Attaching implements

[crown]

Just as all the others have said practice, practice, and more practice. The first time I unhooked my RFM and tried to hook up the brush hog it took a very long time had some very greasy and bruised hands and quite a few unkind words were spoken. That said 3 years later hook up is a snap, I have found that if you have a flat surface, I use my plywood floor in my shed/garage, works great.
It will get much easier. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[odleefs]

<font color="brown"> IMO the whole 3-point linkage system seems a bit long in the tooth not to mention hard work, i'm beginning to wish i'd bought a toolcat !!..</font>

roller,
If you persist with having difficulties using your tractor's three point implements, you still could get a Toolcat /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif. I am a frank novice on the Toolcat and can hook up an attachment in all of 30 seconds with no cursing, prying, persuading, bruising, abrading, tapping, bumping, shifting, aligning, jimmying, coaxing nor cursing. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
Good Luck,
Steve

 

[4x4sche]

My opinions:
If you like to hit things ----get a rubber faced soft blow mallet. It can help a little if things don't line up perfectly.
Do not use levers or try and move the implements. Strength is not required if you line it up properly.

1) Extensible lower arms and a hydraulic top link are a valuable time saver. With these there is no need for a quick-hitch.
2) Good suggestion to use the bucket to move the tractor back or forward a few inches. I love this suggestion and would never have thought of it!
3) I set my implements on double stacked pallets, it is much easier to move the arms and place the pins if they are off the ground and the lower arms are level. Easier to work at knee height than at your feet.
4) Sequence:

Set the arms as wide as you can.
Do not extend the arms yet.
Back up and adjust the hitch position control as you go, to get the ball ends 1"-2" below the implement pins. Stop when one of the arms is one half inch in front of the implement pins.
Start with the non-adjustable lift arm. You should now be able to extend the arm and raise it into place
Now fit the other arm (adjust the height if necessary).
Now fit the PTO
Now fit the top link.

 

[Dartagnan]

To Whom it may concern:
(caution, Dart is in the smartalec mode)

A) Original post was a newbie, Probably isn't ready to invest another 4-500 for TNT yet, I've been at it for 18 months and still haven't decided that it is must have...just depends on what you are doing most I guess. $6 bucks for a 5 foot piece of pipe sounds like a viable alternative, although parking the stump jumper on an old tire sounds like an excellent idea to me!

B) Again, original post was a newbie, not sure I would suggest anyone reach down behind seat while tractor is in motion.

C) Being "level". I did not mean this as an absolute, only a general condition, if the Tractor is leaning 10* one way and Hog is leaning 10* the other it can make a couple inches of difference in pin/eye heights.

D) adjusting adjustable link for hooking up?....you have got to be kidding! it takes a crescent wrench to turn mine with no weight on it. Then you have to re adjust with 400 lbs of hog leveraged off of it .....again, piece of pipe fulcrumed on the pallet seems much easier (and faster, the point of the original post was to save time...)

As you can see Roller, there are many different points of view here, that's what makes it such a great board. I don't think I've ever logged on and not learned something I can use. (will need to find a tire before I unhook the hog tommorrow)


Dart

 

[roller]

Many thanks for all the advice guys....i'm getting quicker. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[N80]

Hmm, my adjustable bottom link is very easy to adjust _by hand_, even with a load on it. But, it is new, well greased and has handles on it. Maybe when it gets old and rusty it will be a problem, but right now it couldn't be easier. And it isn't like it has to be adjusted a long distance. A few truns here and there. That's all.

 

[have_blue]

Here's an update! Just out of curiousity I wanted to see how long it REALLY takes me to put on an implement and get ready to go. So I did it pit-stop style, take no prisoners!:

-=START!=-

*Backed out of tractor shed, turned around and backed into tractor shed
*Hooked up and adjusted the brush hog
*Greased the tractor, FEL, and brush hog
*Checked fluid levels
*Sharpened the brush hog blades (on the brush hog)
*Put away tools

-=STOP!=-

45 minutes, ready to mow! <pant, pant>

Never mind, forgot to get the darn fuel. Guess I'll brush hog next week. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif