Disc Harrow CUT 3 pt hitch lower lift arm length.

[wursthorn]

In January 2018 I bought a new to me (2013 with 96 hours) New Holland Workmaster 40 tractor with a loader to replace my 1983 Kubota L345 DT that I bought new. The NH has about 4 more HP than the Kubota and is perhaps about 200 lbs lighter base weight. I soon learned the NH is much smaller in many key dimensions. The wheel base is much shorter, it has smaller tires and less clearance as a few examples. Very different power to weight ratios. I didn't have a loader on the Kubota but the loader on the NH is actually capable of lifting a rear wheel off the ground with the industrial tires R4 tires loaded! I was concerned to the point that I measured all the loader pressures and checked to be sure the tires were loaded. Everything is according to spec. At this point I was introduced to todays CUT. (Compact Utility Tractor) I still want to be able to use moldboard plows and my 3 point disc harrows. But, here again there were problematic dimensional differences. Most notably the lower lift arm lengths are about 2 inches shorter than the kubota. NET: the kubota was a farm tractor and the NH is a CUT. The shorter lower lift arms allow the front of my plows (right hand beam) to bump the PTO guard if I lift them more than a few inches. They also allow the front harrow gang to very nearly bump the rear tires when angled. I have a quick hitch that positions the harrows back about 2 inches and it seems to work ok with the harrows. But it doesn't work with the plows because of the need to level them. I have found a pair of lower lift arms that are 2" longer. This extra 2" approximates the distance of the lower arm ends behind the axle of a 9N or my Kubota. Has anyone out there experimented with changing lower lift arms because of this problem? I realize the short wheelbase may mean I have to add front weights or keep the loader and possibly the bucket on when plowing and harrowing.

Apparently the category one 3 pt hitch doesn't specify the dimension from the lower lift link holes to the PTO. It only specifies the distance from the draw bar pin to the 3 pt hitch.

So far I have cut all my PTO shafts (Snow blower, brush hog, finish mower, etc.) to accommodate this shorter distance. I sold my 3 bottom 12" Massey auto trip model 74 plows and bought a new shear pin trip 2 bottom 14" plows because of width clearance issues. Hmmmmm. I suspect a mowing machine and other attachments may have similar problems.

 

[Smokeydog]

Consider Pat’s quick hitch? Extended the lift arms on my Kubota B26 nicely.

 

[wursthorn]

Consider Pat痴 quick hitch? Extended the lift arms on my Kubota B26 nicely.

Thanks! In addition to the arms being too short the angle they have at the ends could very easily interfere with the three positions on the plow hitch on the right hand side. The quick hitch allows the end to go parallel to the beam further and that would help. My tractor lower links are 28". My quick hitch extends the ends 4 1/2" pin to pin. It also uses bushings that would extend the lower lift arms a little wider apart and help reduce the possibility of interference. The quick hitch I have isn't compatible with the top link on these plows but I can remove the top pin while hooking up the bottom pins then put the top pin back in after the bottom pins are latched. As soon as we get a little better I'll put the plows back on with the quick hitch on and drive the left side up on a block and see how all the alignment work out. Thanks,