Pintle Hitch on Tractor

hunterridgefarm · Mar 13, 2009

I plan on renting a chipper in the next few weeks. The one I have been looking to rent takes a 2" hitch ball which I already have on my tractor drawbar...no problem.

A friend of mine who is going to grind about 20 stumps for me in a couple of weeks is buying a used chipper and said I could use/rent it. Problem is it has a Pintle Hitch.

I know without even looking that I cannot remove the drawbar and get the pintel receiver to slide in, my drawbar is around 1.5" thick. I was thinking I could remove the ball and put a clevis around the pintle ring and attach to the drawbar. This would take a good size clevis but I feel sure it would work. But there will be a chance of some movement starting and stopping if the clevis does not fit the drawbar good.

Anyone have any suggestions?

I need to tow the chipper to different sections of my property and will not be able to use my truck, I'll have to tow with the tractor.

Thanks
David

kennyd · Mar 13, 2009

My suggestion would be a 3PH trailer mover, then you can add any receiver you want...

EZMover

TSC

arrow · Mar 13, 2009

David
you may have better luck with a large quick link rather than a clevis. You'll still get movement but you know it cannot hop a connection with a quick link. If you get one just right that is able to wrap around the base or stem of the ball and once hooked to the pintle, its not going anywhere as it may not be wide enough to slip by the ball. Wire it to the ball itself using many wraps or thick wire if it needs to be that large to clear and hook up. I've jury rigged a come along to a pintle once. Held tight for 5 miles.

JohnDeere4300 · Mar 13, 2009

.Tractor Hitch - Flexpoint 3 point hitch - Summit Fabrications, Inc.

Might try this,

Farmwithjunk · Mar 13, 2009

I'd probably just grab a clevis and hook it up that-a-way. Hooks to drawbar and through tow ring on trailer.

(Like this one)

https://www.tractorsupply.com/webap...45|14351|33811?listingPage=true&Special=false

hunterridgefarm · Mar 13, 2009

kennyd,
That would be the best option, I just don't want to put that much money out since I don't think I would use it that much...right now...but do see many uses for it in the future.

Arrow and jd43 also good options. May use.

FWJ thats exactly what I waas thinking of using but was worried about the jerking on start and stop if the clevis did not fit tight on the drawbar.

JohnDeere4300 · Mar 13, 2009

Can you put a hitch on your bucket?

Farmwithjunk · Mar 13, 2009

'Nuther thought..... Make yourself a "hammerstrap" hitch using your existing drawbar.

Here's a larger version.

Heavy-duty drawbar support with regular drawbar and heavy-duty hammerstrap, base equipment

radman1 · Mar 13, 2009

For limited use, the low cost method would be using a clevis. It is a chipper and doesn't get moved that much so I don't think damaging it is a problem.

A hammer strap on the drawbar is a nice idea for frequent use. Could probably make your own for light duty use. Our large ag tractor has one for the heavy equipment. The drawbar is rated for 11,000 lbs of tongue weight and our grain cart full is 35,000-40000 lbs.

kennyd · Mar 13, 2009

hunterridgefarm said:
kennyd,
That would be the best option, I just don't want to put that much money out since I don't think I would use it that much...right now...but do see many uses for it in the future.

Arrow and jd43 also good options. May use.

FWJ thats exactly what I waas thinking of using but was worried about the jerking on start and stop if the clevis did not fit tight on the drawbar.

I was giving you ideas on how they are made with the thought that you could make one...or have a friend help you make one-not to buy one.

JB4310 · Mar 13, 2009

Those 3 point receiver adaptors are great, I have the Flexpoint, but if you don't have time or desire to go that route then a shackle/clevis should hold it securely enough where your not gonna loose the chipper.

Those pear shaped construction shackles have narrow openings, until you get into pretty large ones and then the pin may not fit the hole in your draw bar. You would need one of those U-shaped shackles which have thinner pins and wider throats.

How about lay the pintle eye on the draw bar, place a 2" long piece of 1.5" pipe in the center over the hole in the draw bar (as a spacer), put a flat plate over the top of the eye and drop a 3/4"-1" bolt down through the plate, the spacer pipe and the draw bar, install a nut on the bottom and tighten.

The plate prevents the pintle eye from coming off the top, the spacer prevents the plate from being tightened against the eye to allow free movement, and obviously the bolt prevents the eye from coming off the draw bar. this would not be the fastest but would be very stable.

Don't know if you plan on unhooking the chipper when you get it to where you will use it? not sure if they need to stay attached to tow vehicle for stability when in use.

I do know the large chippers have some serious tongue weight.

JB.

hunterridgefarm · Mar 16, 2009

Some good ideas guys, thanks.

I may try and make the 3 pt receiver. I need to see when he is taking delivery of the chipper. I do have some time constraints. I need to get this done the week after Easter. So if he has not taken delivery by then I will rent the one with the hitch ball.

The reason I need to get it done the week after Easter is my son is off from college that week and I'll have him to help me.

