Any tips for 1 man implement hook-up?

[mburke121]

I am a new member, and new to tractors.

I seem to struggle when hooking up implements to my Ford 3230, since the draft links are free floating, and the spacing is not fixed.

For example, when hooking up my disc, which has clevis hitches, I find myself climbing on and off the tractor several times to align the draft links to the hitches. I may be an Ignoramous (coined by Cracker Barrel), but I welcome any advice to making this process easier.

 

[jenkinsph]

I use the Deere I Match set up makes changing implements easy. Most of the new implements I buy are I Match compatible, the ones that aren't I convert myself. This will work with most brands of tractors including Ford's.


Steve

 

[jnjpream]

I use a quick attach similar to the Pat's system. I have a piece of two pieces of PVC pipe, one slides into the other, on which I've marked the correct arm distances for each of my implements. I drilled a hole at each measurement so I can drop in a pin to hold the arms where they need to be.

Set the arm width, back up to the implement, raise the hitch, set the top link, and away you go.

 

[mburke121]

JNJ, that is an excellent idea, and it sounds like it's inexpensive to make! Thanks for the tip.

Steve, I looked at the I-Match, and looks like the ideal solution, but I assume it costs as much as some of the less expensive implements. Maybe $300-$400??

Thanks to both of you.

 

[patrick_g]

With terrific luck or a helper I can swap 3ph implements in 5-10 min. Without good luck or help it can take 40-50 min of frustration(or more).

...and then... I got Pat's easy change system and usually swap out one implement for another all by myself in 5-10 min or less.

Disclaimer: the easy change is made by a different Pat. Except being a pleased customer I'm not connected with the system's mfg.

Pat

 

[QRTRHRS]

What are you hooking up? Working alone, I can give you a couple of low cost low tech ideas. I used to set the front of my single rear wheel bush hog type mower on a piece of 4" Schedule 40 PVC. I could easily jockey it around with a pry bar to align it. For my 3pt blade, I welded a jack on the tongue which would set on a piece of scrap wood. Two pieces of pipe perpendicular to the blade would again allow me to pry it into place. Dropping an attachment on an old sheet of plywood allows for easier barring than with it just sitting on bare ground. Get one side pinned first then worry about aligning to the other.

 

[RollTideRam]

I use Pat's easy change and a hydraulic top link. I need to make the pvc pipe for a few implements though. JC

 

[MossRoad]

I hated 3pt hitch implement changes so much I bought a tractor with all the implements out front and a quick attach that is operated from the cab. I can change non-powered implements in less than 15 seconds without getting out of the seat. Powered implements take about 30 seconds longer because I have to get up and connect two hydraulic hoses.
Here's a link to a video of our quick attach in action.
http://www.mossroad.com/PT425Videos/PT425_15S01.WMV

If I were ever to own another tractor with a 3pt hitch, I would definitely look into getting some sort of quick hitch and making all of my implements work with it.

 

[beenthere]

So the bottom line, there are a number of ways to make the hook-up of attachments easy for one man. Can't get any better than that.

 

[ChuckinNH]

For a simple interim solution, I cut notches in a board that keep the lift arms spread wider than the implement, and then I make sure I get the lowest pin attached to the tractor first. It is easier to line up the second one that way. It seems that each time I do it, I struggle less, so there is hope!