Quick Hitches A new month, a new Quick-Hitch thread.

[tacticalturnip]

Hello friends,

I think I may have reached a point where I am done with my Pat’s Easy Change system and am looking at Quick Hitches. I’ve managed to crush the tabs on my Pat’s several times and need to use Vice-Grips to add and remove attachments and have had to for a while now. That really doesn’t bother me a ton, but their replacement with a Quick Hitch would add a “quick” hardpoint for my hydraulic top-link which would be convenient. I don’t use any PTO powered implements, so there is no potential cause for interference there.

At this point I am looking at a few different models and would of course appreciate the thoughts and opinions of all here, and besides we needed another Quick Hitch thread, it’s a new month!

My first consideration is the ToolTuff Direct Cat-1 E, this seems to be a Speeco E-Hitch clone and seems reasonable enough for the cheap end of Chinese imports. Priced at $199.

My second option would be the GWT Fast Cat I, as it’s on clearance right now for $289.

Also on clearance from GWT is the standard Speeco Quick Hitch for $229.

Lastly is the good-ol’ Speeco E-Hitch, $244, on Amazon.

Whatever I go with, my plans include KBOH chain boxes, and pins for the hook. Also, having to use bushings doesn’t bother me, as I’ve actually got a few sets left from when I used them with the iMatch on the 1025R.

 

[WinterDeere]

I love my Deere iMatch quick hitch. I looked at some of the other options before buying, but the few others available at the time all seemed to just be cheaper compromises on the Deere design. Maybe that's changed in the years since, but on the other hand... buy once, cry once!

 

[tacticalturnip]

I can't justify the $400 an iMatch commands. I'm trying to find middle-ground between Titan/Amazon and iMatch, but on GTT @kennyd even suggested the Harbor Freight and provided a coupon bringing the price to $99. That makes it rather tempting.

 

[WinterDeere]

I can't justify the $400 an iMatch commands. I'm trying to find middle-ground between Titan/Amazon and iMatch, but on GTT @kennyd even suggested the Harbor Freight and provided a coupon bringing the price to $99. That makes it rather tempting.

Wow. Yeah, I guess I'd be shopping around too, at $400. I think they were something like $260 when I bought, and came with one free set of bushings. I seem to remember my total was just a little over $300, with a second set of bushings.

But I will say, it's a flawless system. Very robust, and zero troubles in the 6+ years I've been using it.

 

[Engineer42]

I have the Speeco. Wouldn't be without it. I have read that the HF model is pretty much the same. Non cabbed tractor I could probably do hook ups from the seat other than pto.

 

[Rustyiron]

Wow. Yeah, I guess I'd be shopping around too, at $400. I think they were something like $260 when I bought, and came with one free set of bushings. I seem to remember my total was just a little over $300, with a second set of bushings.

But I will say, it's a flawless system. Very robust, and zero troubles in the 6+ years I've been using it.

Is it friendly with non Deere attachments? Deere has that self protection tendency built in to some their products.

 

[WinterDeere]

Is it friendly with non Deere attachments? Deere has that self protection tendency built in to some their products.

Yes. It is 100% compatible with both of my former Woods attachments, Herd spreader, and Country Line (DeVilbiss) boom sprayer.

I did have one plug aerator that wasn't compatible with any quick hitch, they had set the lower link mounts too far apart, but an afternoon with the welder and a rattle can fixed that pretty quickly. That mod would have had to happen no matter which brand of quick hitch I bought.

 

[shooterdon]

I bought a Speeco and am happy with it hitch. It replaced a Carter EZ hitch and I prefer it.

It is nice not having to use bushings.

 

[Squirrel's242]

I got the GWT Fast Cat quick hitch. I did fast research and decided to go with it. Originally I was going to get a Speeco. Anyway the Fast Cat showed up and I had it on the tractor in 15min or so. I immediately went and hooked up the box blade where it's been since. I do like the option of pins vs bolts to adjust the top hook.

As for the product, it's nice, arrived quickly, easy to use. My only complaint is that the hitch moved around in the carboard packing and rubbed the end of the rubber handle off and the end is exposed. Not a big deal but I like putting the first ding/dent/mess up on my news stuff, not anyone else.

 

[Shawn T. W.]

I have the AGSMART made by SMA https://www.smalink.com/p/873-hf141101/19660 made in USA quick hitch on my SCUT for over 3 years, it's been excellent, came with one set of lower bushings, it uses bolts for the upper pin adjustment (once set, I've never moved it!), just got a SPAREXor my CUT that I haven't used yet, also came with lower bushings, has pins for the upper hook made in UK, both bought from my local Massey Ferguson dealer ... I try really hard not to buy from china!

If you buy the bushing kit(s) from @kennyd he includes the 1-2 & 2-3 bushings for the top pin ... Or you can cut a section on schedule 40 black iron pipe ... I've done both on different attachments.