New version of Pat's Easy Change

[milkman]

Re: New version of Pat\'s Easy Change

That's the wrong pic. I don't have the quick hitch pics with me.

 

[Henro]

Re: New version of Pat\'s Easy Change

Milkman,

I did not mean to give the impression that I had Pat's system yet...don't...but I may buy one.

Options I considered were changing the extendable lower link arms to the ones I have on my B2910...but that turned out to be an expensive proposition. Before it was over it would probably have cost $500... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Even the B7500 lower link arms would cost about $260 for a pair...

The BX lower link arms are something like $60 each [IF I remember right] and I considered buying a pair, and cutting them and welding in an extension piece...

Pats system looks like it would give me about 2.25" extra lift. I tried to measure this by clamping a small piece of wood on the arm [3ph all the way up], and putting a level at the center of the ball socket on the arm, and measuring down from a mark on the wood at the 4" point...Trying to account for where the new ball would be...

I don't know how a 2" height increase at that point would relate to the PHD gearbox height increase, but it might be enough... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Guess at this point it will be spring before I do anything. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Re: New version of Pat\'s Easy Change

There has been a lot of posts about how the Pat's Easy Change system could prevent implement pins from connecting up square to the Hooks on Pat's system. The Easy Change allows for adjustments to make sure the pins have good square contact to the hooks and do not rub on a tangent, creating undue and uneven wear.

Here is a picture taken directly over the top of one of my lower link arms showing that the hook on the Easy Change is square to the pin on my Befco Finish Mower.

Hopefully the picture should clear up some confusion.

 

[markct]

Re: New version of Pat\'s Easy Change

bob i think you are the one confused here, i understand that you can adjust them to square with the pin, but when ya change to an implement with a different width, then they wont be square, unless ya readjust them. also a 3pt linkage has some side to side play in it so they wont always be square to the pin, bottom line is that when they invented the 3pt hitch in the 1930s they put the swivel eyes in for a reason, and they have been on every 3pt hitch since then, i dont see why pat thinks he can improve on that.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Re: New version of Pat\'s Easy Change

You are correct about the fact that they may have to be readjusted from implement to implement to make the perfectly square to the pins, however the practical difference of the angle differential is virtually nil between one implement that is 26" wide and another that is 28" wide from pin to pin.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Re: New version of Pat\'s Easy Change

markct. . . one more thing, I set the Pat's Easy Change so it is square to the pins on my Befco Finish Mower because that is the implement I use the most. In the 3 seasons, when I use the most, the mower deck is used 75-to-85% of the time and if the pins were not square to the hooks, it is possible that I'd get some premature wear that would be noticable in just one season.

However, I use a PHD and various blades/box blades as well, but typically for a few minutes to a few hours at a time, and they are only slighly narrower at the implement's A frame than the Befco deck. Consequently, I don't thing being "off" just a few degrees on such lightly used implements will wear out their pins in any noticable manner. I might be wrong! But so far I don't see any wear on the blade's pins that I use, and it is the 2nd most used implement I own. Granted, it has only been used for about 1.5 hours since I've gotten the Easy Change installed. And if I had to guess, I would say the Easy Change hooks are only about 2-or-3-degrees off square when using the blade. And it is hard to judge that because one side is perfectly square the other side might be off a bit and visa-versa as the hooks allow for some "slop" in movement anyway, probably to compensate for the fact that there are no ball eyes.

Again, I never said the Easy Change is perfect. But for me, with frequent implement changes, it is the perfect COMPRAMISE. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Pat\'s Easy Change & PHD

I've been using a PHD with my TC24D for the past 2 weekends and the PHD has been on and off the tractor 4 or 5 times. It is stored by simply laying it on the ground with an auger bit attached.

Using the Pat's Easy Change to attach the PHD is now just a couple minute process with no help from anyone. The lower arms connect up in seconds, the hardest part is lifting the PHD and attaching the top point to the tractor, something that everyone probably knows is a ballet of balance combined with force and precise timing. Before getting the Pat's Easy Change I would have installed the PHD and left it on the tractor without even thinking of taking it off until the entire project was done, even if it took a week to two to complete. With the Pat's Easy Change, I am switching implements in record time with no hassles, no bloody knuckles, no rubber mallet, and best of all, no swearing. To say I love this thing is an understatement.

But all that said, the instructions that come with the system are totally incomplete, leaving much to the imagination and experimentation. Also, Pat's now sells a spreader bar for an additional $20, which I bought, but have not even taken out of the box because I find it unnecessary.

If you want a Quick Hitch, but use a PHD you should seriously consider Pat's system.

Also, if you have implements that won't work with a Quick Hitch system, then Pat's is also made for you.

To say I am an enthusiastic fan of the Pat's Easy Change is an understatement, and I like it more each time I have to change implements (which is fairly often).

 

[Wildman1]

Re: Pat\'s Easy Change & PHD

In any event, thanks for the heads up on the easy change...I immediately ordered one when I saw the thing. I think it'd take a h*** of a long time and use to wear the implement pins out. If that happens then I'll cut the old pins off and weld new ones on and keep truckin'.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Re: Pat\'s Easy Change & PHD

FYI, at this point, I don't see any wear on the pins.

I've been using the PHD pretty extensively over the past 10 days with a 9" and a 12" auger bit. The unit has been on and off the tractor many times so I had the chance to view the pins up close and personal. I see no wear.

Also don't see any wear on the Befco mower deck, which has been used for about 8 or 9 hours since I put the Pat's Easy Change and the deck has the widest A-frame of all my implements.

I used a regular back blade, but probably for less than an hour so I would no expect to see any problems with wear on that. I have not tried a box blade or other implements.

 

[KiotiJohn]

Re: New version of Pat\'s Easy Change

Well, this is an old thread, but I just bought Pat's system. It's not bad, a little easier to hook up, however, without the spacing bar in, I still have to arrange the lower arms to come into the right spot, not a big deal. With the spacing bar in, when I hook up to my brush mower, I've either had to take it off or be extemely lucky to get the bar over the shaft. Well, today, somehow, the think spacer bar got bent pretty badly so I'm just going to leave it off. Would I spend this money again? No. If I would, I would not buy the spacer bar as it is just too weak. It should also be shaped in an arch so that PTO shafts don't come into play. Also, as many have mentioned, the implements don't have the same play pattern of the rolling ball socket, but it hasn't seemed to be a problem. My brother thinks I was crazy to spend just under $200 for something I could have done myself, but I've had times when I just had to fight too much to get the arms on, so I'll keep using the system until I decide it's not worth it. Hope it doesn't come to that. John