I-match for 1994 JD 970

[rigby338]

Hi JD folks,

Can anyone give me an idea of the current or recent price of an I-Match Hitch. Also any opinions or comparisons with the less expensive quick hitches I see around.

I am going to check with my dealer also on Tues, but wanted a point of reference.

Thanks for any info, Rigby

 

[Ductape]

Well...... its been a couple years since i bought mine, but i'm thinkin it was somewhere around $240.

 

[jdbower]

Are all of your implements iMatch compatible? If not you may want to look at other solutions. I like my Pat's EZ-Hitch because I've got a few implements that can't be hooked at the toplink easily plus they support implements with a different width. You can also look into the LandPride hitch or the Harbor Freight (which seems to be a LandPride knock-off, but frequently requires a little one-time sledge hammer persuasion to fit some implements).

 

[Blackbird_BX]

Superficially, the I-Match appears to be identical to the Northern Tool, Harbor Freight, Speeco, Cat-1 3-point Quick-Hitch (quality may vary widely) that has been painted green. I have no idea who came out with the original design.

Harbor Freight's is cheapest by far at $99. Harbor Freight has two variants on their website. One is listed as having 26 1/2" inside spacing and the other with 27 1/2" spacing. I got the former because it was on sale for $69 and wasn't paying attention. I had to modify (8 lb sledge and metal cutting wheel) to to get it to work with my Woods box scraper. Pretty much everyone else that has reported on the HF hitch has said they needed to make the same mods. I believe that even with the 27 1/2 spacing some mods are necessary. I also needed to order a flexible hitch adapter for top pin bracket from HF at an additional $15 delivered (SKU 29309 which is not listed on their website) because the top hook wouldn't work with either of my 3-point implements. I haven't received this yet, so I'm not 100% sure that what I ordered is what is listed in the manual, since the name in the manual doesn't match the name given by the rep on the phone. Anyone with decent welding skills could fab one easily.

Pat's Easy Change System is much more flexible, since it just modifies the lower arms.

 

[jdbower]

Superficially, the I-Match appears to be identical to the Northern Tool, Harbor Freight, Speeco, Cat-1 3-point Quick-Hitch (quality may vary widely) that has been painted green.

Close. The iMatch is based on a published ASAE standard (rumor has it Deere was one of the big pushers to get the standard implemented, but the best thing about a standard is that ANYONE can build one), the problem is that the standard specifies a fixed toplink distance which isn't supported by many existing implements. The Landpride fixed this issue by allowing for an adjustable toplink (I'm assuming they were first mostly because of the pricing). For the generic brands some adhere strictly to the standard (more or less, of course cheaper products are usually cheaper for a reason), some support the extended standard like the LandPride, and others just look like the ASAE standard but have odd dimensions.

Given the ASAE models I'd go with the Deere just because I tend to buy Frontier implements from my Deere dealer and it's not worth the hassle of dealing with potential quality/compatibility issues. The Landpride-styles are interesting, but I chose Pat's because from what I've seen it truly is universal whereas I can't see the Landpride working well with my chipper.

 

[JiminGa]

I picked up an i-match used just before Christmas for $100, previous owner said it didn't fit many of his off brand implements.

 

[rigby338]

Wow,

Thanks to all of you for the great info, I had almost excluded Pat's EZ change from my list. I don't have to worry too much about compatability right now, my implement list is way too short. But I am going to be making a 3pt wieght box and the box blade can be a bugger sometimes. This site truly is a wealth of knowledge.

Hopefully as time goes on I will be able to offer some good advice to some of you.

Thanks again, Rigby

 

[jdbower]

If you build your own implements, I'd recommend trying to match the ASAE S278.6 standard as shown in this diagram. It may not be needed for some quick hitches but if you decide on the iMatch in the future you'll be all set.

 

[zzvyb6]

Now that I know what an I-Match Hitch is, I got something very much like it from TSC quite a few years back for my 1070. Tried to use it on york rake, NH 56 hay rake, bush hog, etc, but found that a better system of putting jack stands on the equippment was a faster, safer way to hook up and release without getting a hernia.


Maybe I should paint it green.

 

[therebarely]

Check with your JD Dealer, there is lower hitch arms that are adjustable. I bought the HF quick hitch, and nothing fits correctly except the MX6. I bought the adapter for the upper link, and broke the welds grading the driveway. My neighbor has adjustable lower links on Kubota M5000 and they are the best way to go.