Any tips for 1 man implement hook-up?

   / Any tips for 1 man implement hook-up? #31  
   / Any tips for 1 man implement hook-up? #32  
I love the telescoping arms and rear lift control on my Kioti DK65, it does make it too easy. But mostly, it's pulling drawbar implements, and I'm hooking up my older Ford tractors to 3pt equipment. I agree with all the advice I've read here, but would add that if your first alignment isn't perfect, you still just lower the 3pt ball that's nearest to a pin. I use a bungee cord between the arms if I need to keep them close together, lower the arms down on top of the pins before getting off the tractor. Turn off tractor, put lift in float detente, (or down, with tractor off), push or pull the ball end that best aligns with a pin to the outside and then push it on the pin before the arms go down too far. In most cases, both arms have to be pushed to the outside before they will start to lower down. Then you can use the lift arm adjusting crank to help you line up the other ball height. I just count the number of turns I've displaced it, then return it to where it was after both sides are hooked up.

I have another tractor that I bought used with the ez change system, but had to take it off since the weight of a 9 foot disc mower was too much extra torque with the added length in my mind. Also, not all my implements are standard width.

When you detach any 3pt implement that you can't lift easily with your arms, make sure to put it up on some blocks or something if it's not resting on ground when you set down the lift arms. Otherwise, you'll have to jack it up, or pry it up to get reconnected later.

If one ball goes on, but not the other, because of the ball link being too far forward or back, just get on the tractor and gently pull or push a bit to line it up, same with using the lift to help you align it. After the bottom pins are on, adjust the top link to meet the hole on the implement, knowing that you will have to put it to the correct length for your job after it's hooked up. Adjusting the top link is easiest when the load is just being set down and is taken off the center link. Watch the linkage as you take weight off of it, and shut down when it starts to show relief of pressure on the top link, then adjust the top link. Grease on the threads makes this a lot easier, too.

As Soundguy said, practice will make this easy and automatic. But there are still times where I wish I had a caddy for that awkward disc cutter hookup. Lot cheaper to buy adjustable, telescoping 3pt arms, though, and I'm looking at that for all my old tractors. Got a price of about $600 for each set of cat II from Kioti, hoping to find them for cheaper.
 
   / Any tips for 1 man implement hook-up? #33  
Lot cheaper to buy adjustable, telescoping 3pt arms, though, and I'm looking at that for all my old tractors. Got a price of about $600 for each set of cat II from Kioti, hoping to find them for cheaper.

Please let us know if you find a place to get them reasonable, I could not and have given up. :(
 
   / Any tips for 1 man implement hook-up? #34  
Apparently some users/posters are blissfully unaware of the differences between Pat's easy change and say one from HF or TSC that doesn't accomodate varying widths well or at all.

Pat's is the best I have seen so far.

Pat (but not THAT Pat)
 
   / Any tips for 1 man implement hook-up? #35  
I use the Harbor Freight quick-hitch with a lot of success. The only stuff that I can't use it with are inexpensive implements from China that don't provide enough clearance for the top hook. The HF hitch is identical to brand name QHs for a fraction of the cost. I'm not a big guy, so it's a real time and $%^*& saver.
 
   / Any tips for 1 man implement hook-up? #36  
I think in the end.. practice will make perfect.

I'm not a big guy either.. 5'6" / 150#.. I've found it's just way easier to back up correctly to my 3000# mower than try to scootch it .. etc.. :)

soundguy
 
   / Any tips for 1 man implement hook-up? #37  
Having read through this entire thread and read the helpful tips like pvc pipe rollers, tires used to rock the implement, pinch bars to pry with brought back alot of memories from the old days ( that used kill and maim people).

Today with new hydro tractors, power steering, quick hitch adaptors, telescopic links and top n tilt hitches all trump these older methods. If for no other reason these hitches such as the I Match that I use are safer, no one needs to be between the tractor and a heavy implement. For most of us the quick hitches are cheaper, that is if your time is worth anything, I know that if I can hookup a 6' rotary cutter in a minute or so as opposed to having to get off and try to wiggle and jockey the tractor or mower around that long term I am way ahead.

The downside to these quick hitches is you need to fit the implements and hitches together to make them work. As long as you know what to look for it is easy to find implements that are either compatible or easily made compatible. If you take a little time and get them modified it is a breeze to change implements going forward.
 
   / Any tips for 1 man implement hook-up? #38  
I use Pat's and C&C hyd top link- easy enough to do alone now.
 
   / Any tips for 1 man implement hook-up? #40  
I thoroughly enjoyed this discussion, and appreciate the ideas. I grew up on a beef cattle farm and struggled with 3pt attachments as a kid and teenager. I know your pain, especially with older equipment. Now 30 years later I own my first tractor and implements. I have been apprehensive about changing out equipment, I know it is not a simple task, alignment and experience are the keys. As I change out equipment I will remember these techniques.

I do have one question. My Kioti CK30 has the telescoping arms. What is the process for that method to help?
 
 

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