Harbor Freight 3-point quick hitch

[therebarely]

Finally got mine Friday, and it works great. Took 8 weeks to get, but was worth the wait for the price. Quality much higher than most of Harbor Freight's stuff, pretty impressive.

 

[mudcat]

I also got mine Friday and I was surprised by the quality. I expected much less. All the welds were neatly cleaned up. I do question the thickness of steel where the lifting arms connect. As a cradle it shoud be fine. Now I just need to make some adapters on some of my implements for the top hook. But I knew that before I baught it. I almost purchased the speedco version last year from TSC but backed off because of all the mods I would have to make. But for the money, I am willing to break out the welder and make this one work

 

[MrJimi]

I got mine this weekend and mine will be welded/bolted to a QA backing plate for my Case 1845C. Maybe my Jacksonville neighbors on here will have some used 3 point attachments to sell me, condition is not important all. Come on guys, what cha got?
Jim

 

[KubotaTerry]

I received mine Friday. I was happy to find that there was no problem with the draw bar attachment. It fit perfectly over the draw bar arms. The problem was that the width was a bit too narrow to go over the pins of my implements (a box blade and a rear blade). Both implements were the same spacing, but the H.F. quick hitch was a bit narrower. Maybe 1/4 to 1/2 inch. I used a floor jack and a length of 4x4 to spread the quick hitch arms a tad. It was easy to do. Ends up distorting the quick hitch a bit, but doesn't affect the functionality any. First problem fixed.

Next problem: The lower hooks would not go onto my box blade due to the thickness of the hooks. They hitt some brackets on the box blade. I had to take a hack saw to the box blade and trim about a half inch off the bracket. Worked up a good sweat and got the bracket trimmed back to where the hooks on the quick hitch would fit. Problem two solved. The quick hitch now fit nicely on my box blade, except that the top hook doesn't have enough clearance to just hook under the top pin on the box blade. I have to pull the top pin on the box blade, position the hook on the quick hitch, and slide the top pin into the box blade, through the hook on the hitch. Not as "quick" as it should be, but still an improvement. At least I don't have to wrestle with the bottom pins to attach the box blade.

Problem three. The top pin of my rear blade has even less clearance for the top hook on the H.F. quick hitch. There's no way the hook will fit. I will need to order the "adapter" from H.F. Then both of my implements will fit nicely.

Problem four. Tried to order the adapter from H.F. Was told that they were on back order 'till August 4th. And since they cost less than $10, I can't order one 'till they are in stock. So I guess I have to wait 'till August 4th and try again to order one.

Once I get the adapter, the quick hitch should work pretty well with the two implements I have.

By the way, the swell web page that lets you review your order on H.F. still shows that mine has not shipped yet and is still on back order....

Terry

 

[sheepman]

I too got mine on Friday. Had it on in less than 2 min. I was pleasantly suprised with the quality of it, considering an identical unit at the local fleet/farm store was $199. Mudcat, I also question the thickness of steel where the lifting arms connect. And the pins do seem cheap, but should be good for my use. Hooks up to my rotary cutter with no problem. Not so for the blade, though. I was going to fab up an adapter similar to the one HF sells to use in place of the hook (didn't feel like ordering one from HF and waiting 2 months again), but I noticed that the $199 unit at the farm store came with the adapter I need. Talked to the manager and he was going to see if he could get one in. I'm sure it would look better than anything I could make.

Overall, a good buy for the $$$$.

 

[mikim]

Well they musta shipped a bunch at the same time cause I got mine on thurs ... tried it out yesterday - went on the tractor just fine but the top hook isn't going to work...will have to get the adapter. The hook won't go in far enough to allow the top pin of my mower to drop in - and it's worse on the box blade. see pic - I need 1 5/8" clearance - but the hook only has 1"

 

[mikim]

here's another shot of the problem

 

[hz293]

I just ordered my HF Quick Hitch and they are now in stock. It will be shipped soon. However the adapter is on back order. As someone earlier mentioned, if the back order is less than $10, you have to call them to activate the shipping.

Harris

 

[KubotaTerry]

I just ordered my HF Quick Hitch and they are now in stock. It will be shipped soon. However the adapter is on back order. As someone earlier mentioned, if the back order is less than $10, you have to call them to activate the shipping.

Harris

What do you mean you have to call them to activate the shipping? I called them and was told that since it was less than $10, they wouldn't accept my order until it was in stock. Sounded like BS to me, but the "highly educated" girl on the phone wouldn't even take my order.....

 

[Bedlam]

They took my order. the part was like 8 dollars and shipping was 9 something. this was for the adapter.
its still back ordered. (About 4 weeks now).
No way to check on it either. they haven't charged my card, so its possible it really isn't ordered.
I still think its a bad business decision to to be able or want to have this adapter advertised with the hitch.
Many people have to have it to make the hitch work.I am willing to bet it costs more to delivery it and then for them to pay for the reshipment than the part itself.
I did as they wanted, I returned mine and await a new one and the adapter is a complete different order.
I just ordered 160 dollars of misc. stuff last Saturday, and I am billed already. Ill see how long this takes.
I haven't heard of having to activate the backorder shipping either.