New wood chipper, will not fit my CAT1quick hitch...what are my options?

[mangler]

Just got a new chipper, looked like it was CAT1 quick hitch compatible , even had CAT2 pins and top pin on. It basically does not fit. CAT 1 quick hitch is too narrow (I have 27 1/8" between the hooks, which would fit with 1/16" to spare, but with the latch structure behind the hooks is just too tight). I even shaved down the bolt heads for the bolts that hold the spring latches, but that was not enough.

Does anyone make a CAT 1 hitch that is roomier on the inside dimension? I suspect an extra 1/2" is all I would need (27 5/8" inside dimension), but it would have to be all the way back as the pins are quite far on the chippert. Other option is Pat's easy change, which in retrospect would have been the best buy.

How hard would it be to put a CAT 2 quick hitch on my CK2610? Would I need new ball ends and a new top link? Maybe that chipper is CAT2 quick hitch compatible, it is a heavy *******...

 

[rademamj1]

Kioti sells their Quick Hitch, which is CAT2 and accepts both Cat2 and Cat1 implements. But I would simply recommend, take a photo of your Cat2 pins, go to tractor supply and purchase the equivalent Cat1 pins for about $3.50 each. Get a good sized adjustable wrench and swap the pins to Cat1. You should be good after the swap.

I have used both the Quick Hitch, Pat's and of course direct connect with 3pt arms. I prefer Pat's for simplicity followed by just using the 3pt arms alone.

 

[RalphVa]

Guiess you didn't get a WM one? The WC46 fit fine, except the top pin is 13 or 15 inches up from bottom pins vs. standard of about 17 or 18 inches. The 15 inches works on the bottom 2 holes of the HF QH. I've now a pair of Cat 1-2 + Cat 2-3 bushings on the Cat. 1 pins of the WC46.

 

[mangler]

Kioti sells their Quick Hitch, which is CAT2 and accepts both Cat2 and Cat1 implements. But I would simply recommend, take a photo of your Cat2 pins, go to tractor supply and purchase the equivalent Cat1 pins for about $3.50 each. Get a good sized adjustable wrench and swap the pins to Cat1. You should be good after the swap.

Interesting about the Kioti hitch, wonder if it is wide enough...Likely overpriced, but if it accepts both CAT1 and CAT2 it may be worth it.

Afraid just swapping out pins will not work, at least not with the quick hitch. Do CAT 2 pins have the same hole size/bolt size as CAT1 pins? If so, then a quick swap would probably work, if I removed the quick hitch.

Guiess you didn't get a WM one? The WC46 fit fine, except the top pin is 13 or 15 inches up from bottom pins vs. standard of about 17 or 18 inches. The 15 inches works on the bottom 2 holes of the HF QH. I've now a pair of Cat 1-2 + Cat 2-3 bushings on the Cat. 1 pins of the WC46.

Guiess you didn't get a WM one? The WC46 fit fine, except the top pin is 13 or 15 inches up from bottom pins vs. standard of about 17 or 18 inches. The 15 inches works on the bottom 2 holes of the HF QH. I've now a pair of Cat 1-2 + Cat 2-3 bushings on the Cat. 1 pins of the WC46.

Correct, mine is an overseas model, my best description would be TM-86H adjacent...Except it is heavier, and has a 8" intake. I just wish the buggers would have made the frame 1/2" narrower, i guess i am a "beta tester". My best bet now would be to find a cat1 quick hitch that is on the high size of the tolerance (mine is 27/18" between hooks), but that information is hard to find. I only need another 1/4", maybe even 1/8" would work. I think a CAT 2 will be too wide, but I will have a measure today, and see if the CAT2 quick hitch
hooks would even grab the pins.

 

[WranglerX]

Obviously manufacturer did not get memo about standardized CAT1 QH.... IF you have other implements that fit your QH, just mod the offending unit to make it work and move on.... Standard minimum for CAT 1 is 26.8 inched between hooks...

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/asaequickhitchimplementdim-jpg.681769/

Dale

 

[oosik]

This thread and a few similar ones are why I've stayed away from any type of "quicky hitch". I find hooking directly to the link bars/top link is plenty fast enough.

 

[mangler]

Obviously manufacturer did not get memo about standardized CAT1 QH.... IF you have other implements that fit your QH, just mod the offending unit to make it work and move on.... Standard minimum for CAT 1 is 26.8 inched between hooks...

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/asaequickhitchimplementdim-jpg.681769/

Dale

Technically the frame of the chipper is 27", and the quick hitch has 27 1/8" between the hooks. If it wasn't for the added width the spring pin structure is adding, it would just barely slide on, with 1/8" to spare. I agree though, the manufacturer of the implement did screw up. Even if i can get the quick hitch to slide on, the structure is so wide I would basically be grabbing the pin shoulders. They need to make that thing at least 1" narrower for it to fit properly.

Right now it is so close I am thinking a bit of time with a 30ton bottle jack may be all that is required to "widen" the CAT1 quick hitch. I'll keep it polite and avoid cracking welds .

PS I checked, and the chipper is too narrow for CAT 2. I would barely be grabbing the tip of the pins...

 

[California]

Right now it is so close I am thinking a bit of time with a 30ton bottle jack may be all that is required to "widen" the CAT1 quick hitch. I'll keep it polite and avoid cracking welds .

Previous Qhitch discussions have mentioned its easy to widen one using a Hi-Lift jack.

I just looked and HF no longer shows their clone that they called 'Farm Jack'. Maybe too many injuries.
...

