old style drag hitch

Soundguy · Aug 30, 2006

I saw a pic the other day of an old hitch that is used on old ford N and fergies. it actually connects under the axles to the brackets that the stabilizer bars attach to.

Then the toplink is attached to it. The old 9n and 2n did not have a swinging drawbar, as the differential base was not tapped for it, like the 8n and + were. Thus, if you wanted to pull a utility trailer you had to pull it on a 3pt drawbar.. which can be dangerous unless done right.

I thought it looked neat, and needed an excuse to burn some more rods on my new hobart sticjmate welder.. so here is the repop hitch I made. I included the original that I copied it from.

I still need to wire wheel it, then prime, then paint.

Soundguy

R W · Jan 30, 2007

Looks like a neat job, should be safer than a 3PL type drawbar.

3RRL · Jan 31, 2007

Pretty cool Chris.
Under the axle you say? That sounds like the best place to tow from. So this is now a dedicated tow hitch, right?
Show us the finished pics after painting, please.

Soundguy · Feb 1, 2007

Yes, it is a dedicated tow hitch now.

Pics of it painted, and with trailer.

Soundguy

3RRL said:
Pretty cool Chris.
Under the axle you say? That sounds like the best place to tow from. So this is now a dedicated tow hitch, right?
Show us the finished pics after painting, please.

flusher · Feb 1, 2007

Soundguy said:
Yes, it is a dedicated tow hitch now.

Pics of it painted, and with trailer.

Soundguy

Nice looking job.
As you say, this hitch is a lot safer than the 3pt hitch bar on the lower lift arms.
Too bad the attach points for your custom tow hitch couldn't be a bit ahead of the rear axle like the swinging drawbar on my MF-135.

Birdhunter1 · Feb 1, 2007

When pulling I can see where alot of the weight being drug will be under the axles, but won't the majority of the tongue weight be hung from where the top link join the tractor at a point well above and far behind the axles thus pulling up on the front end of the tractor?

I do realize that back in the day when these machines were the farm tracors of choice you were probably going to hitch up to a 7' drag disc or a couple of harrow sections and not have alot of tongue weight.

Soundguy · Feb 3, 2007

I don't see it as being any more weight than any other 3pt 'reciever' type hitch. For straight dragging.. like an implement with it's own wheels.. you could eliminate the toplink.

In it's config.. if excess tounge weight did lift the front wheels.. based on geometry o fthe hitch..that is, it's length rear o fthe tractor, and set attach height unde the axles.. then the front can only come up a few inches before the hitch is planted into the ground making a furrow. Seems pretty safe to me... safer than the 3pt drawbar, which can be snatched up, unless you use stays...

Soundguy

EddieWalker · Feb 3, 2007

Soudguy,

Looks like another great idea!!

You've also inspired me to want an old tractor. I've always wanted one, but never really knew what I'd do with it. Just something to have. But now that I see yours with a trailer, I see something I gotta have!!!!

A tractor with a dedicated trailer would be very useful!!!!

Thanks,
Eddie

BTDT · Feb 3, 2007

EddieWalker said:
Soudguy,

Looks like another great idea!!

You've also inspired me to want an old tractor. I've always wanted one, but never really knew what I'd do with it. Just something to have. But now that I see yours with a trailer, I see something I gotta have!!!!

A tractor with a dedicated trailer would be very useful!!!!

Thanks,
Eddie

Hey, Eddie, an old tractor and an old hay wagon would be good for your RV park for hayrides.

willfick · Feb 4, 2007

EddieWalker said:
Soudguy,

Looks like another great idea!!

You've also inspired me to want an old tractor. I've always wanted one, but never really knew what I'd do with it. Just something to have. But now that I see yours with a trailer, I see something I gotta have!!!!

A tractor with a dedicated trailer would be very useful!!!!

Thanks,
Eddie

Eddie,
The trailers are just what I got my old tractor for.
For dumping, dogging, or just messin' around. Works (and plays) great.
Wm
http://www.wimmark.com/dumping_manure.jpg
http://www.wimmark.com/DSCF0015.JPG
http://www.wimmark.com/MrHonthe_beach1.jpg

An edit to get it closer back to the original thread (by the way, nice job on that, Soundguy, both the idea and , the part where I usually drop the ball, the work,) I redid the drawbar on the H to make it better for tongue load and backing than the roller on the swinging drawbar would have been.
http://www.wimmark.com/hitch2.jpg
Wm