Typically for Deere anyways you will normally find that most compact tractor oem center links are of the locking nut design. Kind of went back and forth on lift links but usually where of the lift and turn design. The style of center link I would look for if wanting to get away from the locking nut would be a version that has some form of a fold away handle. When the handle is folded out you could freely adjust center link, when the handle is folded back onto the body it acts as your locking device. This is the style you will see on most current Deere machines at or above 5xxx series (unfortunately many of those will be to big for your tractor). Many general purpose replacement center link styles will have a large tab that sticks out that operates as your locking nut that you could release without a wrench. You can get that style from Speeco or through Deere's match plus line and I imagine many other outlets. But I'll have to state unless you have the locking nut torqued down terribly tight normally you could adjust the center link in the opposite direction to take tension off of the nut and then move the nut by hand. I could be wrong but I think the biggest issue with a lift and turn design is that it is expected that the link will always be positioned vertically, center links depending on your application could potentially be at a slight upside down incline when fully raised that would allow the locking sleeve to slide off the retainer.
