Quick Hitches Need a quality quick hitch

[Ricn]

You have my interest, maybe should try one myself; PTO hookup is never easy these days and I too have back issues making bi-weekly changes a real pain.

Edit: so after talking to my Kubota dealer, who is against using the extenders saying, if it breaks there can be serious damage to the tractors PTO shaft or “other things”, I now wonder about their uses. I sort of expected that opinion as dealers have some liability but now don’t know what to think about using one; sure sounds easy and cost effective for an issue I’d like to solve if it can be done safely enough. I suppose a new shaft cut to length is the best plan still? Having no experience with an extender I welcome all pros and cons concerning this subject.
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Ricn

 

[LouNY]

I have QH's the one on my 574 stays on most of the time. I had one on the Branson 8050 just from habit,
The Branson has the Eruo type hook style and I have gone to using it, with the hook style the ball is mounted
to the implement and you just back under with the hooks and lift to catch. The nicest point is that there is
no quick hitch frame work taking up space that I have to try and squeeze thru and under to connect the pto
it is much easier for me to reach without that in the way.
The Pat's style quick hitch would be very similar and function the same.

 

[WranglerX]

For those still mulling over quick hitch, here is supposedly industry standard... Some manufacturers have not found it yet... If you buy QH and it does not fit you implement, modify implement, it will always fit your rig then.... Do it once, cry once, life gets better after that....



Dale

 

[Overtaxed]

Pat's quick hitch doesn't have the size problem, you can move it to size to your implement rather than modify the implement to fit. But it does, IMHO, have another problem, the angle of the hooks changes when you make the 3pt wider or more narrow, which can make hookup difficult/impossible. IMHO, it's still the right option for me, but, like all of the options, nothing is perfect.

 

[Ricn]

I checked our local Harbor Freight and Tractor Supply today, neither stock the quick hitches so many talk about; evidently they are Net only purchases out west, much like all else these days. Maybe should give the Pats another try, my first ones came with broken springs and after seeing what is required to install new ones I sent them back unused; IMO the springs are a weak link in their system but nothing is ever perfect like Overtaxed says. Great handle there Overtaxed, about like it is here as nobody wants to stock anything unless it sells in 30 days for fear of inventory taxes...

Ricn

 

[goeduck]

I have one set of Pats. Never again. Some like them and that is great. I do not. Just my :2cents:

 

[lennyzx11]

I have one set of Pats. Never again. Some like them and that is great. I do not. Just my :2cents:

I have a set also and didn't care for them. Laying on the shelf after the first month of installation.

I like my HF QH. And have did a couple of mods to make it friendlier like adding receiver mounts.

As the 2501 mentioned is near identical to my 3301, here's a couple of things I've learned.

1. I step my left leg over the left lower link arm and reach down with my left hand to align and connect the PTO end. Meanwhile, my right hand is holding the outboard end of the shaft/guard up on the rear side of the QH. (I like the bungee cord idea. Going to try it). Once that end Is done, I can slide the rear back to connect on the mower(s). If it's stiff or jammed, I'll move to the back and pull directly back on the shaft, cuss myself for not lubing it last time this happened, and pull it backwards into place.

2. Be careful with the QH with the bottom of its horizontal bar and the top of the PTO shaft. If you dump the 3 point all the way down, the QH will get down low enough to touch the shaft guard and shaft. Changing terrain elevations can put the shaft into the hitch.

 

[Maxify55]

I've had several over the years.
I guess Pat's is the one that lasted the longest but even they have their issues.

Bottom line is, I guess, that there needs to be less stuff in my way to get the PTO shaft linked....NOT MORE.

My :2cents: worth

 

[TheMan419]

I checked our local Harbor Freight and Tractor Supply today, neither stock the quick hitches so many talk about; evidently they are Net only purchases out west, much like all else these days. Maybe should give the Pats another try, my first ones came with broken springs and after seeing what is required to install new ones I sent them back unused; IMO the springs are a weak link in their system but nothing is ever perfect like Overtaxed says. Great handle there Overtaxed, about like it is here as nobody wants to stock anything unless it sells in 30 days for fear of inventory taxes...

Ricn

HF and TSC will take it as a return to the local store even if you buy on line.

TSC only sells a Pat's clone or a Cat 2 QH that looks like the HF one. I originally bought the pat's clone. It does not come with the spreader bar. The HF design makes more sense to me. If you got the HF route there is an adapter for the top link. It gets rid of the hook. Buy it. I had to go out and find it at the local Rural King. They also had a QH in stock but it was a couple hundred while the HF version was $99 plus 20% off with coupon.

