Pat's quick hitch

[fried1765]

Amazon has them 4 $195. shipped with bar included. Think I will order some.

Ricn

Since Amazon is headquartered in WA. won't they also charge you $12.67 tax (6.5%)
Amazon total: $207.67?
I always compare shipping cost to tax, if I have an option to purchase interstate.
E-Bay (often without tax) is frequently a winner for me, if shipping is free there too.

 

[Ricn]

Sometimes that is true, in this case, it's not added to my total charge. Tax here is 9.5% now. Never have figured this out but as we get free shipping on most items, (Prime) it works to our advantage when buying items of high weight even were tax to be added. Tax would be less than shipping in this case. I watch carefully when buying amazon as some items are not free shipping. With very little being made here now, other than Tech stuff. shipping is a big cost for items coming cross country. Ebay is good too but harder to find what I need sometimes.

Ricn

 

[CobyRupert]

I find the stabilizer bar is good for setting your 3PTH arms the correct width only when hooking up, then must be removed to allow the PTO shaft a range of up/down movement.

The Pat's sure does save time, but I was disappointed that they sent their Class 2 Pat's hitch with Class A307A bolts. IMHO, the bolts should be Class 5 minimum. 307A bolts are weaker than even a Class 2 bolt.

The bolts lasted about an hour. Then they bent. Then when I tried to take them out they snapped off (using a ~8" wrench. Not exactly strong! :banghead Now the 10 min job of replacement (WITH THE PROPER BOLTS!) now turned into a 3 hour, many broken drill bits later, job of extracting broken bolts. (Partially my fault, I should have cut off the bent part inside the Pat's hitch and then tried extracting the stub).
But IMHO, who in the h*ll sends out a part that going to be used on a Class 2 hitch (maybe seeing 100+hp) and lifting maybe 3000 lbs, that relies on bolts that I (<200 lbs) can snap with a 8" wrench and fail within 1 hour of use? Stupid.

 

[Ricn]

That is rough, hope the cat I hitch has suitable bolts? Maybe I should change them out first, huh?

Ricn

 

[CobyRupert]

I'd definitely change them. Here's what left of them after about an hour of use with a 1000lb rotary mower


You can see one bolt I snapped off and was trying to drill a hole in it to try an extractor:


I've removed the Pat's hitch for now, but bought Class 5 bolts (couldn't find a Class 8 with full threads) and will use 6 bolts on each hitch instead of 4. Maybe that will work? :confused3:

 

[Ricn]

Should be grade 8 perhaps? Will change mine out before installing them.

Ricn

 

[Ricn]

Have not read of this issue on Pat's QH before, wonder if it's common or, were the wrong bolts put in from the start? Seems the maker would be aware of weak or low grade bolts and knowing the stress levels required.

Ricn

 

[CobyRupert]

The 307A bolts came with the Pat's quick hitch.
What I don't know is did the manufacturer included the bolts, or did the distributor throw in whatever they had and was the cheapest?

 

[Ricn]

The right thing then is for me to check mine, see what strength they are, replace them if needed. Thanks for the heads up on this, I would not have checked them for sure rather thinking them to be suitable for the task.

Ricn

 

[wagne223]

Tapatalk fail, sorry

 

[Ricn]

Tapatalk? what does this mean?

ricn

 

[wagne223]

Tapatalk? what does this mean?

ricn

It is a phone app for forums. I did not mean to hit reply but I did and the app would not let me delete.

 

[newbury]

The 307A bolts came with the Pat's quick hitch.
What I don't know is did the manufacturer included the bolts, or did the distributor throw in whatever they had and was the cheapest?

Have you contacted Pat's?
I lost a few of their shims when I moved, called them up and they shipped a new set out free the next day. EXCELLENT service.

 

[Ricn]

Can someone please explain the bent shims; knowing nothing about this QH and it's parts, what are they used for and do I need them?

ricn

 

[fried1765]

Can someone please explain the bent shims; knowing nothing about this QH and it's parts, what are they used for and do I need them?

ricn

"Bent shims"?
The washers are bent,..... but not the shims!
The bolts supplied are grade 2, and this is a known Pat's problem.
The bolts should be replaced with grade 5. Grade 8 is not necessary.

 

[Ricn]

Ok, so why the bent washers then? Belled washers I know on but not these type.

Ricn

 

[fried1765]

Ok, so why the bent washers then? Belled washers I know on but not these type.

Ricn

The bent washers are to be used on each implement lift pin.
They are intended to prevent the Pat's hitch links from slipping off the ends of implement pins.
You need to look for a picture of the Pat's hitch in use.

 

[wagne223]

Ok, so why the bent washers then? Belled washers I know on but not these type.

Ricn

Sir, when I was curious about the pats system, I went to you tube.
There are dozens of videos on it that take you step by step through installation and use.
You will have a much better idea how it works after seeing it in action.

I have the pats system, and love it.

I also have a hydraulic top link which makes the whole connection process very easy.

 

[CobyRupert]

The bent washers are to be used on each implement lift pin.
They are intended to prevent the Pat's hitch links from slipping off the ends of implement pins.
You need to look for a picture of the Pat's hitch in use.

Yes, they are to intended (key word) to prevent the Pat's links from slipping over the locking pins.
But just a regular flat washer could also do that. My understanding is the locking pin is installed "through the bent portion", thus the washer can't slide on the implement pin and remains in place next to the lock pin & on the correct side of the Pat's hitch when you're hitching up and things are banging/bouncing around.

The problem with these belled washers is that with the forces and weights involved with tractors, and maybe I'm tough on equipment, that eventually the stars will align and the tractor lift arms/Pat's Hitch will (somehow) push / twist/ rotate the bottom of the washer past the locking pin, opening the lock pin and sending it and the washer flying. Then your implement falls off one side of the 3 point hitch. Not good.
I had it happen twice. Once with a 1000 lb mower while on the side of a hill. Not fun trying to hook it back up.
I've used fool-proof regular flat washers since.

 

[Ricn]

COBY - Sounds like flat washers are better and, I need to watch a few U-Tube videos as WAGNE suggests. My tractor has Top and Tilt cylinders so once learning how Pat's works I should be fine, I hope.

Ricn