I have pelnty of friends that could help but all of them are kinda lazy

.

JohnDeere4300 · Mar 16, 2009

hunterridgefarm said:
Some good ideas guys, thanks.

I may try and make the 3 pt receiver.

Here is one that someone made.... May help you.http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/build-yourself/137952-3-pt-receiver-hitch-attachment.html

JohnDeere4300 · Mar 16, 2009

Here is another one...(Could make this pretty quick.)

Don't know how much tongue weight on the chipper.http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/build-yourself/138242-my-3-point-trailer-hitch.html

Hope these two links help.

rdbrumfield · Mar 16, 2009

I welded a 2in reciever right to my drawbar with a chainhook on either side. Can't pick it up or let it down, but I like that because if you don't have good tongue weight pulling a hill you risk dumping you load.

don't know how big a tractor you have, but chippers are heavy. I have a 50hp JD 4X4 and I struggled with one behind me in soft ground. If I didn't have a hyd winch in the loader frame I would have had a time of it.

David-Davies · Mar 28, 2009

hunterridgefarm. Take a suitable pice of flat bar, that will go ovet the drawbar. Drill a hole for the 2 inch ball [use a pice of pipe to make it tight.] Weld straps on the sides, front and back, drill holes in the straps for a bolt. The straps and bolts will keep the flat bar from moveing, up and down, left and right. 2 inch ball will pull the load. Mount the pintal hook to the end. I have a 3 inch pintle hook for my little tractor [50 HP] Try to get a pintle hook that swivels,[ spins around,] you won't twist any thing if you go in a hole, or such. You can get one from an old 2 1/2 ton army truck .

jinman · Mar 30, 2009

David, I recently was shopping for trailer balls at TSC and they had 2-5/16" balls with two different heights (neck lengths). Both were rated at 25,000 lb. The long one was similar to a ball I have seen on a commercially available pintle-or-ball hitch. That prompted me to look at my swinging drawbar on my tractor to see if I could do something similar. The illustration below is what I came up with.

My drawbar has two small 1/2" holes in it. I could make the green piece shown in the illustration below and bolt it to my drawbar when I want to use a pintle hitch. I can just unbolt one pin, turn the adapter to the side and it will be out of the way for use as a standard ball hitch.

What do you think?

Farmwithjunk · Mar 30, 2009

jinman said:
David, I recently was shopping for trailer balls at TSC and they had 2-5/16" balls with two different heights (neck lengths). Both were rated at 25,000 lb. The long one was similar to a ball I have seen on a commercially available pintle-or-ball hitch. That prompted me to look at my swinging drawbar on my tractor to see if I could do something similar. The illustration below is what I came up with.

My drawbar has two small 1/2" holes in it. I could make the green piece shown in the illustration below and bolt it to my drawbar when I want to use a pintle hitch. I can just unbolt one pin, turn the adapter to the side and it will be out of the way for use as a standard ball hitch.

What do you think?

I think you're on to something! But how about this? Replace one bolt with some sort of locking pin. Then you could swing the hammerstrap to the side without aid of tools.

hunterridgefarm · Mar 30, 2009

jinman said:
David, I recently was shopping for trailer balls at TSC and they had 2-5/16" balls with two different heights (neck lengths). Both were rated at 25,000 lb. The long one was similar to a ball I have seen on a commercially available pintle-or-ball hitch. That prompted me to look at my swinging drawbar on my tractor to see if I could do something similar. The illustration below is what I came up with.

My drawbar has two small 1/2" holes in it. I could make the green piece shown in the illustration below and bolt it to my drawbar when I want to use a pintle hitch. I can just unbolt one pin, turn the adapter to the side and it will be out of the way for use as a standard ball hitch.

What do you think?

I think we have a winner!!

That is perfect. I can make the green piece at work. My draw bar is made the same way and should really be simple to build once I take some measurements. Also like FWJ locking pin idea but that would require a snug fit with the pin which should not be a problem.

Thanks Jim for you dedication to my problem...I will buy you a pack of disposable razors next time I'm at Wal Mart

.

As of today my friend has not taken possession of the chipper and I will be renting the week of April 13th if he does not have it by then.

I'll let you know the outcome.

JB4310 · Mar 30, 2009

Take the ball off and drill a hole in the top of the green hammer-strap thing then just drop a pin down from the top, you'd have a clevis draw bar perfect for that pintle ring. Fast and easy to couple and uncouple compared to unbolting.

There was just a thread recently about the clevis option for draw bar and I thought about your application. See reply #7 and #14

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/new-holland-owning-operating/139835-clevis-question-2.html?

As far as FWJ's idea with the swing hammer-strap, it wouldn't require the pin to be anything special, just would want the hammer-strap to extend rearward of the back retaining bolt a little further than it shows in Jinman's pic, the front hole would have the pin and just prevent the strap from moving side to side. basically a home made pintle/ball combo.

JB.