Pat's Easy Change Extended top link?

[BellyUpFish]

Planning on going with Pats for my MF 4243, but I’ve seen where several people talk about needing a longer toplink.

I’m also going to be going with a hydraulic toplink.

My current toplink is 26” closed. I can’t find a 30” toplink to make up for the additional distance from the Pats.

Anyone here gone to Pat’s and not had to change top link length?

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Do some research, some people are not really happy with the cat 2 Pat's.
You might want to consider the Euro hook quick hitch ends.

Just providing options.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

Planning on going with Pats for my MF 4243, but I’ve seen where several people talk about needing a longer toplink.

I’m also going to be going with a hydraulic toplink.

My current toplink is 26” closed. I can’t find a 30” toplink to make up for the additional distance from the Pats.

Anyone here gone to Pat’s and not had to change top link length?

I use the factory 3rd link on my Cat 1 tractor, have never needed to change it out but it's not hydraulic.

 

[BellyUpFish]

Do some research, some people are not really happy with the cat 2 Pat's.
You might want to consider the Euro hook quick hitch ends.

Just providing options.

That's interesting. I haven't seen anything negative comments on them, yet, but I'll definitely keep looking. Thanks.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

I think what you will find is that people with just cat 1 tractors are relatively happy with them. Then with the cat 1-2 tractor sizes people start having issues of one kind or another.
People with straight cat 2 have the most issues and the bigger the cat 2 capabilities,
(5000lb and up) the worse the issues get.

Good luck.

 

[BellyUpFish]

I think what you will find is that people with just cat 1 tractors are relatively happy with them. Then with the cat 1-2 tractor sizes people start having issues of one kind or another.
People with straight cat 2 have the most issues and the bigger the cat 2 capabilities,
(5000lb and up) the worse the issues get.

Good luck.

Good to know. I'll see what I can find.

 

[bearthebruce]

That's interesting. I haven't seen anything negative comments on them,

Can't speak to CAT 2 as I have the CAT 1 Pat's.. I have no complaint hooking and working those. Yep, the 4" or so was added in length. PTO shafts were fine... Top Link was fine and still original. It is manual - not hydraulic.

Pat's saves time changing implements...

 

[thunderworks]

I just put the Pat's Quick Hitch (category 2 tractor with category 1 implements) on my Kubota MX5400. I use the Summit Hydraulic top link that has a maximum extension of 32", which like others have experienced, is not quite long enough to hook up some implements. I had a Pat's system on my previous tractor, (Kubota L3301) and really like how it helped hook up implements and I'd like to figure out a way to make the Cat II version work on my MX5400.

I have a machinist friend and he can weld up an short extension bracket that I can insert between the tractor and the fixed end of the hydraulic cylinder. Has anyone tried that type of adaptation? Are there issues that I'm not considering that would make that a bad idea? The bracket only needs to extend the top link a couple inches at most to solve the geometry issue created by the 4" extension that the Pat's Hitch adds to the lower lift arms.

 

[thunderworks]

OP here: My buddy made a bracket similar to one I saw in another thread which I can't now find. Here's a picture of how it came out. The bracket moved the pin location out from the tractor about 3" and it solves the hook up issue nicely.

 

[old and tired]

OP here: My buddy made a bracket similar to one I saw in another thread which I can't now find. Here's a picture of how it came out. The bracket moved the pin location out from the tractor about 3" and it solves the hook up issue nicely.

Nicely done... (sounds like you need to update your profile! L3301 to MX5400?)

 

[fruitcakesa]

I got a set of Pats cat 2 for my m6040 and on the whole like the way they simplify hook up although they can be a little tricky on some attachments. My PTO shaft is maxed out as is my top link when hooked to the winch so I have to be careful where I set the winch down when skidding logs.

 

[scootr]

Pats Cat 2 here. 4" extension was simple to make. Completely removeable.