Pat's system but need different stabilizer.

[Rail Dawg]

Well I put the main pin in backwards on the Pat's system and it's not coming out. The large hole for the optional stabilizer is on the wrong side.

How can I make this stabilizer work or what kind of stabilizer can I use with the Pat's system?

As always... thanks!

 

[gwdixon]

Oh, it will come out with some persuasion. Just need the right tool - an 8-pounder and a can of penetrating oil ought to do. You'll have to undo all of the U-bolts and clamps of course.

A piece of re-bar works great for a spacer - either bend the ends or weld a bit of rebar at 90 degrees on each end. You can make one for each different sized implement and put on a label or tag that says what implement(s) it works with.

A large turnbuckle with a bolt welded to each end works, too - and it is adjustable.

There is always the option of the OEM bar from Pat's.

 

[Rail Dawg]

There is always the option of the OEM bar from Pat's.

My problem is that the large hole in the main pin isn't accessible to put the OEM bar into. Is there another way to attach the OEM stabilizer bar from Pat's to the Easy Change Hitch?

Either you or someone here surely can give me an idea on what to do.

Thanks!

 

[rambler]

Like he said, just convince the pin to come out....... Then put it in the right way.


--->Paul

 

[Rail Dawg]

Like he said, just convince the pin to come out....... Then put it in the right way.


--->Paul

Paul I hear you. That pin is in so tight I would have to remove the whole arm and get it to a vice for some serious work. I don't think it's worth the effort just to have the stabilizer for the Easy Change.

I do appreciate the inputs. Wish I hadn't put the pin in backwards.

 

[kevinj]

Paul I hear you. That pin is in so tight I would have to remove the whole arm and get it to a vice for some serious work. I don't think it's worth the effort just to have the stabilizer for the Easy Change.

I do appreciate the inputs. Wish I hadn't put the pin in backwards.

Back the arm with a 10# and hit the pin with at least a 6#.

Unless you really forced it in it should come pretty easy.

 

[gwdixon]

People take the Pat's off quite often. It can be done.

However, if you really don't want to mess with it then the rebar idea may work. Leave about 4" on the rebar legs when it is bent or welded. That should allow it to go over the top of the Pat's and attach to the hole on the outside and also in the hole on the inside of the correctly installed one.

You may even be able to fab up a piece of small water pipe to make it adjustable. Cut and discard about a 6" piece out of the middle of the rebar and slide the 2 pieces into an 18" piece of pipe that the rebar just fits into. Weld one end of the rebar to the pipe and leave the other sliding.

Then drill a 1/4" hole in the pipe and thread it or weld a nut over it. Find a bolt that will fit and weld a 3" piece of rebar to the top of it to make a "T". Now you have a fully adjustable Pat's spacer with one side of the Pat's backwards.

Doesn't correctly installing the Pat's by reversing the pin sound better now.

 

[greg_g]

Yup, you apparently installed it through a dirty/rusty swivel ball. A 3# sledge and a short piece of 3/4" steel pipe should drive that right back through. Then before re-installing it from the correct side, take a few minutes to clean and lube the inside of the swivel ball

//greg//

 

[KU Gator]

I am not sure I am following what you are referring to as a stabilizer, but if you are talking about the adjustable spreader bar from Pat's, I found it to be a pain to use. It kept wanting to slip. I ended up cutting a piece of I think 3/4" PVC to the length I needed to hold the lower arms apart to the width needed. I cut a notch in one end of the PVC. Then I could put it on the pin on one side and the notch allowed it to slip over the pin on the other side.

It was a pretty simple solution and cheap. I made a few so if I lost one I had another one handy.

I have since replaced the adjustable turnbuckle stabilizers with telescopic stabilizers which has eliminated the problem all togeather.

 

[SuperCobra]

People take the Pat's off quite often. It can be done....

A word of caution for those who don't take them off very often: watch out when loosening the side bolts (the four on each one that stabilize it). I snapped three of the eight off and then I snapped off an easy-out in the remainder of one. My fault as they had been on for a fews years and rusted and dirty. Wish now I would've sprayed them with WD-40 after I snapped the first one off but the other two had backed out some so I thought they were coming loose when they snapped off. If I get the stubs out and use it again I'll probably replace the original bolts (grade 2?) with stonger ones and back them in and out every now and then. I realize these bolts are just to stablize the PECs and they don't need to be snugged down so you shouldn't need grade 5 or 8 bolts but mine sure twisted off easily on the way out.

Other than that, I've been very happy with them and the only reason I took them off is that I got a new implemented and the PTO shaft was just a couple inches too short and I didn't want to buy a new shaft.