Added - I wonder if the hydraulic cylinder from my HF 'Shop Crane' could be removed, special brackets made, and then used to widen a Qhitch.

Or possibly the Shop Crane would have enough force to do the job unmodified. It has a ton lift out at the end of the arm so the force close in next to the cylinder would be a lot more.

 

[RalphVa]

Can you put it on without the QH? The new owner of our MacKissic TPH-122, a Cat. 0 implement, has a JD 3 series. He put it on without his QH.

You can put the QHs on or off more easily if you raise the 3ph as high as it will go before removing or putting back on. With the 3ph up, the bottom of the QH will kinda sit on the ends of the lower arms. Saw this on a Youtube.

Ralph

 

[California]

Can you put it on without the QH? The new owner of our MacKissic TPH-122, a Cat. 0 implement, has a JD 3 series. He put it on without his QH.

You can put the QHs on or off more easily if you raise the 3ph as high as it will go before removing or putting back on. With the 3ph up, the bottom of the QH will kinda sit on the ends of the lower arms. Saw this on a Youtube.

Ralph

So you're lifting the implement using the QH's top hook with the QH's legs dangling before you engage them to the implement? I'm having trouble visualizing how this works.

 

[rademamj1]

So you're lifting the implement using the QH's top hook with the QH's legs dangling before you engage them to the implement? I'm having trouble visualizing how this works.

Yep...it can happen. The normal top link pin is set too high in the implement, and so the top hook of the QH lifts the implement, and the lower portion of the QH not fully engaged. When this happens, you simply need to lower the top link pin to next setting. This allows all 3-points of the QH to engage simultaneously.

 

[California]

You can put the QHs on or off more easily if you raise the 3ph as high as it will go before removing or putting back on. With the 3ph up, the bottom of the QH will kinda sit on the ends of the lower arms.

Are you sure? The QH is too heavy to lift it that high and balance it with one hand while trying to pin the tractor's lower links into the QH. And if the other side slips off the end of the arm its resting on, you are risking mashed fingers.

I mount the QH working at ground level. Engage the top link first then lift each leg of the QH a couple of inches to pin it on.

 

[mangler]

Previous Qhitch discussions have mentioned its easy to widen one using a Hi-Lift jack.

I just looked and HF no longer shows their clone that they called 'Farm Jack'. Maybe too many injuries.
...

Added - I wonder if the hydraulic cylinder from my HF 'Shop Crane' could be removed, special brackets made, and then used to widen a Qhitch.

Or possibly the Shop Crane would have enough force to do the job unmodified. It has a ton lift out at the end of the arm so the force close in next to the cylinder would be a lot more.

Indeed, I used my 30 ton bottle jack, with lots of wood

Bottom line, I now have 27.5" between hooks (gained 3/8" after spring back), and it fits on the chipper. I still needed to shave the bolt heads on both latch pivot bolts, those fit with like 1/16" to spare, even after the widening...27.5" should work with everything else, as it is within spec, but I will double check tomorrow with my other implements.

Problem solved, for now. Next step is finding out if I have to cut the pto shaft.

 

[RalphVa]

So you're lifting the implement using the QH's top hook with the QH's legs dangling before you engage them to the implement? I'm having trouble visualizing how this works.

Google the video. You put the QH onto the raised bottom arms first and then attach the top link and then the bottom arms.

 

[JohnnyMX]

A picture of this issue would have been good. I have had a few quick hitch battles myself. Some of them were something easy that just took me a minute to see and others involved cuttin'-n-'cursin'

 

[WranglerX]

I don't understand the concept of modifying QH (stretching it wider) when it works with all other implements when there is only one implement that needs to be fixed.... Stretching it may jeopardize structural integrity and also causing misalignment of implements that already work with it...

Dale

 

[JohnnyMX]

I don't think most people modify their actual quick hitch. They sell quick hitches for CAT1, CAT2, etc which would be at the correct size for those implements. I would think it is the other way around where you try to adjust the implement by getting shorter/longer pins, reversing them(in vs. out), using washers as spacers to shim more gap, or by using the adapters for top link mount points. Not sure why any company would make anything CAT1 where the pins don't line up between 26-28" and following the standard.

 

[California]

Google the video.

What video? Do you have a link?

 

[Michael In Tennessee]

Are you sure? The QH is too heavy to lift it that high and balance it with one hand while trying to pin the tractor's lower links into the QH. And if the other side slips off the end of the arm its resting on, you are risking mashed fingers.

I mount the QH working at ground level. Engage the top link first then lift each leg of the QH a couple of inches to pin it on.

It's not difficult. I lift my arms about halfway. I have all my pins handy and then put the QH on the arms. I use my top link pin as a temporary arm pin. Its undersized to the hole and slips right in. This gives you the stability to focus on aligning the second arm. Then I properly pin the second side and go back and fix the first side. After that attach the top link.

 

[WranglerX]

I don't think most people modify their actual quick hitch. They sell quick hitches for CAT1, CAT2, etc which would be at the correct size for those implements. I would think it is the other way around where you try to adjust the implement by getting shorter/longer pins, reversing them(in vs. out), using washers as spacers to shim more gap, or by using the adapters for top link mount points. Not sure why any company would make anything CAT1 where the pins don't line up between 26-28" and following the standard.

Implements are probably "approximately " CAT X size (using old skool measurements) not the most recent defined standard...,
Ands I agree not do not damage or change hitch but to FIX offending implement to within latest "standard"...