Any tips for 1 man implement hook-up?

[bobsphotos]

My plan before ordering the hyd top link will be to attatch all my implements and document the shortest and longest top length needed and go from there.

 

[patrick_g]

My control lever is also by the ft of the seat, but i can lean over and watch it move- If I had a cab it might be more difficult.


One piece of advise, add in the extra length of the EC when ordering a hyd top link

I have a cab but the controls for the top and tilt and the aux rear hydraulics are beside the seat on the right side and accessible through the back hatch/window due to my good reach. (I span over 6 ft 4 finger tip to finger tip.) I find it really easy to stand on a lower arm and reach the controls. If I were severely height/reach challenged or the controls were misplaced too far forward I would just make a little stick with a notch in it to work the controls.

Having both hydraulic topping and hydraulic tilt make for easier hitching. It is good to be able to adjust the relative heights of the lower arms to accommodate any tilt of the implement. Not everyone always has a perfectly level place to hitch up. I sometimes take a second rear implement out with me, carrying it with the FEL and swapping rear implements whenever and wherever. That eliminates dollies, hanging arrangements, and other nifty stationery adjuncts to smooth implement changes and lets the hydraulic top and tilt really shine as a superior approach.

As I had the hydraulic top and tilt installed at the time of the tractor purchase but added Pat's system later there was a mismatch in top link length. I fixed that with a couple pieces of metal drilled for two pins to make an extension. Pat read about it on the site here and offered me a professionally built version for free. All my PTO driven implements had enough extra reach on the PTO shaft so that didn't cause a problem.

Pat

 

[bobsphotos]

Patrick,
Could you post a pic of the extension you made for the top cylinder?
Thanks

 

[patrick_g]

Patrick,
Could you post a pic of the extension you made for the top cylinder?
Thanks

Sure thing, be glad to as soon as I get out to the tractor.

Meantime...Consider a rectangular piece of steel 2-3 inches by 5-6 inches with a hole drilled about an inch from each end on the centerline of the long dimension.

The holes are clearance holes for top link pins. Make two of these pieces. Pin one end of each to the hydraulic cylinder, one on either side of the hole at the end of the rod using a standard pin and keeper. Do the same at the other end to connect to the implement. This extends the reach by the distance between the holes you drilled. I use washers on both sides at both ends. This will extend your reach but it won't let you apply down pressure to the implement by extending the top link. This limitation (if it actually is one) doesn't bother me. I probably didn't need to do that as I sure don't miss being able to do it.

Pix later.

Pat

 

[GeneD14]

For Cat 1 implements I found Pat's to work good with little effort. When I bought my bigger tractor last year I tried using Carter's EZ hitch because it was so cheap. It was a Cat 2 and hitched up ok but pulling my box blade tore them apart after about 20 minutes of use. They just weren't made heavy duty enough for a 95 hp tractor. I then went out and bought a heavy duty Speedco quick hitch. I had to modify my box blades pins to line up. But now I can back up to an implement, raise the hitch and it locks onto the pins without me even getting out of the cab! It has a big hook that secures the top link while the hitch is raising. Hands down this is one of the easiest and most reliable systems that I've seen. I bought it for $249 on sale at Rural King.

 

[jenkinsph]

For Cat 1 implements I found Pat's to work good with little effort. When I bought my bigger tractor last year I tried using Carter's EZ hitch because it was so cheap. It was a Cat 2 and hitched up ok but pulling my box blade tore them apart after about 20 minutes of use. They just weren't made heavy duty enough for a 95 hp tractor. I then went out and bought a heavy duty Speedco quick hitch. I had to modify my box blades pins to line up. But now I can back up to an implement, raise the hitch and it locks onto the pins without me even getting out of the cab! It has a big hook that secures the top link while the hitch is raising. Hands down this is one of the easiest and most reliable systems that I've seen. I bought it for $249 on sale at Rural King.

I use the IMatch

Good Luck convincing these guys that your hitch is easier to use than their Pats where it is necessary to dismount to connect the top link. Enjoy your Speedco hitch.

 

[RalphVa]

I use dollies for most of my implements that are stored inside on concrete flooring. On the back blade stored outside, I have it on some 1 by boards that make it easy to slide around on.

I've sometimes gone through about 3 implements within an hours' time. Easy with dollies.

Ralph

 

[patrick_g]

Bobsphotos, here are some pix as promised.

They show 2 slightly bent/rusty pieces of flat bar steel with holes near each end. These are pinned to a slot in the top link connection of my brush hog at one end and at the other end to the hydraulic top link. Pretty low tech but works well in all respects except if you wanted to use the top link to put down pressure on the brush hog. Noting the slot in the top link hookup you really can't put on effective down pressure anyway (don't know why I'd want to.)

The first three pix show the adapter. The fourth? Well... I like Clint Eastwood and I thought the AARP thing was a hoot. So there!

Pat

 

[Ken45101]

Thanks for the pictures of your extension.

That's the best AARP I've seen

Ken

 

[JIGBUILDER]

I bought a cat 2 Pats quick hitch system with the telescoping rod. I used it three weeks and its for sale.

I have 7-8 different implements that range for 24" out to 37 " lower arm width so the Pats just don't work for me.

I found setting each implement on something that allows a bit of movement worked better. Less up and down off the tractors seat. I'm 68 years old and don't mind the lifting/leveraging but the up and down the tractor is gettin' harder.

edit; added cat 2 Pats