 

[RoyJackson]

2. Be careful with the QH with the bottom of its horizontal bar and the top of the PTO shaft. If you dump the 3 point all the way down, the QH will get down low enough to touch the shaft guard and shaft. Changing terrain elevations can put the shaft into the hitch.

That's a good point! I've never had a problem with the PTO driveshaft hitting the QH frame when operating, but I have when raising the 3PH to full height (PTO was off, but any interference with the drive shaft is not a desirable condition)

 

[McCulley Heights]

I've used the Agri-Supply QH with a ~800 lb. Caroni flail mower and a Frontier 73" snow blower (also close to 800 lbs.). So far, no problems. Both implements are transported in the raised position which, I assume, would be most stressful on the QH.
The new John Deere QH does, IIRC, have an adjustable upper hook. If mine (which was several years old) had an adjustable hook, I'd have kept it.

Roy,

When you used the Agri Supply QH with the Caroni flail, did you use the top hitch adapter bracket, or need to modify the top hitch hook to make it work?
Also, if you used the adapter, were you able to use the slotted top hole in the flail, or did the slotted hole give it too much play when the adapter is used? or does the adapter in the non-slotted top hole allow it to "roll" with the terrain?

Thanks.

 

[GirlWhoWantsTractor]

The Harbor Freight quick-hitch is on clearance right now for $99. Is this the right one?

3-Point Quick Hitch for Tractors - 27-3/16" Clearance

The Northern Tool
https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200660668_200660668

Agri-Supply
Quick Hitch-3-Point Quick Hitch


All three seem very similar in price/function. Any important differences you see?

 

[goeduck]

The Harbor Freight quick-hitch is on clearance right now for $99. Is this the right one?

3-Point Quick Hitch for Tractors - 27-3/16" Clearance

The Northern Tool
https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200660668_200660668

Agri-Supply
Quick Hitch-3-Point Quick Hitch

and Harbor Freight

All three seem very similar in price/function. Any important differences you see?

The upper hitch vertical adjustment seems to be the most limited on the Northern Tool unit. This would be important when using it on older or non standard implements. I can not tell on any of these lower end units about quality of the linkage or metals used. The Agri Supply unit looks the best on first blush to me. Or maybe they are all the same, given the quality of pictures it is hard to tell.

 

[CincyFlyer]

For those still mulling over quick hitch, here is supposedly industry standard... Some manufacturers have not found it yet... If you buy QH and it does not fit you implement, modify implement, it will always fit your rig then.... Do it once, cry once, life gets better after that....

View attachment 555533

Dale

Affirm on that. Make your implements fit your hitch, and then do it again 'cuz you welded something in the wrong place. That's my method! But when it's done, you can swap out your counterweight or box blade or sub-soiler or stump grinder in just a few minutes.

 

[Fallon]

The upper hitch vertical adjustment seems to be the most limited on the Northern Tool unit. This would be important when using it on older or non standard implements. I can not tell on any of these lower end units about quality of the linkage or metals used. The Agri Supply unit looks the best on first blush to me. Or maybe they are all the same, given the quality of pictures it is hard to tell.

I've had 2 or all 3 of those... no significant differences, other than possibly the number of holes for the top hook. All of the 5 cheap QHs I've had needed a longer top hook. As fast as I know all QHes are still in use & functional. 1 was welded to a SSQA plate to mount a plow, it & another ran off with the old L3200. 1 went to a friend. 1 is on my L4060. Another was recently purchased used from another TBN member (who doesnt like QHes as he found out) & is sitting around spare waiting on a use (likely getting welded to a SSQA plate again).

I modified my 3pt PHD to work on a QH (only works with a hydraulic toplink). If you didnt extend the toplink before lowering the 3pt, you crushed the PTO shaft. Did that a few times & kept straightening the shaft out enough for low speed PHD work. A few other impliments caught the plastic PTO shaft cover on the QH, but not that bad.

 

[RoyJackson]

Roy,

When you used the Agri Supply QH with the Caroni flail, did you use the top hitch adapter bracket, or need to modify the top hitch hook to make it work?
Also, if you used the adapter, were you able to use the slotted top hole in the flail, or did the slotted hole give it too much play when the adapter is used? or does the adapter in the non-slotted top hole allow it to "roll" with the terrain?

Thanks.

I use the adapter bracket and slot since I did not want to use the float built into the 3PH lift arms.

