npaden
Platinum Member
My adapter is still backordered.
Harbor Freight 3-point quick hitch
- Thread starter chetorba
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joerocker
Silver Member
I called today and got an automated response of...get this...November! Won't ship until November!
California
Super Star Member
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- Jan 22, 2004
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- An hour north of San Francisco
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- Yanmar YM240 Yanmar YM186D
Progress report after installation today.
1) They got those weird dimensions under control. It fits onto the tractor's link arms properly, and it accepts the lower pins of all three implements perfectly.
2) The top hook is a different story. I need to move it up and down the available bolt positions to match each implement. On each implement the lower edge of the top hook hits a cross bolt on the implement before the lower hooks are low enough to engage their pins. Still, moving the top hook-attach bolts with a couple of box wrenches is far easier than muscling around the entire implement on rough sloping ground which I have been doing until now. I wonder if the bolts could be replaced by pins and clips?
I think I will buy the optional top adapter.
3) I need more rear ballast and this Qh helps. Not only its own 60 lbs a couple of feet behind the axle, but also it spaces the existing ballast (box blade) farther back increasing its leverage without that part making the overal rig heavier.
Summary - I should have gotten one as soon as they were on the market. It's that good. Now I rassle the implement into position by nudging it with the tractor. This replaces the grunt labor of aligning it by hand with a prybar after it settled into the uneven ground.
1) They got those weird dimensions under control. It fits onto the tractor's link arms properly, and it accepts the lower pins of all three implements perfectly.
2) The top hook is a different story. I need to move it up and down the available bolt positions to match each implement. On each implement the lower edge of the top hook hits a cross bolt on the implement before the lower hooks are low enough to engage their pins. Still, moving the top hook-attach bolts with a couple of box wrenches is far easier than muscling around the entire implement on rough sloping ground which I have been doing until now. I wonder if the bolts could be replaced by pins and clips?
I think I will buy the optional top adapter.
3) I need more rear ballast and this Qh helps. Not only its own 60 lbs a couple of feet behind the axle, but also it spaces the existing ballast (box blade) farther back increasing its leverage without that part making the overal rig heavier.
Summary - I should have gotten one as soon as they were on the market. It's that good. Now I rassle the implement into position by nudging it with the tractor. This replaces the grunt labor of aligning it by hand with a prybar after it settled into the uneven ground.
3RRL
Super Member
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Exactly, what does the optional top adapter accomplish?
California
Super Star Member
- Joined
- Jan 22, 2004
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- 14,948
- Location
- An hour north of San Francisco
- Tractor
- Yanmar YM240 Yanmar YM186D
Here's a picture of the adapter, from a recent post in this thread:3RRL said:
http://www.speeco.com/asp/display.asp?view=top&category=Category+1+Quick+Hitch+Adapter
The right side in that picture, the part that engages the implement's top pin, can swing up or down to match the height of the pin.
npaden
Platinum Member
I would love to see a picture of the actual adapter than harbor freight is selling (when they aren't on backorder).
Several people have mentioned getting them, but no one has posted a picture or even measurements.
It would sure help me if I decide to go ahead and make one myself because I'm getting tired of waiting.
Several people have mentioned getting them, but no one has posted a picture or even measurements.
It would sure help me if I decide to go ahead and make one myself because I'm getting tired of waiting.
California
Super Star Member
- Joined
- Jan 22, 2004
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- 14,948
- Location
- An hour north of San Francisco
- Tractor
- Yanmar YM240 Yanmar YM186D
There's a photo of the adapter referenced in this recent post.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/79288-harbor-freight-3-point-quick-15.html#post967148
The picture on the right shows it swung up over the top and out of the way; in use it would point straight back.
If I were building an adapter I would make the tongue a little longer. This is because the rotary mower has a slot to let the top pin slide front to back as you mow uneven ground. A longer tongue would let that pin slide clear to the back before the adapter yoke hit the implement.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/79288-harbor-freight-3-point-quick-15.html#post967148
The picture on the right shows it swung up over the top and out of the way; in use it would point straight back.
If I were building an adapter I would make the tongue a little longer. This is because the rotary mower has a slot to let the top pin slide front to back as you mow uneven ground. A longer tongue would let that pin slide clear to the back before the adapter yoke hit the implement.
I have been thinking of a way to try to avoid this top-link adapter issue and make this hitch (and others Like it) a truly quick hitch.
The thought that mulls around in my head is this......
Since many (or most) of the implements I have seen have the top link mounted toward the very top of the implement framework and gussets, bolts, and other support features are below the top link pin, then why not have the top connector on the QH an upside down hook on a sliding t-slot arrangement. This would also allow for any difference in pin height from bottom.
This would also need a retainer such as the bottom hooks use.
I have even gone as far as beginning to lay this out on Cad, but is not finished yet.
Would like to hear thoughts on this possibility.
The thought that mulls around in my head is this......
Since many (or most) of the implements I have seen have the top link mounted toward the very top of the implement framework and gussets, bolts, and other support features are below the top link pin, then why not have the top connector on the QH an upside down hook on a sliding t-slot arrangement. This would also allow for any difference in pin height from bottom.
This would also need a retainer such as the bottom hooks use.
I have even gone as far as beginning to lay this out on Cad, but is not finished yet.
Would like to hear thoughts on this possibility.
Last edited:
Bedlam
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i THINK YOUR
Bedlam
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i THINK YOUR ON to something there. I thought the same thing. But when I tried to make it upside down the top bracket, wasn't high enough to bolt the hook onto. Now I have thought maybe if the upper metal tabs were added onto to support the hook it would work. Theres allot of pressure there. When I tried it, I could only place one bolt, and it bent the bolt.
But your on the right track. Modify the quick hitch upper metal tabs so the hook could come down onto the link.
This does defeat the hook up though, . as the original idea was to back up and hook under it. But if you would have to get off the tractor, and place the adapter to it there shouldn't be much difference.
As others have said its the lower pins that are the pain.
I would assume if someone added to the top, and made holes similar to the stock spacing, that it could be done that way. Possible replacing the bolts with pins of some sort.Which has been mentioned before.
Perhaps some side movement bracing on that as well.
Great minds at work here...
