3-Point Hitch Pat's quick hitch

RJD2516 · Apr 24, 2012

I want to order Pat's quick hitch for a L3800. But I never seem to be able to call them. Anyone know which one fits my tractor? Should I get that bar that keeps that arms set to a specific spacing? anyone have one of those. Thanks in advance.

gwdixon · Apr 24, 2012

They have always answered phone calls immediately and informatively. The are on the East coast and have normal working hours - no weekends.

The clamp-on style fits all Cat 1 (or the Cat 2 model) tractors.

You can make your own spacer or buy one from them. It works and is quite necessary if you have turnbuckles.

thavil · Apr 24, 2012

I just bought my Pat's Quick Hitch from Agri Supply Agri Supply - Search. It was cheaper here than from Pat's directly plus the stabilizer bar was included. For my type of 3ph, the stabilizer bar is a must.

Sumner · Apr 25, 2012

I actually just put one on my L3800 a couple days ago. I just got the standard cat 1 for my tractor, took about 15mins to put it on. The should call this the "slick hitch" because **** it's sure a slick setup. What a great item. I didn't get the stabilizer bar for mine, but I think I will just make a stabilizer for each attachment out of 1/4" round bar, as most of mine are different widths.

Combustix · Apr 25, 2012

I love mine they make dropping out and hooking up a breeze. don't have the stabilizer's as a few of my implements are different width hook ups, just change the pins in the arms.

JOHNTHOMAS · Apr 25, 2012

gwdixon said:
They have always answered phone calls immediately and informatively. The are on the East coast and have normal working hours - no weekends.

The clamp-on style fits all Cat 1 (or the Cat 2 model) tractors.

You can make your own spacer or buy one from them. It works and is quite necessary if you have turnbuckles.

Pretty sure they are in Ky unless they have moved.

billtff · Dec 20, 2013

I'm in New England; waited for a mild day to attach my 'quick hitch'; took about 35 minutes ! All instructions were written by a true mechanic, and made the step-by-step job work just perfectly. I am very happy that an American mechanic produced this product. It goes on quickly, and it works great. I have 3 attachments, and I will make spreader bars for each one (of course, all different widths!).
Thanks Pat for a great tool!
from Bill

JC-jetro · Dec 20, 2013

billtff said:
I'm in New England; waited for a mild day to attach my 'quick hitch'; took about 35 minutes ! All instructions were written by a true mechanic, and made the step-by-step job work just perfectly. I am very happy that an American mechanic produced this product. It goes on quickly, and it works great. I have 3 attachments, and I will make spreader bars for each one (of course, all different widths!).
Thanks Pat for a great tool!
from Bill

I installed mine a few days ago, have not used it yet but like it's design and construction. it is pretty well build. below is how I made a fully adjustable spreader bar just from scrap pieces of stuff.

JC,

rayclar · Dec 21, 2013

I installed my pats easy hitch yesterday. Great product and hooking up the box blade was never easier.

Sammy3700 · Dec 22, 2013

Do the cat. 1 pins fit in the quick hitch tight? The ones I looked at several years back were almost cat. 2 size. Thanks

BeezFun · Dec 23, 2013

I would call it Pat's "easier" change system rather than "easy" change system. If I only had one implement it would work great, but a half dozen different implements means the 3pt arm spacing has to be changed nearly every time I pick up a different implement. That's not so big a deal, but the other issue I encountered was a wide spacing of the arms caused the slot in the hitch to not be parallel to the shaft of the implement. That meant when I try to pick up a wide implement it wouldn't drop into the hitch slot unless I loosened the hitch and wiggled it around. I ended up allowing pat's hitch to float free on the end of my 3pt arm, rather than attaching it rigidly with those set screws. This gave me back the flexibility to pick up implements of varying width, but the down side is it also allows the hitch to flop around a bit, so I have to jump off the tractor and get it lined up properly. Overall I'm still glad I have it, but it's not quite the silver bullet I had hoped for.
My neighbor has a system that requires an adapter on each implement, and then the "quick hitch" system always connects to the adapter which really makes things easy, but also really makes things expensive because he needs an adapter for each implement. It came with his funny green colored tractor, so maybe it's a John Deere product.

ovrszd · Dec 23, 2013

Sammy3700 said:
Do the cat. 1 pins fit in the quick hitch tight? The ones I looked at several years back were almost cat. 2 size. Thanks

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong here. I think the Pat's is built to use bushings. Just like a Quick Hitch is designed to use bushings. So with a CAT I Pat's you are supposed to put CAT II bushings on the attachment pins. The Pat's then fits those bushings snug. The idea is to create a wear point other than the Pat's hooks. If you don't use bushings, everytime you lift and lower your attachment the pins are turning in the Pat's. Eventually you'll either grind off the pins or grind off the Pat's. Neither is desirable!!!

My CAT II Quick Hitch hooks are CAT III size for example.

Sammy3700 · Dec 24, 2013

That could easily be their intent. If I can get my daughter to help me I would like to show you'll what I made. (pictures) They do fit cat. 1

gthunt · Dec 30, 2013

Don't buy them. They put your attachment out too far from the tractor. Causes too much stress on the top link which will eventually bend.

DennisArrow · Dec 30, 2013

gthunt said:
Don't buy them. They put your attachment out too far from the tractor. Causes too much stress on the top link which will eventually bend.

I wonder where I can trade in my top links that are bent already.........LONG before I got the Pat's.......Actually for the Pat's I did the right thing and got a longer top link so that I don't screw out my already bent top links to the last couple of threads........Funny how using the right equipment the right way prevents damage..........God bless.........Dennis

ovrszd · Dec 31, 2013

The only way Pat's adds any stress to the toplink is if you have a situation like Dennis described, where the toplink is only holding by a couple threads. Then what might happen is pulling the threads and coming apart.

Pat's puts no stress on the toplink in regards to bending it. That's compression, not pull. The forces applied to your toplink in regards to compression are no different with our without Pat's.

Pat's adds stress to the 3pt lift system because it moves the weight farther from the tractor. It will lessen the tractor's lifting capacity so something like a Tote Box heavily loaded might not be able to be lifted by the tractor. But the flip side of that would be, it makes a ballast box more effective because of that weight transfer as well.

Rc4510 · Apr 6, 2014

Where in canada have you guys been able to get pats hitch

LiveRoll · Apr 6, 2014

I have just phoned them, and spoke with a very nice lady, and gave her My visa number and they showed up in the mail a week or so later. I have 3 sets now, and like them very much. How's things in Linden? I was up there for dinner a week ago or so. If you are down My way you are more than welcome to come and take a look at mine if you have any questions.

Cheers

Roger

Rc4510 · Apr 6, 2014

Thanks for reply Rodger,everything good up here and finally getting some spring.did u order the pats up from us and was shipping very much.thanks richard