd,
If it wasn't for that adjustment, attaching any of my implements would be a snap with Pat's EZ lift system. That's the only thing (other than top link attach for some) I have to do to adjust....otherwise nothing. I may just have to standardize the lift pin width on all my implements just for that reason.

 

[ovrszd]

Yeah Ovrszd,
If it wasn't for that adjustment, attaching any of my implements would be a snap with Pat's EZ lift system. That's the only thing (other than top link attach for some) I have to do to adjust....otherwise nothing. I may just have to standardize the lift pin width on all my implements just for that reason.

Very good point. I plan to build several attachments when I get home and need to keep that in mind when building the hitch setup.

 

[Maine_Polack]

OK Ya' talked me into it. It should be strong enough now. I made the width of the pins same as my forestry winch, which is my default 3ph attachment.

Thanks for the help!

Al

 

[Maine_Polack]

Woops!! That was a "before " pic. This is the one I intended to post.

 

[Iowachild]

Woops!! That was a "before " pic. This is the one I intended to post.

Now that definitely looks beefy!

Nice job!