How to attach iHitch?

[MacLawn]

You can order the Harbor Freight Quick Hitch Adapter by calling 1-800-444-3353. Ask for Item #29309, Description "93691 Hitch Adapter". It is not in their catalog or web page. When I called it was $8.79 plus 6.99 for shipping.

Sincerely,

Ikymojoe

P.S. This information was taken from an earlier post. Credits to the original poster.

Thanks, Iky. I went to Harbor Freight and the guy didn't know what I was talking about, so I will have to order it I guess. I really appreciate your help with this... it will be mighty nice to get it working properly with ALL attachments. I only have rear finishing mower now, but plan to get more.

BTW (By The Way - hate these acronyms!), a computer forum I am a member on uses the acronym STF... I think I'll wait to see if people here know what that means.

 

[madpogue]

Here's what I've noodled out in the wonderful world of quick-hitches:

* AFAIK, the lower links on the HF quick-hitch is actually the correct width, or at least closer to it than some implements. According to the diagram on that LSU AgCenter page (linked on another QH thread), the MAXIMUM spacing of the implement's lower link pins, INCLUDING the "bushing" on the outboard side of each lift arm on the implement, is 26.9". The HF QH is about 26.75" out of the box. This was just about right for our KK carry-all, but the pins on the 5' rotary cutter (er, kutter) are well over 27.5", if you include the bushings. From what I've been able to determine, this accounts for why the QH commonly has to be re-spaced with a bottle jack.

* The big hangup with the top link is, at least in the case of rotary cutters, actually an issue with the implement, not the hitch. Here's a photo illustrating the problem with my KK brush hog. The "big hook" on the QH bangs into the spacer betwen the implement's lift arms, which sits directly below the top link pin, making it impossible for the hook to position itself directly below the pin. Well, I bought the cutter used, and this is how it was configure. But guess what -- a part is missing from the hitch on the implement side. Check out this illustration from the manual, particularly item 16, and the "inset". That squared-U-shaped bracket, with its own spacer and through-bolt, is the "swivel kit". It's supposed to hang forward of the implement's hitch structure (the diagram shows it pointing upward, but it's gonna fall forward), and the actual hitch pin goes through the forward holes. This is actually what's needed to create the "give" in attachment necessary for traversing uneven ground, esp. valleys. But it also puts the hitch pin far enough away from the static spacer that the top hook on the QH should slither right in under it. If your cutter or other implement has this swivel, it should make the adapter (mentioned by ikymojoe above) unnecessary, as it takes its place. You can order the swivel kit from KK, but it's almost $40!!

* You can order the HF quick-hitch adapter via their web site. From their home page, follow the "Order from Printed Catalog" link. A separate window should pop up (you may have to enable pop-ups). In the Item Number box, type "29309-0VGA", and select "Add". Then you can add it to anything else you might wish to order from the main site. I'm gonna try a little trick with it. Rather than attach it to the 3PH top link directly via a pin, I'm gonna put it on the implement, put another pin through the forward end, and put the "big hook" on the QH, and see if the the big hook will engage the pin. This will approximate the swivel kit that the cutter should have had in the first place, and the hitch will work as a true "quick" hitch.

a computer forum I am a member on uses the acronym STF...

I've seen STFU, for Shut .... Up, but not just STF. Hmm, puzzle, puzzle....

 

[BlacknTan]

Thanks, Iky. I went to Harbor Freight and the guy didn't know what I was talking about, so I will have to order it I guess. I really appreciate your help with this... it will be mighty nice to get it working properly with ALL attachments. I only have rear finishing mower now, but plan to get more.

BTW (By The Way - hate these acronyms!), a computer forum I am a member on uses the acronym STF... I think I'll wait to see if people here know what that means.

On a gundog forum, it would mean "Stop to Flush".. But, I doubt that's it...

 

[Bedlam]

Yes Maclawn, youd think that after almost a year that HF has advertised these hitches, they would finally decide that the adapter should be advertised with the hitch, For one thing they would do more sales of it , and less frustration.
Back almost a year ago. there was a running post on this, and I ordered, and returned before finding that there was a link avaliable.
I e-mailed the situation and got the stock number etc.At which point I e-mailed back and told them that they should consider two thigs ,one that the thing was a tad narrow, but more easily fixed youd think was that the adapter wasnt readily advertised as an option.
I got a responce something like, we appreciate blah blah.. but he didnt have the power to suggest anyhing to do with advertising.
Oh Well.
Al

 

[MacLawn]

I really appreciate all the help y'all boys are giving me - surely more than the quick hitch makers!

STF stands for "Search The Forum"... some guys on the computer forum I mentioned get a little upset when someone posts a question that has already been discussed, therefore the STF, meaning, you should search using key words to see if you can find answers before you post - I think this forum has this feature under the "Search". I will use that from now on.

Well, I guess I will have to figure out some way to make the quick hitch work for me - BUT, I am totally disappointed that these things are sold the way they are, that is, you can't use it until you make some kind of modification, either to the hitch or, as some have done, even cutting and welding their implements!! NO WAY for me! Plus, I don't weld... I even researched these things before I bought, but didn't find that I couldn't use it as is until I actually hooked it to my tractor! I frankly don't see how people who make these things can stay in business... If word gets around, I predict they will not. Okay, that's off my chest for now...

 

[tommu56]

MacLawn

From your pictures

I had an idea take spacer out of bottom bolt and rear links off bottom bolt and the bottom bolt and put it in top holes it looks like quick hitch would grab the spacer with out a problem.
the A frame might be a little out of plumb but top link can extend to correct that.

I call part #16 the toggle it will let mower come up on rear on its one it will be pushing on top link.
If you lift arms it will hit bottom spacer and lift up deck which will be pulling on top link.

I saw in a posting some were (still looking for it though) one manufacturer has the toggle built in to the rear stabilizers they were cut at an angle with a plate on each side welded to front and a pivot on back.

Ill still look for picture or make a dwg.

tom