3pt hitch lift

simplicityguy92 · Sep 9, 2008

i want to add a 3pt hitch to a garden tractor. does anyone now what i can use for a lift instead of using hydrolic motor and worm gear.

3RRL · Sep 10, 2008

Use hydraulic cylinders and lift arms, sort of like an fel works.

Blagadan · Sep 10, 2008

No hydraulic lift OR worm gear? You're ruling out the two most popular methods!!!

If you dont have hydraulics on board then 12v is probably your only way? That leans towards motorized worm gear...? Or maybe belt or chain drive (but wouldnt be much power unless you had it geared). I've seen guys to use 12v wormdrive actuators as a lift mechanism (like you'd see on snow plough trucks) but I dont have first hand experience so I cant really say if they're good or bad.

I'm sure I've seen someone like Northern tool offer a garden tractor 3pt kit as a bolt on accessory?

Iplayfarmer · Sep 10, 2008

I think I've seen some on these garden tractors that are manually actuated with a lever, but this really reduces the weight you can lift.

Another option would be a planetary gear drive. I'm afraid, though, that the size gear needed to get the necessary mechanical advantage would quickly get in the way of other things.

Another thought: There's probably some way to do it with a winch. Agri-fab has a little ATV trailer that is similar to a 3 pt. hitch.

Just out of curiosity, what's the reasoning for no hydro and no worm gear? Knowing your thinking may help us make more relevant suggestions.

simplicityguy92 · Sep 10, 2008

i dont rilly want to add a hydrolic system to a tractor just for a hitch and i wanted to know if theres an other way to lift the hitch
how much weight it can lift is not much of a big deal cuz its only for my home made middle buster and back blade

Soundguy · Sep 10, 2008

If it were me... then I'd use one of those self contained 12v hyd power units.. and a couple little cyls.. or a single little cyl tied to one end of the 3pt rock shaft.. proabbly get it all done for 300$ plus some scrap metal and welding..

soundguy

KML · Sep 10, 2008

Johnny Products offers power sleeve hitch kits for a bunch of garden tractors including some simplicites. Probably the best one stop source if you want to stay away from hydraulics.

Conquest Prestiege Sleeve Hitch

They also sell the linear actuators that their kits use and cat 0 3 point parts if you're looking for a project.

Linear Actuator Plus Hardware

Cat "0" 3 Point Hardware

Brad_Blazer · Sep 11, 2008

Northern tool even sells some linear actuators.
Northern Industrial Linear Actuator  12 Volt, 11 13/16in. stroke | Body Accessories | Northern Tool + Equipment
Surplus center too (search for "linear"):
Burden Sales Surplus Center - Hydraulics, Engines, Electrical and More

Note in the surplus center specs there is a big difference between static and lift ratings.

Blagadan · Sep 11, 2008

simplicityguy92 said:
how much weight it can lift is not much of a big deal cuz its only for my home made middle buster and back blade

Seems like you are OK with cutting and welding.... there could be another very simple alternative. If it's only for a middle buster and a blade, you could make a very simple system using a $30 trailer jack. The one below has 15in of travel which is pretty good.

Bulldog Round Tube A-Frame Jack 5000-Lb. Capacity | Trailer Jacks | Northern Tool + Equipment

Instead of the actuator or hydraulic ram, you could raise and lower the 3pt with the crank handle. You would want to consider how its mounted allowing for some flexibility as the implement engages the ground, but it could be done if you're determined to avoid conventional methods.....

Sounds like a fun project.