Quick Hitches JDQA FEL 3 PT Hitch

[JWink3953]

This will be my first post in a forum, ever. So please let me know (nicely preferably) if it is not posted in the right place.

The company I was working for recently sold, so I have been looking for something to fill up some of my time. I was shopping for a John Deere quick attach plate that would allow me to connect 3 PT implements to the front of the tractor for some time, and after looking around on the web, I decided to build one. I will mainly use mine for a landscape rake, or a sub soiler, but could see it working out well for a hydraulic auger as well.

I saw this one out there, Artillian Projects in the Works

and decided if i was going to make one, I wanted it to be a little more substantial.
No price on this one yet, but have seen others upwards of $800. I think I could offer them for sell for much less than that.

It is amazing to me what people are charging for some of the 3 PT hitches and adapter plates. I couldn't find a simple trailer hitch for 3 PT for under $220. It consists of around 5 ft 2"x2" steel tubing. How can this cost this much.

After a few nights of shopping around on the net, and browsing through the forums, I'm considering putting up a web page and selling some attachments.
Nothing with Hydraulics just yet

Here are pics of a heavy duty version of the JDQA 3 PT Hitch I am working on. It can quick attach to a 300 series JD FEL, or you could put in on the 3 PT to use it for a receiver hitch on the rear.

I am finishing up a medium duty design for my JD 3203 with 300x loader tonight or tomorrow, and plan to build it this weekend.

My main questions are:

1 - Does anyone have any feedback or suggestions on the design?

2 - Do you guys think there is a market out there for well built hitch adapters and such, and would people buy from a no name guy like me?


Here are some links as well on future project I plan to resign and offer for sell at lower prices.

King Kutter's Goose Neck Trailer Mover with 2 5/16" Ball

Tractor 3 Point Trailer Mover Receiver Hitch LTH1A

 

[dusty3030]

Subsoiler on the front end loader?

 

[JWink3953]

Yeah..just to dig small trenches for PVC, conduit, and removing pesky small trees, roots and all. I also have quite a few partially buried rocks.

Seems like that long shank could do a good job on the FEL.

 

[spruce Deere]

welcome to TBN:thumbsup:

I think you on to something there. Two things I can see that I would change is the lower two 3 point connections should be adjustable for width and of the 'ball and socket' connection like on the lift arms on the three point of a tractor.

There is a fella here on TBN his handle is kennyd. He started building bolt-on lift hooks for f.e.l buckets. I think he has done quite well with his venture

Paten it, go to build'n them.

 

[JWink3953]

Glad you think so Spruce Deere.

The lower 3 point links do expand and retract to allow you to slip them on the 3 point attachments pins. They are also the ball and socket type weld on connectors like you can buy from TSC.

http://www.tractorsupply.com/lift-arm-repair-end-category-1-0265066


Thanks for the feedback. It is appreciated.

Would like to get all the opinions that I can "before" I fabricate it.:thumbsup:

 

[spruce Deere]

I'd be glad to demo one for ya on my 790 when you got a prototype

 

[JWink3953]

Found some time to start on this today. Not sure I will need to build a heavy duty version. Can't imagine putting enough stress on the FEL to hurt it.

It's mainly 2 x 2 x 1/4 stock, with the exception of the sides being 2 1/2"

Gonna get the quick attach hardware welded on tomorrow, a receiver hitch, and the center supports. May wait on putting the hardware to hook it up to the back of the tractor later.

Want to get it on the FEL and start testing it out. Plan to use the landscape rake to cover some trenches i dug with an excavator a few weeks ago.

Should work out great to put this landscape rake on the FEL, turn it 180 degrees, angle it, and just drive right next to the ditch line.

Tomorrow should be fun...this is my test model, so I gotta go give it ^&$ to make sure that it will hold up.

A gin pole on this thing would be awesome....would need lots of ballast though.

Here are a few pics of where I got to today.

Will post some pics in action when I get it on the tractor.