Anyone use this "quick connect"?

[Limecuda]

Anyone tried this quick connect system? It also has a gauge rod to keep the arms adjusted to the implement. It is about a 1/4 of the cost of the one advertised here.

 

[SPYDERLK]

who makes it?
larrry

 

[Limecuda]

I do not know. They are on ebay.

 

[Champy]

There is also another one on ebay that is about 1/2 the price of Pats. Both of these have shortcomings such as using cotter pins and smaller clip pins, but for the price they may just work fine (I don't have either but am looking at them as well).

I really don't understand (and am not complaining) how the PEC system costs just as much or more than a complete QuickAttach frame system. Less metal, lighter, smaller, etc.....yet more expensive?

Welcome to CARTER AND SON'S TOOL AND DIE

 

[jdbower]

I bought Pat's back before he had competition and now that there are cheaper alternatives I'd do it over again. Pat's is a bit pricey because of how well he thought out the attachment to the side arms, most of the rest look like they'd be fine with lightweight implements but I'd be worried about damage or breakage with anything heavy. I'm guessing a lot of testing went into the design, many of the others you seem to be paying for raw materials and amortized use of a milling machine but not any real world experience (or import duties or patent rights - but that's another story...). I also like the spring locks better than the simple retaining pins I've seen - I've got a finicky chipper that would keep slipping out without the spring locks. Besides, I always like to reward the first guy able to crack the code and bring out a marketable product, and being able to buy it through the TBN store hopefully supported them a bit

As to why Pat's is more expensive than some of the iMatch-like system, it's hard not to make a big chunk of metal with three attachment points stable. Add to that a standard describing how to build it and mass-market production rates and you've got a lot of economies working for you. I'm afraid the days of melting down the raw materials to gauge the price of a product only exist in regions of the world where wages are cheap enough to allow it

So for me Pat's is the right choice from an engineering, personal and (for some competition) political perspective. Since the worst Pat's failures I've had were not buying the stabilizer bar when I bought it (my own darn fault and since rectified ) and losing some of the nuts (again, I didn't tighten them enough - the replacements I got at Lowes are holding fine) I'm very happy with my choice. Hope you find a suitable solution that works for you, I know my priorities may be different than yours.

 

[thatguy]

I have been watching both of the 'alternative' ez hitch/quick connects on ebay for a few weeks now.. I am pretty much leaning toward the $54 set (original post) - especially since it includes the spreader bar..

Someone in another post mentioned that he could not use the one shown above because his tiller would not allow the use of the 'stops'..

Brian

 

[Farmwithjunk]

There is also another one on ebay that is about 1/2 the price of Pats.

Buy those! You'll be supporting a neighbor of mine. Not sure how many he's sold, but he sure has moved up in the "obvious wealth" catagory!

 

[Champy]

JDBower - All good points, and I understand the economies of scale / China manufacturing and what not......I was looking at the pricing from a competitive market perspective - i.e. the "local" rep selling Pat's wanted 230 each plus tax that would leave me at about $245 for a set. From a design/utilization/marketability perspective, if the pricing is comparable then I am left with a coin toss decision on whether to buy a iMatch-like system or a PEC.

If the PEC was competitively priced at about $175 (delivered) then the iMatch wouldn't even be a consideration and I'd already own one and be sendiing all my tractor friends to see Pat!

 

[jdbower]

If the PEC was competitively priced at about $175 (delivered) then the iMatch wouldn't even be a consideration

Ah, I see the issue. In my mind Pat doesn't compete with the iMatch-type systems - if all my equipment was iMatch compatible I'd just use that since I wouldn't need to get off the tractor for the toplink (only the PTO which may not always be needed). The pesky chipper I mentioned can't easily be modified to be iMatch compatible so it's the main reason my iMatch lies idle most of the time (it's easier for me to use Pat's system on my tiller than it is to mount the iMatch just for that). If I get a rotary cutter and box blade that are iMatch-ready I may only install Pat's when I need the chipper and the tables turned, but for now I've got a big, green U-shaped paperweight . I do agree that if Pat wants to compete with iMatch rather than just fill the gap where iMatch doesn't work pricing is a concern, maybe once he's paid off his NRE or manages to increase production he'll end up doing that.

 

[Champy]

So from your perspective the leverage for PEC is the universal application versus others being customized............thanks for the heads up - because I just went into the JD website and once again "read" the details a little closer. Apparently you need to add custom pins or collars to every attachment to match up with their iMatch. I thought it was like a Harbor Freight Quick Attach device that simply converted the lower lift arms from knuckle-balls into hooks.

Now the comparison pricing starts adding up against the JD system, and the fact that I don't really have all JD attachments makes it even worse. Ok - I'm converted..........now to decide between those mentioned above and PEC.........hmmmmmmmmmmmm