There is a way to adjust the travel of the rockshaft (other then use the lever stop)...can't recall the details since I've never done it and don't recall where I read it. Using the stop works fine (did it last mowing season).
Using the top hook on the Agri-Supply QH instead of the adapter bracket would make things worse.
Nothing drastic...the leading end of the skid shoes just ride an inch or so off the ground...but just thought I'd give folks a heads up.

As far as lifting the mower for transport...I rarely lift any implement I've had to full up travel. No need to and raising it to full lift height raises the center of gravity (not desirable with any tractor). Not that I've never done this.. Now, the only time I do it is after cutting down a PTO drive shaft to ensure I have adequate overlap at full extension

 

[TractorGuy]

The Harbor Freight quick-hitch is on clearance right now for $99. Is this the right one?

3-Point Quick Hitch for Tractors - 27-3/16" Clearance

The Northern Tool
https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200660668_200660668

Agri-Supply
Quick Hitch-3-Point Quick Hitch


All three seem very similar in price/function. Any important differences you see?

The Agri Supply QH comes with the top hook that sticks out a little further. They also carry a mower adapter for $12.99.

Not sure if this is the shaft extender I bought but it says it extends the shaft 4-3/8" which is just right for adding a quick hitch. They don't show a picture of it. The one I bought is quick release like an air coupler that you pull back on a collar, push the splines on, and let the collar go to secure it on the PTO spline of the tractor.

I bought my finish mower after the fact and do not use the extender with it but my brush cutter already had the shaft cut a little short. I can also use the AS adapter on my finish mower top connection while on my brush cutter I use a short piece of chain and just stick one pin through one of the hook bolt holes.

 

[RoyJackson]

The Agri Supply QH comes with the top hook that sticks out a little further. They also carry a mower adapter for $12.99.

Not sure if this is the shaft extender I bought but it says it extends the shaft 4-3/8" which is just right for adding a quick hitch. They don't show a picture of it. The one I bought is quick release like an air coupler that you pull back on a collar, push the splines on, and let the collar go to secure it on the PTO spline of the tractor. I bought my finish mower after the fact and do not use the extender with it but my brush cutter already had the shaft cut a little short.

I can also use the AS adapter on my finish mower top connection while on my brush cutter I use a short piece of chain and just stick one pin through one of the hook bolt holes.

I have one of the Agri-Supply extenders (they refer to it as an "adapter"). I used mine for one implement...a Woods 5000 Chipper/Shredder. I'm OK with using an extender for stationary use (chipper, log splitter, generator) and limited hours. I'd be leery about using one for a mower or cutter. To me, this would put more stress on the tractor's stub shaft an bearings. Although I still have the extender, I no longer use it since selling the chipper.

 

[McCulley Heights]

I use the adapter bracket and slot since I did not want to use the float built into the 3PH lift arms.

There is a way to adjust the travel of the rockshaft (other then use the lever stop)...can't recall the details since I've never done it and don't recall where I read it. Using the stop works fine (did it last mowing season).
Using the top hook on the Agri-Supply QH instead of the adapter bracket would make things worse.
Nothing drastic...the leading end of the skid shoes just ride an inch or so off the ground...but just thought I'd give folks a heads up.

As far as lifting the mower for transport...I rarely lift any implement I've had to full up travel. No need to and raising it to full lift height raises the center of gravity (not desirable with any tractor). Not that I've never done this.. Now, the only time I do it is after cutting down a PTO drive shaft to ensure I have adequate overlap at full extension

Thanks for the info Roy!

 

[Manshoon]

I bought a Harbor Freight quick hitch for my first tractor and never used the Top Hook that came with the hitch for any of the 3 point implements I had. which were 60" Tiller, 60" Field Mower, 60" Back blade. I used the Adapter that sells only through the Harbor Freight Website customer service "part" # 29309 " 3 point quick hitch adapter " cost: $15.99.

I modified the Linch pins a little with adapters to enlarge the spacing between the implements and the QH, but never had a problem hooking up or releasing anything with the adapter for the Harbor Freight QH. Everything I sold off with my first tractor unfortunately is needed again. So I ordered another QH and adapter from Harbor freight this morning for the new package I am getting. After tax, shipping both pieces delivered $127. with a 20% off coupon code off the web, brought the QH from $99. to $79.00

Looking at the 4th picture of the AGI Supply QH you can see that the Box Blade implement is way to high with out some modifications or adapter. Makes you wonder why they even used the picture ? Quick Hitch-3-Point Quick Hitch