Freedom Hitch Arrived

[thumperjb]

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
I am one happy gal! The Freedom hitch arrived last Thursday just 6 days after I placed the order. I had to wait till last evening for the neighbor to help me with it. I found the instructions to be confusing so just used a bit of logic and things fell into place. I am one happy camper.

It works so slick I can't believe I was thinking about selling the tractor. Thanks so much to all who recommended it to me; Bird, SandalWood, MossRoad, Gerard, and Normde2001. I couldn't be more pleased with this purchase.

In fact the only down side to the Freedom Hitch is that now the power take-off shaft to my bush hog is not long enough, it reaches but is not long enough to provide the overlap needed to keep it running straight. I called the local Co-Op and they have some in stock, but they are not cheap. Still all things considered I am pleased and would recommend the Freedom Hitch to anyone who has difficulty changing their implements. Thanks again guys.

 

[Bird]

Glad it works for you.

 

[MossRoad]

A happy person with a happy back /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Congratulations!

 

[normde2001]

TSC has an adapter that may do what you need a lot cheaper than a new drive shaft.

 

[sandalwood]

Glad to hear that you are enjoying it. One of the drawbacks you will find with Freedom Hitch is that you soon forget what a nuisance hooking up implements used to be - in my case that is just an excuse to go look at more 3 ph implementsjavascript:void(0)
/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[thumperjb]

Norm, Thanks for the link to that extension. I went to the Co-Op and bought a new drive shaft today (prior to seeing your post) it cost 109.00 I like the idea of an extension, and it's much cheaper. I asked about one at the Farmers Co-Op and they looked at me like I was nuts. Mine was stretched to a point where it was real wobbly, I think I will be happier with the 6-8 inch overlap of the new shaft. I don't know much about tractors and am learning as I go. Thanks again for the information I will file it away under lessons learned.

 

[pokbill]

I purchased the extension piece that Norm provided the link for at TSC last weekend. I would like to use it on my L4610 Kubota. The problem is that it fits fine over the tractor PTO shaft but does not secure on the shaft. The extension piece has drilled holes that look like it would take a 5/16 bolt. The problem is my Kubota PTO shaft does not have a hole drilled thru it to pass a bolt thru. Am I missing something here - do some tractor PTO shafts have a hole for a bolt thru them?
I don't think I would want to try to drill a hole thru the tractor PTO shaft to allow a bolt to secure the extension. Is there some other way to keep this extension from sliding off the tractor PTO shaft? Thanks.
Bill

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Is the hole offset so that the bolt would go through the groove in the tractor shaft?

 

[BillG_in_TX]

Bill,

I was considering the same attachment if I get a quick hitch, so I went by the local TSC at lunch and looked at it and asked. Their tractor expert said most tractor ptos have a hole through them for this purpose. You use a case hardened bolt to attach. He said if I don't have a hole on my Kubota L345, I should just drill one.

I then stopped by the local used tractor dealer, and he is correct. Many, but not all, of the Blue, Green and Orange tractors have holes in the pto shaft for this purpose.

 

[pokbill]

Bill,
Thanks for your reply. I was afraid that was the case. I'm not sure I want to drill a hole - since I can't put it in a drill press I might not get it straight enough. I guess if other tractors come with a hole in the pto shaft there shouldn't be a problem with weakening the shaft. The extension is just what I need since the Freedom Hitch has made pto slide overlap insufficent without it. As the pto shaft is probably hardened maybe this is something I should ask my dealer to do. Anyway thanks for the information.
Bill